What makes a laptop suitable for cd ripping? Processor speed, RAM, quality of optical drive (how do you tell) I am in the market for a new computer and would like some guidance in this area. Thanks
Almost any hardware will do
I expect you'll find these hardware issues basically insignificant. You might be able to find high quality cdrom/dvdrom mechanisms for desktops, but the optical units in laptops are probably from two or three of the same factories anyway and all about the same quality. Unless your CD collection is seriously damaged, you won't have any problems with any equipment you chose to use.
To encode from wav to FLAC or MP3 on a fiver year old pentium will take less time than it takes you to go to your CD collection, find the one you want and put it in the machine, so processor speed is insignificant. As for memory, the ripping program will likely need less than half a GB of memory, which shouldn't be a problem on any modern laptop.
The thing I'd recommend is to look into software. Assuming you will use Windows, try software such as Exact Audio Copy. You can install FLAC support with EAC also. The program you use to rip mp3s is probably the most important link in the whole chain, if you choose not not go lossless (like FLAC). LAME is probably the best out there, I remember hearing mp3s from old versions of Windows Media Player, and they were really poor quality.
So in my opinion, while software is very important, the only thing you really need to look for on the side of hardware is the CDROM player that is the best mechanical quality so that it won't break from all the opening and closing and a manufacturer with a warranty that will cover the optical device if it breaks from excessive use. If you are doing thousands of CDs, an external device with a nicer opening mechanism and with which you don't have to press the CD onto the spindle might be interesting to use.
I expect you'll find these hardware issues basically insignificant. You might be able to find high quality cdrom/dvdrom mechanisms for desktops, but the optical units in laptops are probably from two or three of the same factories anyway and all about the same quality. Unless your CD collection is seriously damaged, you won't have any problems with any equipment you chose to use.
To encode from wav to FLAC or MP3 on a fiver year old pentium will take less time than it takes you to go to your CD collection, find the one you want and put it in the machine, so processor speed is insignificant. As for memory, the ripping program will likely need less than half a GB of memory, which shouldn't be a problem on any modern laptop.
The thing I'd recommend is to look into software. Assuming you will use Windows, try software such as Exact Audio Copy. You can install FLAC support with EAC also. The program you use to rip mp3s is probably the most important link in the whole chain, if you choose not not go lossless (like FLAC). LAME is probably the best out there, I remember hearing mp3s from old versions of Windows Media Player, and they were really poor quality.
So in my opinion, while software is very important, the only thing you really need to look for on the side of hardware is the CDROM player that is the best mechanical quality so that it won't break from all the opening and closing and a manufacturer with a warranty that will cover the optical device if it breaks from excessive use. If you are doing thousands of CDs, an external device with a nicer opening mechanism and with which you don't have to press the CD onto the spindle might be interesting to use.
I have chosen an ASUS due to their reliability. I also have an external Plextor drive ordered. I have taken your advice to heart. Thanks for the info.Regards John Dozier
Hello John,
Did you successfully rip cds? I use a chromebook for everyday so am very interested to hear that you are happy with your ASUS and Plextor.
Did you successfully rip cds? I use a chromebook for everyday so am very interested to hear that you are happy with your ASUS and Plextor.
It's also good if the drive reports C2 errors. EAC will check the drive and report its capabilities.
If you're also going to rip DVDs to watch later, some drives won't rip at full speed. There's a program called Media Code Speed Edit (MCSE) that can remove this artificial limit from DVD drive firmware.
If you're also going to rip DVDs to watch later, some drives won't rip at full speed. There's a program called Media Code Speed Edit (MCSE) that can remove this artificial limit from DVD drive firmware.
Interestingly, my EAC (latest version) turns off recovery of C2 error when the drive doesn't cache. I guess they view C2 recovery as less "secure"
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