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Topic: Help please re what laptop needed.......

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Hi all,

A very old skool DJ here still on cd's!!

I want to make the move to laptop, but don't know what one exactly I should be getting with what sort of spec as I am a techno moron.

Any assistance would be appreciated as regards what I should be looking for?

Probably looking to spend a max of £500 at the moment.

Cheers

DJ MC
 
Posted Wed 21 Sep 11 @ 9:50 am
intel cpu = better compatability than ati cpu if doing video
more ram = faster loading and ability to do more at once with effects master tempo
seperate video card = better video quality on an external screen and more system resources to use on sound quality
higher hard drive rpm = faster load times
more outputs = more stuff to play with
dvi out = better quality video output than vga out

you should be looking for something with at least i3 intel 2.4ghz cpu, 4gb of DDR3 ram, 500mb of video ram with a vga out, 5500rpm hard drive... something basic like that should set you back only a couple of hundred pounds used, so with 500 just look for higher specs of everything... dell xps are good quality pc's that I favor, but they are all pretty much the same these days.

On a side note, I don't mean to offend, but please tell me you don't use that as a stage name... you should really change it its pretty lame
 
Thanks for the input, appreciate it and any other assistance from those reading.

No, not a stage name, just a bit of a long standing joke.
 
I want to be a ble to insert headphones as well as a jack out to an amp in a bar, do I need any particular type/amounts of outputs? I ask as I have a friend who uses a laptop with one output, hence he can't use headphones.
 
If your serious you should buy an external soundcard, the cheapest and best in its range is the "native instruments audio 2 dj" it'll set you back 75 or so, your better off saving the money on the laptop and buying a soundcard. (they use standard usb) It has 2 outputs, 1 for the master out and one for your hedphones.
 
A few nice features to have:

higher resolution screen - In your price range probably 1600x900
Back lit keyboard, makes it a lot easier in a dark club

Some laptops have good enough soundcards that they can do output and cueing but they are typically above your price range. A good external card is the standard way to go.

A popular CPU in that price range that will do you well is the Intel I5-2410

Look for CPU's from intel with 4 numbers in the title - 3 number versions like the I5-460 are a generation older
 
Thanks for the responses.

I have seen a Toshiba I believe is a 17" I think 14pn, I'll check if this has these type of features.

I'll basically be using it to play tracks in a bar/club, but no mixing as such, or video needed.

What in your opinion would be the best reasonably priced laptop that best encompasses all the features and spec you've mentioned?

Cheers
 
Tough to shop for people in a different country. I think the exchange rate is like 1.4:1 so looking around $750 will see if I can find anything worth recommending.

How big is your music collection? This will determine if you can get by with the internal hard drive or will need an external drive.
 
 
That Asus would be my first pick! Hell I'm seriously considering ordering that baby!! Only problem is that I also run Serato and there is some type of bug or problem that pops up with the I-Series type CPU's...........hmm......could you find something with those specs but with a Core2 or Quad core and around that price??

Sorry not trying to hijack the thread
Huey
 
Try this Huey:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6471592&CatId=4948

Core 2 are getting hard to find

My Bother has the I3 version of this and it is stout.

There is a spot for a 2nd HD which means if your collection is less than a TB you could put in 1 of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152291

And one of these for the windows partition:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227738

And you have pretty solid Core2 Laptop for under $800 :)

Would upgrade to Win 7 64bit as soon as possible.

Decent graphics card so plenty of power to do video mixing


But the overall processing power is way behind an I5 or I7
Below I have compared the most popular I5 and I7 laptop processors with the Core 2 in this laptop

Passmark Scores:
Core2 p8700 Dual core @ 2.53 ghz - 1792

Core I5 2410 @ 2.3 ghz - 3359

Core I7 2630QM @ 2.0 Ghz - 6330

But honestly VDJ doesn't require that much CPU horsepower the CPU I use only scores 1550 and works just fine. :)


PS: Huey I am moving forward with the Mixdeck stealth PC Build :) Just ordered most of the parts tonight.
 


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