Windows Laptop for Ultimate

[Media Man]

Looking for a Windows laptop to run Pro Tools Ulitmate. The Avid website "requirements" say Intel i9 required for Ultimate. But those are hard to find on a laptop, or cost prohbitive.

Some powerful i7 laptops out there from Lenovo and/or Dell, with the proper conectivity. And real world users out there running Ulitmate on an i7 laptop successfully?

I do most of my work on a dual Xeon server in my home studio, but need something protable for "light" work on location.

Media Man

[justus1900]

IM using a Dell Precision Workstation with Pro Tools Studio 2022.12 with the below specs and I have no problems at all running 70 to 120 tracks. Etc. and the newer Laptop's than mine are even more powerful the CPU speeds are awesome.
Dell 5750 Precision Workstation
OS: Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 22H2, OS Build 22621.963
CPU: Intel Core Processor i7-10750H (6 Core, 12MB Cache, 2.60 GHz to 5.00 GHz,
RAM: 64GB, 2X 32GB, DDR4 2933 Mhz Non-ECC Memory
OS M.2 512GB PCIe NVMe,
Record M.2 Intel 670 1TB SSD

[Media Man]

Originally Posted by justus1900

Dell 5750 Precision Workstation
OS: Windows 11 Pro 64 bit 22H2, OS Build 22621.963
CPU: Intel Core Processor i7-10750H (6 Core, 12MB Cache, 2.60 GHz to 5.00 GHz,
RAM: 64GB, 2X 32GB, DDR4 2933 Mhz Non-ECC Memory
OS M.2 512GB PCIe NVMe,
Record M.2 Intel 670 1TB SSD

Yes, I have a Dell T5610 Dual Xeon long in the tooth, but runs PT as good as I need it to be.

But now, looking for a laptop for locaton work, and those who are using them.

Media Man

[K Roche]

Well I am not a PC guy (so take with grain of salt) but I run Ultimate on my 2020 iMac with a 10th gen Intel i7 just fine (see my system below)

[noiseboyuk]

I can’t see any reason at all why the requirements for Ultimate should be any different to Studio, unless you happen to be maxing out resources with the higher track counts.

And sorry to be that guy, but I think the best Windows laptop is a MacBook. I’ve owned three Windows laptops and they were all terrible - they start mediocre and go downhill from there as time goes by. I have a Windows main rig and it’s great. But Windows just seems to fall apart when made mobile, and they run hot. For efficiency, power and quality of build… Windows laptops aren’t in the same league as Mac Silicon. Likely even the base MacBook Air is a better buy imo (with a little extra storage and RAM).

[EGS]

Originally Posted by Media Man

Looking for a Windows laptop to run Pro Tools ...

Get the best CPU your budget allows. See this Intel doc about the full line of 12th gen laptop processers. They have 4 series: HX, H, P, or U series. Try to buy H or HX. On the spec charts, click "view all". Look at base CPU speed and also turbo boost speed. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...ors-brief.html

[Media Man]

Originally Posted by noiseboyuk

But Windows just seems to fall apart when made mobile, and they run hot. For efficiency, power and quality of build… Windows laptops aren’t in the same league as Mac Silicon. Likely even the base MacBook Air is a better buy imo (with a little extra storage and RAM).[/SIZE]

An OS is software. If anything is "runs hot" or "falls apart" it is the hardware. Lenovo, Dell and Asus make rugged options that have served me well over the years.

I was looking for real-world experience from PT Ulitmate users on Windows laptops. Certainly more concerned about performance that build quality.

Media Man

[Media Man]

Originally Posted by EGS

Get the best CPU your budget allows. See this Intel doc about the full line of 12th gen laptop processers. They have 4 series: HX, H, P, or U series. Try to buy H or HX. On the spec charts, click "view all". Look at base CPU speed and also turbo boost speed. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...ors-brief.html

good article. thanks.

[Pingafuego]

Originally Posted by Media Man

An OS is software. If anything is "runs hot" or "falls apart" it is the hardware. Lenovo, Dell and Asus make rugged options that have served me well over the years.

I was looking for real-world experience from PT Ulitmate users on Windows laptops. Certainly more concerned about performance that build quality.

Media Man

Hi Media Man, I'm tired of Mac Os upgrades breaking interface drivers/plugins compatibility (Eleven Rack drivers, Waves WUP). I know new Apple Silicon performance is huge, but I'm looking for Windows laptop.

How did your search for Pro Tools laptop end? Any recommendation?

Thanks!

[Schottlandru]

Had an old i7 Dell M6700 as my main machine for the last 8-9 years.
On a 10th gen i9 now, but sure an i7 would handle it (Dell i7 3940 still running PT 2022.10 I think it was fine)

Important are good low latency drivers, thats where business models from Dell/Lenovo come in handy, also some high end gaming models might too.