Please Critique my New Computer

[bozobreath]

I'm getting a new laptop and value the opinions here. RW will be the primary app I run on this particular system. I'm going with Dell because I don't like Vista or what I've heard about it and Dell is still offering XP.

Whaddya think?

Inspiron 1520, Intel Core 2 Duo T8300(2.4GHz, 800Mhz, 3M L2 Cache)
1 4GB, DDR2, 667MHz 2 Dimm
1 High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1440x900)
1 Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
1 160G 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
1 Microsoft Windows XP Home Service Pack 2
1 Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
1 8X DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive
1 Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
1 Intel 4965AGN Wireless-N Mini Card
1 56 WHr 6-cell Lithium Ion Prim

The only soundcard upgrade for this system is SoundBlaster and I haven’t read good things about them here. Am I wrong? Will the generic SC be ok?

Trying to keep it around $1k.

Yeah or nay/Suggestions?

[blue4u]

Good choice going with Win XP and the Intel Core 2 Duo!! It's better for recording if you can get a 7200 RPM Hard Drive though. The 5400 RPM drive you selected will work fine. However, for best performance you may want to buy a 7200 RPM external hard drive for storing your songs and recordings on (at some point). Go for a larger hard drive as well. Audio files are HUGE so the more you can size up the better. I would suggest 250 GB or higher. You probably don't need 4GB of RAM. 2GB would suffice but it's nice to have extra if you have the money to throw around.

Finally, forget the audio card and go with an external audio interface like a Line 6 TonePort or the equivalent. It's not that SoundBlaster or any other basic computer sound cards are "bad". They are just NOT designed for recording audio. You can get into a decent audio interface for less than 200 bucks though. If you're looking for suggestions ppl here will likely give you some tips. Have fun

Rich

[GuitarSlinger]

I don't know alot about laptops but my Creative Audigy 2ZS has never worked with its ASIO driver and Riffworks. Great for games and movies and multimedia, but not for ASIO recording.

Only problem you might face is getting audio to your laptop speakers when using an external device like a Toneport. It may not always be convenient to carry powered speakers around.

I'd like to hear what others have to say about this.

[hansanneveldt]

hi,

think that you will get the same problem as I.
The internal sound cards of most laptops will not function well,
I'm going to buy an extra external soundcard,
with extra input channels, most important is the asio thing.
for that reason I go for the Edirol UA-101, this will be able to play
all gear and software in one time (10 channels or 5 stereo). when you want to play direct into a riff without rewire using reason or outher software apps. you will need it.
the two real asiochannels i have now are the ones of my podXTlive an these are not enough for all the settings i use or want to be able to use.
So this is a secondary problem, but i think you have to take this into account, its cost some extra money, i mean.

if anyone disagrees or has an better idea please let us know!!

greetings hans

[bozobreath]

Thanks guys.

My interface is an M-Audio Fastrack which I used with my last laptop and it worked great.

I also used a large external firewire hard drive for storage.

[ShredRex]

As far as specs go, CPU is good, RAM is good, XP is fine although I have had no real issues with Vista to date, HD is on the slow side a 7200RPM drive would be better, why only 8X on the DVD?, integrated sound card will be fine as well. I have the latest sound blaster and think the drivers are crap.

All in all will do what you need it to do......if you are looking for audio playback in RWS through the integrated audio, try using ASIO4ALL for that.....just toggle between the ASIO driver needed in RWS. You will still need to use the appropriate ASIO driver to record.

[GuitarSlinger]

I just noticed in the May newsletter.

"Uses DirectSound for playback if ASIO is not available. Still requires ASIO for recording."

This will be really handy.

[Wedgebill]

No problems at all here with Vista

[ShredRex]

I just noticed in the May newsletter.

"Uses DirectSound for playback if ASIO is not available. Still requires ASIO for recording."

This will be really handy.

I noticed that too........would be very cool!

[bozobreath]

These are exactly the comments I was looking for.

Since I've got an external Firewire drive, I could certainly go down to a 120 on the internal and up the speed.

The DVD speed is just what they quoted me. I never thought it was that important but I can look into it.

I didn't mean to bag on Vista. I just don't care for the UI and find XP more stable. Plus I know the ASIO drivers for my M-Audio device work great with XP.

I wish Dell's build times were faster. I was right in the middle of half a dozen songs before the divorce and lost the laptop a few months ago.

I'm itching to get back to RW.

[Wedgebill]

If you haven't used RiffWorks for a while you're gonna be pleasantly surprised, there's been several updates/new builds over the last few months and it's a lot more stable now as they've ironed out a lot of the bugs and tweaked a few things. Plus quite a few of us have been beta-testing for quite a while now and they're promising a major upgrade next week

[ShredRex]

"I could certainly go down to a 120 on the internal and up the speed"

Shred says: Do that.....well worth it!

"The DVD speed is just what they quoted me. I never thought it was that important but I can look into it."

Shred says: It isn't really a factor, but I thought 16X was now the standard.

"I didn't mean to bag on Vista. I just don't care for the UI and find XP more stable. Plus I know the ASIO drivers for my M-Audio device work great with XP"

Shred says: No worries what ever you prefer

"I wish Dell's build times were faster"

Shred says: Don't get me started on Dell and their delivery times....I could go on for days. But I can tell ya it is worth the wait.....unless you go HP....lol

"I'm itching to get back to RW"

Shred says: Can't imagine life without it!

[pbbobkanobi]

I like Vista.....

[hansanneveldt]

I like my dog!!

[trikloretylen]

the only thing thats wrong with it, is that it`s not my computer !