FWIW, I'm running X3 on an older Q9300 @ 2.5 GHz w/ 8GB RAM, and it's fairly smooth unless I really load up the project with synths and plugins.   For example, I'm currently working on a project with an instance of BFD Eco, an instance of AD, and six instances of Loom.   No problemo. 
 
 

Yes, to the plugin use when gating. Did not work, so I will gate in the mix down.
 
Great news to hear about the success that everyone is having using X3 in a laptop similar to mine.
 
I would only be using the laptop for tracking analogue instruments.
 
The only other possible use would be to run recorded soft synths for live performance, as we don't have a keyboard player. I have never done this before, but I guess you would "mute" all tracks except the soft synth on your recording and then play it back while the band plays live to it. I really don't know. I got the idea from watching a Radiohead concert where they did this using the same Roland A-800Pro Midi Keyboard Controller I have. So that is kinda cool I guess.
 
Thanks to all.

If you were going to mute the other tracks and such, I would suggest just creating stripped down versions of each song, where only the bounced keyboard audio tracks were present, and whatever additional info was needed for keeping the live band in sync with the keyboard tracks.  (you would not have to load a bunch of other audio tracks or soft synths)
 
I would think that would make each song load faster, which does matter for live performances - for most folks, I imagine.
 
Bob Bone
 

Great idea robert-e-bone!
It sounds like the best approach to achieve what our goals are, while minimizing risk.
 

Give it a shot - next stop, world peace.  :)
 
Bob Bone
 

It will work!...look at my specs...i run projects with 100 tracks midi/audio...a lot of plugins....

You know what sucks.
 
I stripped the laptop and performed a new install of Win7x32.
 
Loaded Sonar 7PE and it worked flawlessly...I use a TI firewire card.
 
So then I decided to strip it again and perform an new install of Win7x64, then new install of Sonar 7PE, and now I have pops and clicks.
 
ARRRGH!!!!!!!!
 
The whole reason for wanting to perform an new install of X3d is for workflow.
 
I would love to be able to use the same template when tracking and then move that data to the mixing/mastering PC, without the SW telling me that I am using some dusty old recording SW that it does not want to play nice with and list a bunch of mismatched plugins that is can't use etc. etc.
 
It loads and works, but the workflow would be sublime if it was all the same. And, save me a ton of time.
 
Thanks