Pro Tools and only 512MB RAM. What will happen?

[daktulus]

I intend to buy Pro Tools 8.0
System minimum requirements are 1 GB RAM.

What will possibly happen if I use my old laptop with XP SP2, 1.4Ghz and 512MB RAM?

Will Pro Tools work at all? Can I record with MBox Mini?

[mykhal c]

Originally Posted by daktulus

I intend to buy Pro Tools 8.0
System minimum requirements are 1 GB RAM.

What will possibly happen if I use my old laptop with XP SP2, 1.4Ghz and 512MB RAM?

Will Pro Tools work at all? Can I record with MBox Mini?

hate to say but you are askin' to be disappointed with that setup tryin to run PTLE. upgrade your system first

[daktulus]

I do have a better bigger system, but I really like to compose music on my old laptop. Just out of curiosity, what do you think will happen?

[mykhal c]

IMHO i don't even think it'll load

[sw rec]

what do you think will happen?

Like he said. Probably not much......

[Herkimer]

On my laptops, the system usually runs at 200-300 MB when idle with nothing running and all the usual optimizations. (You can check this in the Task Manager under the performance tab.)

In your case that only leaves another 200-300 MB for ProTools. I don't think it's going to work out.

RAM is cheap. I just put 4GB into my laptop for under $50. It's your best chance of getting that system up and running. And I wouldn't bother with 1GB. Go for at least 2GB.

[aus scott]

Seriously - RAM aside...what laptop is it? etc etc When you say 'old laptop' I hear the crowd sigh sadly, losing all hope.

sorry,

Scott

[Stiff]

Originally Posted by daktulus

What will possibly happen if I use my old laptop with XP SP2, 1.4Ghz and 512MB RAM?

It will explode

Seriously, I don't even think it's worth the trouble of trying (but you can of course, and report back if you do). Update the RAM like someone else mentioned. Or maybe try another recording software. Maybe something like Reaper would do better. You can always transfer the files to PT on your other machine.

[M_S_D]

Just to give you an idea of what you would be letting yourself in for:

My introduction to pro tools came at 7.3, I was running it on a machine with 1Gb of RAM. I upgraded straight away to 7.4. If I was just getting ideas down, say 3 or 4 tracks, with virtually no plugs it was fine. As soon as I started to expand on the idea and or shape the recorded sounds I ran into major cpu issues.

I found very early on I had to start adjusting the playback engine, trust me when I say that tracking is just not practical at 1k or 2k samples, which is what I was forced to do.

So I upgraded my machine to 2Gb of RAM. If I am sensible and employ a few work arounds, ie lay off the plugs early on, bounce tracks early if they do have plugs on and make tracks inactive that I am not working directly on, I can get up to a fairly decent track count in a project. But it is still not ideal.

All that futzing around is bad for your creativity and flow. It is hard enough getting things down and done without being locked into a constant fight with the tools you are using.

I have yet to upgrade to 8.0 becuase I know that any issues I am having now will be slightly worse, after I do.

If you can afford it, buy a better laptop, if you can't then put in some more RAM and if your motherboard will allow, upgrade your processor.

[sunburst79]

If you have a old laptop you want to compose with and it only has 512MB of RAM than you need to look for a version of PT thar will run on 512MB of RAM. Like version 5.3 or so. 8.0 is not going to work.