Window Computers - Laptop vs. Desktop

[LancerTheGreat]

I use my laptop for gaming probably more than I use my desktop lol.

Desktop has an i7-6700k cpu, corsair h100i platinum aio liquid cooler, 16gb 2400 ddr4 ram, 120gb ssd os drive, 2tb hdd, 6gb(8gb?) Sapphire rx590 nitro gpu. Hooked up to a 2018 55" samsung curved 4k uhd tv. Wireless logitech keyboard with mousepad, wireless xbox one controllers for gaming.
The liquid cooler makes a huge difference when gaming for 3+ hours, barely hit 40°c at the highest since switching, my old cooler master evo 112 would get up there enough for it to throttle and slow down to try and cool off. I play most games in 4k on it, usually max settings or some personally tweaked settings for a steady 40-60fps depending on optimization of new games.

Laptop is an HP Omen 15" with i7-8750h, gtx 1060, 1tb hdd, 256gb ssd, 16gb ram. 1080p, steady 60fps max settings in like 97% of games I've played on it.


I'd like to upgrade the desktop and get a monitor and switch their duties, but I don't need to upgrade lol.

I'm a fan of PC's as a hobby, like guitars, there's a lot of room for several different levels of enthusiasm, skill, and ability.

[OMB]

I use my laptop for gaming probably more than I use my desktop lol.

Desktop has an i7-6700k cpu, corsair h100i platinum aio liquid cooler, 16gb 2400 ddr4 ram, 120gb ssd os drive, 2tb hdd, 6gb(8gb?) Sapphire rx590 nitro gpu. Hooked up to a 2018 55" samsung curved 4k uhd tv. Wireless logitech keyboard with mousepad, wireless xbox one controllers for gaming.
The liquid cooler makes a huge difference when gaming for 3+ hours, barely hit 40°c at the highest since switching, my old cooler master evo 112 would get up there enough for it to throttle and slow down to try and cool off. I play most games in 4k on it, usually max settings or some personally tweaked settings for a steady 40-60fps depending on optimization of new games.

Laptop is an HP Omen 15" with i7-8750h, gtx 1060, 1tb hdd, 256gb ssd, 16gb ram. 1080p, steady 60fps max settings in like 97% of games I've played on it.


I'd like to upgrade the desktop and get a monitor and switch their duties, but I don't need to upgrade lol.

I'm a fan of PC's as a hobby, like guitars, there's a lot of room for several different levels of enthusiasm, skill, and ability.

OK well whatever you said...Just kidding but you are apparently REALLY in to performance machines.

[Mossman]

I've been using a laptop as a desktop computer since... 2009, I think. The last time I owned a desktop computer, IBM was still putting their name on Lenovo machines (the last desktop I owned was an IBM Think Centre).

I usually buy over-powered, off-lease, business laptops (like [mention]Tonray's Ghost[/mention] was talking about, though not specifically Dell). It's a good way to get a high-spec machine for $300-$400.

For the last 3 years, I've been using an HP Elitebook with an i7-4600 cpu, 16GB of RAM, 500GB SSD, 3TB of hard drive storage and a 27" HP 27es monitor, and it still runs super fast and problem-free with almost no maintenance. I used to use a dock with my laptops, so when I had to travel for my business I could just pop it out of the dock and go, but since I don't do that anymore, I just have everything connected directly to the laptop and use USB hubs for added connectivity. I'm fine using my iPad with a keyboard case if I have to go anywhere.

I used to have a pretty dim view of HP computers, since both myself and my former business partner had had horrific experiences with their products and tech support in the past, but this machine is 7 years old (4 years old when I bought it) and it still runs like a champ. Granted, if I were into gaming, or editing a lot of video, I'd probably want a video card, but for recording, making short videos, and general computing, it's more than powerful enough for me. Until I feel the need for something with an open hardware architecture, I don't see any reason to have a desk-top computer.

[LancerTheGreat]

[mention]OMB[/mention] for a non streamer, I take my stuff a little seriously and baby it all like my amps and guitars, actually more so than some of the gear.
I mean I run twitch when playing some games, just started streaming the Mafia Definitive Edition yesterday, but I don't like put my face up there or really try to "be a streamer" lol.

[PoodlesAgain]

I would like to build a basic but solid machine, even if it would cost a little bit more than off-the-shelf.
There used to be a gazillion guides online, but I am not sure about finding one for a modest but solid system.

Used to be a few great laces to get barebones. What now?

[littlebadboy]

For me, have chromebooks around the house for surfing. I have a laptop in my studio/rec room for recording. I use it for nothing else but as a DAW and video editor (for my YouTube channel). It's an older model from my late father, so it has sentimental value. I just upgraded it to i5 and maximum RAM. It works.

[OMB]

I've been using a laptop as a desktop computer since... 2009, I think. The last time I owned a desktop computer, IBM was still putting their name on Lenovo machines (the last desktop I owned was an IBM Think Centre).

I usually buy over-powered, off-lease, business laptops (like @Tonray's Ghost was talking about, though not specifically Dell). It's a good way to get a high-spec machine for $300-$400.

For the last 3 years, I've been using an HP Elitebook with an i7-4600 cpu, 16GB of RAM, 500GB SSD, 3TB of hard drive storage and a 27" HP 27es monitor, and it still runs super fast and problem-free with almost no maintenance. I used to use a dock with my laptops, so when I had to travel for my business I could just pop it out of the dock and go, but since I don't do that anymore, I just have everything connected directly to the laptop and use USB hubs for added connectivity. I'm fine using my iPad with a keyboard case if I have to go anywhere.

I used to have a pretty dim view of HP computers, since both myself and my former business partner had had horrific experiences with their products and tech support in the past, but this machine is 7 years old (4 years old when I bought it) and it still runs like a champ. Granted, if I were into gaming, or editing a lot of video, I'd probably want a video card, but for recording, making short videos, and general computing, it's more than powerful enough for me. Until I feel the need for something with an open hardware architecture, I don't see any reason to have a desk-top computer.

I used my Laptop the same way for many years but I always bought new and always a little older technology as I hated paying for the depreciation.

[OMB]

For me, have chromebooks around the house for surfing. I have a laptop in my studio/rec room for recording. I use it for nothing else but as a DAW and video editor (for my YouTube channel). It's an older model from my late father, so it has sentimental value. I just upgraded it to i5 and maximum RAM. It works.

Yeah my desktop is some older AMD version and I rely on my Chromebooks for most of my surfing as well.

[littlebadboy]

Yeah my desktop is some older AMD version and I rely on my Chromebooks for most of my surfing as well.

I read that AMD presents issues when using with a DAW. How's yours?

[redman]

Funny this thread popped up now as I'm in the process of upgrading my recording set op. I have limited space I live in a 1 BR 600 sqft apt so a laptop works better for me.
I have a new HP laptop that the motherboard is fried so that's going to be my platform. It is a 1TB 5400 RPM HDD with 4GB of RAM which is inherently slow. Upgrading to a 1TB SSD w/32GB Ram parts ordered yesterday. I'm going to get a box for the HDD to turn it into an external HDD I have a fresh copy of Windows 10. I plan to use this laptop for recording only so the only thing that will be on it will be the DAW I decide on, right now its between Presonus Artist One and Reaper. I also have to decide on an interface my Zoom R8 will work as a 2 in 2 out but I think it's a bit of overkill Presonus has a deal if you buy their 2 in 2 out interface it comes with the Artist One software all for $100.

[golem]

I mostly prefer the portability of a Laptop. If I were to get a desktop, I'd love to have something medium sized with a handle.

[Mossman]

For me, have chromebooks around the house for surfing. I have a laptop in my studio/rec room for recording. I use it for nothing else but as a DAW and video editor (for my YouTube channel). It's an older model from my late father, so it has sentimental value. I just upgraded it to i5 and maximum RAM. It works.

I didn't know you had a YouTube channel. What's it called?

[Mossman]

I mostly prefer the portability of a Laptop. If I were to get a desktop, I'd love to have something medium sized with a handle.

This is medium-sized... I guess... and it's got a handle.

[Tonray's Ghost]

I mostly prefer the portability of a Laptop. If I were to get a desktop, I'd love to have something medium sized with a handle.

This is medium-sized... I guess... and it's got a handle.

Don't laugh but when those came out I wanted one more than you can imagine.

images.jpeg (25.53 KiB) Viewed 1839 times

[Mossman]

Don't laugh but when those came out I wanted one more than you can imagine.

images.jpeg

Geeze, I thought you were younger than me. When those things came out, I was still playing Missle Command on my Atari 2600.

I think that ad is pretty misleading... There weren't NOBODY swinging those computers around like the guy in that picture! Those things were like concentrated gravity with a plastic handle.

[littlebadboy]

I didn't know you had a YouTube channel. What's it called?

It's not much... but here. Thanks for asking!

[Tonray's Ghost]

Don't laugh but when those came out I wanted one more than you can imagine.

images.jpeg

Geeze, I thought you were younger than me. When those things came out, I was still playing Missle Command on my Atari 2600.

I think that ad is pretty misleading... There weren't NOBODY swinging those computers around like the guy in that picture! Those things were like concentrated gravity with a plastic handle.

well I don't know how old you are but I'm nearly an old geezer...

[PoodlesAgain]

I almost bought a KayPro, but then, the whole DOS was overwhelming for a newbie.
Later went with a Mac Plus and made a well-paying job of it, that still does, or will, when I will need to live off savings...

[OMB]

Yeah my desktop is some older AMD version and I rely on my Chromebooks for most of my surfing as well.

I read that AMD presents issues when using with a DAW. How's yours?

I have only messed around a little with Presonus and some on-line DAWs so I am probably not a good source.

[Mossman]

well I don't know how old you are but I'm nearly an old geezer...

I'll be 52 in about 2.5 months, but I look older when I have a beard (more grey than brown anymore). I get people offering me a senior discount, and asking me what Woodstock was like, and shit like that. You look young in your photos. I would have guessed you were 40-ish if anyone had asked for my opinion on the matter.

[Tonray's Ghost]

well I don't know how old you are but I'm nearly an old geezer...

I'll be 52 in about 2.5 months, but I look older when I have a beard (more grey than brown anymore). I get people offering me a senior discount, and asking me what Woodstock was like, and shit like that. You look young in your photos. I would have guessed you were 40-ish if anyone had asked for my opinion on the matter.

I've got 10 years on ya...I do look a bit younger however, at least that's what people say......

[bleys21]

I'm going to date myself here...while I never got to work on the Osborne luggables, I did work on a lot of the Compaq Luggables (ok, so it was officially called the Compaq Portable, but it was like 50 pounds, so we dubbed it "luggable")

[Mossman]

well I don't know how old you are but I'm nearly an old geezer...

I'll be 52 in about 2.5 months, but I look older when I have a beard (more grey than brown anymore). I get people offering me a senior discount, and asking me what Woodstock was like, and shit like that. You look young in your photos. I would have guessed you were 40-ish if anyone had asked for my opinion on the matter.

I've got 10 years on ya...I do look a bit younger however, at least that's what people say......

Well, you couldn't see much detail in the small avatar pics we had on the old forum, now that I think of it.

[Mossman]

I'm going to date myself here...while I never got to work on the Osborne luggables, I did work on a lot of the Compaq Luggables (ok, so it was officially called the Compaq Portable, but it was like 50 pounds, so we dubbed it "luggable")

That's what everyone called them... My boss had the IBM version around 1986. It was mostly made of metal and had a keyboard very similar to the legendary "Model M" (which you could probably crack somebody's skull with). I don't know exactly how much it weighed, but I wouldn't want to take that computer anywhere with me. I couldn't even imagine dragging that thing through an airport and onto a plane for a business trip.

[Tonray's Ghost]

I'll be 52 in about 2.5 months, but I look older when I have a beard (more grey than brown anymore). I get people offering me a senior discount, and asking me what Woodstock was like, and shit like that. You look young in your photos. I would have guessed you were 40-ish if anyone had asked for my opinion on the matter.

I've got 10 years on ya...I do look a bit younger however, at least that's what people say......

Well, you couldn't see much detail in the small avatar pics we had on the old forum, now that I think of it.

Taken last year

https://scontent.fbkk2-3.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5F97835B

Taken 1983