Track limit or Dual Core Help!

First to start off with my setup: Intel 2.4Ghz processor 1.5 Gigs of RAM 80GB Hard Drive Running PTLE 5.3.1 with a DIGI 001. This is a fresh install of Windows XP with nothing added. All other hardware is disabled (onboard sound, NIC...). My first question is on the setup I have now. I am only able to get 24 tracks (with no plugins and my system stats look fine). Is there a way to get the 32 tracks out of this? I've done researching and I believe I have read 32 tracks IS possible, correct? These extra tracks would help out a lot! Also, I know I have read a way to cut down on track is to put all the drums into a stereo track. But, I can't because I'm running those into a single stereo track (from a TD-20). Am I overlooking something and shouldn't this computer be good enough to handle 32 tracks? Next question, I have another computer... Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz Processor 2 Gigs of RAM 300GB Hard Drive PTLE 5.3.1 with the DIGI 001 wouldn't run with this. Even with all other hardware disabled. I know I may not be able to run this with this setup but do the new DIGI 003 work with these processors? I'm kind of new to this but learning fast. Thank you in advance.

I have a 3.4 GHz P4 system (see below) The best score I could get for record enabled tracks was 39 (39 =32+7, I have the Music production toolkit) 24 is probably about par for a 2.4 GHz P4. You are running a separate drive for Audio correct? That would make a Big difference also..... Your Core 2 system should work GREAT with a 003! or a 002 or a Mbox. Highly recommended and it will be about 5 times more powerful than your current P4 system.

Thank you for everyone that replied. That clears up things. To spkguitar: makes sense. I guess I didn't get that. Is that the same case with the new DIGI 003 or is it different?

It is the same with the stock version of the software for every LE version that comes with all of the hardware, yes. However, with versions 7.1 and above (which you can't use with the 001 and would need a newer interface to use), you can purchase and install the Music Production Toolkit, which replaces the 32 voice limit with a 48 track limit, meaning with the toolkit, you can use 48 tracks, stereo or mono.

It makes a HUGE difference. One drive for software, a seperate one for audio and definitely a seperate one for video. I run two SATA drives, purposefully limited to 80GB each, one for Audio, and one for Video, which are my "work" areas. They are kept clear of anything other than work in progress. Anything not currently being worked on gets moved off to one of my firewire drives. This setup works beautifully - you get easy playback of everything, PT runs lightening fast, and you don't get buffer problems, or stuttering video playback. Of course, a Dual Core and more RAM than you think you'll ever need, work great. Alan