Hey guys, I just wanted to let people know about this computer I bought recently for audio production. (just incase people are looking for something else that will do the job)

Blueleaf i7

It's small, compact, portable, quiet, and powerful.

I got the i7 model and it's quite nice compared to the large desktop tower I upgraded from (I can hold it with one hand..). These things are pretty sturdy and made out of anodized aluminum (I think I could take a hammer to it and it would be fine or drop it on concrete).

I was looking for something small like the mac mini but found the processor and specs not up to par with what I wanted. This fit the bill perfectly. The blue is pretty nice and unique IMO, in the pictures and in person. There is a pink version too for the ladies.

The best thing I found, was that they can be purchased without an OS... Saves money if you already have an install laying around and they are hackintoshable (running dual boot as we speak).

I ended up configuring mine with 16gb of ram,an ssd with a 7200 hdd (it's not listed on their site but I contacted them and custom ordered 1TB in 7200RPM for my samples), and a graphics card. It's blazing fast compared to my other pos. Given the form factor, I think these would also be great for multiple slaves as well.

I also thought about building my own but honestly, I just went with this because I don't think you can find another computer in this size/performance ratio. All the other cases out there are larger than this.

I attached a "real life" picture for comparison sake to the stock images (sorry about the crappy phone camera). The front and sides are reflective(a pleasing surprise when I received it), giving it an extra aesthetic appeal. *yes*

 

Nothing special......

 

Hi how many USB slots does it have?

 

It has one on the front. 2 USB 3.0 on the rear, 4 USB 2.0.

 

Audiophile -
I'm in the markey for a SFF (Small Form Factor) DAW / gaming machine, so thanks for bringing my attention to this product line.

I've been keeping an eye on the latest by 'Shuttle'.
In your research, did you compare Whiteleaf (Blue) with any Shuttle boxes?

I'll probably opt for 3rd gen core i3 'Ivy Bridge'.
Only a slight performance gain over 2nd gen i2 'Sandy Bridge', but better thermal profile/less heat dissipation = more suited to the tight spaces of SFF where ventilation is issue.

What's your thoughts?

Dal.

 

Hey, np Dal.

I did do some research on the latest Shuttle PC's and saw some of the cases in person. IMO, the Blueleaf was a lot better in build quality. Like i mentioned in my initial post, if I were to drop it on say concrete, it would be ok and not dent at all(the most solid built computer I have encountered that's built like a tank). Whereas, the shuttle would probably dent pretty easily and cause some damage

Size wise, this thing is a lot smaller than the Shuttle comparing it to the S model series that has the ability to house a full sized GPU. In my current system, I have a Sandybridge with a GT430. A buddy of mine contacted the company when he ordered his, and inquired about the GT640 and Ivybridge. They provided those components with the build instead of the Sandybridge and the GT430. I do have to say, the graphics card isn't as powerful as a full sized one(of course) but for me and my usages, it's perfect. The X series Shuttles don't really have the ability to house a graphics card (onboard only) but are slimmer than the Blueleaf (it uses SO-DIMM for ram). I too inquired about that and found that they are making a variant like the X series. If it's the same build quality as their current systems, I would probably opt for it when looking to buy something like that.

Regarding the performance, the S model series of "Shuttles" is probably better for high-end gaming (I did run Crysis 2 on my Blueleaf at a lower resolution though) due to the fact that you can house a full sized graphics card. I don't game so much as I used to, so I opted for the more compact computer for my DAW.

 

These look interesting. Small size and the price isnt crazy either.

Ive been running a 4 year old, 350euro laptop and find myself running out of power with my more ambitious projects. Generally speaking I HATE bouncing tracks to .wav and importing them.

Any opinions on the black leaf model? The Atom processor is a sticking point.... are they any good (Dual Core might make it great)? I reckon if I got an i7 loaded machine Id feel like Tony Stark or something

Im a tech noob when it comes to computers tbh.

 

I personally wouldn't get an Atom processor for audio production work, even if it is dual core. The bare minimum for me these days would be an i3 if you are on a budget.

Go i7 with 16GB of ram if you have the funds and don't look back *yes*

Computer technology changes so fast. What is considered the best today will be replaced tomorrow. I usually wait for significant performance boosts before I upgrade.

I think your 4 year old laptop could use an upgrade if you are having performance issues.

 

I was thinking the atom wouldnt be a big step forward in terms of my setup. 16GB RAM sounds a bit excessive to me, my laptop only has 1GB RAM and its rarely that that buckles in my projects (save for a few sample heavy projects). I think 4GB RAM should do me fine. My CPU is brought to its knees quite easily so Ill definitely go i5 or i7 in future.

I know what you mean about computer tech moving fast, is there a foreseeable time in the future when the "i" range of processors will come down in price (probably when the next gen of processors are on the horizon)?

Thanks for your advice

Any good online stores (based in Europe) you can link me to? Seriously considering an upgrade in the near future.

 

First site is mainly for laptops technical information , second link all in one. http://www.notebookcheck.net/ http://www.cclonline.com/