In my opinion don't use DirectX unless you really really want to. I can understand different opinions on that as well.
 
I'd like to disable DX even though it takes up 0 CPU if you don't use it, purely from a UI perspective. I would continue to use DirectX effects however for other apps. Anyway my view is if you don't use some major functionality for whatever reason there should always be a tickbox setting to hide and disable it forever and forget. If you don't use MIDI for instance, get rid of the clutter! Heck if you don't even use a record button :).
 
Also hiding functionality and gradually bringing it in is also a good way for newbies to learn (one of many methods).
 

It is easy to hide plug-ins; disable them in the plug-in manager.

Yup just one method, but it isn't a kill switch.

Right....   CW should develop new code in order to disable a major selling point of the Studio and Producer versions.    I could be entirely off base here, but something tells me they may have more important/requested tasks on their plate.   Anyone for video, MIDI routing, SV, etc?    How about general bug fixes, Alex?  
 
 

Alex if you use any Sonitus plugins in Sonar you use DX. I wouldn't be surprised if the MFX in X3 are also DX. I'm pretty sure of it. 
 
 
 
 

Nope no longer using them :) I believe the Sonitus 64 bit VSTs were on offer this year for something like $17. Here's to hoping that offer will come back.

CakeAlexS
Nope no longer using them :) I believe the Sonitus 64 bit VSTs were on offer this year for something like $17. Here's to hoping that offer will come back.

64bit VST versions of the Sonitus plug-ins do not exist. The only 64bit versions of the Sonitus Suite are bundled with SONAR. The suite at the cakewalk store is 32bit only. From http://www.store.cakewalk.com/b2cus/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=36-CWSF3.31-10E:
This download was intended for use with 32-bit versions of Windows 2000/XP. On 64-bit Windows Vista & Windows 7 it will only install as 32-bit plug-ins.

More confusion, here Andrew says they are 64 bit as well (it was $20 not $17, and the special was last year sorry):
http://blog.cakewalk.com/download-the-sonitus-fx-suite-for-only-19-99/
 

Now you can use them in any VST-compatible Windows Vista/Windows 7 DAW (includes 32 and 64-bit versions).
 
64 bit plugin or 64 bit DAW? Guess it wasn't written clearly and one can easily be led astray...

I remember looking at that and was going to pay for the 64bit Sonitus suite, but wasn't entirely sure what it was I'd be buying,