HOW MUCH am I really sacrificing by going with the portability of a laptop over a desktop? This is an important decision for me, and I could really use insight from those of you who have experience editing on pc laptops as well as pc desktops. Assume of course that we're talking best scenario systems respectively, for a reasonable price.
I'm doing more and more editing/producing projects for clients now, and plan to see that grow as a livelihood, so obviously I don't want to be sitting in front of a slow-moving computer longer than I have to. My lifestyle, however, is very on the go, and I find myself taking flights between northern and southern Cal pretty often... if I don't drive, a desktop can't go with me.
I'm just still having that big struggle between benefits of work portability, and
the big sacrifice of performance (based, of course, on not paying double for a
laptop). My brother says using a laptop I would inevitably be losing about a third of the speed of a desktop (seriously???!?) But I don't have any experience with editing on a pc laptop (and so many of you DO, so I need your insights), so what I don't know is: HOW BIG the sacrifice?
If I must go desktop, I would have to really just adjust my way of thinking about my life/work-flow. Any advice would be sorely appreciated.
Here's are a couple DESKTOP options I'd be looking at:
Microsystems PowerSpec 6405 (if it's still available)-
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad 2.4 GHz, 2x4 MB L2 cache
FSB: 1066 MHz
RAM: 3072MB DDR2, 667MHz, 3 modules, 1 slot available
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS
HD: WD SATA Raptor 74GB x2
HD: 500 GB 7200rpm interal drive x2
DVD RW: Lightscribe 8x
ETC: wireless keyboard/mouse etc (I like that)
MB: I don't know the motherboard
OS: Vista (downgrade to XP available)
price +-$2500 range
Cyberpower-
MB: ASUS P5k Intel P35 Crossfire
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E6850 3.0 GHz, 4 MB L2
FSB: 1333 MHz
RAM: DDR2 4 GB 800 GHz cirsaur XMS w/heat spreader
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB
HD: WD 10,000rpm SATA Raptor 150GB, RAID
HD: 750GB SAGTA-II 7200rpm
DVD RW: 20x Dual Layer AND 16x DVD ROM
ETC: wireless keyboard/mouse
TOWER: 600w, CoolerMaster Extreme, standard fans
OS: XP Pro
And in comparison, how would you rate these laptops:
A bit cheaper-
Cyberpower X5-5900 (?)
MB: Intel PM965 + ICH-8M Chipset Mainboard
CPU: Intel Core 2Duo Mobile T7500 Dual-Core Processor @2.220Ghz 4MB L2 Cache FSB 800
RAM: 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 DDR2-667
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB
HD: 200GB 7200rpm SATA150
DVD RW: 8x
SOUND: Creative Labs SB LIVE 24-bit USB external
MONITOR: 15.4" Glossy WXGA 1280x800
ETC: 1394 IEEE FW port, Wireless keyboard/mouse, 4 USB2.0 ports, carrying bag,
webcam
price: around $1500
A bit too pricey-
Alienware Area51 m9750
CPU: Intel Core 2Duo T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
RAM: 4GB DDR2 667MHz
VIDEO: Dual 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT SLI Enabled
CHASSIS: 17" UXGA 1920x1200
HD: RAID 0 320GB (160GBx2) 7200rpm (8MB cache)
DVD RW: 8x Dual Layer Burner
OS: XP Pro
This alienware one could be great (above my ideal $$) but with this config I'm still concerned about the internal Hard Drive storage available. I don't understand the RAID 0 configuaration: does this mean I'll have one dedicated drive to store video or not? I don't feel this is enough, for the $$ spent. Obviously, I'll get external drives too, for backup storage, but I think I'd be working from the internal drive with a current project, right?
And do laptops have fw800 ports?
Another question: am I right to be avoiding Vista still, or is it no biggie with a new system? I would be eventually running Adobe Premiere Pro for my NLE.
Well, sorry for all the questions and so much information, but this is a hugely important decision, and it's been dragging on for weeks... I need to make a decision NOW, and it mostly comes down to am I thinking desktop (then I know probably what I'd get) or laptop (preferred for lifestyle but will I regret the sacrifice in speed, power?).
I know this is a confounding decision and I have to make it myself. But I'm starting to get brain mush thinking about all this. I need some more information to help me go by, and I'm looking to this forum for that. :huh:
Thanks, guys and gals. Big time, in advance. :dankk2:
I'm doing more and more editing/producing projects for clients now, and plan to see that grow as a livelihood, so obviously I don't want to be sitting in front of a slow-moving computer longer than I have to. My lifestyle, however, is very on the go, and I find myself taking flights between northern and southern Cal pretty often... if I don't drive, a desktop can't go with me.
I'm just still having that big struggle between benefits of work portability, and
the big sacrifice of performance (based, of course, on not paying double for a
laptop). My brother says using a laptop I would inevitably be losing about a third of the speed of a desktop (seriously???!?) But I don't have any experience with editing on a pc laptop (and so many of you DO, so I need your insights), so what I don't know is: HOW BIG the sacrifice?
If I must go desktop, I would have to really just adjust my way of thinking about my life/work-flow. Any advice would be sorely appreciated.
Here's are a couple DESKTOP options I'd be looking at:
Microsystems PowerSpec 6405 (if it's still available)-
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad 2.4 GHz, 2x4 MB L2 cache
FSB: 1066 MHz
RAM: 3072MB DDR2, 667MHz, 3 modules, 1 slot available
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS
HD: WD SATA Raptor 74GB x2
HD: 500 GB 7200rpm interal drive x2
DVD RW: Lightscribe 8x
ETC: wireless keyboard/mouse etc (I like that)
MB: I don't know the motherboard
OS: Vista (downgrade to XP available)
price +-$2500 range
Cyberpower-
MB: ASUS P5k Intel P35 Crossfire
CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E6850 3.0 GHz, 4 MB L2
FSB: 1333 MHz
RAM: DDR2 4 GB 800 GHz cirsaur XMS w/heat spreader
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB
HD: WD 10,000rpm SATA Raptor 150GB, RAID
HD: 750GB SAGTA-II 7200rpm
DVD RW: 20x Dual Layer AND 16x DVD ROM
ETC: wireless keyboard/mouse
TOWER: 600w, CoolerMaster Extreme, standard fans
OS: XP Pro
And in comparison, how would you rate these laptops:
A bit cheaper-
Cyberpower X5-5900 (?)
MB: Intel PM965 + ICH-8M Chipset Mainboard
CPU: Intel Core 2Duo Mobile T7500 Dual-Core Processor @2.220Ghz 4MB L2 Cache FSB 800
RAM: 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300 DDR2-667
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB
HD: 200GB 7200rpm SATA150
DVD RW: 8x
SOUND: Creative Labs SB LIVE 24-bit USB external
MONITOR: 15.4" Glossy WXGA 1280x800
ETC: 1394 IEEE FW port, Wireless keyboard/mouse, 4 USB2.0 ports, carrying bag,
webcam
price: around $1500
A bit too pricey-
Alienware Area51 m9750
CPU: Intel Core 2Duo T7200 2.0GHz 4MB Cache 667MHz FSB
RAM: 4GB DDR2 667MHz
VIDEO: Dual 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8700M GT SLI Enabled
CHASSIS: 17" UXGA 1920x1200
HD: RAID 0 320GB (160GBx2) 7200rpm (8MB cache)
DVD RW: 8x Dual Layer Burner
OS: XP Pro
This alienware one could be great (above my ideal $$) but with this config I'm still concerned about the internal Hard Drive storage available. I don't understand the RAID 0 configuaration: does this mean I'll have one dedicated drive to store video or not? I don't feel this is enough, for the $$ spent. Obviously, I'll get external drives too, for backup storage, but I think I'd be working from the internal drive with a current project, right?
And do laptops have fw800 ports?
Another question: am I right to be avoiding Vista still, or is it no biggie with a new system? I would be eventually running Adobe Premiere Pro for my NLE.
Well, sorry for all the questions and so much information, but this is a hugely important decision, and it's been dragging on for weeks... I need to make a decision NOW, and it mostly comes down to am I thinking desktop (then I know probably what I'd get) or laptop (preferred for lifestyle but will I regret the sacrifice in speed, power?).
I know this is a confounding decision and I have to make it myself. But I'm starting to get brain mush thinking about all this. I need some more information to help me go by, and I'm looking to this forum for that. :huh:
Thanks, guys and gals. Big time, in advance. :dankk2:
if you need big AE work dont buy the laptop.