Solved! Looking for a new laptop for audio production (mixing, mastering, etc.)

[zosterops]

Hello! I'm looking to purchase a new laptop for audio production work.
Budget around $2600, Windows OS.
Running Reaper (DAW) with 30+ tracks per session, virtual instruments, and lots of VSTs.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface.
Portability, battery life, and weight are unimportant.
Build quality, heat management (I don't like to work on hot machines), and performance are very important.

I've been shopping/researching for a while now and I think I've ruled out the major manufacturers for various reasons. The new Dell XPS 15 was looking good for a bit until I stumbled upon all the latency problems other producers/engineers are having with it. I

Now, I'm looking at the PcAudioLabs Rok Box MC M7 S. (see specs below)
I have a couple questions:
1. Does this machine look like it'll be well suited for my type of work?
2. Has anybody here had any experience with PcAudioLabs or their machines? Are they well built? How's their customer service? Anything else I should know?

Any advice on other machines/companies I should consider would also be appreciated.

Thanks!


Rok Box MC M7 S Configuration
Screen Size: 17.3" Full HD 16:9 (1920x1080)
nVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 w/6GB GDDR5
Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2 GHz
Memory: 16GB DDR4 2400 (1x16GB)
M.2/PCIe - Slot 1: 250GB M.2
SSD/HDD - Slot 1: 1TB (FireCuda SSHD)

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

Only thing that matters for this usage is the faster the CPU, the better.
I don't believe that the new Dell have high latency just out of nowhere.
When running a DAW, there are only a few things that will affect the latency..

1. Buffer Size
2. ASIO driver quality
3. CPU speed, as a faster CPU will allow for lower buffer size.
4. To some extend the specific DAW in use, as some DAWs are better coded to allow for more efficient ASIO driver usage.

 

[zosterops]

That was my immediate reaction re: Dell XPS/latency, too. But there are a lot of seemingly well informed DAW users out there having issues with it; enough that spending over two grand on one is too much of a gamble for me.

There are other quirks that could cause latency, too. If the XPS has thermal issues, for instance, the system could throttle the CPU, causing latency, pops, clicks, and drop outs, right?

Only thing that matters for this usage is the faster the CPU, the better.
I don't believe that the new Dell have high latency just out of nowhere.
When running a DAW, there are only a few things that will affect the latency..

1. Buffer Size
2. ASIO driver quality
3. CPU speed, as a faster CPU will allow for lower buffer size.
4. To some extend the specific DAW in use, as some DAWs are better coded to allow for more efficient ASIO driver usage.

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

Sure but shouldn't really happen on a new Laptop.