There are plenty of affordable computers you can buy but choosing a decent laptop for music majors burns down to a few factors like the DAW software you’ll be using, the processing power of the system (above 2.0 GHz of range), RAM and monitor size.
Finding a laptop that doesn’t crash during the recording session is significant. Therefore, adequate RAM is needed for plugins, tracks, presets, and recordings for its smooth running, at least 8 GB RAM is required. Taking about the type of memory if the DAW and plugins are installed on your SSD they’ll load a lot quicker and be more responsive compared to a hard drive.
Here are some laptops which will assist you in choosing the best you need.
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1. Acer Aspire E15
The Aspire E 15 has all the hardware required for music majors. It provides strong performance and 15.6 inches full HD display with a base frequency of 2.7 GHz up to 3.50 GHz. It is powered by the Intel Core i7 processor with 16 GB RAM DDR4 and a 480 GB SSD providing a remarkable performance. The Laptop is a little thick and bulky but has an excellent battery and a comfortable keyboard. Aspire is made available with plenty of ports and is one of the best value budget laptop which does not compromise on performance.
Processor: 2.7 GHz Intel Core i7 7500U
Ram : 16 GB
Storage : 480 GB
Screen size : 15.6 inches
Resolution Display: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Graphics : Intel UHD Graphics 620
The HP Envy x360 is an excellent affordable option for music majors laptops. HP Envy X360 has a 15.6-inches FHD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels giving astounding clarity and color. It is a stylish touch-screen laptop powered by the AMD Quad-Core Ryzen 5 2500U Processor with 8 GB RAM, sufficient to handle heavy applications for audio editing and production. The laptop can stay unplugged for 10.5 hours. It can be used as a tablet and also supports a smart stylus. Unlike Surface Pro 2, the screen is not detachable but has a full 360-degree fold. The x360 has a large storage of 256 GB SSD and can store heavy data. To avoid unauthorized access, the laptop has an inbuilt face recognition security system which adds an extra layer of security. The back-lit keyboard is an addition to the various features of the laptop.
Processor: 2.0 GHz AMD A-Series
Ram : 8 GB
Storage : 256 GB
Screen size : 15.6 inches
Resolution Display: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Graphics : AMD Radeon Vega 8
The HP Omen 15 is powered by 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H with a base frequency of 2.4 GHz and turbo speed up to 4.1 GHz. It has a 15.6-inch micro-edge anti-glare display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Omen 15 is built with 12 GB RAM and backed up by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 giving an extra 4 GB RAM which helps in efficient multitasking and fuels your programs. It has a massive 128 GB of SSD storage on top 1 TB of hard drive storage suffices your future needs. In addition, the backlit keyboard allows you to work in low light. The HP Omen 15 will please bargain hunters looking for a powerful performance. This laptop can process, has ample memory, and fulfill all the requirements you need to produce music.
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5
Ram : 12 GB
Storage : 1 TB
Screen size : 15.6 inches
Resolution Display: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Graphics : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
The Apple MacBook Air is powered by a Dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with a base frequency of 1.8 GHz. It has 8 Gb RAM with an Intel HD 6000 Graphics. MacBook Air has a fast 128 SSD Storage compared to other notepads, accompanied with sufficient slots, Two USB 3 ports, 1 Thunderbolt 2 port, and Sdxc port. Its impressively thin body and lightweight makes it easy to carry. It is compact, powerful, and has a confounding battery life, up to 12 hours of use.
Processor: 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5
Ram : 8 GB
Storage : 128 GB
Screen size : 13.3 inches
Resolution Display: 1440 x 900 pixels
Graphics : Intel HD Graphics 6000
If the price doesn’t pinch your pocket then the Razer Blade Stealth 13 is probably the best laptop on this list. Stealth 13 is powered by the Quad Core 8th generation Intel Core i7 8565U processor with a base frequency of 1.8 GHz up to 4.6 GHz. It is extremely thin and light, weighing less than 3 lbs. One of its paramount features is its long battery life (up to 13 hours).
Razer Blade is designed by the best craft-men. It has a fantastic design and is protected with a CNC unibody aluminum frame increasing its durability. Its 13.3-inch thin bezel Full HD display combined with a touch-screen user interface increases convenience and clarity. Furthermore, it has two sets of stereo speakers providing clear and immersive audio.
This laptop can handle heavy programs, so its use is not limited to music majors and can also be used for running high-end games.
Processor: 4.6 GHz Intel Core i7
Ram : 16 GB
Storage : 480 GB
Screen size : 13.3 inches
Resolution Display: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Graphics : Intel HD Graphics 620
Best Buy
The HP Omen is the best laptop for music majors. It gives you all the necessary specs at an affordable price. As it’s powered by the 9th Generation Intel Core i5 and houses the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, it gives an enhanced overall experience. The memory is sufficient to support all music software and applications, without any lag, to run with ease. Packed with compelling performance and ample memory makes it a perfect fit to complete your major.