Which computer, which soundcard???

  • Thread starter Thread starter deadmansshoes
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deadmansshoes

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Hi all

So I'm looking for advice regarding a new set up. I'm not doing anything very fancy I just want some half decent results on a budget. I've been using cubase for a couple of years now so I'll be sticking with that. I use a fujitsu laptop which has been ok 2gig of RAM has served me well but the harddrive is 5400rpm and I think I need something more like 7200rpm for the inserts I want to run (at the moment playback is awful once I have more than one track open with amplitube as an insert).

I've been using a fast track USB system by M-audio which has served me well but I'm looking to step it up a bit. People have recommended getting a firewire system but no laptops seem to have them (I won't be getting a mac I know its a good idea but its not an option).

And thats it really I've got a tiny budget and we'll look to do it all second hand so any suggestions for:

1. Laptops
2. Soundcards

Feel free to let me know. Thanks.
 
my vostro 1500 has firewire. it's 4pin, but i think that's just they way it is on laptops.

Wanted to chime in about ssds though. i upgraded from 5400sata to ssd and i honestly can't express just how much of a difference it made.
Might be something to look into. I will NEVER go back.
(edit- what's your laptop specs and how tiny is your budget?)
 
Last edited:
Steenamaroo said:
my vostro 1500 has firewire. it's 4pin, but i think that's just they way it is on laptops.

Wanted to chime in about ssds though. i upgraded from 5400sata to ssd and i honestly can't express just how much of a difference it made.
Might be something to look into. I will NEVER go back.
(edit- what's your laptop specs and how tiny is your budget?)
Click to expand...

I thoughts 4 pin was slower than USB shows what I know

So could I in theory get a firewire ssd drive, daisy chain it with a firewire sound card, and into a firewire port on a laptop?
 
ah, sorry. i didn't word that well.

When i mentioned ssd, i was suggesting it as an internal upgrade. ie. replacing your 5400 drive, if it's sata.

my laptop has 4 pin, an my desktop has 6pin, but they both operate at a maximum 400Mb/sec.
The 9 pin connectors (that i've only ever seen on a mac) are for firewire 800, but tbh i don't think there's an audio interface out there that wouldn't be fine on 400.

I think technically usb2 is faster than firewire (480 vs 400), but in the real world most people have a string of devices eating up usb bandwidth (printer, mouse, keyboard, webcam, flash drives, hard drives, et etc), whereas firewire is usually 'free' for audio interfaces.
 
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