Music Is M
Hi!
I'm a film student looking to buy a new laptop this week, but I don't want to spend more than $1,200. I want the best possible quality I can get! I know macs are the big thing but on my budget I feel like I can get a faster/better computer in that price range by getting a PC. Also I edit with Avid Media Composer and Adobe premier/suite so if you know a laptop that handles those well... let me know!
Suggestions??
Also are computers that are good for gaming also good for video editing? I was checking out graphics cards and gaming computers seem to have the best ones!
Any opinions on this Toshiba?
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?poid=2000044488
Btw... I'm pretty skeptical about hp laptops because my last two broke and they always overheat!
To clarify, I am not looking for a gaming computer or a mac! Just a computer that will run fast and support intense video editing!
Answer
The Toshiba Qosmio X870 you're looking at isn't a good choice. The problem with that laptop is that it comes with a 17.3" 1600x900 display (as opposed to a 17.3" 1920x1080 display). 1600x900 resolution in a 17.3" display makes things onscreen large, and 17.3" displays that have 1600x900 resolution tend to be low-grade LCD panels with very poor image quality due to low contrast. You should make a point to avoid displays like this (15.6" 1366x768, 17.3" 1600x900, etc.) when it is reasonable to do so, unless you require the larger text for eyesight-related reasons.
This is more of an issue than a lot of other things. For example, an i5-3210M (as opposed to maybe an i7-3630QM) is not a terrible processor, a GTX 660M (as opposed to maybe a GTX 670M) is not a terrible GPU, but a 17.3" 1600x900 display is a terrible display. You need to be concerned with improving a display that's pretty bad before you start focusing on other aspects that are already pretty good in a lot of models.
Also note that things like the 12GB RAM, 3GB video memory, etc. are there purely for marketing purposes. They don't improve your gaming experience. You are not going to notice a difference in gaming by having more than ~8GB, and if you end up needing more in other programs than keep in mind that it's very cheap and easy to add more memory in after-market if you get a computer that has less memory than you need. As for the video memory: A 1.5GB GTX 670M is just as good as the 3GB version. The video memory is not the bottleneck, the GPU chip itself is. You'll see essentially the same performance on a 1.5GB version as you'll see on a version with unlimited memory.
-------------------------
That said, take a look at these models:
*Malibal Lotus P150EM** (GTX 670M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1041 no tax**
- http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=524
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9130-gaming-laptop-clevo-p151em1-p-4340.html?wconfigure=yes (XoticPC Sager NP9130: Same thing, but forces a lot of upgrades)
- Select Windows under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Generally, you'd want either the GTX 670M or 670MX GPU upgrade (GTX 670M already stock in Sager).
**MSI GX60** (AMD A10-4600M CPU, Radeon 7970M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1199 no tax**
- http://www.xoticpc.com/msi-gx60-1ac021us-p-5009.html?wconfigure=yes
**Malibal P150EM-SE** (Radeon 7970M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1400 no tax**
- http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idproduct=525
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9150-clevo-p150em-p-4341.html?wconfigure=yes (XoticPC Sager NP9150: Same thing, but forces a lot of upgrades)
- Above price is the Malibal model with the 7970M GPU upgrade. If you are choosing the 660M/670M/670MX, check out the NP9130/P150EM-non-SE.
- 17.3" versions also available.
-------------------------
**Sager NP6350** (GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$999 no tax**
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6350-clevo-w350etq-ships-midseptember-p-4897.html?wconfigure=yes
- Select Windows under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Recommended: Matte display upgrade.
- 17.3" version available too
**Lenovo IdeaPad Y580** (GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$899 + tax**
- Sign up and sign in here: http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/Lenovo:EnterStdAffinity?affinity=barnesnoblegold (Barnes and Noble Gold discount page)
- http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:0000972B:
- Click the green "Activate" button in the cart
- Avoid any models that come with the 1366x768 display and not the 1920x1080 display.
-------------------------
The Toshiba Qosmio X870 you're looking at isn't a good choice. The problem with that laptop is that it comes with a 17.3" 1600x900 display (as opposed to a 17.3" 1920x1080 display). 1600x900 resolution in a 17.3" display makes things onscreen large, and 17.3" displays that have 1600x900 resolution tend to be low-grade LCD panels with very poor image quality due to low contrast. You should make a point to avoid displays like this (15.6" 1366x768, 17.3" 1600x900, etc.) when it is reasonable to do so, unless you require the larger text for eyesight-related reasons.
This is more of an issue than a lot of other things. For example, an i5-3210M (as opposed to maybe an i7-3630QM) is not a terrible processor, a GTX 660M (as opposed to maybe a GTX 670M) is not a terrible GPU, but a 17.3" 1600x900 display is a terrible display. You need to be concerned with improving a display that's pretty bad before you start focusing on other aspects that are already pretty good in a lot of models.
Also note that things like the 12GB RAM, 3GB video memory, etc. are there purely for marketing purposes. They don't improve your gaming experience. You are not going to notice a difference in gaming by having more than ~8GB, and if you end up needing more in other programs than keep in mind that it's very cheap and easy to add more memory in after-market if you get a computer that has less memory than you need. As for the video memory: A 1.5GB GTX 670M is just as good as the 3GB version. The video memory is not the bottleneck, the GPU chip itself is. You'll see essentially the same performance on a 1.5GB version as you'll see on a version with unlimited memory.
-------------------------
That said, take a look at these models:
*Malibal Lotus P150EM** (GTX 670M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1041 no tax**
- http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idProduct=524
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9130-gaming-laptop-clevo-p151em1-p-4340.html?wconfigure=yes (XoticPC Sager NP9130: Same thing, but forces a lot of upgrades)
- Select Windows under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Generally, you'd want either the GTX 670M or 670MX GPU upgrade (GTX 670M already stock in Sager).
**MSI GX60** (AMD A10-4600M CPU, Radeon 7970M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1199 no tax**
- http://www.xoticpc.com/msi-gx60-1ac021us-p-5009.html?wconfigure=yes
**Malibal P150EM-SE** (Radeon 7970M, 15.6" 1920x1080 matte display) - **$1400 no tax**
- http://www.malibal.com/boutique/pc/configurePrd.asp?idproduct=525
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np9150-clevo-p150em-p-4341.html?wconfigure=yes (XoticPC Sager NP9150: Same thing, but forces a lot of upgrades)
- Above price is the Malibal model with the 7970M GPU upgrade. If you are choosing the 660M/670M/670MX, check out the NP9130/P150EM-non-SE.
- 17.3" versions also available.
-------------------------
**Sager NP6350** (GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$999 no tax**
- http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np6350-clevo-w350etq-ships-midseptember-p-4897.html?wconfigure=yes
- Select Windows under Operating System if you cannot acquire your own copy for cheaper.
- Recommended: Matte display upgrade.
- 17.3" version available too
**Lenovo IdeaPad Y580** (GTX 660M, 15.6" 1920x1080 glossy display) - **$899 + tax**
- Sign up and sign in here: http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/na/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/Lenovo:EnterStdAffinity?affinity=barnesnoblegold (Barnes and Noble Gold discount page)
- http://shoplenovo.i2.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/barnesnoblegold/StdAffinityPortal/en_US/config.workflow:ConfigureMtmAsItem?mtm-item=:000001C9:0000972B:
- Click the green "Activate" button in the cart
- Avoid any models that come with the 1366x768 display and not the 1920x1080 display.
-------------------------
Is this laptop suitable for video editing?
Shepy
I'm in the process of choosing a laptop, Im keen on a Sony and this one is in my price range. I'll mainly use it for very ordinary applications, office applications etc... however, I do dabble in video editing and I'd like to know of the graphics card is suitable for adobe or something like it.
Cheers
Product Description
Sony VAIO NW Series VGN-NW20SF/P - Core 2 Duo T6600 2.2 GHz - 15.5" TFT
Dimensions (WxDxH)
37 cm x 24.9 cm x 2.9 cm
Weight
2.7 kg
System Type
Notebook
Built-in Devices
Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial
Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 / 2.2 GHz ( Dual-Core )
Cache Memory
2 MB - L2 Cache
RAM
4 GB (installed) / 8 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 800 MHz ( 2 x 2 GB )
Card Reader
Yes
Hard Drive
320 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage
DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM - integrated
Display
15.5" TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA ) - X-black
Graphics Controller
Intel GMA 4500MHD Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0
Audio Output
Sound card
Networking
Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Notebook Camera
Integrated - 0.3 Megapixel
Input Device
Keyboard, touchpad
Battery
Lithium Ion
Run Time (Up To)
4 hour(s)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition
Answer
I'm not up on the specs required by the latest Adobe software, but the problem that jumps out to me is the hard drive: It's a 5400rpm unit, you would really want a seperate faster hard drive to act as the video scratch.
The Hard drive in the laptop has to run the system and programmes, if you then add in video data then it's not going to be stable with all those MBs getting chucked around.
You need to get a seperate 7200rpm drive. Lacie do rugged drives with this rotation speed, if you have a firewire port they are also bus powered.
I don't see any reference to the bus speed either, you want 768 or preferably faster. This dictates how quickly the various components can communicate. No point having a fast processor and a fast external drive if the system bus speed is strangling it.
These are why desktops are generally the better option for video editing. Unless you use a mac. Which I do.
I'm not up on the specs required by the latest Adobe software, but the problem that jumps out to me is the hard drive: It's a 5400rpm unit, you would really want a seperate faster hard drive to act as the video scratch.
The Hard drive in the laptop has to run the system and programmes, if you then add in video data then it's not going to be stable with all those MBs getting chucked around.
You need to get a seperate 7200rpm drive. Lacie do rugged drives with this rotation speed, if you have a firewire port they are also bus powered.
I don't see any reference to the bus speed either, you want 768 or preferably faster. This dictates how quickly the various components can communicate. No point having a fast processor and a fast external drive if the system bus speed is strangling it.
These are why desktops are generally the better option for video editing. Unless you use a mac. Which I do.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
