Sup Every1,
 
I've been using Sonar Platinum on my 2011 Sony Vaio and it just doesn't cut it anymore. Too many audio dropouts and too much delay when I want to record and hear myself through the headphones at the same time. It seriously messes me up when I try to record because i'm hearing things from like a half second before and its so distracting. I have basically been recording without the playback in my headphones. Time to fix this problem! Here is what I currently use:
 
 
Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (1st gen)
DAW: Sonar Platinum (Cakewalk)
Mic: Neumann TLM 103
 
I make underground hip-hop with my friend from Russia he makes all the beats and I do all the lyrics/vocals. I won't be doing anything but vocals on this for the most part, possibly i may lay down an electric guitar track VERY infrequently, but 99.5% of the time I just want to have vocals sound clear and no delay in real-time recording. I want my voice through playback to sound like it would when you record at a studio or close to it. I can't stand this delay. My current computer has been doing a lot of stuff like photoshop and other graphic design programs, and a bunch of other stuff. 
 
I want to get a new laptop to only do music on. I'm trying to keep it under $1000 but if its a little overt I guess i can live with it. But what would get me the specs i want for the lowest price??? Any suggestions?
 
Would this one be any good? -->
 

If it is the Sony VAIO S VPCSA290X that has an 2.3-GHz Intel Core i5-2410M.
Which is not that bad. you could upgrade the RAM and add 4 more gigs (it only has 4 but max is 8GB)
 
You might be having an issue with your interface not being set up properly.
Are you using the ASIO driver downloaded from Focusrite ?
What you are describing (echo a 1/2 second late) sure sound like latency to me.
It could be just a matter of the driver needs to be installed and you need to set Sonar to use that driver.
 
But if your heart is set on buying a new pc, get a desktop. they are more powerful for the money, more room to add on, and they don't get as hot so run better. an intel I7 is the way to go. I personally have built every DAW I use and I built this last one for under 600.00 usa dollars.
 
they are not hard to build at all. you just need to be aware of what parts go with what parts (Mobo/CPU match ups, RAM, EXC).

+1
That gear should be more than enough to record a single vocal track while playing a backing track. If you care to you I'm sure you could tweak it to get it running good. 

Well. the thing is this computer is getting kinda old and really slow. More frequently I am getting the blue screen of death. I could keep this one around to beat up on, go on the internet with, and so forth. I have used ASIO and I've messed around with latency a bunch of times and I just can't get it to sound right. I want to get a new PC only to do music on and maybe put photoshop and some of my Adobe graphic design stuff but nothing more. If I have to also get a new interface then so be it but i need to get rid of this issue. I used the latency moniter and its always telling me my computer just isn't moving fast enough.
 
Oh they removed my links.
 
my pc is a Sony VAIO VPCEH25FM
 
the computer i was looking at is an ASUS-K501UX 16GB (Refurbished)

It has 3 USB 3 ports. Your 1st Gen Focusrite Scarlett has USB 2 only.
So your interface will essentially be a good size paper weight.
you are paying through the nose for that graphics card (The Geforce gtx 950m). You don't need a gaming graphics card for Digital audio.
It also has only 2 logical cores per physical. which isn't the greatest ( I have 4/8).
Remember your going to pay more for a laptop than you would a desktop (value for the money) and if something breaks, your all done. where as a desktop you can easily open it up and interchange parts within seconds.
 
With all that said, if your only over dubbing a few vocal tracks, this will be fine.
Not my first choice, but it will do the job. Just take caution with Referbished computers.
I've never had any luck with them and my thought is, its refurbished for a reason, either someone didn't want it or it was a display model being drooled on in a Walmart . Sorry I know I might seem harsh but im trying to be as honest as I can to help you out. I don't want to see you get ripped off.
 

Yea after I wrote that post I started looking at desktops instead. I think I will go with a desktop. Which ones would you suggest? You're not being harsh. It helps me more than anything else!

cyberpowerpc.com

Should I invest in a PC/Mac that supports Thunderbolt connection and upgrade my interface? That will be pricier but I really can't stand these latency/slow computer problems. is there a better way to get the same or quite similar effect? I'm not very knowledgeable about home recording and equipment- what I do know is just basic stuff.
 
I will get a desktop. And perhaps a new interface. the Scarlett Clarett looks super nice but its quite pricey. The Scarlett 2i4 looks pretty good too though. Not as good as the Clarett but it says that they have upgraded it to be super low latency. How low that is I don't know but right now when I record and use playback to hear myself in real-time i am hearing it as the syllable before. I don't know if that is 1/2 second, maybe it's a 1/4 second but it's super annoying and distracting!
 
@Chuckebaby throw me some feedback, criticism, whatever helps me learn and get something with the best bang for my buck! I trust your judgement!

ForeignPolicy22
 
@Chuckebaby throw me some feedback, criticism, whatever helps me learn and get something with the best bang for my buck! I trust your judgement!

Im pressed right now, but later on tonight I will hop back on this thread and give you a few suggestions.
 
By the way... Welcome to the forums man.

No problem. Whenever you have the time I'd be happy to hear your ideas. Thanks for the warm welcome. I should be using this forum more often because I'm sure I have other questions just about using Sonar Platinum. Looking forward to getting these kinks worked out and making more music! I like Cakewalk DAW's I just need to learn them better