RTAs plugins RAM or CPU?

[Gertok]

Hi, we have a computer at the practice space. Its a 2.4GHz Athlon (single core) We installed EZdrummer and it would not run until we dropped another 1gb of ram in there. I figure its because it loads drumkit sounds into the ram and drumkit takes about 450mb.
Mother board will support up to 4gb of ram. Is it worth adding?
We just did a demo recording to see how many tracks we will need for the album and it will be 6-8 guitar tracks (2xChugs, Octave, 5th, 4th, Some chord voicings, ocassional guitar harmonies and solos) 2 bass tracks(Dry and Sansamp) 8 for drums 3-4 for vocals and back vocals and 1-2 for sound fx.
So about 24 tracks. I am pretty sure every single track will have some eq. compression, some will have reverb, delay etc.

We run system on 250gb Sata and run protools on 500gb sata (also save projects there). Its XP sp3, with nothing else installed except for protools and plugins. Today it will have 3gb of ram in it. Is it worth adding 1 more?

[garageband]

Mother board will support up to 4gb of ram. Is it worth adding?

Max it out. No reason not to. Computers like to have access to as much RAM as possible.

[Gertok]

I was google it and yes. Even though 32bit XP will only see upto 3.25Gb of ram it will still use the other 750mb for drivers(PCI, DVD, Video etc.) and than if protools loads recorded track in ram(which I am sure it does) than 24x80mb per track is almost 2gigs this will leave some extra for plugins and other windows processes.

[brandondrury]

1GB of RAM is about $10 these days. Is it worth $10 for an additional 250MB of RAM? It isn't going to hurt, but it's not gonna do THAT much good either.

Brandon

[ryanoliver]

From just reading what you are planning on recording I can tell you right now you are going to overload your CPU. Nothing kills creativity like a dropout. You might want to think about upgrading your chip, quad core is essential IMO.

[coney123]

Yea, I was running a 2.4 Athlon about 5 years ago, with Pro Tools 6.4. Many upgrades later and I'm on a quad, which is HIGHLY recommendable.

If only I had the cash available to go i7!!!

[whomper]

Originally Posted by Gertok

Hi, we have a computer at the practice space. Its a 2.4GHz Athlon (single core) We installed EZdrummer and it would not run until we dropped another 1gb of ram in there. I figure its because it loads drumkit sounds into the ram and drumkit takes about 450mb.
Mother board will support up to 4gb of ram. Is it worth adding?
We just did a demo recording to see how many tracks we will need for the album and it will be 6-8 guitar tracks (2xChugs, Octave, 5th, 4th, Some chord voicings, ocassional guitar harmonies and solos) 2 bass tracks(Dry and Sansamp) 8 for drums 3-4 for vocals and back vocals and 1-2 for sound fx.
So about 24 tracks. I am pretty sure every single track will have some eq. compression, some will have reverb, delay etc.

We run system on 250gb Sata and run protools on 500gb sata (also save projects there). Its XP sp3, with nothing else installed except for protools and plugins. Today it will have 3gb of ram in it. Is it worth adding 1 more?

max ram is always the cheapest way to get the most performance
always max the ram - its dirt cheap these days

[Vain Melody]

Originally Posted by whomper

max ram is always the cheapest way to get the most performance always max the ram - its dirt cheap these days

Ok here's a question along a similar vein: CAN I DO IT with what I have, or do I need a new computer? [Let's assume I don't want to compromise the number of tracks/plug ins I am using - obviously using less tracks, plug ins would mean better audio performance :P]

My system still isn't handling audio satisfactorily. Crackling audio when running too many tracks and plug ins. I'm spending too much f'ing time organising the computer and not enough practising/writing.

Here is what I have done:

- installed XP on a second drive, bare bones
- installed only music apps, drivers
- used some of the DuX tweaks (getting rid of windows DEP, disabled on board sound, dumbing down graphics, etc)
- saving audio files/projects to a third drive

Here is what I am going to try:

- using all the DuX tweaks/set-up to get rid of everything that isn't absolutely necessary to run audio


Here is what I am using:

- Pentium 4 at 3GHz, with 2GB of pc3200 ram
- windows XPsp3
- E-MU 0404|USB
- 3 HDDs, SATA, 7200 rpm
- PSU 550W Corsair
- two CD/DVD optical drives
- some other onboard stuff like modem
- cubase studio 4
- record at 44.1 kHz and 16 bit
- EZdrummer, Amplitube, Revalver, (and other cubase plug ins)
- typically record 3-4 guitar, 1 bass, 3-4 vocal, then use VST for drums and two to three other instruments

[ryanoliver]

CAN I DO IT with what I have

Pentium 4 = single core. Your chip was big in the year 2000 but it's not cutting the mustard by today's standards. Go quad-core and get back to creativity.

[Vain Melody]

Originally Posted by ryanoliver

Pentium 4 = single core. Your chip was big in the year 2000 but it's not cutting the mustard by today's standards. Go quad-core and get back to writing.

THANKS!!! Now, if only a few more people post confirming this then I can show my wife the PROOF - I NEED a new computer. I am doubtful a newer CPU would work with my current motherboard, but who knows. I'll ask my tech friends ... maybe this wont cost as much as I thought.