Hey M,
 
Did record yesterday with ssd os and sonar and everything else (audio & Samples) on 750gb 7200rpm int. It was ok-
 
One difference I have I think that most do not have is that I use softsynths for drums, Bass and keys. I sequence them myself with a cheap midi keyboard...my point being I do need the samples. When I recorded just my vocals, or just my guitar(the lead or the rhythm) it was fine.
Need to get my head around the new "direct real time synth recording. Which I will tackle tonight. Thanks for the input.
 
May upgrade to Win 10 tonight first. Not sure. I have hesitated because the Home version had the auto updates unstoppable. But did find that tool MS put out where you can control this a bit, so...............
Frank

One thing to tuck in the back of your brain when using a laptop (or any computer with WiFi).
 
Many folks experience huge latency spikes on laptops and computers with WiFi adapters, that are actually caused by either the drivers for those or something with the hardware itself.  These latency spikes cause frequent audio dropouts, and make it seem like you want to throw your computer at the wall or domestic partner.
 
Not to worry, the easy fix if that happens is to temporarily turn off or disable the WiFi (some laptops have physical switches to turn off the WiFi adapters, or a function key to do so, OR you can go into Windows Device Manager and disable the WiFi there - don't uninstall it just disable it).  So turn of or disable WiFi just prior to launching Sonar, and any latency spikes from WiFi will no longer occur.  Then, when done with the Sonar session, turn WiFi back on or enable it again in Windows Device Manager.
 
Just keep the above in the back of your noggin.
 
Bob Bone
 

Thanks Bob I sure will- very easy to disable wifi on my laptop ......

I was given a older ( Vista) Sony Viao Laptop last winter and went about re purposing it to use just as a DAW and playback for live gigs. 
 pulled the old drive and added a 240 SSD. 
 upped the RAM to 6 GB
 installed W7 ultimate 64 bit.
I then installed Sonar Profesional (now Plat) and a few other music apps like Goldwave. 
I also loaded in all my backing tracks ( 200 songs) which are Wave and Win Amp to use as a player. There's a few pictures, my dropbox folder and a lyrics folder. 
I'm using my old Tascam us1641 as the interface and can record 16 tracks of audio in one pass, no problem. It is as stable as my desktop even though it's way under powered ( duo core 2.5) 
Because of the monitors etc I transfer the live band recordings over to my desktop DAW to carry on the heavy duty editing and overdubs.
But so far I haven't needed to delete anything from the laptop and it's at about 80 GB so far. 
So everything is on the one SSD drive. 
I guess I don't have any sample library's other than what ever Sonar gives me by default.Only thing I don't install is the tutorials and sample content. 
I have avoided using an external drive thinking that the USB port system needs as little going on a possible while I'm recording. But that's 16 tracks not just 1 or 2.