Moho Forum

Hi,

I posted this question in another forum, too, because I need answers quickly.

I need a new laptop under $800 USD that is conducive for the video and audio work performed in Anime Studio, Audacity, 3D modelling programs, etc.

Just bought a Toshiba, but the fan runs way too loud and constantly. Must return and get a more silent model that doesn't drown out voice recording attempts. The Toshiba also doesn't seem to know how to encode wav's without adding extra noise.

I'm looking at Asus, but rumor has it that you can barely hear anything even with the volume way up.

I'm also looking at Lenovos and Sony VAIO's. I had a Sony VAIO VGN something or other that died, and it had good recording capabilities and a not so bad fan. However, I hear that they now have all this DRM protection stuff that prevents you from creating even your own audio content. Lenovo doesn't seem to be up with USB 3.0, although that may or may not be necessary in the long run (better safe than sorry?).

I'd prefer if it's something that Best Buy can order. This way, the transition is much smoother. It's more like a swap that way.

Here are the specs I'm looking for:

At least 4GB RAM.

At least 640 GB hard drive

Quiet fan when you're not running CPU intensive tasks (I shouldn't be able to notice it at all while simply browsing the net or while recording a voice track). I hear that AMD processors can make the fan quite noisy.

i-5 processor or higher

At least 2 jacks for usb 2.0 and hopefully at least one for 3.0 (3.0 might not be necessary)

Great with audio applications without adding strange noises to files.

The ability to run multiple software programs all day long (Most of my livelihood also comes from computer time).

The ability to handle full time workloads without overheating, etc. Durability is a must.

$800 US Dollars or less

Not Necessary: Long battery life, portability, etc.

Preferably a non-MAC computer. Can't shell out the money for a MAC with the right specs anyway.

Thanks

monkeywisdom wrote:Hi,

I posted this question in another forum, too, because I need answers quickly.

I need a new laptop under $800 USD that is conducive for the video and audio work performed in Anime Studio, Audacity, 3D modelling programs, etc.

Just bought a Toshiba, but the fan runs way too loud and constantly. Must return and get a more silent model that doesn't drown out voice recording attempts. The Toshiba also doesn't seem to know how to encode wav's without adding extra noise.

I'm looking at Asus, but rumor has it that you can barely hear anything even with the volume way up.

I'm also looking at Lenovos and Sony VAIO's. I had a Sony VAIO VGN something or other that died, and it had good recording capabilities and a not so bad fan. However, I hear that they now have all this DRM protection stuff that prevents you from creating even your own audio content. Lenovo doesn't seem to be up with USB 3.0, although that may or may not be necessary in the long run (better safe than sorry?).

I'd prefer if it's something that Best Buy can order. This way, the transition is much smoother. It's more like a swap that way.

Here are the specs I'm looking for:

At least 4GB RAM.

At least 640 GB hard drive

Quiet fan when you're not running CPU intensive tasks (I shouldn't be able to notice it at all while simply browsing the net or while recording a voice track). I hear that AMD processors can make the fan quite noisy.

i-5 processor or higher

At least 2 jacks for usb 2.0 and hopefully at least one for 3.0 (3.0 might not be necessary)

Great with audio applications without adding strange noises to files.

The ability to run multiple software programs all day long (Most of my livelihood also comes from computer time).

The ability to handle full time workloads without overheating, etc. Durability is a must.

$800 US Dollars or less

Not Necessary: Long battery life, portability, etc.

Preferably a non-MAC computer. Can't shell out the money for a MAC with the right specs anyway.

Thanks

I highly recommend getting a gaming laptop, like an Alienware or ASUS, as they tend to have very good specs for the money. They also tend to have above average sound quality and are quieter and less prone to overheating than standard laptops. Also, most laptops tend to get noisier over time as the fans collect more and more dust, and cleaning them often requires completely dismantling the laptop. However, the Alienwares are known for having very easy to clean fans, so you might want to consider that too.

Also, don't expect too much from the built-in microphone on most laptops. You're better of buying a USB cardioid condenser microphone for about $100.

Thanks. Alienware is great, but beyond the budget. Asus seems 99% perfect for my uses, but people consistently complain about the low volume. I decided on a Lenovo Ideapad. If tiny speakers wasn't an issue, I would have gone with Asus all the way.

As for the mic, I use Giant Squid in a 3.5 mm jack. Works great for voice in other laptops. Mic is not the issue, though. Noise removal worked perfectly in the audacity file. When exporting to wav or mp3, the computer adds some really heinous noise that seems to insert itself at the beginning and end of every phrase. So, definitely not the mic and definitely not an ambient noise issue. The fan still sucks, though. Seems like Windows 7 is absolutely confused about how to control it. It's loudest when idle.