yeah i DJ on a desktop......

[Archies'bald]

Micro atx & Mini itx systems are becoming very small and can be quite powerful, with more than enough juice to power Traktor/Serato. I've built a couple of htpc systems and they can do a fair bit of gaming on them, never mind play tunes. These system are about the size of an average home amplifier or even a lot smaller.

The obvious downside is having to carry a reasonable sized screen around and the set up process would be a total pain in the arse if you are on after someone else's set.

[deevey]

Micro atx & Mini itx systems are becoming very small and can be quite powerful, with more than enough juice to power Traktor/Serato. I've built a couple of htpc systems and they can do a fair bit of gaming on them, never mind play tunes. These system are about the size of an average home amplifier or even a lot smaller.

The obvious downside is having to carry a reasonable sized screen around and the set up process would be a total pain in the arse if you are on after someone else's set.

Considering the cost these days of decent spec laptops I don't really see the advantage unless you are going top spec components, quad core processors and have a real need on stage for the extra juice and screen real-estate.

But if you are intent on trying to use a desktop you "could" probably squeeze everything including a 15' monitor pretty easily into a metal briefcase or flight case with some sacrifice to PCI cards (you'd need risers).

I built a HTPC gaming PC a few years ago that had a 2.4ghz P4 & Gforce graphics in a 30mm case. - pretty tight fit but it worked like a champ (I used a zalmann GPU heatsink with a modified bracket for the CPU cooling).

I just can't imagine it being cost effective to do it anymore seeing as you can pick up a laptop for $400 that would be a better fit for the job. Once you factor in the additional stuff and time you'll spend you'd probably need to make a desktop portable it starts becoming even less cost effective than waiting a few weeks to get a lappie.

[Archies'bald]

Considering the cost these days of decent spec laptops I don't really see the advantage unless you are going top spec components, quad core processors and have a real need on stage for the extra juice and screen real-estate.

But if you are intent on trying to use a desktop you "could" probably squeeze everything including a 15' monitor pretty easily into a metal briefcase or flight case with some sacrifice to PCI cards (you'd need risers).

I built a HTPC gaming PC a few years ago that had a 2.4ghz P4 & Gforce graphics in a 30mm case. - pretty tight fit but it worked like a champ (I used a zalmann GPU heatsink with a modified bracket for the CPU cooling).

I just can't imagine it being cost effective to do it anymore seeing as you can pick up a laptop for $400 that would be a better fit for the job. Once you factor in the additional stuff and time you'll spend you'd probably need to make a desktop portable it starts becoming even less cost effective than waiting a few weeks to get a lappie.

Agreed, the cost would be prohibitive.

[Archies'bald]

Although I once did this with old parts lying around and it cost me practically nothing. It's an old 1210 flight case and it has a copy of windows XP running on it, but it can still run Traktor.

pict0708x.jpg

[Patch]

one advantage of a desktop is some serious power !

THIS.

SERIOUS power advantage.

[Sublim&All]

THIS.

SERIOUS power advantage.

...which is only useful for the people who want to play Skyrim while they are DJing...?

[Patch]

You're joking, right?

[Otacon]

Skyrim+Dj'ing? Now thats something i can get behind

[VirtualLogic]

I have an iMac that I dj on, it isnt hard to setup same as a laptop, I can understand a tower and monitor system being abit alkward but an iMac is fine.

[Bassline Brine]

I started messing about with software on a desktop. Then, for good or ill, my desktop fried itself, and I ended up buying a Macbook Pro in replacement.

I actually have a couple buddies who have older desktops setup next to their tables. One runs Torq 1.0 and the other runs SSL perfectly fine. As they aren't really moving their tables (ever) it's an effective setup. One recently upgraded to a laptop I believe, but I haven't seen it in action yet. They both have coffin's and those really aren't easily mobile :P