Been looking for either recommended specs or a particular laptop for VDJ7, and can't seem to find the info. If this topic has been beat to death and there's a thread existing I can't find it, can you post a link please?
Been using VDJ since 3.4 and love it. Building a new system that will be laptop based using two Denon 3700s for controllers as well as for the sound cards. I have a 15" 2.4GHz MacBook Pro with 256M of video memory and 4G of system memory but it just doesn't have the balls to run a video show. I'd prefer a PC system and like to know the current recommended specs or a specific model. Thank you in advance.
Been using VDJ since 3.4 and love it. Building a new system that will be laptop based using two Denon 3700s for controllers as well as for the sound cards. I have a 15" 2.4GHz MacBook Pro with 256M of video memory and 4G of system memory but it just doesn't have the balls to run a video show. I'd prefer a PC system and like to know the current recommended specs or a specific model. Thank you in advance.
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 9:38 am
Brian ,
right now , with 64 bit Windows and Windows 7 you can have large amounts of Ram
most laptops have 4 gigs of Ram , dual core
desktops for under $800 have 8 gigs of ram .......typically upgradeable to 16 ...!
the ONLY advantage laptops have is small size and portability , and they have a disadvantage in price
AND reliability ......
if you have to have a laptop try a HP entertainment series , these sometimes have good graphics cards .....
the graphic card needs 512 minimum ......
there are laptops out there with 6 gigs of ram , but only get it if the
graphic card has at least 512 mb video ram
for brands i reccommend HP, Toshiba , Gateway
i myself am currently researching a laptop candidate ....
an ASUS with 6 gigs Ram upgradeable to 12
i can get 3 4 gig corsair ram chips (ddr3) for only $280 ...and make it into 12 ! gigs ram...
what's stopping me ? the Nvidia graphics card .... i've never used any cards that weren't ATI , so gotta
check that out ...
right now , with 64 bit Windows and Windows 7 you can have large amounts of Ram
most laptops have 4 gigs of Ram , dual core
desktops for under $800 have 8 gigs of ram .......typically upgradeable to 16 ...!
the ONLY advantage laptops have is small size and portability , and they have a disadvantage in price
AND reliability ......
if you have to have a laptop try a HP entertainment series , these sometimes have good graphics cards .....
the graphic card needs 512 minimum ......
there are laptops out there with 6 gigs of ram , but only get it if the
graphic card has at least 512 mb video ram
for brands i reccommend HP, Toshiba , Gateway
i myself am currently researching a laptop candidate ....
an ASUS with 6 gigs Ram upgradeable to 12
i can get 3 4 gig corsair ram chips (ddr3) for only $280 ...and make it into 12 ! gigs ram...
what's stopping me ? the Nvidia graphics card .... i've never used any cards that weren't ATI , so gotta
check that out ...
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 1:03 pm
Thank you for detailed reply. I can tell you I've used Nvidia cards and anything x600gt works great. I want the laptop for portability. I love HP myself. It sounds like the particular video card is not so important anymore, just that it has 512 dedicated?
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 1:07 pm
uuuuhhhh .... i wish i could be more optimistic ....
my best GUESS to help a friend with is ....try a HP or Gateway
i am most familiar with HP's , which is why i said get an entertainment series Hp ,
preferably with 1 gig video ram .... it's the best advice i have , but it's no guarantee .....
tweak it out when you get it outta the box , and test it with 2 or 3 or more plug ins
running and see how it does .....while all that's goin' on , netsearch , copy to , move to ,
do all kindsa stuff to test it's multi tasking .....load trax from different drives , etc , etc
that's what i do .....
i think at the moment it's the wild wild west out there .....
nobody knows who's the good guys ..... all they know is that even though you can have large amounts of ram
in 64 bit , and a good video card , you still can have lots of problems .... ??
i think this means the video card determines your video success ......
in other words ... your system could be great on paper and even have a good or better video card and
still not be that good at video but if you have a good video card , your system could probably work well
even with lesser specs ??? ( for the ram and cpu) anyway , hope that made sense , that's my story , and i'm stickin' to it
my best GUESS to help a friend with is ....try a HP or Gateway
i am most familiar with HP's , which is why i said get an entertainment series Hp ,
preferably with 1 gig video ram .... it's the best advice i have , but it's no guarantee .....
tweak it out when you get it outta the box , and test it with 2 or 3 or more plug ins
running and see how it does .....while all that's goin' on , netsearch , copy to , move to ,
do all kindsa stuff to test it's multi tasking .....load trax from different drives , etc , etc
that's what i do .....
i think at the moment it's the wild wild west out there .....
nobody knows who's the good guys ..... all they know is that even though you can have large amounts of ram
in 64 bit , and a good video card , you still can have lots of problems .... ??
i think this means the video card determines your video success ......
in other words ... your system could be great on paper and even have a good or better video card and
still not be that good at video but if you have a good video card , your system could probably work well
even with lesser specs ??? ( for the ram and cpu) anyway , hope that made sense , that's my story , and i'm stickin' to it
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 1:28 pm
OK, thanks for your help. I was looking at an HP entertainment unit with 1Gig video. The rest I'm sure is almost irrelevant because it's so overkill. I just know a few years back, it was highly recommended to have either Nvidia x600gt series cards or a specific ATI card. So maybe not so important anymore? Does anyone else have any input?
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 1:35 pm
Brian , i hope that was useful , and not merely theoretical or pie
in the sky stuff , i actually use those ideas and pick what i use from that
i'm saying this because you said "overkill" and that's the second time this week i've heard that ....
i only use "live" at gigs a system where i can do pretty much anything .....
and as i said recently in another thread .... i constantly add trax , download from netsearch , Amazon , SmashVidz , Virtual Remixes ,
move trax , add folders , rip cd's ..... all while the video , plus or minus cube , sbdj text (pretty much never turned off), FireText ,
eg or fx plug ins , ..... so i expect a lot , but i do participate in my own success by trying to take a good system and improve it
from all the great info i get , mostly from this forum
in the sky stuff , i actually use those ideas and pick what i use from that
i'm saying this because you said "overkill" and that's the second time this week i've heard that ....
i only use "live" at gigs a system where i can do pretty much anything .....
and as i said recently in another thread .... i constantly add trax , download from netsearch , Amazon , SmashVidz , Virtual Remixes ,
move trax , add folders , rip cd's ..... all while the video , plus or minus cube , sbdj text (pretty much never turned off), FireText ,
eg or fx plug ins , ..... so i expect a lot , but i do participate in my own success by trying to take a good system and improve it
from all the great info i get , mostly from this forum
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 2:14 pm
It is very helpful and I feel the same way, and one thing I'm going to do with it is video mixing. You yourself said you weren't too sure and to make sure it has a decent amount of dedicated memory for video. OK, but I'm still needing to know if a particular type of video card is recommend because nobody wants to just try a laptop. They aren't exactly fun to have to return. I'm way more concerned with getting the right system over price, but want the right system. Sorry for using the term overkill.
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 2:21 pm
get in touch with ACW_dj , he's a teamer
he has a list of good video cards , he knows what he's talking about and he has
helped me .....
he has a list of good video cards , he knows what he's talking about and he has
helped me .....
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 3:28 pm
I just got the Asus G73 series with 6 GB Ram and the thing is by far the BEST laptop I've ever used. I'm using it with my NS7 and the PCU barely breaks a sweat.
It has the i7 processor with Turbo boost, 4 USB ports, HDMI, VGA, 17" screen, backlit keyboard, cooling fans designed to push hot air out the rear, has a rugged coating & durable feel and is designed for gaming.
I haven't used my Mac Book Pro since I got this thing, my biggest regret is not buying Apple when it was $50 a share....
It has the i7 processor with Turbo boost, 4 USB ports, HDMI, VGA, 17" screen, backlit keyboard, cooling fans designed to push hot air out the rear, has a rugged coating & durable feel and is designed for gaming.
I haven't used my Mac Book Pro since I got this thing, my biggest regret is not buying Apple when it was $50 a share....
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 3:33 pm
Thank you both.
geposted Fri 19 Nov 10 @ 3:36 pm
Has anyone ever tried the Mac Mini? The size appeals to me for mobile work plus you can run what ever size monitor you want.
Just a thought.
Opinions??
Just a thought.
Opinions??
geposted Sat 20 Nov 10 @ 8:58 am
i'm not sure , i bookmarked it , i'll check ......
that may be the ASUS i was looking at esp if it's at Amazon
Brian if you keep your music and vids on external drives , then the
size of the C: doesn't matter , nor does the speed particularly .....
in fact a large C: may cost more plus take longer to defrag
that may be the ASUS i was looking at esp if it's at Amazon
Brian if you keep your music and vids on external drives , then the
size of the C: doesn't matter , nor does the speed particularly .....
in fact a large C: may cost more plus take longer to defrag
geposted Sat 20 Nov 10 @ 11:14 am
HI there My name's dani I'm a virtual dj and I would like to have some info about a laptop that can support vdj7.
I don't need a high video card for now the only thing I'm search for is a good laptop to mix live with that can support a 4 channel (decks) so I can make live smashes ect it has to run smooth no hangs,just a cool one that doesn't mess up my show with a great cpu and enough ram.1 that can up load tracks quick fast on all 4 channel (decks)
I don't need a high video card for now the only thing I'm search for is a good laptop to mix live with that can support a 4 channel (decks) so I can make live smashes ect it has to run smooth no hangs,just a cool one that doesn't mess up my show with a great cpu and enough ram.1 that can up load tracks quick fast on all 4 channel (decks)
geposted Thu 23 Dec 10 @ 8:28 am
Ya Chuck, I know. :)
It's amazing what you can get for $1k these days. Finally find PCs that kick booty!
It's amazing what you can get for $1k these days. Finally find PCs that kick booty!
geposted Thu 23 Dec 10 @ 9:08 am
Ok, fellas. I'm gonna set ya straight. At least according to my world. Brian, all you need to know is Intel Core I5 or I7. Its all about processing power. When I researched for my current laptop, I didnt care about video cards because these chips are designed to run video. The only lag I have which I think some more RAM could help me with is when I'm searching my external hard drive and that is only when the external first starts up. That external is about 800gb of video. This is my current laptop http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834101232 It chews video up and spits it out. I also use it to run my Ustream music video show where the poor thing is decoding different types of video files and soniques, then the Ustream software encodes it and sends it to the internet. All without a hiccup. Now if you think that isnt working a pc you havent done this enough. Now I dont run any Hi Def that might make a difference. But for everyday Core I5 or 7 and even I3 if you have to.I sincerely hope this helps. Happy holidays
geposted Thu 23 Dec 10 @ 10:08 am
That Newegg link is dead but here are the specs...http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529668585.php
geposted Thu 23 Dec 10 @ 10:09 am
Thank you for the post. I bought the system I mentioned and am quite happy with it's performance.
geposted Thu 23 Dec 10 @ 10:20 am
Hp was rated the worst brand for reliability, Asus was number one. Always google the advice people give you. Don't just buy what someone says is good because they might be lucky to get a good laptop from hp and you might be unlucky to get one out of the bad batch. I suggest you get a Laptop from Asus with i7 and dedicated video card with atleast 1gig of vram (video ram). It is best to get something that is very good than to get something that will just do the job then to find out you need more; it will cost you more money in the long run to buy cheap now. So unless you are strapped for money, get the specs I mentioned above. That should cost you no more than $1100 after taxes. Good luck
geposted Fri 24 Dec 10 @ 4:32 am
I have 3 HPs I've bought over the years and still have them all because they are awesome. So I'm not buying that statement....
geposted Fri 24 Dec 10 @ 7:08 am