I may have mentioned once or twice I'm a happy Reaper user and have detailed my setup earlier in this thread.

USD$60.00 for current release plus one so by in now at R5.x and stump up another $60 when it goes to R7 so cheap as chips.

The native VSTs cover more territory than most will need and automation of faders and effect plugins is a walk in the park.

I have professional mentors in the US who live in the world populated by the expensive big name DAWs and am starting to achieve results that don't reflect the humble situation I am working in.

My PC is an i5 but is currently in hospital thanks to the storms on Thursday night spiking either the power supply or mother board so I can't tell you much more about RAM etc.