Desktop vs laptop and overall spec questions
Q1: Can I get by with a laptop in the below workflow, or is it better/safer to go with a desktop config?
Q2: In either case, what are the ideal specs? (I realize VMIX web site has recommendations but they seem a little stale, esp in regards to GPU.)
Project workflow:
- VMIX call with 4 inputs (not using all 8 to increase stability)
- 4-5 NDI sources
- 2-3 game play machines
- Zoom call
- CG software
- Possible additional NDI source of a second machine running a VMIX submix to pull in additional VMIX calls
Thanks!
Posted Sep 12, 2020, 6:47 PM UTC
14
The Vmix site is pretty specific on laptop specs. An Alienware M15 R3 which will put you back about $2000. A desktop with better specs (Alienware Aurora R11) will cost about $1700ish.
So it comes down to price vs portability.
Another good place to look, and where I just purchased a desktop is dell outlet, which offers refurbished machines. The one I bought said it was scratched and dented. I can't find a dent, and the scratch is not noticable at all.
The machine I got is more powerful than their highest spec machines that they recommend and only slightly higher priced than the M15 R3 laptop they recommend.
Also when I contacted Vmix support about getting more than 4 Vmix callers on a laptop, they said it's possible, but do not recommend it, even if it has specs similar to a desktop equivalent.
Thanks. Is that for any laptop or the spec'd recommended ones? I have some budget room to go up, so I suppose I'm asking if there is a laptop spec out there that can handle the above workflow?
I told Vmix support that I had found a laptop with more powerful specs than the Ruby system they have on their site, which is the highest specd machine.
Their reply was:
It's possible, but we do not support using more than 4 calls on a laptop so wouldn't be able to provide advise on that one sorry