Survey of Recommended PC Laptop Models

[The Telenator]

Good points, Martin. Yes, does anyone know how many different Intel CPU chips have been brought into existence in just the last two years? It made my eyes sore scanning the list.

To your final point -- I used to be amazed at how many DAW users I was regularly meeting who still cling to their Windows Vista computers, but when I meet one now it doesn't surprise me at all. Some just really like that OS of Windows, like I have taken to Win7 and don't care very much for the new Win8. I think I might like to stay with 7.

[ArtVandelay]

I am at the end of my rope with this problem.

My pc is nearing the end of its life and I want to move to a laptop based setup for more portable recording. I currently run MOTU firewire interfaces and am finding it impossible to find a compatible laptop. Scan don't seem to supply the one ADK model that has onboard TI firewire (the 9000X). Most other suppliers seem to be providing USB based systems. I've spent weeks trawling the net and have found nothing.

My other option is to buy a MOTU hybrid interface but i have no experience of using USB for pro audio. Would i be able to use my standard Dell laptop for audio if i had a USB interface?

Any suggestions or advice would be welcome as i'm considering jacking in recording and blowing my budget on a classic car.

[Martin Walker]

Hi ArtVanDelay, and welcome to the SOS Forums!

Buying a laptop to partner a Firewire-based audo interface is inded a minefield at the moment, but have you tried speaking to representatives from any of the companies you mention to get their advice?

They are at the sharp end more than anyone else, so if anything is available that will work they are likely to know about it.

Hope this helps!

Martin

[ArtVandelay]

Thanks Martin. Yes I have begun getting in touch with suppliers to see if they can offer what i'm looking for.

I currently use a desktop machine but as my work is becoming more mobile than i previously anticipated, I need something more suited for travelling. My pc is really not up to being moved around much.

Slightly off topic but does anyone have any experience of using a rackmount pc? I asked Inta about their rackmount case but they say it's not really up to being taken on the road. Carillon on the other hand state that their rackmount model is more than sturdy enough to be portable. If i could guarantee that a pc would stand up to being moved, I would happily have one over a laptop. No problems using firewire then!

[adrian_k]

Just scanned this thread and I must say I'm feeling more than a little gloomy... My main mobile recording laptop is nearing the end of it's life (may already be there, just waiting to hear from the repair shop). But either way need to look at replacing it, possibly quite quickly.

Just did a quick web based look at what's available and the options for a FW based mobile setup seem to be quite restricted and not cheap. It's changed quite a lot since 2006!!

@ArtVandelay - might be worth looking at the "World's Smallest PC" and the Rain "Event Muse" that Martin reviewed for SoS recently, these might fulfill your 'rackmount' requirement. I am looking at these too but then you have to lug around a separate screen/keyboard etc..

Ho hum

[philipomeara]

I'm coming at this from a different angle - I want a laptop that will handle quite a few synths and sampled synths (east west stuff) going into plogue bidule for gigs. It needs to have a really good soundcard but I can't find laptops out there dedicated to this kind of use...

I see some laptops recommended, but soundcard doesn't seem high on everyones lists!

Any recommendations in the £500 mark?

Thanks
Phil

[robinv]

I see some laptops recommended, but soundcard doesn't seem high on everyones lists!

Soundcards in laptops are for playing games and movies. If you want quality audio performance then you need to look at USB audio interfaces or firewire ones if you have a suitable firewire connection. Relying on the mini-jack output of a laptop is not the way to go. There are lots to choose from - i like the Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 - http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/producer/komplete-audio-6/

Hope that helps

[Rockdrummerzero]

Alienware M17X R4
750GB 7200rpm with 32gb SSD Cache
[email]i7-3610qm@2.30with[/email] turbo boost to 3.3 which appears to have 8 threads, looks very impressive on my cpu gadget...
8gb DDR3 1600Mhz
Soundblaster econ3di

Cubase 6.07

All works wonderfully, Slate VTM & Steinberg/Yamaha 276 compressor and Cubase is all I seem to need for mixing and mastering ( I use the word mastering loosely )

All recording on Korg D32XD then transfer for mixing, do not ask, I am a drummer.

[tea for two]

One of my fave windows laptops (size of a netbook).
Goodness knows at one time i went through approximately twenty business laptops to find a suitable.

1. Make and model HP NC2400

2. Processor type & speed Proper dual core 1.2GHz U2500 2MB L2 utra low voiltage (also comes in solo u1400 1.2GHz, u1300 1.06Ghz)

3. Amount of RAM Max 2GB memory on its single memory slot, although its gm945 chipset takes 4GB, i never tried 4GB

4. Drive(s) capacity Best replace its 1.8" 4200rpm Zif drive with 1.8" SSD Zif (amazon)

5. Make and model of audio interface SoundMax onboard rather useful 16bit latency down to 11ms using ASIO4ALL although I used it at 20ms

6. Interface connection type Texas Instruments firewire miniport. Texas Instruments PC card. 2X USB2.0

7. Main software used. Windows XP & 7, Cakewalk Sonar 3 & 8, Cakewalk Dimension Pro, Hollowsun Novachord, ZeroG Nostalgia.

8. Other Dvdrw built in. I put an extended battery on mine & ran approx 4hours audio, longer non audio.

...

HP replaced it with nc2510p which has Ricoh firewire.

[Neo-Classical Guitar Man]

One of my fave windows laptops (size of a netbook).
Goodness knows at one time i went through approximately twenty business laptops to find a suitable.

1. Make and model HP NC2400

3. Amount of RAM Max 2GB memory on its single memory slot, although its gm945 chipset takes 4GB, i never tried 4GB

If you installed 4GB in your laptop it would only be able to use 3GB of it, due to the chipset involved. I have some IBM Thinkpads and my sister an Acer Aspire with the same family of chipset and it meant I had to shuffle around the RAM sticks between the laptops, so each one had 3GB. This has nothing to do with MS Windows it is merely a Intel hardware restriction.

I bought a few IBM Thinkpads on the recommendation of some people on here, and the laptops / notebook have blown my mind. On paper other brands with the exact same specifications look the equal of mine, and yet the performance difference is staggering beyond belief! This is with each one set up exactly the same in every way too. So I cannot look at anything other than a IBM Lenovo Thinkpad for the long term future.

[robin746]

I bought a few IBM Thinkpads on the recommendation of some people on here, and the laptops / notebook have blown my mind. On paper other brands with the exact same specifications look the equal of mine, and yet the performance difference is staggering beyond belief! This is with each one set up exactly the same in every way too. So I cannot look at anything other than a IBM Lenovo Thinkpad for the long term future.

IBM/Lenovo used to make such great laptops, until they too learned to compromise. You need to really go back in the model history to find something excellent. Two years ago I followed advice gained here and elsewhere, and purchased a ThinkPad X60 from a firm that refurbishes them out of business leases. It seemed like a pretty "old" model to get, but let me tell you it works fine for everything I do, so long as I don't throw too much at the processor.

The best things about it? Has Firewire, CardBus II, and SD slot, so I can connect to everything without additional adapters. The 12" 1024x768 screen can get cramped, but any higher resolution is impossible to read on stage IMO. I like the fact I am not wasting real estate on wide screen. Plus it is matte and reads very well.

The wireless on/off switch is nice to have, to save juice and to ensure that interruptions are impossible. Oh yeah, battery life is not great but sufficient for a live set off mains. The cute little ThinkLight is no match for an illuminated keyboard but is a lot more subtle. A great thing to have when fumbling in the dark!

I am amazed that the built-in sound is actually good enough for gigs. Though I generally need at least four channels (monitor and mains), I have run mini jack out when necessary.

My model is only 2GB (maximum is 3GB). Chip is Intel Core 2 Duo T5550 @ 1.83GHz. I swapped out the original 60GB HD for a full-sized unit but otherwise run it as stock. The Windows install came with all sorts of app crap so I started from scratch.

You can pick one up for £150 and a dock with DVD drive and retro ports is almost free. My wife loved the computer -- just the right size and price! So she bought one too. Even though her use is different this model suits us both.

I use Reaktor and Samplitude with NI USB or RME FireWire interfaces. I have plugged a couple other USB I/O boxes into this when on the road and all have worked without hiccup.

The computer runs hot but is nice and quiet, which is more important to me. Actually, my model is absolutely silent but my wife's unit generates a small whine when the fan kicks into high gear.

I would really like to know if any advance has been made on this computer in the past five years. Somehow I doubt it. The only thing I wish for is a larger screen, but then again I don't want a heavier laptop. Compromises must be made.

[alexis]

Hi - I just tested my "real world" laptop (Dell Latitude D630 running XP) with the DPC Latency checker. Sliding the wirless button on the case to off ... everything is green, not even any yellow, this has been going on for about 5 minutes now. Running on battery power.

Does this mean I don't need to make any tweaks before I record audio? I'll wait longer before the fan kicks in (I have to say, the fan is not running now, and it is completely silent ... also, fingers crossed, now that I think about it I don't *ever* recall hearing a fan run, just getting a burnt lap, so maybe it's off already).

Ah ... it just went into sleep (hibernation) mode ... with lots of red associated with that ... I see I do have tweaks to do!

[JeffB]

I still like Lenovo for live use.

Over the years I've used a T43 1.86Ghz, a T43 2.0Ghz, a T60 Core 2 Duo 2.0Ghz, a W500 2.53Ghz Core 2 Duo.

I'm now using a W530 i7 3720QM with 16Gb ram, Samsung 840 Evo 120Gb SSD and Samsung 840 Pro 256Gb SSD.

I run Cantabile Performer with Halion Sonic 2, Korg Legacy Collection Digital, Omnisphere, OPX-ProII, RealLPC and Amplitube 3.

Controlled by a Roland A-37 and Korg Kronos 61 with Roland Sonic Cell as the audio interface.

No complaints whatsoever.

[texasguitar]

I am now using a Toshiba P50 laptop quad core I7 with 16GB ram and a 1TB HD. I have the presonus USB and M-audio usb boxes. I use sonar X1 with several soft synth libraries. Still setting this computer up as of right now.

[alexis]

Here's what I don't get. Even if the laptop that works *perfectly* for the posters above were going to work *perfectly* for my circumstances (never guaranteed of course), it is pretty much impossible to go to a store and buy *exactly* the same system.

But I guess I've kind of picked up from reading that one tiny component being different can throw a real spaniard in the works, and might make the system completely inadequate for audio. So besides being happy for all the folks that have a good laptop system, how do I use the above posts ... practically speaking how does one safely buy a laptop good for audio?

Does it all come down to choosing processor, ram, one or two other things, but then checking it out in the store w/ my usb running that program to make sure everything is in the green? (Or buying pre-built, of course ...)?

Thanks -

[DGL.]

1. 2013 Fujitsu Lifebook AH512
2. 201 Q3 2328M Intel SB i3 2.2Ghz
3. 8GB DDR3 (upgraded came with 1 4gb stick 16GB max 1333mhz)
4. 500gb WD Black (also upgraded, damaged the original 320gb Seagate, DVD Rewriter (SATA)
5. Behringer UMA25s 256 samples
6. USB 2.0 Express card slot to upgrade to whatever
7. Reaper and VSTHost

Not done too much audio on it (just reaper hosting various free softsynths connected to a behringer UMA25s and an alesis vortex).

With updates to windows 8 (now on 8.1, 8.0 was originally useless) it appears to work perfectly has advantage of both VGA and HDMI and Expresscard (full size).

Great quality (for the price), good keyboard, made in Germany and bulletproof power jack (just like all fujitsu's, I've ripped it out by accident a few times (it right angled so even worse) and no drama)

Also cheap at around £300 and easily upgradeable.

[ef37a]

I can see the initial attraction of a laptop for mobile work but given the drawbacks and pitfalls I think if I had a need for a mobile system in even a basic "semi-pro" area I would either get/build a rack unit or "beef up" a tower system?

SSDs of adequate capacity are now reasonably priced and will resist shocks that might fork a spinner.Soundcard could be RME PCIe with ADAT expansion (or one of the Ethernet systems). You can pick up an excellect 21" monitor from BHFoundation shops for 30quid! A wireless keyboard and mouse will set you back about another score. Tenner for a strap handle for the top.

All that said I saw mention at least once of HP laptops? I have a modest, sub £400 HP i3 W7/64 lappy* and that is almost silent, runs faultlessly with an NI KA6 and has played back 17 tracks of Cubase LE6, a mix of live and MIDI instruments quite happily.

Re drive speeds: I think Martin W has shown some time ago that 5,400rpm drives are not the bottleneck some perceive them to be?

*4G ram. I don't know if that can be increased? If anyone knows, do please tell.

Dave.

[DGL.]

*4G ram. I don't know if that can be increased? If anyone knows, do please tell.

Dave.

Should be, 64bit systems support huge amounts of ram but it is up to the motherboard as to what it can support, generally on laptops this will either be 8gb or 16gb, if the laptop has just 1 4gb stick at the moment then it would be easy to add another 4gb to put it up to 8gb.
This will usually be accomplished by removing a panel (marked memory/ram) or removing one large panel (as it is on fujitsu's ). In some rare cases there maybe a stick under the keyboard but I have only seen one laptop like this.

For a machine with an i3 it will be DDR3 at either 1333 or 1600 MHz.

[ef37a]

Thanks DGL,
I shall see how things stand after the next lekky bill!

Dave.

[ef37a]

*4G ram. I don't know if that can be increased? If anyone knows, do please tell.

Dave.

Should be, 64bit systems support huge amounts of ram but it is up to the motherboard as to what it can support, generally on laptops this will either be 8gb or 16gb, if the laptop has just 1 4gb stick at the moment then it would be easy to add another 4gb to put it up to 8gb.
This will usually be accomplished by removing a panel (marked memory/ram) or removing one large panel (as it is on fujitsu's ). In some rare cases there maybe a stick under the keyboard but I have only seen one laptop like this.

For a machine with an i3 it will be DDR3 at either 1333 or 1600 MHz.

Thanks DGL. I am a bit confused however. Speccy reports the memory as one stick of 4G (two slots) single channel DDR3 533mHz.
Crucial make great play that memory SHOULD be changed in matched pairs but then, " They would say that......"???! Since one 4G stick is not as expensive as I thought, about £30 I might just take the laptop to the guys on the main road from me and get a quote!

Dave.

[DGL.]

*4G ram. I don't know if that can be increased? If anyone knows, do please tell.

Dave.

Should be, 64bit systems support huge amounts of ram but it is up to the motherboard as to what it can support, generally on laptops this will either be 8gb or 16gb, if the laptop has just 1 4gb stick at the moment then it would be easy to add another 4gb to put it up to 8gb.
This will usually be accomplished by removing a panel (marked memory/ram) or removing one large panel (as it is on fujitsu's ). In some rare cases there maybe a stick under the keyboard but I have only seen one laptop like this.

For a machine with an i3 it will be DDR3 at either 1333 or 1600 MHz.

Thanks DGL. I am a bit confused however. Speccy reports the memory as one stick of 4G (two slots) single channel DDR3 533mHz.
Crucial make great play that memory SHOULD be changed in matched pairs but then, " They would say that......"???! Since one 4G stick is not as expensive as I thought, about £30 I might just take the laptop to the guys on the main road from me and get a quote!

Dave.

With memory so long as it's at least the same speed as the stuff that is already in there then you will be fine (a 1333 and a 1600 in this core i3). also matching is not too important just get a decent brand and you will be fine. when I brought this current fujitsu (thank you tax rebate), I had upgraded the ram even before first switch on!
Just make sure you ground yourself before going in and you'll be fine.

Also DDR is DOUBLE DATA RATE (this is in relation to old non-ddr SDRAM, that's why your 1066mhz ram is showing as 533.

[ef37a]

Thanks again DGL. Bit of a minefield innit?!

I think I shall still see what the guys down the road want for the job. They are very handy for odd bits and pieces (bought a Dell XP tower for a tenner from a charity shop and they found me 2G of old memory for a tenner as well). Also had S/H monitors off them for £20 so I like to put business their way when I can.

Dave.

[wuubb]

im planning on buying one of these pretty soon: Origin EON15-S Pro http://www.originpc.com/workstation/laptops/

they actually have a lot of customization options, especially when it comes to storage. my build is as follows
i7-4930mx (3-3.9 ghz)
32gb ddr3 1600mhz RAM
nvidia gtx 770m
2mSATA drives (480gb each)
2 samsung 840 evo 500gb SSD
(you can even use the optical drive as a HDD/SSD and theoretically have 5 drives with this laptop)
3x USB 3 (one powered)
1 x eSATA port (USB 3.0 combo)
1 x Display port 1.2
1 x HDMI output port (with HDCP)
1 x Headphone jack
1 x Microphone jack
1 x S/PDIF output jack
1 x Line-in jack
1 x RJ-45 LAN port
1 x DC-in jack
1 x Mini IEEE 1394b port
and you can put any version of windows 7/8 on it as well.
a large #of accessories are available too. (like an external optical drive and stuff)

im really picky about getting the best of the best and i was impressed with the # as well as quality of options for these laptops. they also have 13 and 17in as well. easily the best custom-laptop maker ive found and think that any of them would be tackle anything

well, thats my 2 cents, hope it helps

[Martin Walker]

Hi wuubb!

First of all, welcome to the SOS FOrums!

I really hope this system works for you, but don't forget, it ain't over until you've tried it out with the DPC Latency checker to see if audio is going to emerge glitch-free or not

Martin

[Goddard]

Hey wuubb, as it appears you're located down under, have you looked at these DAW laptop offerings from Vin/TAFKAT?