Ableton Forum

hey guys,
looking to buy a new latop. i really like Sony Vaio FJ series, but i see they don't have dedicated video card. i know everyone's talking like it's a must, but i just wanted to check what are your expiriences. anyone using a laptop with shared video memory and with no harms? if i upgrade to 1Gb of RAM, will that be enough to run Live without probs?
i'd appreciate your help.
cheers,
w

I'm using a Compaq r4000 series book. It has an Athlon64 4000+ processor, 2gigs of ram, and of course shared video memory.

No prolems here.

IBM G40p4 2.4gig I have no problems when running live on this computer. It is totaly solid (when set up right). No problems with video memory though.

I too have my eye on a Sony FJ (VGN-FJ1Z/W). It comes with a 5400rpm drive, 1024DDR2@400mhz and....... "Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 with 128 MB max. shared with Main Memory" AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!! (or so I thought)

But....... I have not found any referance to the detrimental effects of PCI-e 915GM chipsets and onboard graphics anywhere on the net.

ComputerMusic mag put a Sony Vaio VGN-FS215z, a Dell Inspiron 6000, a Apple G4 powerbook, a Hi-Grade Notino C7000i, a HP dv1139ea and a Rock Peagasus TL 'head-to-head' with regards to music production. The vaio did quite well, keeping up with all the others in terms of Cubase SX track count and whatever. The G4 struggled, only managing 3-4 tracks compared to the rests 14-15 track counts.
Fair enough... the test Vaio had a nVidia GeForce Go 6200 inside, a 'Turbocache' semi-onboard type card, which is different to the 'Intel 900' type in most of the FJ series, but I heard (from the RME audio website) that higher end graphics cards put into PCI-e 915/925 laptop chipsets are mainly what cause some 'clicks and pops' during high-stress testing of DAW laptops.
Surely the Intel 900 onboard graphics won't cause these laptops to become useless for people like us who plan to use them for comparitivly relaxed uses under Ableton Live?
It's not as if we are planning to record whole philharmonic orchestras in surround using all the channels of an RME Fireface or DIGI002 unit..?

don,t use shared memory....it,s slows your laptop down!

use shared memory! All the cool kids use it.


... So do I.

depends what you want to do.

If you plan on lots of 3D rendering, you'll want an accelerated, dedicated video card, with 128MB of ram.

You can do it without, but things will start to get choppy.

But If you're doing simple video editting, or vjing video clips, you'll be good either way.

Is there anybody else using Ableton Live on a laptop with shared memory..?

(and leaving the 3D rendering and gaming to purpose built machines)

good point!

w

I have a VAIO FRV37 and it does fine, no problems. I only have 512MB ram too. I also got a great deal on eBay, so it depends what you have to spend adn what you are willing to compromise. I like my VAIO.

Sweet... things are looking good then. Thanks for the reply.

Any more..?