D
Dean89
New member
I need a new computer to run Pro tools LE 8 or newer . If anyone could recommend a good pc and laptop thats not to expensive that would be great
Pinky
and The Brain...
Budget? Do you also need an interface? Type of VSTs you expect to use?
Just about any modern computer will run protools/DAW, how much more you need (over the cheapest thing off the shelf) will depend on what you're specifically using within the DAW. Then your budget will ultimately filter things from there.
Just about any modern computer will run protools/DAW, how much more you need (over the cheapest thing off the shelf) will depend on what you're specifically using within the DAW. Then your budget will ultimately filter things from there.
Last edited:
Farview
Well-known member
If you have the budget for a purpose built machine, ADK makes really stable ones. They have a ton of support too.
Steenamaroo
...
I'd look into Protools officially supported hardware or, at least, info on custom builds that other people are using without issues.
In reality most will be fine but a lot of time builds or buys with issues could have been avoided by checking around first.
In reality most will be fine but a lot of time builds or buys with issues could have been avoided by checking around first.
D
Dean89
New member
Thanks for the replies . My Interface is a mbox mini I am currently running it on a sony laptop that I find crashes when I start bringing in plugins so Im looking for something with more stability for under 1000 . Really not to sure about what specs I need so any advice is great .
Thanks
Thanks
Farview
Well-known member
Are you looking for another laptop? Most purpose built daw computers are towers.
The advice above is solid. Go to the protools website and see what the requirements are. For the most part, the cpu isn't going to be the issue. The memory and compatibility with the built-in hardware will be the things that muck everything up.
The advice above is solid. Go to the protools website and see what the requirements are. For the most part, the cpu isn't going to be the issue. The memory and compatibility with the built-in hardware will be the things that muck everything up.
D
Dean89
New member
Does'nt have to be a laptop. Im just more concerned with price at the moment
Pinky
and The Brain...
The only issue with buying off the shelf is most OEM computers don't have SSD drives installed as their primary storage, and doing this after the purchase requires a bit of effort (and know-how/research). A custom build unfortunately will probably push you over the $1000 mark. I quickly priced out a very basic system on the ADK site previously mentioned and it was $1100 before tax/shipping.
So not sure your best route. Maybe just buy whatever and see how it goes, then perhaps pay someone to upgrade to a SSD and/or add more memory as needed. You can get a decent computer/laptop for $600-800 and that extra couple hundred could be pocketed or spent on upgrades later.
Newegg is a good source for computers and they always seem to have something decent on sale.
So not sure your best route. Maybe just buy whatever and see how it goes, then perhaps pay someone to upgrade to a SSD and/or add more memory as needed. You can get a decent computer/laptop for $600-800 and that extra couple hundred could be pocketed or spent on upgrades later.
Newegg is a good source for computers and they always seem to have something decent on sale.
Last edited:
Farview
Well-known member
If you go to the ADK website, you can see what they are putting in the computers and put one together yourself using the same parts. With ADK, you are also paying for 24-7 service. It's set up for pro studios, where if the computer goes down, the business loses money.
In a home situation, it isn't as critical, so there is no need to pay the premium for it.
SSD's are awesome, but I was running DAWs for over a decade without them. However, laptops used to have hard drives with slower rotational speed, which will be an issue.
If you don't need a laptop, go with a tower. They are cheaper (for the same power) and you can add drives and swap cards and memory without the restrictions of a laptop. That usually means that you can use the computer longer, since you can swap cards in order to keep up with technology. Laptops tend to be exactly what they are and you can't do much to change them.
In a home situation, it isn't as critical, so there is no need to pay the premium for it.
SSD's are awesome, but I was running DAWs for over a decade without them. However, laptops used to have hard drives with slower rotational speed, which will be an issue.
If you don't need a laptop, go with a tower. They are cheaper (for the same power) and you can add drives and swap cards and memory without the restrictions of a laptop. That usually means that you can use the computer longer, since you can swap cards in order to keep up with technology. Laptops tend to be exactly what they are and you can't do much to change them.
Pinky
and The Brain...
Agree, but once you go SSD you don't go back.
Also worth noting that the latest SSDs will tend to last longer before failing than most home grade platter hard drives. So not only are they super fast, they will likely outlive the computer they're in. I have one 120GB SSD I bought 4 or 5 years ago that's still going in my spare laptop, and the Samsung in my primary desktop is pushing 2 years old now and it has seen a lot of use in those two years. The actual stress tests people have performed on the latest SSD drives has them lasting decades of average use, and the technology is only improving.
Pinky
and The Brain...
Another note... there's of course Apple, but I don't think $1000 will buy you a better Mac than $1000 will buy you a pretty damn nice PC. But there's no technical reason you couldn't go that route.