Laptops!

[ZombieFightsShark]

Hello all,
Wanting to know if anyone can offer suggestions on a new laptop. I've been a dedicated Apple user for the last decade, but it looks like Apple is done catering to "Pro" users in the laptop category. Been looking around at gaming laptops, since they seem to be the most likely candidate for a replacement and have read reviews that are all over the place.

Would love to hear your stories and suggestions.

A couple of technical details that I'm looking for:
2TB storage (installed or upgradeable)
17" screen

Thanks for your time!
Chad

[aeox]

Budget?

[motuscott]

I've been a dedicated Apple user for the last decade, but it looks like Apple is done catering to "Pro" users in the laptop category.

I agree and will be looking for a windows lappy as well.

[aeox]

Well anyway here is a link to a list of laptop processor benchmarks, which is the most important factor for a music production laptop. https://www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html

Make sure to ignore the "Xeon" processors, as I couldn't really find any laptops that use those anyway.

What you can do is copy and paste this part of the processor name "i7-7820HK" into ebay, for example(sort new only). These processors are generally only used in laptops so the results should always yield just laptops.

You can further narrow the search by typing "i7-7820HK 2TB 17" etc.

For sake of reference, a mid 2015 MacPro can be equipped with a i7-4980HQ processor, and I believe the best processor you can get in the newest MacBooks pros are a i7-7920HQ, but those laptops are only 15 inches.

[4filegate]

the most powerful laptop in the entire world? Configurator! You can customize your laptop to your likings and price range. http://www.eurocom.com/ec/main()ec

THE WORLD IS MY WORKSTATION https://www.msi.com/Workstations#?w-tag=High-End

DEll Precision 7720 or refurbished DELL Precision M6800 - use this site:http://ark.intel.com/#@Processors to check if a CPU can support 32GB/64GB memory

[motuscott]

ta

[4filegate]

ta

and now for something completely different

[Gorgon]

the most powerful laptop in the entire world? Configurator! You can customize your laptop to your likings and price range. http://www.eurocom.com/ec/main()ec

THE WORLD IS MY WORKSTATION https://www.msi.com/Workstations#?w-tag=High-End

DEll Precision 7720 or refurbished DELL Precision M6800 - use this site:http://ark.intel.com/#@Processors to check if a CPU can support 32GB/64GB memory

No. Don't get a Dell.

[ZombieFightsShark]

Budget?

Trying to keep it under 3k. Under 2k would be better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ZombieFightsShark]

Well anyway here is a link to a list of laptop processor benchmarks, which is the most important factor for a music production laptop. https://www.cpubenchmark.net/laptop.html

Make sure to ignore the "Xeon" processors, as I couldn't really find any laptops that use those anyway.

What you can do is copy and paste this part of the processor name "i7-7820HK" into ebay, for example(sort new only). These processors are generally only used in laptops so the results should always yield just laptops.

You can further narrow the search by typing "i7-7820HK 2TB 17" etc.

For sake of reference, a mid 2015 MacPro can be equipped with a i7-4980HQ processor, and I believe the best processor you can get in the newest MacBooks pros are a i7-7920HQ, but those laptops are only 15 inches.

The 15" MacBook was what killed it for me. I need the real estate.
Thanks for the shopping tips. [emoji846]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ZombieFightsShark]

the most powerful laptop in the entire world? Configurator! You can customize your laptop to your likings and price range. http://www.eurocom.com/ec/main()ec

THE WORLD IS MY WORKSTATION https://www.msi.com/Workstations#?w-tag=High-End

DEll Precision 7720 or refurbished DELL Precision M6800 - use this site:http://ark.intel.com/#@Processors to check if a CPU can support 32GB/64GB memory

I know dell makes some nice machines but they've tarnished their reputation with some serious months-steps in the last decade. Specifically, cheap components that may burst into flames.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[aeox]

Budget?

Trying to keep it under 3k. Under 2k would be better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's hard to find a laptop with a top of the line processor AND 2TB of storage, I'm not sure if they can be upgraded but I don't see why not. Here is one with 1 TB storage.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... -_-Product


I'm a cheap person. I'd get something like this. The processor isn't quite as good though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Omen-17-X7P0 ... SwyWZZRUCV

And then there is this website which was mentioned earlier: http://www.eurocom.com/ec/configure(2,385,0)SkyX9E2

You can configure your own laptop to your liking.

[aeox]

Another thing to keep in mind is that some laptops just have one hard drive, I prefer a dedicated SSD for the operating system(250 or 512 GB) and a dedicated storage hard drive (2-4TB)

[4filegate]

And then there is this website which was mentioned earlier: http://www.eurocom.com/ec/configure(2,385,0)SkyX9E2

You can configure your own laptop to your liking.

(I wanted to be sure) BIOS Options Unlocked System BIOS with Overclocking capabilities for K Unlocked CPU - SSD drives and OS can be purchased elsewhere also cheaper


Such finger-pointing often produces more heat than light.

[aeox]

Such finger-pointing often produces more heat than light.

huh?

The idea here is to educate one self and make a educated purchase based on individual needs and budget. No one is going to tell the guy what laptop he should buy. We can only let him know of all the options out there.

[Gorgon]

It's real simple.

You need to stop looking at just the CPU. Overclocking is not something you want to do in a laptop.

You need at least 16 Gb of RAM.

You need an SSD for your operating system and programs. You can keep your audio and such on a different conventional harddisk.

Other than that, get a fast i7 and you're good to go. Stay away from Dell. Gaming laptops are a good choice because those are built for performance. You want to look at brands such as Asus.

[4filegate]

It's real simple.

You need to stop looking at just the CPU. Overclocking is not something you want to do in a laptop.

You need at least 16 Gb of RAM.

You need an SSD for your operating system and programs. You can keep your audio and such on a different conventional harddisk.

Other than that, get a fast i7 and you're good to go. Stay away from Dell. Gaming laptops are a good choice because those are built for performance. You want to look at brands such as Asus.

Gaming laptops - has all of the overclocking features and it's far away of the ISV certified -ish Workstation 3D GPU applications
I guess SSD M.2 NVMe they are 2-3x faster than a SATA3 SSD. M.2 is a form factor/SATA 3 is a bus interface and cannot really compare the two cause they are two different things
Memory RAM Configuration - Fully Upgradeable "Add a little extra style to your build"

[ejanuska]

Not surprised to see the anti-Mac comments. Glad I never got on that train.
Gorgon has good advice.
Make sure you have lots of USB 3.0 ports.

Some other things to look out for if you like to use a mouse rather than a trackpad:

• Make sure USB Ports are not right next to where you might want to have a mouse moving and bumping into cords.
  Make sure there is no exhaust port for ventilation that blows hot air on your mouse hand.
  Back lit keyboard keys if you work in the dark (gigs, late night sessions)
  Docking station, if your into that.

[ZombieFightsShark]

Trying to keep it under 3k. Under 2k would be better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's hard to find a laptop with a top of the line processor AND 2TB of storage, I'm not sure if they can be upgraded but I don't see why not. Here is one with 1 TB storage.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... -_-Product


I'm a cheap person. I'd get something like this. The processor isn't quite as good though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Omen-17-X7P0 ... SwyWZZRUCV

And then there is this website which was mentioned earlier: http://www.eurocom.com/ec/configure(2,385,0)SkyX9E2

You can configure your own laptop to your liking.

I had never heard of Eurocom before. Those laptops are SICK (with a price to match)! I have no problem upgrading my HD myself, but these days you have to make sure that you will have that option. Laptops are getting harder to work on. Thanks for the links

[ZombieFightsShark]

Not surprised to see the anti-Mac comments. Glad I never got on that train.
Gorgon has good advice.
Make sure you have lots of USB 3.0 ports.

Some other things to look out for if you like to use a mouse rather than a trackpad:

• Make sure USB Ports are not right next to where you might want to have a mouse moving and bumping into cords.
  Make sure there is no exhaust port for ventilation that blows hot air on your mouse hand.
  Back lit keyboard keys if you work in the dark (gigs, late night sessions)
  Docking station, if your into that.

Good advice regarding the USBs and vent. Hadn't really even considered that could be a problem since I've been Apple for a decade (rear exhaust).

[ZombieFightsShark]

It's real simple.

You need to stop looking at just the CPU. Overclocking is not something you want to do in a laptop.

You need at least 16 Gb of RAM.

You need an SSD for your operating system and programs. You can keep your audio and such on a different conventional harddisk.

Other than that, get a fast i7 and you're good to go. Stay away from Dell. Gaming laptops are a good choice because those are built for performance. You want to look at brands such as Asus.

Gaming laptops was where I started, but there's a lot of overkill for my uses. I do some minor video editing for YouTube vids and such, but other than that I don't really have a need for a badass GPU. Plus the multi-colored backlit keyboards are kind of pointless to me. Just a plain white LED backlight is fine. I'd rather that cost go to RAM or HD's.
But, for the record, the first one I was looking at was Razer's top laptop. It'd be perfect, but I'd be throwing away 1k on stuff that wasn't important to me.

[ZombieFightsShark]

Another thing to keep in mind is that some laptops just have one hard drive, I prefer a dedicated SSD for the operating system(250 or 512 GB) and a dedicated storage hard drive (2-4TB)

I've had a SSD for a couple of years and don't ever want to go back. There are lots of hybrid options, but I'm wary about lag when I'm running big Kontakt instruments and the like. Do you have any experience on all SSD versus SSD for OS and standard HD for storage?

[aeox]

Another thing to keep in mind is that some laptops just have one hard drive, I prefer a dedicated SSD for the operating system(250 or 512 GB) and a dedicated storage hard drive (2-4TB)

I've had a SSD for a couple of years and don't ever want to go back. There are lots of hybrid options, but I'm wary about lag when I'm running big Kontakt instruments and the like. Do you have any experience on all SSD versus SSD for OS and standard HD for storage?

If you can afford it I'd just get all SSD.

[4filegate]

Run as well as "non-colours" light LEDs (white) keyboard

docking station or port replicator or dock/DONGLE &. USB 3.0 portable HDD if you need refill-datacenter on 2 different PC's/Laptop's

Thunderbolt 3 is the fastest port available (40 Gbps). It connects Thunderbolt devices, all HD and 4K displays, and billions of USB devices using 1 compact, reversible plug—transferring 4x the data and 2x the video bandwidth of any other cable.
NEW USB-C (AKA USB Type-C) connector, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.1 Gen 1) 5 Gbit/s // SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps (USB 3.1 Gen 2) 10 Gbit/s
(USB 3.0 is often referred to as SuperSpeed USB - Older USB devices, cables, and adapters may be physically compatible with USB 3.0 hardware but if you need the fastest possible data transmission rate, all devices must support USB 3.0, compliance is when the plastic surrounding the plug or receptacle is the color blue.)

18 months since buddy have Thunderbolt 3 on MSI GT72S 6QE DOMINATOR PRO G /SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps =the3k-HighInTheSky!

DEll Precision M6600
SATA 3.0 can do 6 Gb/s Adata 2.5" Ultimate SU800 256GB Raid 0, 3x faster than 2.5" SSD Corsair FORCE3 120GB bought in 2013. =refurbished1k-thinkgreen!

ASUS Notebook 14" UX430UA-GV068T
integrated Intel 620 GPU with form-factor M.2 on SATA 3.0 takes up less space and less energy requirements for Ultrabook. =reason1k-shenanigans!

SSD M2 vs SATA3 Raid0.png (202.02 KiB) Viewed 4162 times

Conclusion:
DEll 2.5" ADATA Raid 0 vs. M.2 need few seconds more (-50%) on ASUS if load e.g. 2 GB above RNS Songfiles.
It's 50x faster than PATA (IDE) HDD 20 MBps on Pentium M 1,86 GHz Dothan MSI Laptop bought in 2007. I guess PCIe NVMe 100x faster.

Why not? Use the 2x2.5" drive bays with Raid 0 on SATA 3.0 SSD 6 Gb/s and portable HDD USB 3.0/USB-C 3.1 refill-datacenter.

[ejanuska]

Wow, what a reply. ^^