Hello all,
 
      Just downloaded X3, and wanted to see if anyone had any tips before I install.  I have Windows 7 64bit, 2 1TB hard drives, and figure I'd use the C drive for the OS and applications, and the D drive for audio.  So I figure Sonar and VST applications would go in C, but is there anything that I should tell to go to D?  Say, the samples from various soft synths, i.e Dimension, SD3, Addictive Drums, etc?  Just want to make sure everything is going where it's best suited.
      Also, my understanding is that the X3 download gets you X3a (I'm upgrading from 8.5).  I'm assuming I install what I downloaded and THEN upgrade to X3d, correct? 
     Love the forum; thanks in advance for any advice!

Just let the installers put everything on the C: drive, the default setup, and point your project folder to D:. Yes, install X3 then apply X3d and then run the VST reset.

Thanks scook, that's just what I'll do!

If you have a third drive, that is better than streaming samples from the same disk streaming your audio.
 
And if you are willing to start fresh, this would be a great time to go to Windows 8.1

Studious
If you have a third drive, that is better than streaming samples from the same disk streaming your audio.

This is true but there is nothing in the OP or supplied by Cakewalk which stream samples.

Agree with scook that letting it install all program data files to the boot drive is likely the best way to go with that. Choose the advanced/custom setup option at install (IIRC) and it will let you look at and change all of the default install paths otherwise.
 
Also agree if you want to use the 2nd drive for anything, make it the projects. If you plan on having a ton of plugins, then I guess you could also store those on a 2nd drive too.

You could consider moving the system page file to a different drive (from the system drive).  I always do this and in general it helps with overall system performance.  As this would be the audio drive in your case, try it and see...you can always move it back again.  It might even be worth getting a tiny SSD for this purpose.  I have three drives in my computer; system, audio, pagefile (+ 'stuff').

scook

Studious
If you have a third drive, that is better than streaming samples from the same disk streaming your audio.

This is true but there is nothing in the OP or supplied by Cakewalk which stream samples.

Oh, good call, I see what you're saying. So everything listed loads 100% to RAM before playing?

Yes

Don't install 3rd party VSTs under C:/Program Files or its subfolders. Quite often X3 won't see them.
Install them somewhere like C:/Cakewalk Content/VSTs and it's all good.