DELL XPS Laptop

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prsdude
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2011/04/06 09:41:16 (permalink)

DELL XPS Laptop

I have Sonar 8.5 Studio and will be purchasing a Dell XPS laptop soon.  My question is if I will be recording probably no more than 20 tracks (mostly audio and a few synths), how much processor power do I really need? Can I get by with an i5 or should I definitely get the i7?  They come with a 7200rpm HDD, so I would like to save as much money as possible unless I really need to spend more.  I record as a hobby with a friend over long distance collaboration, so any info would be appreciated.  Thanks!!
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    jcschild
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/06 09:58:14 (permalink)
    i hope you intend to buy a USB interface and even then it has a good change of not working..
    firewire is a sure bet it wont work at all.

    an i5 would suite you i am sure unless you do a good deal of samples



    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
    #2
    prsdude
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/06 11:03:08 (permalink)
    So a USB interface has a good chance of not working? Why would that be?  What would you suggest that would work?
    #3
    jcschild
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/06 11:52:35 (permalink)
    most off the shelf laptops are plagued with numerous issues
    at best 1/2 will work ok with USB, few at any decent low latency.
     most will not work with firewire


    Scott
    ADK
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    #4
    prsdude
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/06 13:21:36 (permalink)
    Well how about an off the shelf PC recommendation.  I wanted a laptop originally for portability. 
    #5
    Guitarhacker
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/06 21:31:47 (permalink)
    I have a Dell Inspiron 1720. I ordered it with a few tweeks but it's basically off the shelf.  It has a 3.5 year old Intel Core 2 Duo chip in it. It runs Vista.  I used it exclusively for 2.5 years are my main DAW.  It ran many projects with from 10 to 20 tracks. Lots of synths. As it aged (more stuff on the HD and more plugs sucking CPU's) I started to use the Bounce to Track function on many of the synths and then archived or removed the synths.

    The interface I use is a Focusrite Saffire. It is a firewire interface. The problem is many of the computers do NOT have the correct chip set to run the firewire interfaces like they need to. A USB interface is a sure bet to work right on the widest range of computers in the "off the shelf" catagory.

    As a side note, I built a new DAW and fully expected to have to buy a new interface, but the firewire chips in the new MOBO worked perfectly with the Saffire. 

    Even now with my new MOBO, running with an Intel i5 chip, I tend to run 10 to 15 tracks and still like to bounce or freeze to work in audio. I like my processor CPU numbers to be low so I have lots of power available in the mixing stages.


    In short: Although there are better options and configurations available..............A Dell off the shelf should work OK with a good USB interface running ASIO drivers to record small to medium projects with little problem.
    post edited by Guitarhacker - 2011/04/06 21:35:57

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    #6
    fireberd
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 07:03:00 (permalink)
    I recently bought a new Lenovo Ideapad with an i5 CPU.  I have an MAudio Fastrack Ultra 8R USB interface and although I haven't done any recording sessions with it, I did do some test recordings with the MAudio and Sonar 8.5.3 PE and it worked without any issues.

    My intended use for the Lenovo and recording is only for on-location recordings.  I have a desktop that I use for recording.

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    #7
    jcschild
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 08:20:29 (permalink)
    Guitarhacker


    I have a Dell Inspiron 1720. I ordered it with a few tweeks but it's basically off the shelf.  It has a 3.5 year old Intel Core 2 Duo chip in it. It runs Vista.  I used it exclusively for 2.5 years are my main DAW.  As a side note, I built a new DAW and fully expected to have to buy a new interface, but the firewire chips in the new MOBO worked perfectly with the Saffire. 


    In short: Although there are better options and configurations available..............A Dell off the shelf should work OK with a good USB interface running ASIO drivers to record small to medium projects with little problem.
    you cant judge a dell laptop made today based on a 3.5 yr old laptop.
    things have got much worse since then.
     
    Scott
    ADK
     

    Scott
    ADK
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    #8
    prsdude
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 13:48:06 (permalink)
    So can somebody please enlighten me as to why a laptop that has an i5 or i7 processor, 7200rpm HDD, 6-8G RAM, wouldn't work as good as a desktop with the same specs?  Is it the chipset? I know mostly everyone wants a desktop, in which I can understand if they run big projects or do it for a living, but for my case of averaging 10-20 tracks, why couldn't that work? Thanks for all the input by the way, i do appreciate it.
    #9
    DayDay72
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 14:24:51 (permalink)
    prsdude


    So can somebody please enlighten me as to why a laptop that has an i5 or i7 processor, 7200rpm HDD, 6-8G RAM, wouldn't work as good as a desktop with the same specs?  Is it the chipset? I know mostly everyone wants a desktop, in which I can understand if they run big projects or do it for a living, but for my case of averaging 10-20 tracks, why couldn't that work? Thanks for all the input by the way, i do appreciate it.







    just google dpc latency....its is all over the internet, and on this, and other popular forums.... that being said, you may be able to get away with the following:

    1 - Using the onboard soundcard with the latest ASIO4ALL
    2 - purchase the highly priced rme interface
    but you may still experience dropouts and stutters due to DPC latency.....10-20 tracks, in my experience with custom made Toshiba and HP laptops, Sonar performed horribly (cubase too).  
    post edited by DayDay72 - 2011/04/07 14:32:33
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    noldar12
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 14:36:20 (permalink)
    Although a bit general: a few years ago laptops were genenerally well built, and manufacturers did not cut corners on their top models (i.e. TI firewire chipset, etc.).  Now, everyone cuts corners, and uses the cheapest parts available.  That is not a recipe for success when seeking to use a laptop as a DAW.

    One is better off either building one's own system with quality parts, or if not cannot build one's own (as I cannot), going with a well regarded DAW builder like Scott at ADK or Jim Roseberry (disclaimer: I have purchased from ADK).
     
    Edit: If you need a portable system, perhaps consider getting a custom built mini desktop.  IMO, laptops just are not currently a very viable option.
    post edited by noldar12 - 2011/04/07 14:39:44

    Jim
    #11
    prsdude
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 14:37:36 (permalink)
    Thanks for the reply, I am new to the dpc thing.  That info definitely helps me.
    #12
    jcschild
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 15:48:46 (permalink)
    good amount of info in this thread

    http://forum.cakewalk.com/tm.aspx?m=1916973

    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
    #13
    Jim Roseberry
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 15:49:35 (permalink)
    • DPC Latency
    • Power-management (general purpose users want more hours of battery use).  This comes at the expense of performance
    • Crap Firewire controllers
    For live purposes, I've moved from laptops to using a custom mini-ITX i7 based machine.
    Blows most laptops completely out of the water... and the whole lot (including the RME Babyface and all cables) fits into a single rolling 16"x12"x12" case.

    Best Regards,

    Jim Roseberry
    jim@studiocat.com
    www.studiocat.com
    #14
    craigb
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/07 17:14:54 (permalink)
    But I can command the Space Shuttle from my Etch-A-Sketch!  Oh, sorry...  Wrong thread.

    Thanks for all of the useful information and advice Scott and Jim!

     
    Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
    #15
    shaneaderson
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    Re:DELL XPS Laptop 2011/04/16 09:23:30 (permalink)
    Dell has come over as a renowned name in the market which has been crowned to deliver deliver heart hacking model of laptop computers. It is important for you to agenda that the Dell XPS 14 is not just an all play but no plan machine. This is one great machine that will enable you to handle a lot of tasks due to the fact that the processors and the memory of the computer are well designed for multitasking.
    post edited by shaneaderson - 2011/04/16 09:54:17
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