Best Laptops for Pro Tools LE

[Allen Hallada]

Allen, I'm going in! The Dell 9400 has the dual core processors and I've decided to see how that works. Dell can have it back if it doesn't work, but I just bought LE 7.0 and an Mbox 2 to take with me on my travels. I have a Digi 002 at the house on an Allenstein from the last couple of years. But I travel in spurts and now I'll just take a studio with me ... as well as guitar and what not.

Other features are:
- 1.66GHz, 2MB L2 Cache 667 MGz FSB
- 1GB Dual-Channel DDR2 SDRAM
- XP Home
- 60GB SATA Hard Drive
- 17" Widescreen XGA+ Display
- Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
- 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive (DVD player only)
+ Could opt for 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) for add'l $75

What do you think?

So wish me luck and I'll update this post once I get it in and LE 7.0 installed.

Keith

I think this one should rock. Looking forward to your results. Don't forget to perform the Windows dual core fix listed on the Best Desktop thread, first post.

Allen

[JEJ]

Excellent news... the windows fix for dual processor (hotfix) that Allen Hallada suggested worked. Thanks. The E1705 recorded thirty tracks for 1 min with 5 plugin-s on each. (So I did a crude davec test.) I am just happy it works. I can actually start thinking about getting some audio post production work.

However i am still cautious about performance... I really don't know if the tweaks are workarounds for different problems or do they all help squeezzzing more performance out of the computer?

Should I still re-install XP pro in standard mode. If I want the best "tuned set up" then what should I be doing. I get the disabling drivers et al but what about the BIOS and XP/media centre. Should the media centre go.

Thanks to everyone by the way... I was losing my mind to this computer... (it was bugging me night and day...funny how you get so determined to make these things work. I was ready to send it back and get an approved dell. I even had a working neundo my friend got.

Anyway that is my up date so far. Also does this me the E1705 should be digidesign approved

[JEJ]

well the fix didn't last. My E1705 is back to not recording. I have done every trouble shoot. I haven't done hyperthreading i think mine is off. I am going to install XP pro tommorrow.

Could a external HD make all the difference?

A disappointed JEJ

[psus15]

HEY ALLEN!!!

I've recently experienced some NEW BILLS (YESS!!!) so I can't afford to build the ALLENSTEIN BEAST anymore...

BUT, I've still got my trusty Emachnies 6809. Out on NEWEGG they sell the MOBILE AMD 64 4000+ 754 socket chip. Could I just install this chip for more processing power? Granted, it's still like $350, but it's cheaper than $1200 for the allenstein, and with the addition recently of SMACK / ANALOG CHANNEL / A FEW WAVES PLUGS (another reason I can't afford the allenstein right now....) I'm running into CPU problems.

If I remember right the AMD 3200+ runs at 2.0, while the 4000+ runs at 2.6?? Will this provide a significant performance boost?

THanks!!!

[theoneandonlyone]

Well I received my Sony VAIO VGN-BX540B09. It is a 2.26 Ghrs machine with 2 gig of ram. I loaded Protools 7.0 and my plugins. I hooked up my AVID firewire 180 gig drive to the firewire input and pluged in the dig 002 into the drive.
I launched protools. It opened up perfectly. I my years of using protools this is the first time I never had some issues with starting it up. I loaded in a 24 track song and it ran it great. Screens repainted great. I am very impressed so far with this computer.
I will continue to let you know.
Nick

[Allen Hallada]

HEY ALLEN!!!

I've recently experienced some NEW BILLS (YESS!!!) so I can't afford to build the ALLENSTEIN BEAST anymore...

BUT, I've still got my trusty Emachnies 6809. Out on NEWEGG they sell the MOBILE AMD 64 4000+ 754 socket chip. Could I just install this chip for more processing power? Granted, it's still like $350, but it's cheaper than $1200 for the allenstein, and with the addition recently of SMACK / ANALOG CHANNEL / A FEW WAVES PLUGS (another reason I can't afford the allenstein right now....) I'm running into CPU problems.

If I remember right the AMD 3200+ runs at 2.0, while the 4000+ runs at 2.6?? Will this provide a significant performance boost?

THanks!!!

I'm not sure if this would work or not. Give it a try and let us know.

Allen

[Allen Hallada]

well the fix didn't last. My E1705 is back to not recording. I have done every trouble shoot. I haven't done hyperthreading i think mine is off. I am going to install XP pro tommorrow.

Could a external HD make all the difference?

A disappointed JEJ

I'm betting that XP Pro will work. I'd do the dual core fix again after reinstalling XP Pro using Standard PC install. Do a full reformat of the hard drive as well.

Allen

[Allen Hallada]

Well I received my Sony VAIO VGN-BX540B09. It is a 2.26 Ghrs machine with 2 gig of ram. I loaded Protools 7.0 and my plugins. I hooked up my AVID firewire 180 gig drive to the firewire input and pluged in the dig 002 into the drive.
I launched protools. It opened up perfectly. I my years of using protools this is the first time I never had some issues with starting it up. I loaded in a 24 track song and it ran it great. Screens repainted great. I am very impressed so far with this computer.
I will continue to let you know.
Nick

Congrats!

Allen

[gonglee]

Do you recommend any usb hard drive, or will any do?
Firewire better or USB2 is ok?
Any rpm ok, or is there a minimum?

Thanks Allan,

[JEJ]

The E1705 is still not working. I installed XP pro and then the dual-core hot fix. Frustratingly after I install the hotfix and restart... PT works and by that I mean it records. Then I close the session and open again and its back to the H/W buffer size errors.

I don't beleive I re-formatted the hard drive when XP Pro was installed. maybe I'll try that. I have discovered that two chipset are in the e1705 945GM and 945PM. Mixed chips are a problem right....?