High spec PC or decent Mac?

[jl1290]

Hi, I have a generic question but with particular circumstances involved.

I’m totally new to VJing, I’m on a budget but I also want to get a laptop that will allow me to expand and handle more complex tasks like 3D mapping stuff like that in the future, and I want to be able to run Resolume well on it. Basically I’m not sure whether to go down the Mac or PC route.

I've been told that Macs are really good for Resolume and VJing in general, having some in-built features helpful for designers like Quartz composer and specific design tools? And it also seems to me that more and more additional software seems to be exclusively built for macs like certain 3D mapping programmes. Since I’m thinking about this as a long-term investment I’m anxious about getting a PC and learning after that some things only work on a Mac. I know it often comes down to personal preference but is there actually stuff you can do with a mac that you just can’t with a PC in VJing?

The PC I'm looking at has the higher spec (i7 processer up to 3.4ghz, 16GB RAM, Nvidia GeFroce GTX 860M graphics (4GB)

The Macbook Pro I'm looking at is a i5 dual-core processor up to 3.1ghz, 8GB RAM, Intel Iris graphics and 256GB SSD.

It seems to me that I’m better off with the PC out of the two here?
I also wanted to check that the graphics card on the PC is OK for running Resolume ?


Lots of questions I realise but some advice would be really handy! Thanks a bunch

[cosmowe]

hey jl1290, welcome to the forum...
here you will find some benchmarks from other users who benched their machines with Resolume. It might be helpful to get a feeling what hardware runs well with Resolume. Resolume benchmarks

The PC I'm looking at has the higher spec (i7 processer up to 3.4ghz, 16GB RAM, Nvidia GeFroce GTX 860M graphics (4GB)

The Macbook Pro I'm looking at is a i5 dual-core processor up to 3.1ghz, 8GB RAM, Intel Iris graphics and 256GB SSD.

The graphicscard is the heart for Resolume...If you HAVE to choose between these two machines...take the PC - The GTX 860m is perfect for Resolume and you'll have a lot of fun with up to 20 HD DXV layers.....the intel Iris inside the Macbook is not even comparable with the nvidia card.The Iris is definitely not a VJ's nor 3D designers first choice.

I know it often comes down to personal preference but is there actually stuff you can do with a mac that you just can’t with a PC in VJing?

I am working myself on a PC...in my case Quartz Composer and Vezer could be the tools I would like to use if I had a mac. But I don't...and presumably will never buy one

Best regards
cosmowe

[He2neg]

i had to made the same decision and went down the PC way. So far i didnt regrett it, you get more power for the money.
yeah..vezer... also stumbled there but it work without as well.

But the best way is to check the benchmark section and try to find some setups you are thinking about to buy.

[jl1290]

Thanks He2neg and cosmowe for restoring my faith in PCs, very helpful stuff.

Cosmowe, just to clarify about the Iris, I'm guessing the same applies to the newer Intel Iris Pro, and that the Nvidia GeFroce GTX 860M trumps that too? I'm just asking as I can probably stretch my budget to a get a Mac with the Iris Pro, but I'll happily stick with the PC if it's still better.

Thanks again!

[drazkers]

Thanks He2neg and cosmowe for restoring my faith in PCs, very helpful stuff.

Cosmowe, just to clarify about the Iris, I'm guessing the same applies to the newer Intel Iris Pro, and that the Nvidia GeFroce GTX 860M trumps that too? I'm just asking as I can probably stretch my budget to a get a Mac with the Iris Pro, but I'll happily stick with the PC if it's still better.

Thanks again!

Never go with the intel GPU. It always gets trumped.

[cosmowe]

hey jl1290,
newer does not necessarily mean better. Most of the graphic card manufacturers are publishing cards in the following categories: Low End / Mid Range / High End ....this way they make sure that your grandma also has the possibility to get an affordable notebook or desktop pc/mac for answering your daily eMails.

But seriously the Intel Iris 5200 GPU can do a more than just displaying you emails and it will be possible for you to mix a handfull of HD Clips with the DXV codec....but..the gtx 860m is better

In this chart you can find all current and outdated graphic cards ranked with their 3D Mark scores.
Videocardbenchmark

Best wishes
cosmowe

[He2neg]

For PC and Grafikcards stay on the Nvidia Side of the Moon, a lot of problems were mentioned with AMD cards.

[Joris]

Don't get too lost in power and tech specs, also keep in mind what it is that you want to do.

If you 'just' want to play lots of layers and effects while doing normal VJ work or mapping projects, a PC will do you just fine. There is no denying that you can get a better specced PC for a whole lot less money than a Mac.

If you are more interested in making interactive installations and weird, out of the box setups, using Mac has some advantages. Tools like Syphon and Quartz Composer are very easy to work with, in most cases there is already some easy implementation you can use. On the PC side, there are similar tools, but in my experience, they're a bit more finicky to use.

[jl1290]

Thanks for the good advice guys
I'll check out those benchmarks.
Joris, you have a very good point, I do want to be doing more installation / spacial experimentation stuff and it would be handy to use some of those easier mac applications like Quartz composer rather than fiddling with lots of complicated programmes. Looks like I have some more thinking to do...