Which 64 bit version of Windows 7 do you recommend for X2 Producer?

I recommend Windows 8 Pro.

John, What's the advantage of Windows 8 over 7? Does Windows 8 require more horsepower? This machine has a Core2Quad Q6600 CPU which is five years old, and I'm not sure if it's fast enough to run Windows 8. Thanks, Jonathan

You might want to give some thought to anything you want to use the computer for other than just Sonar X2.

Since you're thinking about upgrading an "older" machine, look at your existing hardware and make sure you can get OS-specific drivers for any hardware you plan to keep.

Same goes for "older" apps - if you're seriously planning on upgrading to Windows 8, make sure any software package you plan to keep will run correctly under Windows 8 (Sonar X2 aside, a program running correctly on Windows 7 is no guarantee it will run correctly on Windows 8 ~ check the Microsoft compatibility web site to be sure).

Purchasing Windows 8 will be cheaper than Windows 7, but taking care of the rest could turn out to be MORE expensive if you have hardware and software compatibility issues and have to unexpectedly replace more than just the OS.

FWIW, a lot of folks here (myself included) are running X2A on "older" machines with Windows 7 Pro 64-bit and 8+ GB RAM, and aren't having any issues.  You could always start out that route, and add a dual-boot partition to run Windows 8 at a later date (that's my plan...)

Randy

Even with XP I had to re-install it occasionally. I've been using the same Win 7 install for years now. What a great OS. They say Win 8 is better and needs less horspower giving it more horsepower. I say go Win 8.

I'm kicking myself for not doing the cheap upgrade to Win 8.

  How much of a learning curve is there from Windows 7 to Windows 8?

John


They are the same OS in many ways. I came from Vista and didn't have any problems adapting to Windows 8. I did get a Kindle book "Windows 8 Inside out" that explained most of the things I wanted know. For the Windows user it should feel familiar. It is not radically different. The Start Screen may work for you or not but it is a nice way to access programs. I bypass it with an add on free start menu called Classic Start Menu that lets you work the way we did with previous versions. But don't think that the Start Screen is something to be avoided. Its not. I just prefer working this way. 


With Windows 8 you also get the ability to run "metro" apps. 

What Windows 8 offers the DAW user is a more efficient OS with better audio handling and improvements in nearly every area. 

Its just a better OS.

 

I agree with John and he is correct!
There are no drawbacks about Windows 8 x64 only benefit when it comes to performance and security reasons.
I'm personal still on Windows 7 x64bit Ultimate and it works perfect with SONAR X2. If I build a new computer today I would Install Windows 8 x64.
It seem that any "program" that work in Windows 7 will automatically work in Windows 8. Even XP program works. 
 
 
It seem that even Windows 7 drivers work but that can be tricky though.
There are possibility that Soundcard drivers and other hardware doesn't work in Windows 8 still if it run and work perfect in Windows 7. So you need to check your hardware and drivers are supported and work in Windows 8 too. 9 of 10 it will!
 
Programs like SONAR X2, Cubase 7, Spectrasonics, Native Instruments, Nomad Factory, Waves, iZotope, EastWest, Vienna and many other have Windows 8 work and are support already.
 
 
Best Regards
Freddie 

Paul P


Freddie H :

"There are no drawbacks about Windows 8 x64 only benefit when it comes to performance and security reasons. "

I call win8 being ugly a drawback. It looks like some sort of toy in a daycare center. Main reason I didn't go with it on my new system.

ok.. I like the "up to date" look.
Perhaps you are confused about "METRO" look? There are normal desktop view too like Windows 7.
Here is tutorial with a young man about Windows 8 BETA.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJxImQXRhps

Yeah, I think a lot of people get confused about Windows 8 from watching all of the TV commercials that highlight the Start Screen/Metro. MS probably thought they'd pick up more new users by marketing Win8 that way, but they're also most likely losing a lot of upgraders because people don't realize the Start Screen is just a replacement for the Start Menu that lets you run lightweight Apps there too if you want. But you can pretty much avoid ever using the Start Screen. I really only use it for search (which is really quick). I have some tiles set up for my desktop applications, but I rarely use them because I have everything pinned to the desktop taskbar just like I always have.

You'll still be stuck with the ugly windows :-)

"You'll still be stuck with the ugly windows :-)"

One of the confused people. ;-)

There is no reason to avoid Windows 8. 

Not for using Sonar probably, assuming your collection of plugs etc. will authorize and run on Win8. On a DAW I usually only have a couple of applications open and running at a time, and windows 8 is fine for that. I assume there has been improvement in the code, but the experience on audio applications is not uniformly positive.


On a work machine, however,  I typically have a dozen open apps with several windows in each, and the Windows 7 user interface was the best MS has come up with for that kind of work. That fine multitasking environment has been abandoned in favor of longer battery life and the hope of training the masses to quit their keyboards and love Microsoft's new machines. Whatever under the hood advances have been made in Win8 are totally lost on office applications etc., but so were those in Vista and Win 7. 


http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/18/creating-the-windows-8-user-experience.aspx

What about Win 8 and the "no legacy drivers for firewire" issue? When would that possibly be corrected? If ever? Until then, how could Win 8 possibly be considered a positive OS for a DAW? Granted, many people don't use firewire, but a LOT of people still use firewire.

slartabartfast

There is no reason to avoid Windows 8. 

Not for using Sonar probably, assuming your collection of plugs etc. will authorize and run on Win8. On a DAW I usually only have a couple of applications open and running at a time, and windows 8 is fine for that. I assume there has been improvement in the code, but the experience on audio applications is not uniformly positive.


On a work machine, however,  I typically have a dozen open apps with several windows in each, and the Windows 7 user interface was the best MS has come up with for that kind of work. That fine multitasking environment has been abandoned in favor of longer battery life and the hope of training the masses to quit their keyboards and love Microsoft's new machines. Whatever under the hood advances have been made in Win8 are totally lost on office applications etc., but so were those in Vista and Win 7. 


http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/05/18/creating-the-windows-8-user-experience.aspx

  I don't know how one can make this leap in reasoning when you have the very same ability to turn off anything you don't want in Windows 8 as one did in both Vista and Win 7.   

The ability to multi task has been enhanced in Win 8. It also works better with multi monitors too.

  Windows 8 is a multi tasking OS just as Windows 7 was. If you think that win 8 is only the start screen and can only use metro apps you are completely wrong. 

I don't even see the start screen. I boot directly to the desktop. 

CL2Zero


What about Win 8 and the "no legacy drivers for firewire" issue? When would that possibly be corrected? If ever? Until then, how could Win 8 possibly be considered a positive OS for a DAW? Granted, many people don't use firewire, but a LOT of people still use firewire.

I remember reading about that during the Win8 beta and wondering if I'd have any problems with the release version. It turned out I was able to use my Win7 Echo Audiofire driver with no problems. Echo released a Win8 driver about a month ago, and performance is pretty much identical with that one. They've always written great drivers, though. I've never had a problem in the three operating systems I've used it with.

Some have had (boot) problems with upgrades from Win 7 to Win 8 that involve the UEFI bios option...make sure to read upgrade instructions carefully.