SX PC hardware, OS requirements

[Reynolds Audio]

I've seen the "minimum" and "recommended"...
someone said they ran 10 stereo tracks on a Pentium ii 200...
Can anyone tell me what kind of real world performance I could expect with a Piii 700?
I don't want to upgrade yet if I'll need a new machine right away.
Also, are users getting better results with XP or 2000?
thanks in advance.

[Neil Wilkes]

Stick to XP - 2000 is more for networks/servers etc.
There is a great site called musicxp.net for all the installation & setup help you'll ever need.
10 stereo tracks on a P2 200???? hard to believe, but I could be wrong if it's a xeon processor.
P3 is better than P4 for my money, the faster the better. It's a native system so get the best natives you can to run it, otherwise it'll be like running a corvette with a manual shift but never getting out of 1st or 2nd gear!
Also, get the max amount of RAM you can fit onto the motherboard.
every little helps, but once you get so far the law of diminishing returns starts to kick in.
If you get stuck, let me know

[Reynolds Audio]

Neil,
Thanks for replying.
So you're saying I'll need a new machine?
I have a Mackie D8B/HDR, so I really only need Cubase when I want to use DSP not available in the Mackie system or when I need more than 24 playback tracks.
Ideally, I'd like be able to run 24 24/48 tracks with DSP reliably.
Right now, VST32 does this, without the "reliably" part.
What I'm trying to figure out is how much will the SX upgrade really cost in order to get a more stable system.
Thanks again for your time. -john