New Laptop and HD speed question

Hi all, long time I haven't been here, hope everyone is doing well!
 
First question....I'm finally shopping around to move out of this dinosaur single core PC I've been using for years, and into a new laptop. Couple questions....I know from years of running Cakewalk that a 7200RPM HD is the best way to go, however, the laptop I'm looking at purchasing only comes with a 5400RPM HD, as it seems most all of them do. My computer repair friend who is also a recording musician recommended one possibility instead of having the store replace the HD with a faster one before I buy it, that I may as well just get a 7200RPM External HD, seeing as how I'd have to buy a HD anyhow.  That way I can run Sonar on the main C drive and run my project files off the external. Now I know that is possible having done it before, and it would work, I'm just trying to find out if there are any downfalls and/or advantages associated with using two different hard drives to record with.  I believe the USB is 3.0 on the new laptop. Here is the model I'm looking at possibly buying.....comes with Windows 8
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/15-6-touch-screen-laptop-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive/8937158.p?id=1218954926513&skuId=8937158&st=%20Asus%2015.6
 
I've learned a lot over the years about PC's but I'm certainly no expert, I'd rather just record music and not have to think too deep about anything else PC related. So if anyone could possibly let me know if that ASUS model laptop is a good choice, I would appreciate your input on this.
 
Second question....I've never owned a laptop, so I'm assuming I won't be able to use my M-Audio Delta - 66 sound card and will have to get some kind of USB audio interface, any suggestions on a decent one of those that is not too pricey and has the same amount of inputs/outputs as my Delta66 would be a big help as well. 
 
Thanks very much!
 
MM

Should have said USB hubs, as there are two in my newer computer (computer CPU not as good or as fast perhaps). One used for babyface and other used for whatever I suppose. I'm thinking the laptop only would have one, but it does pay to check the specifications of the laptop and not believe any clerk from Best Buy perhaps! OH, make sure the USB 3 ports are backwards compatible to run USB 2.0 devices. Someone said there can be a difference I guess, but then I have a USB 3 port also and I am only running USB 2 devices, since I have both type ports on my computer.
 
About video card in the laptop:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/notebook-gpus/geforce-gt-745m/specifications
 
Can't think of anything else right now.
 

In programming there are items (objects since it is object oriented programming) that are called Deferred Procedure Calls, this and perhaps some other drivers also use that to run (the hardware). If the Deferred Procedure Call takes too much time (and it should not.....but) then it will interfere with steaming of audio and video every time it runs. Some run like clockwork, so every often you get this routine running on the computer that leads to a spike slowing down the streaming audio or video at regular intervals.
 
http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
 
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244617
 
I have Windows 7, but most of it will apply to Windows 8 also probably. I mean if there is a spike like the graph shows with latency checker, then there is a problem, and a lot of times it will be a network problem like a wi-fi on the computer. Oh DPC on the second link is a shortcut meaning - Deferred Procedure Calls (DPC's). (computer terminologies ??)
The second link to microsoft is just something I found out recently and did not even know I had it in XP on my old computer. It won't solve everything though, but then I have no problems like some others and their computers especially playing just a computer game.
 
One such program to see (and this program is free vs. some others which are not) if any routine running in the background is interfering with steaming audio or video (and that is what you are doing with Sonar actually or listening to music or watching a video) is to use this program although there is a better one that was mentioned on this forum or somewhere on a game forum  (but again that program is not free). I can not remember the name of it, but I sure a search will show it when searching for a latency checker program.
 
In Windows 7 which is what I use, I turn off all the automatic stuff (Windows Update) (drivers update)(a lot of stuff actually that does not need to run although then you have to do it manually - like defrag your harddisk drive at times and other things - some people do this at night and leave the computer on and schedule it at that time to run which can be changed) and put up with doing all of that automatic stuff at the time I want to. Every month on the second Tuesday, Microsoft comes out with their updates (which right now I think have about 250 of them since Windows 7 came out) so I update about then or when I think of it. (there are enough automatic update programs still on my computer and if I am connected to the Internet, those may show up to download (which is still a setting instead of automatically doing it) so that is why when recording audio or using Sonar, I turn the Internet off (disable it).
 
There are other tweaks as it is called to do with the OS that are "on" automatically so actually one has to get up control panel, go through all the icons and use Device Manager also and see what is in the computer in the first place concerning the OS and hardware. Unfortunately with wi-fi or anything like that if it interferes and you disable it in Device Manager, you probably have to restart your computer so the drivers are not loaded up, and that is perhaps. With my cable connection I do not have to restart my computer to "disable" or "enable" the Internet connection.
 
I made a desktop icon to my Local Area Connection page where my Internet connection is, so I can "disable" it or "enable" it when I am on or off of the Internet. Since I do not know about wi-fi, then hopefully that could be treated the same way (because that probably also would be in the Local Connection page Window) and that would take care of that.
 
In other words, I am sure my new computer is not all that fast so I am not sure either, but then I still can use XP and my old computer for what I do. (the signature holds a few songs, some not redone again with the little I have done - since I do not do that much).
 
The Asus website would be the place perhaps to check the computer out a bit more and perhaps get details to make sure, but then I have not looked at their website in a while either. Just perhaps put the model number of the computer you want to buy into a search engine on the Internet, and then you probably will get reviews, and the Asus website and all of that in the search.
 
As to the harddisk drive, perhaps it would be just better to spend the extra and have Best Buy put in the 7200 RPM drive, although I usually do all that stuff myself but only in a desktop computer. I afraid that with a laptop, I would have to have them do the work somewhere, and pay the cost of that.
 
I am sure my newer computer would not handle a lot of soft synths since I just bought it off the shelf because I did not want Windows 8 (too strange at first for me) and wanted a Windows 7 computer and that floor model is about the only one that they had left in the store besides all the other computers having Windows 8 on those.
So I ended up with what I ended up with because every place else only had Windows 8 computers.
 
I have since found out all this stuff in Windows 7, and I will say for the most part it is better (like Windows 8 will be) but finding out that the OS is now made where most people must be dumb about computers, so the OS is like the Administrator instead of the person owning the computer or running it bummed me out at first. But a lot of that (all of probably) can be changed around and all the automatic stuff turned off. Schedules like defrag, other things to numerous to mention, like USB ports turning off power when not being used (leave on all the time) and power settings (like XP) turned on so it is on all the time like the hard disk drive and computer monitor has to be thoroughly checked in Windows 7 and probably Windows 8. (hiberation on a computer I do not run and the mouse never wakes up the computer and stuff like that).
 
But with a laptop, to conserve battery power, most of those things are going to be set to turn off power when the computer is not being used as to make it seem like the battery lasts longer. So right now, I probably would not like a laptop as much as a desktop computer because I would want to turn all that stuff off, and run it that way that I want to, which in the end would end up using battery power and charging it back up all the time sooner than perhaps the original way the computer was set up.
 
But one thing is that when recording audio, you do not want any thing necessarily to interfere with the running of your computer and deferred procedureal calls doing anything like taking too much time would end the recording, cause drop outs and like playing a computer game, something interfering while playing the game means that the game does not run correctly, may lag, may drop out, whatever the problem is.
 
Audio recording demands tweaking the machine so it runs the best it can and not have anything cause a problem, but there are more demanding tasks that a computer can be used for like video and anything like that.
 
So being aware of how the computer OS operates and what is set in the OS is just getting real familiar with the computer and then knowing what can be done about it to eliminate the problem if one occurs.
 
And I think if you check about USB hubs I think adding one will not add anything to your computer, but I am not sure. I have two hubs, and you will have to check out that laptop you want to buy (do a search with the model number, somewhere there are better specs given than what Best Buy gave for it - even it is is the Asus website) and find out about any of that. That is a motherboard chip with the USB hubs and if it is not on the motherboard to begin with I doubt if you can add an external hub (still running off of the only other hub or maybe a PCI-e slot for expansion (or PCI) you probably do not have) to add it. A laptop is kind of set for what you can have, and a desktop computer is one you can add hardware to (if you have enough slots and some have more slots then others).
 
So with the laptop you will have to be happy with what it has in it because that is all it will have in it probably. But since all I ever had is a desktop computer, I suppose all of that can be searched for on the Internet and read about also, just to make sure.
 
 None of those two linked programs are hard to do, unless it is something really strange in the computer and that - probably will not happen. Especially in verifier.exe program, just mark the drivers you want to check (if you even use that program ever - which probably will not) and run the computer for awhile to find out anything. I doubt that program does anything that much that some good ol' fashioned thinking could not do either running a stupid computer, and a computer is thoroughly very stupid.
Only runs with the programs that been programmed into it.

 
 Of course on my computer I use logical harddrives for my one harddisk (i have another to put in I have not yet) so my one big harddrive has several partitions. The c:\ drive, and the e:\, f:\, g:\, h:\, and I:\ drives since if the C:\ drive ever fails, it does not take all the other stuff with it and all the logical drives can be read even if the C:\drives fails with the OS on it, so after putting in a new harddrive and all of that, the rest of the information (data) can be transferred over to the new harddrive ( and then throwing it away after installing it first to read it all as a second drive) and all of that. The only part that fails perhaps is the C:\ drive since that holds the OS and is used more then usually the rest of all the logical drives.
 

I am sure someone else here can add a post also perhaps. But even with audio/interfaces, like Motu, Roland, Focusrite, RME, probably being the best for drivers perhaps, then making sure drivers will be available for Windows 8,or Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 or whatever are available. I know RME has drivers, but that is all I know since that is what I am using. Anyone else on this forum can chime in with a post also, but like with all things:
Let the consumer beware.
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_index.php
 
Well, one can read all day on the Internet, time to get up and move around and make like being alive I guess.

 
And maybe you may want a single 2Tb harddrive but again I rather use two harddrives and my 1Tb harddrive partitioned off is way more than enough room for me and maybe some soft synths in the future. Otherwise, you will have to decide how much you need and what you can spend. Me, well, for right now, I am on the cheap side of anything.
 
Pink Floyd songs comes to mind now:
Money, it's a gas!
 

I do not know for sure, but I think powered USB hub is just power. It is the bandwidth like I stated in a previous post that has to meet the requirements also. (My RME babyface takes 16% of the allowed system reserved bandwidth total of 20% allowed from the OS - that is what Windows 7 states.)
 
As to drivers all I can comment is on RME drivers. They have an install program now included with the drivers, and the firmware (which has changed also but on my unit not lately) is just running the program and unplugging the unit and replugging it back in (or restarting the computer - there is a readme text file always included or explanation at their website.) They now have Windows 8.1 drivers (although changes may be made if there is an error or something wrong with the drivers - usually quite quickly). And old drivers may have to be un-installed perhaps first - which the program does not include for the new drivers - found in Windows 7 in Control Panel and the icon Programs and Features just like un-installing any program on your computer you want to un-install. The new version of the drivers will not do that automatically, so if not doing that un-install first, then both drivers will be listed in Programs and Features (in Windows 7). I do not know anything about Windows 8, except how it looked on the screen at the store when I decided I did not want it at all.
 
Other audio/interfaces may perhaps be best found out by looking at their website or e-mailing them perhaps.
 
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_downloads.php?page=content/downloads/en_downloads_driver&subpage=content/downloads/en_downloads_driver_uc
 
And of course Digicheck program with RME, showing frequencies of the signal going through the computer as been upgraded when they upgrade that program. (something I should have used more of).
 
Bandwidth is found by right clicking in Device Manager on the USB Controller Hubs and selecting on the menu - Properties and getting up the appropriate Tab to show it. (in Windows 7)
 

 
Actually I suppose I should find out myself what the total bandwidth is, perhaps it is like 100% and the system is using 20% reserved and the babyface is an additional 16% and if there is only 4% left or a whooping 64% left. Heck, I do not know I guess. Just thought of that so I had to add that.
 
Well, now I am baffled again.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/884470
 
Ah, ah, ah I do not know quite yet, something else to look up I guess. I guess you get an error message exceeding the USB bandwidth limit. ??
 
Anything about Windows 8 I do not know, and getting familiar with the OS is something I won't be doing, so perhaps searching on the Internet about it may be useful.
 
I think some others are using Windows 8 on this forum, so perhaps they are out somewhere (vacation say or something) and perhaps will post later on this thread.
 
And since it is not in Windows XP that I know of, then none of this was known when I bought my audio/interface (RME Babyface).Oh, well, always something new to know I suppose.
 
Edit post again for additional info concerning USB controllers.
 
 
 
 

My brain is fried as of now. Bong! I think even if you add a USB controller and have it hooked up to an existing controller, then the problem still will exist for bandwidth and power. Just my opinion but probably so the way it looks.
 
If you have 2 controllers on that laptop, then no problem. (although explained down below one controller you may not have access to to use anyway.)
 

http://www.tomshardware.c...ase-bandwidth-windows7

http://technet.microsoft..../library/cc772242.aspx

http://www.faultwire.com/...th-Exceeded-*1553.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
 
Bong!
That is all I can gather from this. Adding a controller on top of an existing controller will not solve the problem if there is one using USB devices. Break time.
 
I had the Wiki page up for USB hubs where more was explained but then I did not get the link copied but that can be clicked on with the wikilink that is there already by reading the page.
 
I am thinking that since the OS takes 20% of the bandwidth for whatever, and the RME Babyface takes 16% which leaves only 64% left of the bandwidth of the controller that a device like a camera or also perhaps an external hard drive that needs up to 70% of the bandwidth, then it would not work on the same controller. It would be short by 6%.
But in that laptop you also have a webcam and skype whatever and perhaps you have two controllers but those probably run off of a USB hub controller also. So also then depending, if they take more than 10% along with the system reserved by the OS adds up to more than 30%, then a 70% device perhaps like an external harddisk or camera, then that would also not work depending again on how much bandwidth (or power) those devices use. Perhaps you can disable those in Device Manager, but then again do you have access to the controller and perhaps you would not have access to it like the other 3 ports on the laptop. Again then there would be that problem with the laptop and depending on the audio/interface, you could not run the external harddisk and the audio/interface on the same controller. I do not know, perhaps that is something that can be searched for on the Internet also before shelling out any money for anything then.
 
 

I was just thinking (guessing) that perhaps the audio/interface would also use and need more bandwidth depending on how many channels are being recorded or played at one time. Like with my RME Babyface, the 16% would go up higher and higher if all inputs were being used - just guessing and I don't know for sure.
 
?? Seems reasonable though that bandwidth depends on what is being done on the USB port.
 

USB 3.0 is theoretically much much faster than USB 2.0, and is probably fast enough to saturate the write capacity of a 7200 rpm drive in actual real world use. In other words unless you are feeding an SSD via USB 3.0, the bottleneck is likely to be your 7200 rpm drive's sustained write speed rather than the USB pipe.
 
http://www.macworld.com/article/2039427/how-fast-is-usb-3-0-really-.html