So I actually do need a new laptop on this day. the 11th of February, 2025.
Been using Chromebooks for years at this point, but want to dabble in videos. To edit, I want to use the free version of DaVinci Resolve.
This is what I am told is a screen grab of the requirements-
The issues are
1) I am not up to speed on Windows computer specs since my last one was over a decade ago.
B- I really don't want to figure out an Apple-based system while I am trying to figure out what can be considered a challenging video editor
π (who doesn't like π??) I am pretty cheap, but I don't want to put myself in a trickbag by buying something that is not quite up to snuff
IV (the itchy part of this quest) I would like to stay under $1K. Well under $1K, if possible.
I've been told gaming laptops have most of what would be needed for an editing laptop, but as you should be able to tell from 1), I'm not into gaming. At All.
The Apple part is non-negotiable at this point. I really am not getting stung by B
I'm not in wonderful financial shape, but I have to scratch an itch while dealing with IV.
Before you finish your reply don't forget your π!
Not apple, solid machine with ram and good video card sounds like an excellent excuse for a refurb Lenovo thinkpad.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235950890916?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/235950891071?
Both of these are overkill on the RAM at 64gb but have 4gb dedicated graphics cards that are new enough you should be able to update to that Nvidia driver listed. They are bricks, desktop replacement laptops that don't get amazing battery life and will want to be plugged in whenever you do any heavy lifting while editing. I have a refurb P53 that I bought last summer and absolutely love it. I have a little less RAM at 48gb but more graphics card and I haven't been able to stump it yet even running large CAD assemblies and a professional grade 3D scanner. i get 3-3.5 hours of browsing on the battery if I don't have the screen brightness too high and it will run the battery flat in 40 minutes if I'm pushing it with the 3D scanner.
Must it be a laptop? You're basically preventing yourself from graphics card upgrades (does the meat of editing) by getting a laptop. Find a generic Dell business desktop (Optiplex line) and get a new power supply and GPU. Or an old Alienware desktop might be better and more upgradable.
My 2 cents.
Also, if you did happen to find a cheap Mac Pro desktop, they run Windows just fine.
At a quick glance look at this one. Needs more VRAM tho
eBay Alienware desktop
I second the evaluate the real need for a laptop concept. That portability comes at a pretty high cost.
I'm gong to be downloading and editing on the road at times.
Tough to take a desktop with.
Sorta. When you buy a desktop, you then need to buy ancillaries like monitor, keyboard, mouse (and speakers, for video editing).
while none of those things are all to expensive alone, they do all add up. And can be an extra annoyance to source.
don't even get me started on how enraging it is to go to use a computer and the keyboard batteries are dead, then you find that you don't have any AAA in the house. the simple point I'm trying to make is that desktops do have a lot of hidden additional costs in terms of money and headspace.
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
And they really don't fit well in the overhead compartment.
Russian Warship, Go Berkeley Yourself said:
In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :
And they really don't fit well in the overhead compartment.
The small form factor desktops fit easily in a carry on - I ferry mine back around fairly frequently. It's the 32" monitor and keyboard that don't fit.
I've had good luck with Toshiba hardware. Getting a higher spec laptop like you need does get expensive pretty quick.
The problem with most SFF machines is that you don't really get a powerful enough graphics card to have a workable solution for something like DaVinci Resolve (which really wants a powerful graphics card). So you have to lug around an external graphics card.
I like Lenovos for Windows laptops, so if a MacBook Pro - and an ARM MacBook Pro is probably the correct answer - is out of the question, I'd get something like the P53 mentioned above or an as-new-as-the-wallet-can-stand-it P15 workstation with the most powerful optional graphics processor they were available with. Just keep in mind that the Lenovo portable workstations are more like luggable workstations.
In reply to RacetruckRon :
I really appreciate the links, and that is much cheaper than I was expecting. I didn't want a used gaming computer, as they seem to be more flash than stone axe.
I owned a ThinkPad in the old IBM days, and the permanent dent in my index finder to prove it. Durability is something I didn't mention, but a huge plus. I usually carry a single backpack when I travel, and it gets tossed in the overhead or shoved under the seat in front of me, and tossed in the passenger seat when I'm driving. The list of requirements that I posted is different than what I remember seeing about a year ago, but it is what it is. The GPU of at least 4 gigs of VRAM has me a bit confused, as I am not sure where to find that in the specs, or even exactly what it is. I've had it explained to me by my daughter via text in the past, but it doesn't really stick unless I am hands-on with whatever I am supposed to learn.
BoxheadTim said:
The problem with most SFF machines is that you don't really get a powerful enough graphics card to have a workable solution for something like DaVinci Resolve (which really wants a powerful graphics card). So you have to lug around an external graphics card.
I like Lenovos for Windows laptops, so if a MacBook Pro - and an ARM MacBook Pro is probably the correct answer - is out of the question, I'd get something like the P53 mentioned above or an as-new-as-the-wallet-can-stand-it P15 workstation with the most powerful optional graphics processor they were available with. Just keep in mind that the Lenovo portable workstations are more like luggable workstations.
The graphics card is one of my concerns, but I don't even know enough to know what to ask.
In reply to Russian Warship, Go Berkeley Yourself :
The video RAM or graphics card RAM isn't super clearly listed in either of those ebay links. Both of those laptops have Nvidia Quadro T2000 cards, if you look that up in a separate search you find that the Quadro T2000 has 4gb of dedicated ram. I went back and forth on this quite a bit when shopping for my laptop 8 months ago.
The P53 has the graphics card directly mounted to the motherboard, on the P15 the graphics card is a separate board and in theory you can swap in a more powerful graphics card later on. I ended up buying as much graphics card as I could at the time with my P53 since that was locked in.
