They each serve specific purposes, as a dedicated VSTi PC, audio PC, guitar PC and mix PC. Their combined power is 16 CPU cores & 16 GB ram, which is more than enough to tackle any project I'll ever do. These XP systems run as master & slaves, synchronized with VST System Link.
With 3 legacy PCI slots on the P5KC's, I can install up to 3 PCI interfaces in each PC. I run several older/obsolete 5-ish volt PCI based Aardvarks cards on them, a combination of Q10's and Aark 24 cards. Even my 4 older Win XP PC's (2006 era), with ASUS PK5C motherboards can have quad cores installed, you sure you can't swap from a dual to a quad on yours? I'm not ready to invest thousands of dollars in upgraded plugins just to run the DAW program at 64 bits.Exactly the point, careful & smart planning & shopping.
I run both 32 bit and 64bit daw versions so I can continue using many of my older plugins. Even the software you might own can have issues when switching. you have to do your research and not simply shop by price.
I run it with a 6 channel USB 2 interface for now, but when I upgrade my studio to a new multichannel interface, I'll also be able to run it on the laptop when needed.Ĭarefully planning ahead is a big part of the game. What I have done is, I acquired a top end HP Z book that has USB 2, USB3 and Thunderbolt so I have three options for interfaces. I had a card that couldn't be upgraded to XP so I used it long past its prime. I had the same issue on my first DAW back in 95. I haven't upgraded it to a quad or something newer because PCI is obsolete and I'd need to upgrade my interfaces. I still use a dual core Tower in my main daw because I run three 8 channel PCI cards. I still have all my Q10's, they just run on the appropriate systems. But when I bought a 12 core PC with Win 7 64 bit.guess what? I bought another interface to run on a newer system. I surely would NOT be buying a brand new 16 core PC with Win 10 64 bit, expecting my EIGHT Aardvark Q10's to run on it, or hold my breath expecting a company to manufacture an adapter to make it work for me and other Q10 users, that would be futile. That money could have been put toward an actual 'suited' computer, probably costing less.īut if this proposed USB-C to Firewire 800 actually is doable - though I gather it amounts to holding one's breath - then I'm not interjecting the common sense I thought I was I'm sure the Mac Pro cost a LOT more than a $1,000.
My point was, that choosing any kind of computer as an upgraded system, without the capability of readily running, nor the ability for a 'reasonable' add-on for the intended legacy device, wasn't the best marriage for, in this case, a Firewire 800 device. How would those PCI-e cards fit into a laptop? I know, just buy a $1,000+ Magna Chssis.