I'm currently using Sonar  8.5 and X1LE on vintage XP machine (Core 2 Duo E6300, 2GB RAM, 3 IDE HDs) using EDIROL M-16DX as audio interface and it's been very stable and adequate for couple of years.
 
I want to move to X3, but I would like to stay on 32-bit in order to avoid compatibility issues with older plugins which are not supported by their developers any more, but work well for me.
 
I'm looking at Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit refurb machine (with Core 2 Duo E8400 CPU). If you are currently running X3 on the same OS, what is your experience?

I strongly suggest you run 64 bit Windows (ideally Windows 8.1 if you are getting a new machine), running 32 bit window makes no sense.

That way you can run 64 bit Sonar AND 32 bit Sonar, you will be able to test your 32 bit plugins under bitbridge, I would strongly suggest moving towards a 64 bit path however slowly you want to do it.

Also avoid second hand machines unless you have to.
 
Note you will need to check your driver compatibility under any operating system.
 
Thanks.

I have both 64 bit and 32 bit  X3 Pro running on W7 64 OS. Pleasantly surprised that some old 3rd party 32 bit plug-ins I thought probably wouldn't work in 64bit actually do work fine. The only ones I used a lot in 32 that don't work in 64 are CW ones, which I didn't expect, but by having both 32 and 64 installed I can open older projects that contain them in 32bit version and all is well.
 
FWIW I also don't think a 2nd hand pc is a good idea. If you know someone who can put one together for you, it's surpisingly cheap to build a perfectly adequate PC if you don't go all cutting edge tech.

X3 runs fine on my win7x32 office rig.
Tom

I'm running X2 PE 32 bit on W7 Home Premium 64 bit machine with i5 Quad Core and 8G of RAM, for the same reasons regarding legacy plugins I really like. I bought a gaming machine from directron.com for a little over $500 and it's got more horsepower than I need. I looked at system requirements for the software upgrades I had in the wings, and this machine was it and more. The features in W7 Pro are more geared to business requirements like networking and I decided that the Home Premium was a better value.

You are wasting your money. By staying on 32bit, you limiting your system to 4GB Ram. You can run your 32bit plugs using JBRIDGE inside a 64bit host. Also note that Win 7 Home Premium is limited to 16GB Ram, you need to go Pro if you want to access more.

IMO, avoid a used PC, you can get a decent entry level machine for well under $1000.

jscomposer
You are wasting your money. By staying on 32bit, you limiting your system to 4GB Ram. You can run your 32bit plugs using JBRIDGE inside a 64bit host. Also note that Win 7 Home Premium is limited to 16GB Ram, you need to go Pro if you want to access more.

IMO, avoid a used PC, you can get a decent entry level machine for well under $1000.

Exactly there is no reason to run 32 operating systems with modern PC's any more, in fact you are placing limitations upon yourself, and you still can run 32 bit Sonar under Windows 7 64 bit if you really really (really?) want to, this time with the memory limitation on the app rather than the OS.

I think the question was:
"I'm looking at Windows 7 Professional 32-Bit refurb machine (with Core 2 Duo E8400 CPU). If you are currently running X3 on the same OS, what is your experience?"
Just sayin'...
Not that your advice is "bad", mind you.
There are compelling reasons (sometimes), to maintain a 32 bit system.
T
 

> There are compelling reasons (sometimes), to maintain a 32 bit system.
 
Like what?
 
From what I see there are no compelling reasons at all to maintain a 32 bit operating system unless you are already happy with what you already have (don't upgrade then), or are limited by drivers that will only be 32 bit (time to upgrade then) or only ever wish to use 4Gb memory (yes exactly).

"Like what?"Do you really want a list?
2 - Win7x86 systems to run business software (that's why my 'office rig' is 32 bit)
2 - XPx86 systems to run embroidery software
(the win7 version is totally useless. $1500 upgrade; you buy it, you own it.
Rolled back to XP and the previous version; but that isn't germane to this conversation)
My DAW?
Win7x64; Win 8 not an option, no drivers for my FW-1884.
The OP asked if X3 "works" on a 32 bit system.
The answer is "Yes, it works just fine".
If he had asked "Do you recommend a 32 or 64 bit OS?"
Well, the answer is obvious; isn't it?
T