Desktop PC or Laptop for music production - mixing

Discussion in 'PC' started by Geo22, Nov 18, 2021.

  1. Geo22

    Geo22 Member

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    hello sexies ......

    Well my thread is simple . I want a new PC and im searching also the option of a Laptop ( not Mac ) . My question is in regard of cpu power , heat and overall performance . Should i be ok with a powerful laptop of the latest technology like that :

    Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7610
    Anti-Glare LED Backlight Wide View IPS Display, 300 nits, sRGB 100%, Contrast Ratio 1000:1 - ComfortView Plus 3072x1920
    i7-11800H (Turbo Boost 4.60GHz, 24MB Cache, 11th Gen Tiger Lake, 8 Cores / 16 Threads)
    RAM 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MHz DDR4
    1TB NVMe SSD
    Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 6GB - Up to 60 Watt
    2x USB 3.2 type A Gen1
    1x HDMI V 2.0
    1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type C) with DisplayPort and PowerDelivery

    Anyone who has or had a pc and or a laptop both with power ( when i say power i do mean a more expensive setup a high end on both machines ) to advice me ?? Thank you .
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2021
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  3. BEAT16

    BEAT16 Audiosexual

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    1.) Comments to Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7610
    Chathura 11 November 2021
    Don't buy this laptop. It has a serious touchpad issue. Heating problems etc. Dell support stopped responding to me and didn't even send me a replacement saying it's out of stock.

    Andy Turfer 09 October 2021
    Please don't buy this laptop - it will bring you heartache and grief. There is a serious defect with the touchpad. Sometimes it will work for a few hours, then it will be mostly unresponsive and erratic. Search the Internet, many users and complaining about this issue. Unless you don't use the touchpad and always have a mouse, the Inspiron 16 Plus is not fit for purpose. Dell should perform a recall (or offer to fix/replace all defective units).

    Adam Mulkey 06 September 2021
    I've had a lot of trouble with this laptop. It randomly shut down several times throughout the day, and the trackpad would randomly stop working. I got a replacement computer through Dell, but the second computer only worked for a few hours, then it stopped turning on at all. I ended up getting a refund and going with a different laptop altogether. I really wanted this to work, as it has every feature I could want in a beautiful package, but all of that doesn't matter if the basics don't work.
    https://nanoreview.net/en/laptop/dell-inspiron-16-plus-7610

    2.) AudionetworX
    If you don't want to experience disappointment, it's best to buy an audio PC from a specialist such as AudionetworX, Steller-Online or Frost right away. These usually cost a little more than a PC from electronics retailers such as Media Markt or Saturn, but the audio PCs offer carefully tested quality goods (durable, reliable, low operating volume), good service after the purchase and very good on audio applications optimized computer (high load stability, low latencies, high real-time performance).
    https://www.da-x.de/de/audio-computer/audio-notebooks.html

    Pro Audio Notebook | Configurator delivery time 12 working days total price € 2,314.00

    Chosen options
    Basic system 17 "IPS, FHD,
    i7-11800H, 8-Core,
    RTX 3060 Random Access Memory (RAM) 32 GB,
    2x 16 GB, DDR4 + € 210.00
    System drive M.2 PCIe SSD Samsung Pro | 1 TB + € 185.00
    Wi-Fi + bluetooth Intel Dual Band Wireless 6 AX201 2x2 + BT M.2 + € 20.00
    operating system Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 bit

    3.)
    Dell XPS 13 9310 HYK46 - 2.104,95 €
    13,4 Zoll
    Intel Core i7-1185G7
    32 GB RAM 1.000 GB
    SSD-Speicher
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Windows 10 Home
    Akkulaufzeit 20 h
    1,2 kg
    Reasons to Buy: +Sleek, grown-up design+Quite unbelievable screen
    Rwasons to Avoid: -Still expensive-More ports would be welcome
    www.musicradar.com/news/best-laptops-for-music-production


    If the latency tests are really supposed to say something about the pro audio suitability, they would definitely have to be carried out more specifically. By far the most important element for this is the power management of the processor.
    At least the behavior between normal and high-performance mode should be compared. But if you use Windows for professional audio editing, at least on a device designed for long battery life, you will usually not leave it at that.
    For audio processing in real time, a constantly high clock rate that does not downshift when the load is low is optimal. The system must run 100 percent stable, be as reactive as possible and must not be slowed down by heat-related throttling. So Turbotakt is also a double-edged sword.
    A popular trick to accomplish this is to set processor power management to 99% minimum and 99% maximum. Unfortunately, Microsoft makes it more and more difficult to get to the appropriate settings. Robin Vincent from Molten Music Technology works regularly with the music production on the Surface Pro and gives instructions on how to access the corresponding settings on his page surfaceproaudio.com.
    This would have to be included in the latency tests if they are to really provide information about the pro audio suitability of a system. In their current form they are not sufficient for this purpose.

    Optimizing Your Computer for Audio

    1.)
    Native Instruments - Windows Tuning Tips for Audio Processing
    https://support.native-instruments....1729-Windows-Tuning-Tips-for-Audio-Processing

    PreSonus - Optimizing Your Computer for Audio - Windows 10
    https://support.presonus.com/hc/en-...Optimizing-Your-Computer-for-Audio-Windows-10

    Ableton - Optimizing Windows for Audio
    https://help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209071469-Optimizing-Windows-for-Audio

    FL Studio - Optimizing FL Studio performance
    www.image-line.com/fl-studio-learning/fl-studio-online-manual/html/app_opt.htm

    2.)
    Don't let audio glitches ruin your performances!
    https://www.cantabilesoftware.com/glitchfree/

    LatencyMon 7.00
    The LatencyMon software analyzes and identifies which device, which driver or which service is causing audio dropouts or malfunctions.
    https://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

    https://laptopmedia-com.translate.g...sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=de&_x_tr_pto=nui
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2021

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  4. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

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    Get a desktop for increased processing power, better upgradability, and more bang for the buck.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2021
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  5. SineWave

    SineWave Audiosexual

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    If you don't really need a laptop for some reason, it's always best to either build a PC for audio, or have somebody who knows what they're doing build it for you. I actually do that. ;) At some point I was considering starting a firm, but lacked funds. :(

    You will also get more value for the same money if you assemble a PC, with better components, and they will all come with warranty, so if something fails, it's easy to replace. Desktops always have lower DPC latency, too, again - if you know what you're doing, buy proper components, and setup the OS properly. :wink:

    If you absolutely need a laptop, I would go with Dell or Lenovo, but in the mid range. Laptops that are too powerful usually have some kind of problems e.g. overheating. In this case I wouldn't recommend going with a Nvidia graphic card, but rather internal Intel Iris xe or HD770 graphics.

    Cheeers!
     
  6. eyngii2

    eyngii2 Member

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    I had the same question a year ago and then I switched from a Desktop PC to a Macbook. I would do it again and I recommend it to any producer out there regardly if you do recording, producing, mixing or mastering.

    My setup is:

    - Macbook Pro (late 2020), M1 (or Intel, I've chosen M1 because of the power)
    - Apollo Twin X
    - Apollo Satellite Quad

    With this setup you've got power and mobility. For me personally it's essential because I've got sessions all over the world.

    So my recommendation: BUY A MACBOOK!:guru:
     
  7. flush with your foot

    flush with your foot Platinum Record

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    a desktop without hesitation!
    have a nice day.
     
  8. Geo22

    Geo22 Member

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    Sorry guys that I haven't answered till now but had some things to do and couldn't .

    Thank you all for your answers especially BEAT16 with his long detailed answer , thank you my friend for your time to answer me !!

    I am an expert in building desktop pcs but never was interested in laptops or Macs that's why I opened this thread .

    I thought that in 2021 laptops would have been closer to a desktop ….. I will definitely build a desktop . My big concern is the availability of the components due to the kungflu/transport etc. and the lack of chips . So I thought that a laptop will cover everything for now .
     
  9. BEAT16

    BEAT16 Audiosexual

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    Very sensible and congratulations on your decision.

    There is a hard drive factory in Thailand. After the monsoon was much stronger and the floors were sealed with glyphosate and the water could not run off, the factory had to close and hard drive prices went up and were sometimes no longer available. It can happen at any time that components cannot be delivered: company strikes, container ship sunk on the high seas, earthquakes.
     
  10. vuldegger

    vuldegger Producer

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    pc all the way for serious power
     
  11. quadcore64

    quadcore64 Audiosexual

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    Keep in mind that a powerful laptop (also referred to as a desktop replacement), will still need to be plugged in for top performance and, will usually give 2 to four hours of battery power when not. There is also the issue of fan noise to contend with. The only real benefit is portability.

    A system built around a workstation/creator motherboard like the ASUS ProArt Creator (AMD & Intel), would be a better option.
    With an Intel i7-1200K, you would not need a graphics card for everyday tasks & audio production. The 12th Gen i7 can also be cooled with a premium air cooler or, a modern 280mm AIO.

    ProArt X570-CREATOR WIFI
    ProArt Z690-CREATOR WIFI

    Just some food for thought...
     
  12. dondada

    dondada Rock Star

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    ASUS ProArt B550-Creator
    could save you some bucks if you don't need all the extras x570 brings
    Cooling should be fine for both.

    i would setup and intel sys like this:
    Stick with ddr4 is much cheaper and right now! and the performance gains comes at a (too) higher cost.
    SO; not with ddr5 (still too expensive), even a ddr5 motherboard for future proofing is probably too much of an investment.

    Pick your stuff, Amd and Intel Systems
    Compare and go with the cheaper more "rounder" Performance / Dollar Pick.
     
  13. nmkeraj

    nmkeraj Producer

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    My experience with Dell’s laptops was poor. The main one was their chargers that I had to exchange evert few months due yo broken the third wire responsible for charging the battery.
    And Asus, big name a not necessary high quality. I have been having successful HP for 6 years now. Now I am starting looking for a new laptop HP Omen. And just any case buy the third party insurance (£8/m or so). It can be cheaper than offered from the selling shops. Of course, laptops are more pricey than desktops.
     
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  14. Kinghtsurfer

    Kinghtsurfer Audiosexual

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    Desktop anyday... Unless there's a need for portability.

    I have one of each... Desktop at permanent studio- base and laptop for external studio work.
     
  15. FLRIZDARKK

    FLRIZDARKK Producer

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    Never get a laptop as your main gear unless you HAVE to be portable most of the times. Windows laptops are either very bulky and draw a lot of power (the powerful ones I mean) and you basically need to be plugged in anyways to use all those shiny specs. The M1 and greater Macbooks are way better in that regard and very powerful and you can actually use them like a laptop, however you have to deal with macOS and its limitations and challenges (such as every incremental OS update may/will break your projects).

    Definitely invest in a powerful PC that has a beefy cpu, 16GB or more RAM, and plenty of storage (GPU doesn't matter as this is not gaming)
     
  16. FLRIZDARKK

    FLRIZDARKK Producer

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    M1 or greater Macbooks are the only ones that can be used as a powerful laptop without being crippled by the charger, but you need to switch to macOS so probably not a preferred option.

    As for chip shortage, the main problem is overpriced GPU's which don't matter at all in music production as the CPU is the main thing that gets used. Rest should be relatively fine and mostly good priced to get (some RAM might be more expensive I suppose).
     
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