This is my setup now.... 
Windows XP Pro  32x 
Sonar X1d Producer 
Intel i7 Quad Core Processor 
3x3 Gig RAM  
Mackie Onyx 1220i
I built this computer myself dedicated strictly for recording....quite a chore but I did it.... But....It's 32 bit and a large tower with two 25 inch screens.... It's time I step into the 64 bit world.... I also own an HP all in one 25 in desktop Windows 8 that I use for business and pleasure.... it is 64 bit....But I don't want to take it over as it's the family PC....
I want to purchase an all in one HP PC strictly for my DAW.....I am aware it's gonna cost me but I need some suggestions on which to get that would be best for a DAW...It is connected via wifi and has alot of usb ports for all my hardware and a firewire port.. And is there an easy way to transfer everything from one DAW to the other?  Any help would be appreciated...
Woof............. 

Unfortunately the file transfer wizard is no longer supported on Window 8 and above so you can't go that route, nor is One Drive a solution for XP. Since you will presumably be moving from 32 bit XP to 64 bit Windows 8.1, if it were me I would use an external USB drive to transfer your project data and user documents via a simple copy procedure. Multi-terabyte drives can be picked up at Walmart or Best Buy for a song these days, and they will always be useful for setting up scheduled backups.
 
Once that's done, simply install the 64 bit versions of your software products to complete your transformation to a denizen of the modern computing era.
 
Best of luck!

By the way, I'm wondering why you don't simply add some RAM and do a clean install of 64 bit Windows on the existing box? An i7 quad core is a nice processor and should work well enough for audio. I understand the desire for the latest and greatest hardware though.

kevinwal
By the way, I'm wondering why you don't simply add some RAM and do a clean install of 64 bit Windows on the existing box? An i7 quad core is a nice processor and should work well enough for audio. I understand the desire for the latest and greatest hardware though.

Ya know Kev...... That might be the way to go..  That way I won't need to transfer all my software.... speaking of, will all my plugins and software need updating to run in 64 bit? I'm not sure about how to go about that....
Woof.......

Make sure there's 64 bit drivers for all your hardware (in case you're using something that discontinued) and that they also have support for the newer Windows version you're planning on using.
 
Once you install your new Windows (7, 8, or 10 etc...), you will unfortunately have to install all your software (VST/plugins) separately.....(so, you won't be able to "transfer" any of your software).  
 
You'll have to check all your 3rd party plugin vendors to be sure they have the 64 bit plugs available. If the 64 bit plugins aren't available, Sonar will automatically use a program called Bit Bridge. This way, you can use any 32 bit plugin within the 64 bit environment. There's also a paid version called JBridge (about $16) which is more reliable than Bit Bridge. Generally though, most plugins should have their 64 bit versions.
 
You will also have the two ‘Program File’ folders that are listed in your C: drive (OS drive).....one for 32 bit and one for 64 bit. The folder with 'Program File (x86)' is the 32 bit version......so if you want to use 32 bit plugins, they will go here. 
 
I personally try to keep everything on my machine only 64 bit, but sometimes, there are some really good 32 bit plugs that need to be installed. 
 
It's exciting stuff to get a 'new' machine (basically, like starting a new) built......the good thing is, now you can weed out all the useless stuff you barely used and install only the software that you really use regularly (until GAS gets the best of you and this vicious cycle begins all over again).
 
Best of luck RD!!
 
 
 

If you are going to do this - my recommendation is to buy a new HD (SSD or platter - whatever your preference is) and pull your old drive out, install the new drive and load windows, Sonar etc. to your new drive.  After that, you can plug your old drive back in and get whatever data you want from it and re-format it to use as a sample drive or project file drive, or data drive, or whatever.

dwardzala
If you are going to do this - my recommendation is to buy a new HD (SSD or platter - whatever your preference is) and pull your old drive out, install the new drive and load windows, Sonar etc. to your new drive.  After that, you can plug your old drive back in and get whatever data you want from it and re-format it to use as a sample drive or project file drive, or data drive, or whatever.

Yep, this is the way I would do it.
 
Good luck with upgrading your current PC 

synkrotron

dwardzala

pull your old drive out, install the new drive and load windows, Sonar etc. to your new drive. 

Yep, this is the way I would do it.
 

Yep.

Just to be clear. You will not be able to just "transfer as is" your present 32bit software to a new 64bit system.

You will have to install everything. OS, DAW, VSTs, VSTi. So what zala said is the best route.

Also be aware of "de-activating" some software. So before you "nuke" the old system, make sure you deactivate the stuff that needs to be.

Yeah, these guys are spot on. My goal in recommending that approach was to allow you to eek out a few more years of work from an already pretty capable system. One other benefit of this approach is that you can upgrade by pieces and parts as your wallet allows you to. Good luck!

Just to give you some encouragement, I just upgraded my system to split the system and data drives. I went with an SSD for the system and a WD Black for the data. Even though I have an older processor, this system feels very fast now. Sonar loads many times quicker.
 
Good luck!