I have a Dell Latitude E5500 that I've only had for 2 years...got it as a Refurb on Cyber Monday...I did not realize until recently that it's 13 years old. I hate to replace a laptop that still works, and it's not any cheaper to buy a 2-year-old laptop with the minimum specs I need, versus a brand new one, so....
This is what I want to do, and I would really appreciate some advise. I write music and I'd like to record at home, because COVID-19. I've read the minimum specs for a home studio, and what I need in a laptop is:
I read that Dell Latitude E5500 maxes out at 4 GB RAM, however I also read that I can ignore that and go with the maximum RAM that the processor will allow. Right now, I can record music on my laptop, but ONLY if I reboot just before I do. Otherwise, I get an error that I don't have enough memory to record. I know that the laptop would speed up if I had a faster processor and an SSD hard drive.
My current processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7250 2.00 GHz.
The RAM is DDR2 PC2-6400 (2X 2 GB total of 4 GB)
I only have 11.6 GB free on a 250 GB hard drive, I am constantly having to get rid of non-essential files to make room so the hard drive isn't completely full. 1 TB seems ideal because I don't even have all the software installed that I would need to record at home. Some individual virtual instruments take up multiple GB.
I'd appreciate it if anyone could recommend a combination of processor, hard drive, and RAM. I hope to keep this under $100, since I could replace the entire laptop for around $300.
Alternatively, I found a Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Laptop for $370:
Intel® Celeron® Processor 4205U (2MB Cache, 1.8 GHz)
Windows 10 Home 64-bit English
Intel® UHD Graphics 610
4 GB, 1 x 4 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz
1 TB 5400 RPM 2.5-inch SATA Hard Drive
I don't know which option is really better in the longrun. The one I just mentioned does not really have the specs I need.
However, I think that it makes more sense to upgrade my existing laptop. I just saw the same make and model for $10 on Ebay, so if I do all these upgrades and then my motherboard fails or something, it's not going to cost much to just get another one and upgrade it with my new hard drive, RAM, and processor.
I would appreciate any advise! Thanks.
P.S. I know that many laptops have CPUs that are soldered in, however, I saw a YouTube video on replacing the processor in a Dell Latitude e5500, so I know it can be done on this particular laptop!
It's just held in by screws.
Also, I have a Phenom Black processor that might be compatible. I'm pretty sure it's quad core. I might even have compatible memory. I actually also have an HP 6730b laptop with no hard drive that I could upgrade instead, though I'd have to get Windows 10 for it.
I'd also welcome any recommendations for laptops under $300 that have the specs I'm looking for! Or under $200 for one used/refurb.
This is what I want to do, and I would really appreciate some advise. I write music and I'd like to record at home, because COVID-19. I've read the minimum specs for a home studio, and what I need in a laptop is:
- 15" screen
- 1 TB or larger hard drive (preferably SSD)
- 4 GB or more of RAM (ideally 16-32 GB)
- 2.4Ghz quad-core processor power (i5, i7) or greater
- 64 bit Windows 10
- Optical drive (can be external if it has to be)
- 1 TB or larger hard drive (preferably SSD)
- 4 GB or more of RAM (ideally 16-32 GB)
- 2.4Ghz quad-core processor power (i5, i7) or greater
I read that Dell Latitude E5500 maxes out at 4 GB RAM, however I also read that I can ignore that and go with the maximum RAM that the processor will allow. Right now, I can record music on my laptop, but ONLY if I reboot just before I do. Otherwise, I get an error that I don't have enough memory to record. I know that the laptop would speed up if I had a faster processor and an SSD hard drive.
My current processor is an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T7250 2.00 GHz.
The RAM is DDR2 PC2-6400 (2X 2 GB total of 4 GB)
I only have 11.6 GB free on a 250 GB hard drive, I am constantly having to get rid of non-essential files to make room so the hard drive isn't completely full. 1 TB seems ideal because I don't even have all the software installed that I would need to record at home. Some individual virtual instruments take up multiple GB.
I'd appreciate it if anyone could recommend a combination of processor, hard drive, and RAM. I hope to keep this under $100, since I could replace the entire laptop for around $300.
Alternatively, I found a Dell Inspiron 15 3000 Laptop for $370:
Intel® Celeron® Processor 4205U (2MB Cache, 1.8 GHz)
Windows 10 Home 64-bit English
Intel® UHD Graphics 610
4 GB, 1 x 4 GB, DDR4, 2666 MHz
1 TB 5400 RPM 2.5-inch SATA Hard Drive
I don't know which option is really better in the longrun. The one I just mentioned does not really have the specs I need.
However, I think that it makes more sense to upgrade my existing laptop. I just saw the same make and model for $10 on Ebay, so if I do all these upgrades and then my motherboard fails or something, it's not going to cost much to just get another one and upgrade it with my new hard drive, RAM, and processor.
I would appreciate any advise! Thanks.
P.S. I know that many laptops have CPUs that are soldered in, however, I saw a YouTube video on replacing the processor in a Dell Latitude e5500, so I know it can be done on this particular laptop!
It's just held in by screws.
Also, I have a Phenom Black processor that might be compatible. I'm pretty sure it's quad core. I might even have compatible memory. I actually also have an HP 6730b laptop with no hard drive that I could upgrade instead, though I'd have to get Windows 10 for it.
I'd also welcome any recommendations for laptops under $300 that have the specs I'm looking for! Or under $200 for one used/refurb.
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