Hi all,
 
I need some help to know if upgrading my computer will save me from having to buy a new system.
I upgraded to Sonar X2 but because of the windows Xp issue I am holding on installing X2.
My system specs are.
Mother Board gigabyte P35 DQ 6 
Os Win xp Pro 32 bit
Proc Intel core 2 quad 6600
4gigs of crucial balistic pc 6400 dual channel 800mhz
Gigabyte Radeon X1650 pci express card (cross fire)
Raptor 74 gigs
Two 500 gigs sea gate baraccuda.
 
thank you for any suggestions
 
awal

Just upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit. Be aware that you can't upgrade to Windows 7 in place, i.e., you have to backup, reformat the drive (or buy a new drive and use that), reinstall all your applications, and then restore the data. You should run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor from Microsoft first. That will tell you if you have any incompatible software or hardware. 

You don't have to buy a new system at all. You can upgrade that system in many ways. But the easiest would be to install Windows 7 X64 (or Win 8 when available),and call it a day.

Next upgrade for me would be to add an SSD for your system drive, 128 GB would be enough, 256 would be ideal.

After that I would go for a newer video card, a silent and cooler one.

Your specs are ok...

I'd seriously consider adding at least another 4 gig of ram to get to 8 gig at the minimum...add 12 gig if you can...to get to 16 gig, provided your MB will support 16 gig.  That's probably the cheapest and BEST thing you can do right now.  Consider upgrading MB, CPU, and memory later...

I'd install Win 7 64 on the Raptor (10,000 RPM) and uninstall anything that you won't use (games, etc...) then install  Sonar X2, which won't leave a lot of space on that drive, but should be enough...Sonar and VST's only - not instruments...then install all instruments to
one of the Seagate Barracuda's (and whatever other minimal programs you need) and use the other Barracuda for projects...and upgrade the Raptor to a 120 or 128 Gig(at least) SSD when you can...they are getting dirt cheap now...

That's what I would do....
I put Win 7 and Sonar on my 128 Gig SSD ....instruments, etc.. to my 7200 320 Gig WD Drive...and everything else on my 500 Gig 7200 Seagate drive...

I will soon be getting at least a 240 Gig SSD....which will replace my 128 and I will use the 128 for for instruments etc....as they are getting more and more SSD capable.  The other drives will be used for projects and storage.

Dual Channel architecture supports up to 8GB by 4 DIMM slots update the ddr-2 it wont be cheep rest is fine form now

Kingston HyperX Genesis 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz Low-Latency CL4 DIMMs (KHX6400D2LLK2/4G) 65.00 x2=8g

Yes but if memory serves me, 32 bit XP & Win7 only support 4 GB ram.
 
64 bit XP can go up to 128 and Win 7 Pro to 192 while Win 7 Home only 16 GB.
 
So don't up the ram unless you up to 64 bit.
 
 
Steve

Thank you guys, I feel much better alfready!!!!!!
I just bought  8 gigs of G Skill dual channel Pc 8500 ddr2-1066 CL 5-5-5-15 2.00-2.1V
Did a search on the G Skill web site ram configurator and it showed compatibility with the P 35 DQ 6 mobo
next to go is my video card and i am thinking to get one of the hd series from gigabyte however most  of them run on ddr3 would that be a problem????.
An 128 gig ssd would be kool.
Any ways you guys rock and thanks for makin my day.
By the way one last question WIN 7 pro or home premium. hardware is quiet expensive in the old continent.

thanks again

awal

Hi Awal,

Good moves on the updates...

But do yourself a favor and skip Win 7.

Noel (and others) have made extensive tests (and posted results in this forum or blog) and showed that Win 8 will give Sonar LARGE percentage leaps in a LOT of areas.

Not sure that any other hardware upgrade would give you anything near what Win 8 will offer.

Cheers,
Jon

Shinyhead


Hi Awal,

Good moves on the updates...

But do yourself a favor and skip Win 7.

Noel (and others) have made extensive tests (and posted results in this forum or blog) and showed that Win 8 will give Sonar LARGE percentage leaps in a LOT of areas.

Not sure that any other hardware upgrade would give you anything near what Win 8 will offer.

Cheers,
Jon

+1


Why upgrade now when Win 8 will be out on the 26th?....I agree...I'd just wait and do it all in one step...and get the Sonar
Win 8 patch to boot....when it's available...


Cheers