New Laptop - Advice Please

hal9001 wrote on 2/3/2008, 7:59 AM

I'm looking for a laptop to replace my desktop. I am using Vegas 8.0.

Would you recommend and AMD processor?

Will I be ok with integrated graphics?

I intend to get 4Gb of ram. I will only be using the machine for internet, office apps and Vegas. Gaming is not an issue.

Any advice would be most welcome.

Here's the spec I am considering

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7250 (2.00 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2-cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium - English
Base Warranty - 1 Year XPS Premium Hardware Support (incl. Gaming and On-Site Support)
15.4¿ UltraSharp™ WXGA (1280x800) CCFL Display (220nits) with TrueLife™
4096MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x2048]
160GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
NVIDIA® GeForce™ Go 8400M GS with 128MB dedicated graphic memory
Fixed 8x DVD+/-RW Slim Slot Load drive, including SW

Comments

MH_Stevens wrote on 2/3/2008, 8:03 AM

For video editing must get a 7200 drive - not a 5400. Consider two small 7200 drives with RAID 0.

hal9001 wrote on 2/3/2008, 8:05 AM

Thanks.

Do I need the video card or will standard integrated be enough?

Cheno wrote on 2/3/2008, 9:04 AM

Specs look good - I'd get XP on there instead of Vista if I had a chance and as far as a system hard drive is concerned, 5400 is okay. If you're going to be doing any editing off of your system drive (which isn't recommended in an ideal situation), then go for 7200. If you're doing editing on external drives, stock internal system drive can be 5400 easily.

If you can swing the bucks, go for the non-integrated vid card. You won't regret that.

cheno

MH_Stevens wrote on 2/3/2008, 11:13 AM

Cheno: He says he is getting this to replace his desktop, so he WILL be using it for editing, so I say again he needs 7200 HDD - especially if he is doing and HDV or HD.

As Laptops have come down in price I advise 64bit Vista with 4 mb ram if any serious editing is to be done, and a 16:9 HD screen. [EDIT to add this:] At first I was very anti Vista but as I do more Vegas work with 64bit Vista I'm beginning to like it more and more.

hal9001 wrote on 2/3/2008, 1:43 PM

Thanks to all for you advice and quick response. Excellent as usual.

I plan to install the second hard drive (500Gb, 7200rpm) from my desktop into an enclosure and use it as an external for the lap top (Firewire interface).

It turns out I must have the better graphics capabilities as the laptop without it doesn't have firewire.

Thanks again for you help.

Cheno wrote on 2/3/2008, 7:14 PM

MH Stevens - I only suggested 5400 rpm if he was doing all of his editing off his external drives, not his system drive. Running a macbook pro with a 5400rpm internal drive and I edit HD just fine using 7200rpm extrenal drives. Not such a bid deal if you can keep everything off your internal drive. 7200rpm is better, yes. Not necessary in this circumstance.