Will it Blend? Er, Crash? er... RUN?

[jaythorpe522]

Hi there!

Once upon a time I was a pro... kinda haven't been keeping up with things. It was nearly time to replace the systems at the little non-profit production company I worked at, but instead we decided to go under...

I kept the editing laptop (a little souped up lenovo from 2007) for side projects, and it still ran PT7LE like a dream until it was stolen in a burglary a month ago.

Well, now I have a side-project to finish up, and obviously there's a bit of a problem with doing that (what with no computer and all...).

I bought myself a cute little Lenovo v570 off the scratch-n'-dent heap, with Win7HomePremium 64-bit, 6GB RAM. I had some trouble running a Sandra, then apparently didn't save the results?? (at any rate, I was about to say "I'll post the results below" but I can't find them...). Guess I'll run it again.

Anway, the sessions I need to work with are all 4-7 tracks. Might use some of the free plugins. Nothing fancy. I've heard tale of the exact same system running 8.05 extremely well. Can anyone recommend whether I should spend the money on 10? Or any way of getting hold of 8.05...?

I appreciate any assistance!

Thanks

jw

PS -- no need to tell me about external HDD and stuff like that. I got it down. Just wondering about the PC itself. Would love it if there was a "minimum processor speed/functional chipsets/laptop gpus that work" thread... or did I miss that?

[jaythorpe522]

SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : TheSpoon
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Model : Lenovo 1066A9U HuronRiver System
Serial Number : WB02029962**********
Chassis : Lenovo Notebook
Mainboard : Lenovo Emerald Lake
Serial Number : WB020*****
BIOS : Lenovo 44CN33WW 04/07/2011
Intel vPro : 7.00.04.1197
Total Memory : 5.92GB DDR3 SO-DIMM

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz (2C 4T 2.9GHz, 2.9GHz IMC, 2x 256kB L2, 3MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC PGA988

Chipset
Memory Controller : Lenovo Core (Sandy Bridge) Mobile DRAM Controller 100MHz, 2x 3GB DDR3 SO-DIMM 1.33GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Samsung M471B5773CHS-CH9 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)
Memory Module : Samsung M471B5273CH0-CH9 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : LGD Generic PnP Monitor (1600x1200, LP156WH4-TLA1, 15.3")
Video Adapter : Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000 (12CU 12SP SM4.1 650MHz/1.2GHz, 64MB DDR3 1.33GHz/2.13GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
WDC WD6400BPVT-24HXZT1 (640.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 596GB (C:)
PNY USB 2.0 FD (8GB, USB2) : 7GB (E:)
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7710H (544.3MB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : 519MB (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : 200MB (NTFS)
Removable Drive (E:) : 7GB (FAT32) @ PNY USB 2.0 FD (8GB, USB2)
Hard Disk (C:) : 581GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD6400BPVT-24HXZT1 (640.1GB, SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
BCM2010 (D:) : 519MB (CDFS) @ Optiarc DVD RW AD-7710H (544.3MB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Lenovo HM65 LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : Winbond WPCE775LA
Audio Device : Lenovo Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Disk Controller : Lenovo Cougar Point Mobile 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : Lenovo Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 2 : Lenovo Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : CutePDF Writer (4000x4000, Colour)
Printer : Brother MFC-J435W Printer (600x600, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (Ethernet)
Network Adapter : Intel(R) Centrino(R) WiMAX 6150 (Ethernet)
Wireless Adapter : Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 6150 (802.11g (ERP), WEP n-bit, 54Mbps)

Power Management
Battery No 1 : SANYO L09S6Y02 38.88Wh/3.19Ah

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Home 6.01.7601 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : x64

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.6

[albee1952]

A few details you may have missed;
Disable the wireless when running PT.
You need 8.0.5 for Windows 7
Integrated graphics can often be a show stopper(lenovo had several models with nVidia graphics)
and 1 detail that might be at play here....you said you already know about the separate recording drive...but what is it and how is it connected(Sandra does not report it). Windows 7 does NOT support firewire drives for recording(but DOES support USB2 and eSATA.
As for 8.0.5, you need to own LE8 to get the update, so at this point, if you need to purchase LE8, you might think about spending a bit more on 10 as it adds a lot of features(both 9 and 10 allow you to use almost ANY interface that is ASIO compliant.(you forgot to mention what interface you have). Shooting in the dark here so, be aware that the original Mbox is not going to work at all

[jaythorpe522]

Thanks so much for the quick reply.

I wasn't clear -- I don't think I can buy 8. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong on that, I would very much like to buy 8 and upgrade to 8.05, since I know it works on this machine, but to my understanding I really can only buy 10 at this point. Wrong?

As for the external drive, I have two existing project drives -- not sure if either is up to spec, but I understand the specs for the drives -- those are clear, and if the drives aren't good, I'll just get one that is.

It's the specs for "will it run" are not at all clear, and the reason I was asking.

Yeah, my stolen Lenovo had the dedicated card. If processor/chipset/RAM/etc is all groovy, I am going to take my chances with the integrated graphics; I've been lucky with PT with that in the past. My 2003 rig (original MBox) totally rocked it. Nothing changes in technology in a decade, right? Right? RIGHT???

MBox2Micro is my weapon of choice. Sorry I forgot to list! I'm a radio guy, almost never record straight to the laptop.

[albee1952]

I just went to eBay and searched for "pro tools le 8" (without the quotes) and found software only, and software with hardware at good pricing(you can always sell of the hardware). Most important, make sure you get an authorization code(if you buy second hand) and try to get a transfer of authorization from the seller(assuming they registered with Digi/Avid).

[jaythorpe522]

Wow. Didn't even think of that. ::insert self-dope-slap emoticon here, if it exists::

Guess that's why you're the man with the plan, eh?

And if there's someone selling who'll do that transfer of authorization, it's Digi-legal and the license police won't come busting down my Gateway (hooray for puns that no longer apply)?

Thanks much Albee -- from the look of things (22.6k+posts) I'm not quite the first guy you've helped out. Thank goodness for user forums and folks like you!

jw

[albee1952]

I try to help where I can. Lord knows I've gotten plenty of help here.

[jaythorpe522]

Thanks! And an Update: Lenovo v570 w/i-5 2410 and 6GB RAM running PT8.0.5 small sessions like a champ.

-jw