"New" old laptop for Sonar X3

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thelump15
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2017/01/30 22:24:29 (permalink)

"New" old laptop for Sonar X3

I'm looking to upgrade from my current Sonar 8.5 to X3 and I would like to use my old MOTU 828 mkll as my audio interface.  Bucks are a factor here and I found a used Dell Precision 4700, Core i7 3240QM, 2.7GHZ, 16GB, 1TB 7200 rpm HD, with a firewire port for less than $500.  I realize this is older technology (3rd gen Intel cpu and DDR3 ram) and not a desktop, but without having to upgrade my interface, I can be up and running without a huge investment.  My demands on the recording end are not large as far as track count or vsti's, and the portability factor does have an upside for my situation.  Are there any known issues with this machine, and will it support an average Sonar X3 setup with a moderate amount of plugins and samples?  Would this be a good bridge until I can afford a newer system?
 
Thanks
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    fireberd
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    Re: "New" old laptop for Sonar X3 2017/02/01 06:17:09 (permalink)
    The i7 3240QM doesn't turn up much on searches.  The Dell documentation does not detail exactly what is in it either as there are several options and the Dell tech specs just say i5 or i7.
     
    However, I have a Toshiba with an laptop i7 CPU in it and it is slower than the old laptop that I had with a first generation i5 CPU. 
     
     

    "GCSG Productions"
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    ampfixer
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    Re: "New" old laptop for Sonar X3 2017/02/01 08:38:49 (permalink)
    You can't upgrade from 8.5 to X3 because X3 is out of production.

    Regards, John 
     I want to make it clear that I am an Eedjit. I have no direct, or indirect, knowledge of business, the music industry, forum threads or the meaning of life. I know about amps.
    WIN 10 Pro X64, I7-3770k 16 gigs, ASUS Z77 pro, AMD 7950 3 gig,  Steinberg UR44, A-Pro 500, Sonar Platinum, KRK Rokit 6 
    #3
    thelump15
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    Re: "New" old laptop for Sonar X3 2017/02/01 17:49:41 (permalink)
    I apologize.  Typo on my part.  The processor should read i7-3740QM and I believe it is quad core. I think this explains it:
     
    Also, I meant to say Sonar Platinum or Professional, haven't decided which yet.  I've been out of the loop for a while.
     
    Thanks
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    fireberd
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    Re: "New" old laptop for Sonar X3 2017/02/01 17:57:08 (permalink)
    That CPU appears to be a fast laptop CPU.  I would say it should do what you want.  Only issue with Laptops is the limited USB ports that for some are an issue.

    "GCSG Productions"
    Franklin D-10 Pedal Steel Guitar (primary instrument). Nashville Telecaster, Bass, etc. 
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero M/B, i7 6700K CPU, 16GB Ram, SSD and conventional hard drives, Win 10 Pro and Win 10 Pro Insider Pre-Release
    Sonar Platinum/CbB. MOTU 896MK3 Hybrid, Tranzport, X-Touch, JBL LSR308 Monitors,  
    Ozone 5,  Studio One 4.1
    ISRC Registered
    Member of Nashville based R.O.P.E. Assn.
    #5
    thelump15
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    Re: "New" old laptop for Sonar X3 2017/02/01 18:05:37 (permalink)
    Thanks for your response.  Yeah, it sounded pretty decent to me, but I'm no expert for sure.  The laptop has 4 usb ports: 2 usb 2.0, 2usb 3.0/3.1, plus a firewire mini port.  That should be enough to do what I need I'm guessing.
     
    Thanks 
    #6
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