Hi there,
 
I have been using Sonar since version 8 and recently upgraded to x2 (from x1 exp).
Now fortune has smiled on my recently, so I've been lucky enough to be able to upgrade to a new pc.
Everything is now set for my Sonar install, but I'm am a bit reluctant to start installing, as I'm confused and worried
about some things.
I have a fairly large SSD, but obviously still don't want to wast any of the expensive space on it, so what I want is
to have all plugins and content available, but just one Sonar version (X2).
Is it usefull to install Session Drummer 2 from Sonar 8, as it has different programs then SD3, can I also use the Pantheon reverb from 8.5 ? Also I understand that the content between X1 and X2 is also different, but can't figure out what's what.
Are the loops and one shot really different and complementing, or is the X2 librarie only a throw together of the X1 loops and one
shots and the beatscape content from earlier versions. Are there other content issues I should think about and will the 32bit plugins
(not selected in a standard install) work on my Windows 64 system? How can I make sure that I have all the content from four/five versions (8, 8.5, X1/exp,X2) and just have Sonar X2 installed. Next to that, are there also other thing I might look out for.
For instance presets and templates and stuf?
Hope anyone can shed some light on this as I on one hand want it all, but then again I don't want any redundancy, so no older program versions and no duplicate files and or libraries.
And oh yeah, I using two hard drives now, my SSD for OS software and libraries and my 1TB hdd for tracking and backup, are there
any suggestions as to folder locations to get the best performance ?
Thank anyone for helping me get some more peace of mind :)

Welcome to the fold here! Congrats on your new computer. As far as what to install, You just load in whatever version of Sonar has the plugin you want to install. There will be a page that allows you to check whatever plugin you want to install from that disc. Just check the ones you want and pay close attention to where the installation occurs. Pretty simple. I don't think it would benefit you much to step back to SD2 when SD3 is the same program and same library, just enhanced. Pantheon worked in X1, the few times I used it. I haven't even tried it in X2. I use Perfect Space, Sonitus, and now Breverb since I got X2. Sonitus, in my opinion, is a much better reverb than the Pantheon. Just because it has Lexicon written on it doesn't make it the best reverb for some uses. Much more tweakability in the Sonitus! Breverb is becoming my go to reverb since acquiring it. Bottom line, there is so much available to you in X2 I don't see how you would even miss the older versions. LOL. I have had experience with Cakewalk products since Pro Audio 9 and I can say, I don't work for Cake and I am not a paid endorser for their products, I can say X2 is probably the best and most comprehensive version so far. As far as the loops. I don't use them. I do have them loaded but I don't do loop based projects. They are kinda fun to pull up and play around with. If you are a serious user of loops you would benefit from having as many as possible. I had the same question about the content. It seems to be a pretty useable library in both the beatscape content and the one shots and loops library.
Beware! SOME 32 bit plugs work in 64. SOME DON'T! Bit bridge can be finnicky. Check out JBridge, a product online. Between the two bridge programs, I hear, you can get just about everything to work. If there is a particular template or preset you want, you could back them up on a usb stick or drive and put them into X2 wherever you choose. Most of those are found in the Cakewalk content folders.
Hope some of this has helped you out. Good luck! 

well hi there and tnx for the replies

It's getting somewhat clearer now and I think I'm gonna go ahead installing X@ first and then maybe some of the separate plugins. SD2 btw does have some programs SD3 doesn't have, though obviously we still haven't left the nitpicking arena :D
If I encounter probs with 32 bit plugins it's good to know there's also Jbridge, so tnx for that advice .
For the res, I don't have the luxury o adding a 3d drive at the moment, tough I'm convincd that running os and instrument sample liraries from the same ssd is still better performance wise than running libraries from a seperate regular hdd. The speed difference is immense so for now I'll stick with that. Also I'm referring to libraries like a NI piano which do benefit from ssd speeds.
I'm having a good idea now though as to how to go about the plugins and since I can't wait any longer to get this baby tracking, I'm gonna give it a go and if something should have been different, I'll do a reinstall with the extra knowledge.
So tnx for sharing the info and reassuring me somewhat and hopefully I'll be back in business soon.
Oh yeah, one more question. I have 16GB of ram (ddr3 1600), is it still necessary to have windows keep virtual memory.
I have now reduced it to 5GB, but was wondering if it could be left out totally, or maybe changed location wise to my regular hdd. Any thoughts on this ? (perfomance is the no1 priority here)
Tnx again and great evening to all