laptop vs desktop

[paresh]

Hi - There may have been previous threads if you could point me to one:

My computer is getting really slow. I currently use a laptop - quiet, no fans. My understanding is that I could get a lot more for less money with a desktop but am concerned about fan noise. Any suggestions or other issues I am not aware of? Thanks!!

 

[T Sat]

Fan noise isn't an issue if you use an USB etc audio interface, only if you use a soundcard and even then the good ones it really isn't an issue either. Just for an experiment I tried my internal soundcard for a noise floor and it was around -85db and that is a cheap sound source. Unless the issue is traveling for recording etc a desktop is cheaper with much more power and options.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Laptops also have fans. Desktops are not necessarily louder. With a desktop, you can use larger diameter fans that run at lower RPM, thus reducing the noise even more.

Not sure what an audio interface has to do with decreasing fan noise, though I guess there could be some noise that sounds like a fan, when using an internal sound card....

 

[chuckduffy]

Laptops also have fans. Desktops are not necessarily louder. With a desktop, you can use larger diameter fans that run at lower RPM, thus reducing the noise even more.

Not sure what an audio interface has to do with decreasing fan noise, though I guess there could be some noise that sounds like a fan, when using an internal sound card....

I'm not sure if they have anything to do with each other either Jimmy. I know with a USB inteface I can just stick the computer in a closet, but that's about all I can think of. Desktops win the price, expandability, performance and anti-obsolesence war hands down . They lose on the portability front.

 

[paresh]

Thanks guys. Don't need portability any more. Forgot to ask opinions about solid state HD?? ...worth the money?

 

[chuckduffy]

Thanks guys. Don't need portability any more. Forgot to ask opinions about solid state HD?? ...worth the money?

Get it for the boot drive, at least. Boots so fast, and the system is just so much more responsive overall.

 

[MrWrenchey]

Thanks guys. Don't need portability any more. Forgot to ask opinions about solid state HD?? ...worth the money?

I just got a 128GB one for only $115. The thing boots in 10 seconds or less. Not to mention application load times have been split by about half (or better). If you're just using your computer for audio, 128GB should be plenty, but I'm using mine for games too, so I'm planning on grabbing a new one (they're at about $1 per GB right now, so if you're wondering about how much one costs, go with that).
Just for reference, I'm also using a 1TB Caviar Black WD drive as a data drive for all my audio files and such. You'll probably want to have a similar set up, because 128 GB goes fast if you're recording audio.