Successful Computer Rigs for Sonar 8+

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girvan

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Hi,
I am researching information to build a new DAW. If you have a computer/interface /OS combination that is running Sonar 8+ successfully (edit: I know that's vague - I'm thinking like 24+ tracks with some plugins and virtual instruments running - you know what I mean....) and you have a minute could you please share you specs? Might help lots of folks actually.

My now antiquated system (that I ran Sonar 6 on very successfully is)
Pentium 4 2.6Ghz
AsRock MB
1.5 Gigs of Ram
75 Gig system drive
75 Gig audio Drive
MOTU 2408 with the 324 PCI Card
Nvidia Dual Head Graphics Card
1 Midi In / 1 Midi out via M-audio USB midi thing
Sonar 6 PE
Win XP with SP3

Since getting the 8.5 PE upgrade this system is a bit slow so I'd like to upgrade. Your help in identifying different systems that work is very appreciated. Thank you.
 
I am running SONAR 8.3.1.
Intel DUO E8400 processor 8GB RAM, 64-bit Windows
Single mirror drive pair (500GB) SATA

I can easily run 24 audio tracks and run a reasonable number of effects. I use OZONE mastering suite (which can be CPU heavy) and some number of effects plug-ins. I also use Superior 2.0 Drum sampler and various soft-synths (Dimension, Rapture, East-West symphonic Orchestra).
 
I'm also running Sonar 8.3.1...

Q6600 @ 3ghz
4gb RAM
Asus P5K Premium
4x 500gb Samsung Spinpoint F1
2x nvidia 8600GTS (running 4 monitors)
UAD-1e
Motu 896HD
Win XP SP2 (with SP1 firewire drivers)



I'm looking to do an upgrade in the near future (more for general day-to-day performance than for audio performance), but that setup has easily handled over 100 tracks with lots of plugins, but I had to push the ASIO buffers up a bit for that. A more realistic project (@44.1khz, reasonable buffer settings) for me might be something like 80 tracks into 15 buses, loads of plugins and an instance of Kontakt player for Steven Slate Drums, which would usually push around 50% CPU usage.
 
Thank you both. That gives me some ideas. I can't afford to go all the way up to an i7 system but the quads seem to be fast enough and at a decent price range.

The Motu 896HD looks really decent too. I see them on eBay at around $400. Not bad at all. I'm not the kind of guy that needs the latest and greatest - simply want a system that will work for the next 3 years or so.

Thanks.
 
AMD athlon 5200 dual core
4gb ddr2 800
1tb hd
vista sp1
saffire le interface
used up to 30 tracks, full of effects
no problems
 
I am currently using a DELL GLX270 Desktop
P4 2.4
1 gig of ram and a 80 gig hard drive

I am running Sonar 8 and lots of plug ins. I can manage 24 tracks and plug ins just about but it is starting to struggle.

I have just bought a Core Duo laptop with 4 gig of ram so I am going to transfer everything over to that and possibly put a couple more gigs of ram in it

I would ideally like a quad core but its beyond my budget at the moment.

I used to run a mac G5 with pro tools but my finances required me topart with it. I miss it terribly
 
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