Hello everyone,
 
I just purchased  Sonar X1.
Now I'm looking around for a laptop to run it on.
Is this computer powerful enough?
 
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pavilion+17.3%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+500GB+Hard+Drive+-+Pewter/5769124.p?id=1218692934704&skuId=5769124&st=hp laptop&cp=1&lp=2
 
 
Thanks.
 
 

not a fan of AMD chips, used to be.. so wouldn't go for it personally. with my laptop did 2 things, doubled the memory and replaced the hard drive for a bigger 1. if your using samples or libs.. you notice they soon eat up the drive (komplete is 1 that comes to mind)

it's tricky to know what "powerful" it all depends on what you do.. e.g. some synths eat a cpu for breakfast.. where as recording of a live instrument is fine.. but start loading up with fx..

remember to also budget / buy a decent enough sound card (asio based if possible) as the onboard don't normally cut it.

"500GB hard drive (5400 rpm)
Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times. HP ProtectSmart hard drive protection helps keep your data safe."


For audio/music production; you really want a hard disk speed of 7200rpm.   lots of folk say, "5400rpm is just fine."

However..  if you have used a 5400rpm hard disk for music production, than you know the difference is so obvious..  omg..  You can tell

Seroiusly..  You can totally tell the diff..  Its like the diff between driving an accord, and an bmw..  You can see an obvious difference between 5400 and 7200

If you can afford more, then try and get a model with a 7200 rpm hard drive.  Also, it is my preference to go with an Intel rather than AMD, preferably an I5 or I7 processor.  Also, 500 GB is not to great a size since, as it has been pointed out, it is the only system drive (as opposed to usb drives) that has to hold all of the programs, data, loops, soft synths, etc.).  However, I'm guessing that $ is the issue.  I'm just expressing my thoughts.  Also, 8 GB of RAM is nice as a minimum...

Hey Hondas drive nice also :)

and they cost about as much as a BMW!

While most off the shelf computers coupled with a good USB interface will do a decent job running X1.... there are a few things you should look for in a laptop...

One of those things is definitely a 7200rpm hard drive. 

500 G is OK.... it's better than the 320G drive that is in my stock Dell..... but at the time... it was pretty big. You can always add a USB external drive for back up and storage.  I bought and ran a 500G external to hold the projects and my samples and they ran just fine from there. 99% of it gets loaded into RAM and runs from there which is much faster. Like money, you can never have enough RAM. 

For the price though, an off the shelf lappy is hard to beat. Get the faster drive and enjoy. For a home studio started PC, that will work fine. If you start getting more into recording and serious about it, you can build or buy a nice desktop screamer to run the DAW. 

AMD chips work fine,ive tested them right next to the intel I-3 & I-5 & I-7 
im surprised noones posted the system requirments though,it would solve alot of questions for the OP:

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (32-bit)/Vista Service Pack 2 (32- or 64-bit)/Windows 7 (32- or 64-bit)* Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 2.67 GHz/AMD Phenom Quad Core 9750 2.4 Ghz 2 GB RAM 1280x800 minimum screen resolution 4.5GB for minimal installation, 15GB for complete installation SONAR on DVD: DVD-ROM, DVD+/-R or DVD+/-RW Drive SONAR download: Broadband or better internet connection for download Cakewalk Publisher requires available web server space with FTP access

* Windows XP Media Center and Windows XP 64-bit are not officially supported.
 
 
 
things of interest:

X1 Producer Updates

SONAR X1d Update
SONAR X1c Update
SONAR X1b Update
SONAR X1a Update
PC4K S-Type Expander/Gate & Channel Compressor version 1.0.1
ProChannel Concrete Limiter version 1.0.1
SONAR X1 Documentation
SONAR X1 Production Suite SoundCloud update
PC4K S-Type Expander/Gate Documentation
EUCON Control Surface Support for SONAR X1
SONAR Web Trial

Why didn't you get X2? Are you entitled to a free upgrade?