You may want to fully optimize the system you have before you think about upgrading. Adding another drive would certainly help. Plus more efficient recording practices - do you really need 4 or 5 instances of any reverb let alone Dverb?

i use an xp1800 with 512 ram and cAN run 24 tracks with all the plugs i need (win 98). you will eventually run into plug-in limitations on host based DAWs no matter how powerful your system is. you can get around these limitations by bussing several track to a single reverb, for example. but dont expect that you can load up 20 d-verbs just becuase you upgrade to an xp2800. reverb plugs are VERY CPU intensive. i completely agree with what english jim posted above. what OS are you running? i can post win98 tweeks. get a second fast hard drive dedicated for audio. if you dont have one already, get a promise controller for your hard drives. i dont know your system specs, but these ideas may help. if you still want to upgrade- listen to allen's advice!

OK... thanks for the input. I'll look into the latest VIA DDR333 solutions. I'm definitely upgrading... I've had this system too long and I'm looking to get my next "boost" in speed, so I'd be doing this even if it weren't for PT. WATYF

I like my system, it has power oozing out the sides: Carillon AC-1 P4 2.8GHz Intel D850EMV2-L 1GB PC1066 RDRAM Matrox G550 Digi 001 Waves Platinum Bundle WD 80GB JB (System) WD 80GB JB (Audio) 48x24x48 Lite-On Carillon Transport Controller Samsung 171s

What\'s the BEST system... period? 

O.K. Here's the deal. Right now I have an Athlon XP 1900+ in a Soyo Dragon+ with 512 MB PC2100 and a Maxtor D740X HDD. The performance is abysmal. I can barely handle using D-Verb on more than 4 or 5 tracks before my CPU maxes out. So anywhoo... I'm building a new system. I want a new one anyway, regardless of the performance probs with PT. I have more than enough spare cash to build this box. In fact... I was just considering going really crazy and getting a Dual 2.8 Xeon setup with a couple SCSI's. But then I read the digidesign requirements for PT LE. "Single Procs", "No HT", "8xx chipsets only", etc. etc. So here's my question. What's the absolute best platform to use for PT LE right now? Obviously I can't use the HT in the P4 3GHz, so should I stick with AMD and just get the 2800+? Should I use Dual DDR on an nForce2 board, or stick with VIA? Should I stick with IDE and just get the IBM Deskstar 180GXP, or should I get a Cheetah? etc. etc. etc. Since the most performance intensice part of my rig is PT, I want whatever is going to suit PT the best... so any input would be appreciated. Thanks. WATYF

Ah heck, just go for it.. if you want a fast system, start with an AMD Athlon XP 2800+ overclocked to 2835 MHz. This clock speed corresponds to a model rating of nearly 4000! To obtain this speed, use this cooling system: It will run your Athlon XP at minus 35 degrees C. Be sure to run the following memory in your system: And, alleviate that disk I/O bottleneck with a MegaCache storage accelerator: This is the kind of screamer I want sitting next to my Digi 001! Of course, don't ask for support from Digidesign.. But, if you're tired of all the headaches of high technology, simplify! Just use one of these ready-to-go systems.. comes complete with a custom built-in three-voice synth, color screen, instant-on operating system: