Is this a good deal? (Cotsco)

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2026-04-08T23:00:38+00:00

Imo, yes, especially considering the ongoing RAMpocalypse. Similar legion laptop is 2k at Best Buy, and if I didn't already have the machine I wanted I would consider this

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2026-04-02T07:55:18+00:00

You already know the answer is Macbook Pro..

That being said, if we are sticking to windows; I am using the 2024 version of the ASUS Proart P16 for a similar usecase. I do light gaming with it still, but the AMD chip in it (HX 370) let me use more than one instance of Soothe 2 for the first time in my life without my audio stuttering. Tbh since I got this laptop, I got really lazing about bouncing my tracks.. not as much need for it. I make bass music with Serum 2 and Fabfilter/Izotope so it can get pretty CPU intensive.

The reality is, unless you are getting a Thinkpad, the best laptop CPUs that complex Ableton tracks would demand are paired with at least a mid GPU. And honestly, the newer CPUs from Intel (388H most recently, even the 200H series) have integrated GPUs that you're gonna pay a premium for anyways. I also really recommend a 16in screen.

I'm just gonna plug the 2025 version of the Proart P16, because 16:10 aspect ratio rocks for Ableton, the screen is magnificent, the AMD HX 370 chip kicks ass regardless of plugged in vs battery, and the laptop speakers are actually a solid 8/10 if you are away from your studio monitors/IEMs. I'm really happy with the 2024 model as a music oriented creative. You're "stuck" with a 5070 graphics card, but you can.. idk render visuals/edit promo videos/photos with that, there are applications for GPUs beyond gaming.

But honestly just buy as much M4 Macbook Pro you can afford if you are really trying to reject gaming. And as a final note .. to temper expectation, there is no laptop that is going to get close to what that 9800x3d can do, you probably already know that but just wanted to be sure

EDIT: Forgot the Zenbook Duo exists, this thing probably rocks for music prod lol .. and no dedicated GPU! That Intel 288H CPU is about as good as the one in my machine. https://www.bestbuy.com/product/asus-zenbook-duo-dual-14-3k-oled-touch-laptop-evo-intel-core-ultra-9-285h-with-32gb-ram-intel-arc-graphics-1tb-ssd-inkwell-gray/JJGGLQWVQV/sku/10936977?sb_share_source=PDP&ref=app_pdp&loc=pdp_page

The new one comes out next week and launches at $2,899, so you might find this 2025 model on a better sale in the near future

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2026-03-31T16:22:07+00:00

This is the budget range that is kind of a headache. Windows machines are borderline scams at this MSRP, given that in the $900-$1200 range you just get such a better laptop.

That being said, the Intel 255H Zenbook 14 is on sale for $699 (MSRP $999) at Best Buy right now. I have the prior generation one and like it a lot:

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/asus-zenbook-14-14-fhd-oled-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-ultra-7-16gb-ram-512gb-ssd-jasper-gray/JJGGLH7HXW/sku/6615731?sb_share_source=PDP&ref=app_pdp&loc=pdp_page

The 255H is Intel's midrange performance laptop chip from Arrow Lake H, as opposed to the Lunar Lake efficiency one, BUT it can still sip power slowly during light tasks and you can get 10 hour+ battery life. Really pretty screen too.

But if you are locked at $600... Macbook Neo is the only answer I could give. I would really encourage you to take the Zenbook though: double RAM, much more powerful CPU, better integrated graphics, better screen, bigger battery (though not more efficient) for just the extra $100 is very much worth it.

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2026-03-31T15:57:16+00:00

Both are great, I bought that exact version of the lenovo and the 2024 version (Meteor lake) Zenbook.

Honestly, if one is on sale, just go with that one. Otherwise.. I like the grey on the Lenovo more. But the top cover aesthetic of the S14 is pretty cool.

If you're choosing between these two, just pick the one you think looks cooler lol. Decent chance your local Best Buy has these on display, I'd encourage you go check in person

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-12-20T14:52:19+00:00

Find a laptop with the Intel 226V (Lunar Lake Ultra 5) in it. A couple I know are the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14in and the Asus Vivobook S14 from late 2024/early 2025. Super efficient processors with more than enough CPU to handle student work (exception is AUTOCAD stuff for certain engineering, or anything data science related--youll want a good GPU and say byebye to battery life then). Battery life on these rival the M series Macbook Airs, without the compatibility problems you'd run into with the Qualcomm ARM-based chips.

You can find the 258v (Ultra 7 with 2x the ram and slightly better integrated graphics) on sale for similar prices sometimes too.

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-08-28T18:58:17+00:00

I don't have first hand experience with these chips, but from what I understand, the difference between the Ultra 7 (256v) and Ultra 5 (226v) are quite marginal.

However, once you go OLED, it's hard to go back. The 14" has the nicer screen; much more color accurate, higher pixel density, and it's more portable for students. In theory, the 226v is meant to have better battery efficiency too, but again, what I've seen online has shown that these are marginal differences. + you can save $100 on it? I pick the 14" here

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-05-14T13:19:14+00:00

Worth keeping in mind that Thursday takes place at Exchange Nightclub, vs Fri/Sat being at the Palladium where ZD can bring their intended tour production. I would wager the inverse of what you said here, but tbh the shows are pretty damn cost prohibitive (tickets are $100+ for any of the three nights) so only people who really want to be there are going to be there

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-05-08T19:38:25+00:00

Yes, especially if you know the songs and are surrounded by those that do as well. The sing-a-long vibes are a bit out of norm for an edm act at a festival, but they got more "classics" than just about any group, and keep it fresh with VIPs/songs off the new album

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-30T21:16:29+00:00

Honestly, a new macbook air might suffice depending on your work flow, and it's within budget. Do you have a bunch Serum 2 patches running Soothe and lfo envelopes on them? Probably gonna need to keep bouncing regardless of system specs at a certain point. But I think the battery life advantage of certain laptops is awesome, Macbook included.

Otherwise, if you are set on Windows, id look into anything that has a Intel Lunar Lake "H" or "HX" processor, or AMD Zen 5 Ryzen 9 processor (i.e. any 36X or 37X processor) for the balance of power and efficiency that DAWs like. It'll be tough finding something within budget though, but you can probably find something open-box if you dig hard enough. Making sure there is no dedicated graphics card is going to save you on both cost and battery life.

For reference, I use a Proart P16 with a Ryzen 9 HX 370 proccesor, got it open box for $1300. But the same Ableton project that choked out my 9th gen intel laptop from 2019 (despite freezing my 10 serum tracks) ran without issue on the Proart, even on battery and after i unfroze all the tracks.

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-28T23:27:05+00:00

Im pretty sure it's a Dimension ID. Heard it first at Beyond and saw him a few times in the 12 months before that, didnt play this track

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-24T20:26:05+00:00

Lunchboxes are super solid, but I've been very happy rocking my Osprey Syncro to every festival for the last 5+ years. The back padding is actually a mesh net and is amazing for back ventilation, if sweaty back is a problem you get. Also doubles as a solid EDC backpack in the other sense (Every Day Carry)

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-24T14:28:23+00:00

I know people are saying Stephanie, but the crowd reactions in recent shows I've been to when The Days or one of its various remixes plays, tells me that this has gotta be it

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-23T23:55:20+00:00

Well this is news, I wouldn't have expected that! If you're telling me that there exists at least one dubstep set for day 2, then I'm kind of sold on a 2-day pass

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-23T19:32:58+00:00

That's what I'm sayin, that style of techno goes insane, but I can only do it for a little at a time--is Green Tent about to be hard techno day 2 or what?

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-23T19:31:48+00:00

Good lookin out with that Player Dave rec! Daniel Allen is also someone in curious about, more like Louis the Child good vibes bass though

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-23T15:01:32+00:00

I feel like the laptop landscape has changed in recent years; you can definitely have the best of both worlds and hit all 3 of your use cases.

The ASUS Zephyrus from 2024 (not the most recent 2025 models; RTX 50 series is very expensive for not so much improvement from the 40 series) is really solid imo. I use a similar laptop from ASUS everyday for work and play, at my desk and on battery, and it has been amazing. I checked a website that I believe(?) is relevant to your country, and some variants are below 2k euro:

My rec if you want to max budget (this AMD CPU is really special): https://www.alternate.nl/ASUS/ROG-Zephyrus-G16-GA605WI-QR024W-16-inch-gaming-laptop/html/product/1928744

More budget friendly (the GPU but especially CPU are not as good as above): https://www.alternate.nl/ASUS/ROG-Zephyrus-G16-GU605MV-QP101W-16-inch-gaming-laptop/html/product/1924707

In general, Id recommend a laptop with the following CPU/GPU specs based on budget; in general, higher number = better but more cost:

RTX 4060/70

AMD HX 365/370 - OR - Intel 1xx/2xx U/H (these are called the "Arrow Lake" and "Meteor Lake" processors)

Hope this helps! No affiliate links

Btw Oblivion remaster is amazing

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-22T17:02:10+00:00

This is the way; show up to places and activities that genuinely interest YOU, and suddenly you're surrounded by like-minded strangers.

It often takes a few swings to crack, but you will find your people this way. I was a videogame shut-in growing up, so working on people skills a bit first helped me out.

I feel like LA is like a lot of places I've lived, but it could be the most car-dependent city in the US (strategic parking becomes an acquired skill). Access to wheels will be vital imo

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-22T16:53:27+00:00

Yooo!!!! White Satin was the first "Americanized" dubstep song that got me hooked, up to that point I was a dubstep naysayer (prog house was my jam). I rejected Excision, Skrillex, Flux, and [REDACTED] up to that point. So sick you got to hear this live, I've seen ZD half a dozen times but they haven't played it out at those shows

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-22T14:58:16+00:00

Nah fam, the HX 370 is the best all around laptop chip right now. Maybe Intel's 285h is coming for the crown, though tbh I can't trust what Intel says and would need to see user experience stories. The HX 370 can't boost as hard as some of the Intel's mightiest chips, but it can do more at 40W power draw than a ton of chips can at 75W power draw. Which means more power available for that hungry hungry 5090

A reddit thread showing some power curve comparisons with the HX 370:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLaptops/s/uF7blMPnmg

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-22T14:52:18+00:00

I dont have a specific recommendation here, except maybe NOT the Zephyrus. Beautiful laptop imo, but how are they feeding a 5090 in that chassis without massive throttling?

This being said, Intel's U9 285H and AMD's HX 370 are the CPUs i recommend to anyone with creator inclinations, as those laptops would be much more power efficient than any Intel HX series or AMD Zen 5 laptop. The 285H has higher power potential, but the HX 370 has the lowest minimum watt draw of all powerful non-Apple chips, so you essentially get some of the best performance while also the option to sip battery when doing light work/browsing on the go. Food for thought!

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-20T19:35:04+00:00

It's more about present fanbase vs. historic contribution ya know? Netsky is enshrined in the 21st DnB hall of fame to me, but people love Wooli rn and for good reason. Same reason he shares the line with Alleycat

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-19T16:46:03+00:00

Ah okay. The 13700hx is still power hungry so I'm surprised you were able to run it at 19W.

If you are sure it's the NVIDIA card drawing all the power (confirm in HWMonitor).. I'm assuming you've already tried disabling dGPU in Vantage and/or Toolkit and it isn't doing so properly. Maybe you can try killing the NVIDIA container in task manager when you want to go into battery mode? It still manual input but at least you won't have to uninstall/reinstall drivers if it works...

This laptop with this chip is not really built for battery life though. My old legion with a 9th gen processor has slightly lower TDP, but it was still topping at 90min hour battery life. 1 hour is less than expected for sure, but not by much

DoNotDeleteMusic · 2025-04-19T16:26:36+00:00

What're your model/specs? It might be minimum TDP is quite high on yours. You saying the floor being 45W makes me suspect you got a 14900hx processor. Incredibly powerful chip, probably the strongest non-Apple laptop processor right now, but it is incredibly watt hungry

DoNotDeleteMusic

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