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-- Acceess Virus TI or Dual core AMD64 computer (which would you buy???)
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Acceess Virus TI or Dual core AMD64 computer (which would you buy???)

I was just wondering what some of the other people on this forum would do if faced with the following choice.

At the moment I've got a pentium4 (2.4Ghz) machine running Reason 3 and Cubase with a couple of VSTi's.
Since upgrading to reason3 I'm starting to struggle with cpu power (especially when rewired)
I've also got a Novation KS rack.

I'm trying to save up my pennies and just wondered which of the following you would go for.

1) Access virus TI
or
2)Dual core 64AMD (4.4Ghz) machine.
Which option do you think would give me more room for improvement, production wise.

Or perhaps you could suggest something else

How much ram do you have? 2.4 ghz seems pretty good.

I've got 1Gb of RAM but the computer seems to struggle when I'm using reason rewired to reason. As soon as I've added a couple of FM7's the computer is struggling and even using Reason 3 on it's own, the CPU meter goes ballistic as soon as you try using some of the more coomplex combinator patches.

your setup should be enough for that software, try increasing latency or format c:/ and go for the TI. Then maybe you can run the reason parts from the TI and get rid of reason to decrease cpu load

quote:

Originally posted by michael00elder I'm using reason rewired to reason.

Doh!!!!!

Reason rewired to Reason!!!!

Knew I shouldn't have had that last Drambuie liqueur!!!!

ofcours a virus maaaaaaaaaaaaan lol

it's wierd your comp should be running smooth as a baby's bottom. anyways, a virus is still more beneficial to production than a dual amd64 though it's a killer cpu.

i dunno about dualcore processor handling VSTs (like dividing em up on both cores).
id hit the virus.

Yeah, I have been drooling at the lips at the prospect of getting a virus since I first set eyes on it. I know it makes sense.
Although, I've just seen an Andromeda on Ebay for �1000 (all those knobs!!!!!)

As far as the computer goes. I've tried evcerything to get the most power out of it. It is good enough for most of what I want to do with it. The processor just seems to struggle with certain things like complex combinator patches and multiple instances of VSTi's like absynth.

Maybe I'm just expecting too much!!!

Oh, forgot to mention the computer, as well as having dual processors, has 2Gb ram, 200Gb program drive, 2x 74Gb audio drives and graphic's card with dual outputs.

All for �1400

Thing is, if I buy the Virus first, then save up for the new computer later, by the time I will have raised the necesarry readies, I'll be able to buy a better machine

quote:

Originally posted by michael00elder Maybe I'm just expecting too much!!!

I dunno,..its not only about the CPU. Another important aspect is the mainboard, the chipset in particular. if you got a cheap 80$ mainboard with a lame chipset even the fastest CPU wont help much

Yeah Deekay, Your spot on.
I bought the computer 2 years ago and I didn't know that much about computers at the time. Motherboard is an Asus P4P800-VM (intel 865G chipset) - if that means anything too you. The guy in the computer shop seen me coming.
That's why I'm still thinking about getting the new computer - won't make the same mistake twice!!!

quote:

Originally posted by michael00elder Thing is, if I buy the Virus first, then save up for the new computer later, by the time I will have raised the necesarry readies, I'll be able to buy a better machine

Thing is, you can wait until you die for this reason as everything will get cheaper without an end.

Dual processor is only interesting with cubase sx3 as far is I know. Other applications do not allow you to use both cores at the same time (yet).

Anyway, I would personally go for the pc first to give you the necessary headroom on cpu so you can get to work

Virus can come later and will take off some cpu probably if you'll use it often.

quote:

Originally posted by michael00elder Motherboard is an Asus P4P800-VM (intel 865G chipset) - if that means anything too you.

Yeah...I think we got that board in the sequencer computer in one of the studios at the company im working at.
Nothing but problems with that board (even random crashes / application hungs,...but that may be as well a result of the gfx card,..still working on that).

Anyway, after all i'm not too fond of that board (results from personal experience, maybe i just had no luck)

anyway, im hooked on a Athlon64 3400+ myself and was working with a XP2800+ before (which is my 2nd computer now after having sold the third one when i got the A64 system).
Even the XP2800+ was/is fast enuff to cope with decent productions.
I dunno how much RAM you have, but I think u shouldve at least a gig though I'd recommend 2GB.

By the way, do any of you know anything of the mother board my computer has.

Asus P4P800-VM (intel 865G chipset)

When I was ordering the machine 2 years ago, the salesman insisted that it was decent but looking back in hindsight, I think he could have been speaking out of his ****!!!!!!

get the virus dude!

this is the dumbest question to date... GET THE VIRUS!!!

Getting a new computer will let you squeeze maybe one more instance of Z3ta+ or V-Station out of your computer, a Virus TI will let you have SIXTEEN sweet sounding hypersaaw sounds and fat pads at the same time...


GET THE VIRUS!!!

please take note that the virus is a rather complicated synth, so I really hope it isn't the first one you're getting. It will take a long time to learn how to work with it properly. A computer is plain simple for most of us.

Other than that the poster above me is plain wrong, if you have cubase sx3 and dual CPU, you can almost double your ammount of instances of z3ta+.

Im currently using 2x atmosphere, 1x trilogy, 2x stylus rmx, 3x synth1, 2x vanguard, 2x z3ta+ and one v-station and I'm not maxing out yet on my 1.8Ghz (excluding loads of vst effects). Imagine the potential if you double this, it is massive, no virus could ever compete with that. Most guys really overrate it here.

I would guess almost anyone that posted in here before hasn't had any notable experience with the virus synths at all.

I think storyteller is right.
And to add a thing: You can do much more forms of synthesis. For example FM synth, you can't do a 6 operator thing with the Virus.
Or pull out your z3ta+ with 6 osc's on and you got a 43 voices supersaw (why all those numbers? it's about the melodies and effects )

i recommend a synth becouse dualcore aint gonna solve your broeblem

First of all, I'm a proud Virus TI owner. Once said that, I think people is really confused about the soft vs. hard synths duel. There doesn't exist softsynths 'per se'. Softsynths are no more than very versatile hardware synths (i.e. a PC or a Mac) that are able to load pieces of software (plug-ins) in order to produce sound or behave like a specific synth (besides of, for only mention a few ones, word-processing, DVD ripping or online-gaming). This versatility leads to a lack of higher audio DSP throughput, which is in fact the strong point for 100% hard synths.

Then... Am I trying to dissuade you from buying a Virus? Nothing further from my mind. Virus is a great gear (yet a bit buggy though), but with it you won't be able to browse the web or watch movies. And you will still need a PC/Mac to run your VST host app or other softsynths. It will depend on the degree you get used to the Virus sound, and Virus suit your studio needings. Virus will be a waste of money if you are not able to get the most of it (or you don't feel comfortable with it).

About the other option you mentioned... I bought a 2.4 GHz Dual Xeon a few years ago and I must say that even the most pro audio apps hardly take advantage of multiprocessing (when they don't bring to new troubles). I noticed an average improvement of 25%-50% over single processing in best cases (and I have up to 4 logical processor when Hyperthreading is enabled) but the price was almost twice. I think it's better to go for the top on consumer single-processor PC/Mac than to spend lots of money on high-end hardware (maybe multiprocessing be a must for the web services market but audio developers have proven that, whatever they say, they scarcely have it in mind).

And, which is my advice? If you are plenty of money and/or you don't need a newer PC/Mac, go for the Virus TI! In any other case, a top single-processor PC/Mac will be the best match. (Ok, if you were rich and famous, simply buy Ferry Corsten's or Ti?0�5sto's studios).

I hope my experience helped you clear up your issues!

Well, I would just like to say thanks to all the people who have contributed their opinions to my original question. I would have to say that whilst the arguments for both sides are quite convincing, I reckon the Virus has got the edge. I've just read the review in Future music and music tech and it does sound like the ideal solution to bridging the gap between hardware/VST with it's total intergration. I reckon I would be able to continue getting the most out of my 2.4 Ghz P4 machine for a good while longer and agree that having 16 TI's is preferable to squeezing out a few more instances of Absynth etc.

make it double..

buy some used..but good synth..
and upgrade your computers other parts to get it faster..

forexample.. hows your hd.. if your coputer is 2 years old, does it have 7200 rpm hd?

or do you have motherboard what has 333mz ram?? or faster?

do you have good motherboard..
motherboard is the common way to get cheaper when making computer.. so people often takes the cheap 1.. but theres huge speed differences if you have read the rewievs..

and what about overclocking?.. buy better fans and stuff to keep it cool and you got soe extra power

hardikaveri,
These are the specs of my present computer,

Asus P4P800-VM motherboard (Intel 865G chipset)
Pentium 4 processor (800FSB)
1Gb Ram 400MHz FSB
120 GB hard drive (7200rpm)

When I bought the computer 2 years ago, I didn't know much about them as it was my first PC, although I did request one to be built for audio.

And by the way, the new computer is dual processor AMD64 X2, has 2Gb ram, 200Gb program drive, 2x 74Gb audio drives(10,000Rpm) and graphic's card with dual outputs. ultra quiet Zalman 7000 CPU cooler, etc etc

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