Laptop or Ultrabook for making music

adjacent · Sep 20, 2013

I want to buy an ultrabook because I have read that they have slower processors ensuring their fans are very quiet/less taxed upon during processing however they cost a fortune and I want to know if it is possible to find a suitable laptop with supremely quiet fans that doesn't heat like a furnace if you're doing extensive processing work? Is it possible to replace the HDD drives in laptops with SSDs? Is there a particular brand of laptop that makes changing components easier? Also is an i7 necessarily the best processor for music production? Can an i7, i3 or even samsung quad core not suffice?

The ultrabooks I have been looking at are:
http

/www.tesco.com/direct/asus-zenbook-ux32a-r3038h-133-inch-notebook-pc-core-i5-3315u-4gb-500gb-24gb-ssd-webcam-windows-8-hp-intergrated-graphics/118-0314.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=118-0314
http

/www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-Zenbook-UX32A-13-3-inch-Ultrabook/dp/B009RER0N0/ref=pd_cp_computers_0
http

/www.tesco.com/direct/asus-s400ca-vivobook-14-inch-touchscreen-ultrabook-core-i7-3517u-4gb-500gb-bt-webcam-no-od-windows-8-intel-integrated-graphics/342-3779.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=342-3779
and this laptop:
http

/www.johnlewis.com/samsung-ativ-book-9-lite-laptop-quad-core-processor-4gb-ram-128gb-ssd-13-3-touch-screen-black/p607384
The first one has a very low storage SSD for a lot of money. If you were producing music would you opt for a high quality processor and HDD only or the samsung quad core and solely SSD? I am completely lost at this point. I think avoiding overheating and low noise (due to fans) is the priority.

Thanks.

Houlden · Sep 20, 2013

If you're serious about music production, then you'll want to splash out on a computer (desktop mainly, but a laptop will do as long as it's good) with a fast processor and a TON of space.

For instance, I'm a very, very amateur producer, but I've managed to fill up 500 GB with all my stuff, a big hard drive is a MUST, a SSD is only for convenience really, and shouldn't be a must-have when buying an audio PC.

Lots of RAM is also a must, running all those VSTs on multiple DAWs at the same time is very taxing on RAM. 8GB is a minimum and 16GB recommended, easily.

Scan have some decent audio laptops, for instance:

http

/3xs.scan.co.uk/ShowSystem.asp?SystemID=1287

Is a VERY capable starter audio workstation, a decent i7, decent screen size, decent graphics for those analysers, would need a RAM upgrade though.

Honestly though, I'd suggest going the desktop route. Having a dedicated music, studio desktop gets you in the right mindset when you're on it. Nothing else to distract you on it, just pure audio stuff, very handy, can be a bit cheaper (or more powerful if you want to spend the same amount of cash), plus, you can always run OSX via Hackintosh on a desktop (you can just choose supported components) in case you want to run Logic now and again.

adjacent · Sep 21, 2013

thanks Houlden. I definitely need a laptop as I need to be mobile.

I guess my worry about the HDD in the laptop is the level of heat and the fan noise. Are most really that loud?

Do most laptops have easily replaceable components?

Thank link is great. I am often worried about buying online because I like to have someone I can visit if it goes wrong (i.e. high street) but these specs are great and surpass high street options. Are these refurbished laptops? Do they require me to buy my own OS?

adjacent · Sep 21, 2013

I forgot to add: if you are building a pro-audio laptop, what do you do about wi-fi or is that something you have to forego? I will need wi-fi too.

thanks.

adjacent · Sep 24, 2013

anyone? do pro-laptops come with Wi-Fi or is Wi-Fi deliberately avoided for the sake of performance speed?

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Laptop or Ultrabook for making music

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