Vienna Symphonic Library Forum
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  • Getting a new PC

     I wonder if anyone can give me some suggestions on specifications for a new PC?

    I'm currently using XP with Sib 6 on a 3.2ghz Carillon PC with 3GB of RAM from about 2005. I find I can only load about 1200 MB of Vienna samples.

    What operating system gives the best option for using more RAM. Does this have to be Windows 7 64-bit? I've seen people on the forum saying they have 24 (48?) GB of RAM. How is this made possible?

    What would be a suitable type of processor / core?

    Also, how important is the PC speed? If I had much more RAM does dropping to 2.66 matter?

    All suggestions gratefully received. I need to get this right before I spend any money.


  • Windows 32bit will only recognise 4GBs and less than that will be available to run VSL.

    The only way of accessing more ram is going 64bit. You must then have a motherboard which has six ram slots and then it's how much RAM you can afford. Ram usually comes in sets of 3 sticks so you get two sets. 2GB sticks (and therefore 12 GBS) is very cheap. 4GB sticks are (for me) now affordable and two sets of 3 x 4GB sticks (so 24GBs in total) is now around £430-£450. I got mine from Amazon. You can get 8GB sticks but the price is prohibitive.

    There's no point in having W764bit and lots of RAM if you don't have a CPU to match but the best Intel i7 and the newer one (the i5 I think) are reasonably priced.

    The other important thing is that the speed of the ram matches the speed of the CPU. It's not the mghz its the FSB speed.

    A self assembled W7, Intel i7, 24 GB ram systrem with motherboard, monitor, srorage and all the necessary paraphenalia will costs between £1,000 and £1,500 and if you can persuade yourself you can justify that amount you will have a lot of fun with your toys.


  • Dave - thanks for this - it's a very helpful starting point.