software advice

[SGPIANOMAN]

Hey everyone, i was just needing some advice on what software to use. I've got a windows computer, and its quite old.
its got 312mb of ram, a factory soundcard, a amd processer.
I've been using a mixture of magix music studio deluxe 2004(midi and audio studios), acid music, and cakewalk express. I took a class in studio recording and got to use LOGIC on a mac G5 and i've been quite spoiled. I have a group and i make backing tracks, i usually use midi on my cheap lil' set up, however i think its time to move on to something more powerful. I used alot of the soft synths on logic and enjoyed using that. I'm wondering what type of computer/program i need in order to get that type of experience in the windows world. Should i go with something like pro-tools.
Is there a company that sells computers/audio software bundles or something. any advice on what computer/soft synth program/audio program to go with..i have about 1000 bucks to play with.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Any software that is a serious upgrade will cost around $2-300 and you MIGHT be able to put a bare bones computer together for that. Forget about a turn-key DAW. That will cost you 2-3x as much as doing it yourself.

Cubase SX is pretty cool and they have a few cheaper versions but I'm not sure what their limitations are.

If you are not good at building computers most small computer shops will let you pick the components and they will build it for around $50 in labor.