64 bit engine?
Home > Home Recording Forum > Computers & Software > 64 bit engine?
Posted on Oct 20, 2007 08:37 pm
terryko
Terry Ko
Member Since: May 10, 2007
In Sonar 6 SE,
it support 64 bit engine calculation and it claims it is much faster than 32 bit CPU.
I am now using a probably outdated computer which is P4 3.2E, which is 32 bit. Is it really a great improvement if I upgrade my computer to 64 bit CPU?
I am using 2.5GB Ram as well, but in DDR1 dual channel, not DDR2.
Please suggest whether I should upgrade my computer or not..
[ Back to Top ]
Oct 20, 2007 09:23 pm I was waiting for this.
My computer handles sound processing just fine with its paltry (single) 32 bit CPU, 2.6 billion cycles-per-second chip and a miniscule billion bytes of random access memory.
This may be a wakeup call for me.
I really should grab the latest, highest-tech super home computer so that I can simultaneously download all of this week's top ten movies, mix and remaster the last three albums from my home studio, check my email, photoshop a new homeland security emblem, and post to threads.
Or I could take a walk outside.
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Oct 20, 2007 10:08 pm All guffawing aside . . .
depends on what you're doing. If you're not running 20 tracks, all with SIR, or other heavy processes on them, then you probably will never see a problem.
On the other hand, running softsynths, orchestras, in addition to 10 or 20 heavy effect tracks, can tax out a single pretty quick.
I tried a guys project, he's using a quad, and i have an AMD64 3500 (single). I think there's 12 tracks, but each one had at least 2, and some of them 5 effects. My PC couldn't do it without dropping one of the heavy effects from any one track. Then, with 1 effect less, I was running 90 - 95% in reaper. It would run, but it was really tight.
I'd say eek out as much CPU usage as possible with what you got, because each week the prices get lower on high-horsepower PCs (relatively speaking).
Oct 20, 2007 10:19 pm In a couple of years you'll be scoffing at quad core processors thinking, "How the hell did we DO that?"
And I'll still be guffawing.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 20, 2007 10:55 pm I am now running Sonar 7 PE. And I'm doing it on a 32 bit machine. I do use the 64 bit double precision audio engine, but don't really need to most of the time.
So no, unless you are working for the top stars at the moment it is not a needed jump to do a PC upgrade.
Oct 21, 2007 12:17 am just open task manager (hit ctrl+alt+delete or right click in an open space where all your tabs open and select task manager), it'll show a little graph thingy in your quick launch bar. When you're tracking or doing whatever, if you peak, well then maybe it's time for an upgrade, if not, foggedaboutit.
The one big advantage of the dual cores over the P4's is ... besides blatant clock-for-clock speed, is it's tough to use up all your processing power, so you never get "slow downs" unless you're waiting on something else.
I'd wait till AMD releases their new stuff and you can pick up the current things likely much cheaper than they are now.
Oct 21, 2007 12:25 am Quote:
it'll show a little graph thingy in your quick launch bar.
Any man who uses the word "thingy" in a post must be OK and in touch with his thingy.
[size=1]All opinions are those of Herb Utsmelz, based upon his personal experiences.[/size]
Oct 21, 2007 12:57 am Quote:
... must be OK and in touch with his thingy.
touche
we are pretty close