Computer for largish show

[deleskie]

I'm making a big jump this year in number of channels, had 5 controllers last year, this year will have 16 CCR's, 12CCB's 1 CCP and 6 controllers.

I have 4 USB to RS485 controllers but think I'm going to order 2 more, ( forgot about the CCB's), should this be enough or should I 3-4 more total giving me 7-8 networks?

Also the show PC is 4-5 years old, dual core AMD but only 3G of ram, should that be enough or should I plan on upgrading it, I don't really have time to test it and then upgrade, my new toys just shipped and I'm in Canada, so I won't see them for a week - 10day, and work has me pretty busy so trying to find spare cycles where I can

If I should upgrade any suggestions?

Also if I upgrade it seems all new computers come with Windows 8, anyone have any issues with 8 and LOR S3? I moved to MAC about 5yrs back and the show PC is the only windows machine in the house so I haven't really kept up.

Now to do look for more extension cords, they seems to always disappear between end of one season and start of the next

Thanks!

-jim

[Santa]

Jim, I have S3 running in Parallels and Windows 8 running on my Macintosh with no problems that I have seen yet. I have always been a Mac person and believe in the reliability and stability of the Apple platform which has never let me down.

[jem5136]

It sounds to me like your computer should do okay with your show. I use a little netbook that I got for about $250 and it runs my shows without a problem. However, if you do upgrade, I would go down the road Santa said, I would get a Mac and run Parallels with either Windows 7, or possible Windows 8 (which I haven't used yet) and run your show with that. Your only potential problem that way would be with comm ports which are almost always a simple fix.