Which laptop is better for Traktor Pro 2.6.1…i3/6GB or i5/4GB?
If want to run Traktor Pro 2.6.1 with just doing 2 decks which laptop configuration would be better for me as far as speed, power, and low latency assuming that the RAM on both machines are not upgradeable.
A 3rd Gen i3-3227U with 6GB RAM or 3rd Gen i5-3337U with 4GB RAM?
Would the extra 2GB RAM with the i3 offset the power of the i5 or i5 would be a much powerful machine even with just 4GB?
Get the i5.
I assume there is an SSD if its a non-upgradeable laptop which should offset the extra 2gb of ram.
Both computers have enough power to handle Traktor.
Are you sure the RAM is not upgradeable? Unbalanced numbers like 6GB suggest that there are 2 RAM slots in the machine.
Well the i3 laptop is upgradeable to max of 8GB, but the i5 (a Lenovo ultrabook) is not technically upgradeable (you would need toactually take off the whole back of computer to get to the RAM module and this would also void the warranty).
But from a stand point of doing no other upgrade and just using what is available on both comps, which one would be the preferred one where..i3/6GB or i5/4GB?
Yes it comes with a 24GB SSD Cache along with a 500GB hard drive. So then 4GB should be plenty and really no need for additional RAM given the i5 and SSD and if I"m just going to be doing simple mixing and maybe adding a portable drive to USB ports, etc.
I just tested traktor sp 2.6 on two surface pros (1 running i5 4gb of ram and the other running nvidi quadcore with 2gb of ram) Both worked amazingly well at 6ms with 4 decks and 6 fx banks running. I did have to up the latency to utilize the remix decks tho.
The U-SKU Intel line is generally underclocked for better heat/power consumption. I would avoid them personally, I have a C2D U-SKU and without overclocking it would be a whopping 1.3GHZ. Also for future reference, the i3/i5 line are mostly identical except the i5 has turbo boost (I can’t remember if the new i3s have virtualization or not, but it’s probably a non-factor for a DJ laptop). Most stuff comes with an i5 though anyway, unless it’s bargain bin pricing, so I guess it just depends on what you’re looking at. In the above case, I’d avoid both.
Ram is the LEAST important statistic on a PC these days. It’s one of the cheapest components, and therefore OEMs typically stick WAY more than you need in just to make the specs sound more impressive. Anything over 1GB is fine.
The i5 is 2.7Ghz, the i3 is 1.9Ghz. It’s a no-brainer.
I agree that ram is the cheapest and often easiest thing to upgrade. “Anything over 1 GB” being fine is not accurate. I’ve tested more laptops with Traktor than I care to think about and none of them use less than 1GB. Unless you are going to strip out the OS (which is I recommend) their shipped state often requires more than 1.5GB, check my s4 sticky and the optimization articles on the blog.
On a system with less than 1GB of RAM, Windows 7/8 will use less than 100mb of RAM. the 900-odd you’re left with is plenty to run Traktor with a full 4 deck setup, all 4 effects units, even remix decks.
People often under-estimate memory management on Windows.
I’d be very interested to see some screenshots of this. Can you share?
I’d have to install it in a VM but I’ll see what I can do tomorrow 
Still got 400 photos from the weekend to edit haha 
I can barely use my computer with 4 GB of ram.
Chrome and all the web browsers eat up way too much memory now. If you’re using just Traktor, that’s another thing, but you need at minimum 4 GB of ram if you plan to use the computer daily.
IE doesn’t. Plus, what most people don’t realise is that due to the way Windows manages memory, applications SCALE to the available memory on each system. An application which uses 200mb of RAM on a system with 4GB will use 50mb on one with only a gig.
man all this talk about ram and processors…the real answer is get the one that is made by Apple.
I disagree with the apple statement. Honestly its about preference. With general knowledge of what is needed to run the system minimally, you can get away with a lot on a windows system utilizing msconfig.
Well it is tough to pass on i5/4gb Lenovo Touch Screen laptop for $260 brand new. Ya if I had spent like $600-$700 for this one (which it is normally sellng for) I then would have considered a MBP 13.3".
OP – I hear ya man. A deal is a deal, and by no means is this a Mac vs PC debate. Get what you can afford.
However, if I was gigging out 3-4 times a week and the most critical piece of gear I had was the brains of the operation – my laptop, I would not shortchange on that piece of gear.
I use a 2012 MBP 13" currently, and I hate it. Absolutely hate it with a passion. The ONLY reason I use it is because it was free; if I’d had to go out and BUY something, I’d have gotten myself a ThinkPad or a Vaio.
So with your 13.3" MBP no issue with running TP and screen size is not a problem?
Between the two laptops that I’m debating the i5/4gb is 13.3 while the i3/6gb is 14".