Report - Vista 64 bit dual boot DAW working

[Cheez]

A follow to a thread I started long ago. I've been installing/uninstalling 64-bit, and finally decided to stay with 32-bit until Kontakt releases their 64-bit version.

Now that Kontakt 3.5 is finally 64-bit, I've reinstalled my 64-bit Vista. Just to report that my machine is now working: dual booted 32 bit for everyday use, 64 bit for DAW. 8GB RAM installed and didn't cause problems when running 32-bit (ie I don't have to take it out when running 32-bit).

One caveat and warning. ASUS mobo and OCZ RAM don't go well together. Before building your own machines, do research on compatability. I have to underclock my DDR3 RAM from 1333 to 1066 and change the clock settings a little to get it working. It hasn't crashed yet, so I'm happy.

So...my 64-bit Quad Core Q9500 machine now has Sonar 8 PE (64-bit), Komplete 5 (some VSTis like FM8, Kontakt 3.5, Guitar Rig 3.2.1, Massive etc are true 64-bit, others 32-bit), some VSL instruments (64-bit) etc. All my Kontakt libraries are now ready to run in full 64-bit!

OK. I can hear Mac users saying, "Just get a Mac and you don't have these problems". Well, I've no doubt Mac will give me less headaches actually. Don't mind getting it if I have the money. But if I have that extra money, I probably would spend it on a UAD-2 duo or quad, or extra plugins. As it is, I spent a fraction of what the same specs would cost if it were a Mac.

 

[Ex14]

lol glad to hear u made a choice cheez may i ask why u continue using 32 bit and not 64 bit when doing ur everyday stuff?

 

[Cheez]

Why 32-bit? Not all programs are fully 64-bit compatible, although most will still work. Most importantly - it's too much trouble reinstalling my everyday work partition and reinstalling all the software, not to mention getting renewed licenses because Windows is changed etc - not when Windows 7 is just round the corner! Less software in the DAW partition so reinstalling is not too much of a problem.

 

[kongwee]

Just wanna know how much you save, and what Mac you are comparing to?

 

[Cheez]

ASUS P5E3 mobo. Q9500 2.5GHz Quad Core CPU. OCZ DDR3 1333 4x2GB RAM. Radeon HD 3650 Graphics card. 3x Seagate 250-300 GB SATA 3GB/s HD. Zalman 600W power supply. Silver Stone casing. Sony DVD-RW. A couple of low-noise fans. I think it cost about $2800 in total, a conservative figure (can't remember exactly - got quite a bit of stuff off Ebay before the economic crisis when the US dollar was really low compared to S$ - nothing 2nd hand though). And that was almost a year ago. Today would cost probably much less.

Of course, I didn't factor in Vista Ultimate. Can't remember how much I paid for it - also got it off Ebay at a pretty good price. Didn't need a monitor as I already had a 19" Samsung LCD monitor.

How much does a Mac without LCD monitor cost at that specs a year ago? I see that a quad core Mac at 2.66 GHz with 3GB RAM and no monitor today cost close to $4000, at least from the Mac website.

 

[kongwee]

I think you compare different class of spec between a Intel Quad Core Desktop against a Intel Xeon Quad Workstation(Mac Pro,Xserver). No to say the different class of memory and Harddisk .....etc. Anyway, you made that decision. You know what I hinting at.

 

[Cheez]

You're right. I compared to a wrong class - a Xeon. But there's nothing else to compare to. I can't compare to an iMac which is non-expandable (you certainly can't put a pro audio card and extra HDs in there) and a Core 2 Duo. I certainly can't compare with a Mac mini. A Mac Pro is the closest thing to compare to.

As for HD, it actually made not much difference if I get a higher storage HD. They don't cost much difference at all. The only reason I opted for less storage is because of streaming samples which theoretically wears out the disk faster with thinner plates when the storage is larger. But I guess it doesn't matter much nowadays - I would have gone for 500GB but never for 1TB as the plate is really too thin. As for my 8GB OCZ RAM, they are probably the most expensive part of the PC - even more than the CPU when combined. The 4x2GB (ie 8GB) DDR3 OCZ 1333 (P3 10666) is an overclocker RAM with heatspreaders that's more expensive than Kingston and the like. I guess the price would have dropped tremendously now as I bought it about a year ago. I don't see how the Mac RAM specs can compare with that.

 

[kongwee]

Mac Pro is using ECC Ram with temperature sensing. ECC is important in server as it will not drop in the performance over long period of time. Normally, it add 50%-300% more on normal ram. Mac Pro also use "server" grade HD. This will add other 50%-200% depending on the size of the HD. iMac will use this kind of HD in many cases.

There is nothing to compare for PC desktop to Apple. Apple don't have such line. Since you are using Sonar, there is no more choice in Apple. You are earning from it too.

 

[Ex14]

are u still trying to convert him to a mac =/ cause ur mac fanboyish is starting to bug me =/

 

[kongwee]

It just bug me as he saying that his PC is just a fraction of a Mac. Now I get it.:mrgreen:

EX14 calm down, Pc is far more cheaper.:mrgreen:

 

[Cheez]

OK friend. This thread is not meant to be another Mac vs PC thread. The key to any DAW is (for me):

1. Does it give me 500 notes polyphony of samples
2. Does it load at least 2-3 heavy-weight plugins simultaneously
3. Does it give me enough simultaneous audio tracks + processing
4. Does it do the job
5. Does it last me about 4 years before I make the next upgrade

If it's all yes, to the above, then really, does it really matter? Of course, cost is one factor as well.

 

[kongwee]

OK. I can hear Mac users saying, "Just get a Mac and you don't have these problems". Well, I've no doubt Mac will give me less headaches actually. Don't mind getting it if I have the money. But if I have that extra money, I probably would spend it on a UAD-2 duo or quad, or extra plugins. As it is, I spent a fraction of what the same specs would cost if it were a Mac.

If you remove this sentence, then probably don't wanna to comment anything.:mrgreen:

 

[Cheez]

OK. My comments stay. Your comments stay. Differing views are welcomed. Just don't want the direction to go into another Mac vs PC thread, because it will go nowhere. We can go into true 64-bit floating apps which Logic is not etc, but again, we will go nowhere with all these. As long as the tool does the job, we make good music, then great.

As it is, I'm not anti-Mac. I've been using it all the time. Owned an LCIII long ago + other non-Mac Apples like IIe and IIgs. My mom has a Mac! I still like it. But as it is, a tool is a tool. In the end, it's the user/musician who uses the tool. An excellent tool at the hands of a mediocre musician will produce mediocre music. Skills is still more important.