Processor or RAM

  • Thread starter Thread starter EVEykel
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EVEykel

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OK, here's the deal. I'm running Cool Edit Pro on an HP computer. I've got a 933 Mhz Pentium 3 with 256 MB of RAM. Everything works ok on this system, but when I put multiple effects on different channels the playback starts to skip a bit. Should I upgrade the RAM or the Processor? Also, is a Celeron any good for recording or should I stick with Pentium? Thanks for the help.
 
HP's are not very upgradable CPU wise. Or it may only allow an upgrade to a set amount. I would try more ram. Perhaps 512 MB.
Just keep in mind ram has to be installed in sets of 2 identical or 1 stick at 512
 
Hmmm, that's tough, like what's better... food or sleep. You need both of them, but you can do without either for a period of time.

I agree with Stealth, depending on how far you can go... since it's a p3, and you're not likely to be able to upgrade to a p4, ram is probably what you want, but a lot effects plug-ins are real processor intensive, and a nice shiny p4 2.4ghz... would really fit the bill.

That said, Ram is a) cheaper b) definitely going to make everything in your system quicker.
 
that's right. The cpu slot for a pentium 3 won't take a celeron chip. upgrading the cpu really isn't an option.

unless you're buying a new one.
 
Fast Hard Drive = no skipping in recording
Lots of Ram = programs load quicker
Fast CPU = more plugins

Tukkis
 
Tukkis said:
Fast Hard Drive = no skipping in recording
Lots of Ram = programs load quicker
Fast CPU = more plugins

Tukkis
Click to expand...

i disagree.


Fast Hard Drive = Programs Load Quicker
Lots of RAM = No Skipping in Recording
Fast CPU = More Plugins


RAM is generally more important than your HD when it comes to skips and such... because you can set the application's buffer significantly higher. The buffer value is way more important than HD speed (even the slowest 7200 RPM drives these days can handle 24 tracks of 24/96 with Windows on the same drive, no problems... so long as the buffers are set right).
Porgrams don't load any faster with more RAM, either... unless you've already loaded them very recently and they're still in memory. Load times are almost entirely dependant on HD speed.

In terms of general system performance though, more RAM will mean less HD (pagefile) access, so your system will seem a lot smoother, less pauses for things that shouldn't be paused for, like multitasking and such.
 
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