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Background_noise

Joined: 24/03/09
Posts: 18

64 or 32 bit?
#719827 - 24/03/09 06:11 AM

I'm buying a laptop to act as uni work machine/recording machine ((but lets be honest, more recording machine)). Gonna be running Cubase with some software synths. I intend to use a USB keyboard style MIDI controller and either firewire or USB audio interface. I havnt settled on what for both of these yet, will begin looking when i am back in england.

Question is this, am i better off with a 64 bit processor and look at more RAM or is a 32 bit going to be plenty? And how is the availability of drivers for audio hardware for the afforementioned, and other hardware i may want later on. I am not made of money with a huge budget, but i am looking at getting a good system that will do the job well so am prepared to spend anywhere up to about 700 UKpounds.

Any advice?

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Martin Walker
Watcher Of The Skies

Joined: 28/02/01
Posts: 16477
Loc: Cornwall, UK

Re: 64 or 32 bit? new

[Re: Background_noise]
#719998 - 24/03/09 06:36 PM

There are loads of 64-bit processors around, but what determines whether or not a system is 64-bit capable is the operating system, which in the case of Windows nowadays means Vista 64-bit. Most audio interfaces do now have 64-bit drivers to accompany it.

However, the majority of musicians are still perfectly happy with the 3-4GB of RAM that you can get with 32-bit Windows, and only those who routinely load in loads of samples or RAM-hungry softsynths find they need more. Personally I'm still happy with 2GB of RAM

Unlike your music requirements are really ambitious, I suspect buying a laptop running Windows Vista 32-bit and up to 4GB of RAM will be fine.

Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

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Background_noise

Joined: 24/03/09
Posts: 18

Re: 64 or 32 bit? new

[Re: Martin Walker]
#720524 - 26/03/09 11:23 AM

Thanks Martin,

i was expecting as much. i think the 32 bit option is gonna suit me just fine. And save some cash...

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Martin Walker
Watcher Of The Skies

Joined: 28/02/01
Posts: 16477
Loc: Cornwall, UK

Re: 64 or 32 bit? new

[Re: Background_noise]
#720818 - 27/03/09 09:44 AM

My pleasure!

Saving cash is always good in these troubled times

Martin

--------------------
YewTreeMagic

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Background_noise

Joined: 24/03/09
Posts: 18

Re: 64 or 32 bit? new

[Re: Martin Walker]
#721310 - 29/03/09 01:05 PM

You've gotta love being a student, having a nice big student loan to get you through the recession, and emerging from the other side strait into a job once its all over.

Or so the theory goes....

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IvanSC

Joined: 08/03/05
Posts: 7762
Loc: UK France & USA depending on t...

Re: 64 or 32 bit? new

[Re: Background_noise]
#721336 - 29/03/09 03:28 PM

presumably you are not a music tech person then? (grin)

--------------------
Me? But I`m such a loveable old bugger!

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Remeniz

Joined: 02/12/08
Posts: 378
Loc: Peterborough in the UK

Re: 64 or 32 bit? new

[Re: IvanSC]
#721362 - 29/03/09 05:26 PM

Quote IvanSC:

presumably you are not a music tech person then? (grin)

Anyways it seems you've made up your mind. Should you go with a 32 BIT OS you can use 4 GB. About 3-3.5 will be allocated to the OS and apps and 0.5GB will be use as video memory.

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