Are you into making music, or working in the music production industry? And, looking for a laptop that can easily handle the FL Studio load, and work fine with it without any lag?
If your answer to these is Affirmative, then you are on the right page as I am going to discuss the best laptops for FL studio which you can get under $500, and believe, those are the best in this price range.
Factors to Consider While Choosing the Best Laptop for FL Studio Under 500 USD
Before buying any laptop we should consider a few factors keeping our work in mind. Here, since we are choosing the best laptop for FL Studio under $500, we need to consider the factors which are indeed very important for FL Studio to work well.
Below are those factors:
1. Processor
The processor, which you know by the name CPU, is the brain of the computer, and it is what processes everything. Thus, a software like FL Studio which is quite CPU-intensive, you must go for the best and the latest processor in the market. I would recommend going with i3, i5 or i7 Processor. Moreover, at times, you can go with lower processor too and they will work. But, for optimum experience go for i3 or more.
2. RAM
RAM stores all the work and processes in temporary memory that the CPU can access quickly. Simply put, if you have very low RAM, you cannot work with multiple applications or browser tabs at once. It will slow down the system. But, if you have enough or more RAM, you can simultaneously work on it. multiple applications and browser tabs at once.
When you work on Music Production, you might have to work with lots of windows, tabs, and even applications simultaneously. Thus, go for RAM not less than 8GB. If you have a good budget, go for 16GB RAM.
3. Sound Card
Music production needs the best sound output. Thus, having a high-quality sound card ensures that the recording is correctly done and in a way that you hear all the nuances of the music. It will also reduce latency or delay between the time you play a note and when you hear it through the speakers, which is important when recording or playing live. Choosing a laptop with a sound card that has low distortion, a high signal-to-noise ratio, and a good frequency response, is great for FL Studio.
4. Storage
FL Studio is a heavy software and it takes around 1GB, and you must have other software as well on your laptop. Moreover, the projects you create in various software also take up space. Thus, I would advise you to go with at least 256GB or more storage. At the best, I would recommend going for more than 500GB. When it comes to technology, I would highly recommend going with SSD rather than HDD because SSD increases the overall performance of your laptop by quick turn on, and accessing files and folders from the storage.
These 4 are the main factors that you must consider. Moreover, you can look up Screen size and GPU as well. Although these are not direct and most important considerations for getting a laptop for FL Studio under 500 USD it is always, great too for more.
These were the factors you should consider, now let’s have a look at the exact minimum requirements:
Minimum System Requirements for Running FL Studio
| Operating System | Free Disk Space | RAM | CPU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows | 8.1, 10, 11 or later | 4GB Free | 4GB | Intel and AMD CPUs. ARM not supported |
| Mac | macOS: 10.13.6 or later | 4GB Free | 4GB | Intel or Apple Silicon CPUs |
The table is of the minimum system requirements on which FL studio can work. But, for better performance, you should get a higher configuration laptop.
Comparison Table of the Best Laptops for FL Studio Under $500
| Laptop Model | Processor | RAM | Display | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicbuy Laptop 15.6” | Intel Celeron N5095 | 12GB DDR4 | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 512GB SSD |
| Acer 2023 Aspire 5 | AMD Reyzen 3 quad-core | 8GB DDR4 | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 256GB NVMe SSD |
| Dell 2022 Inspiron 15 | Intel Celeron 2-core N4020 | 16GB DDR4 | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 1TB SSD |
| HP 2022 Pavilion | Intel Dual-core Pentium Processor | 8GB DDR4 | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 256GB SSD |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6″ | Intel Core i5-1135G7 | 20GB DDR4 | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 1TB SSD |
| ASUS VivoBook 15 | Intel Core i3-1005G1 | 8GB DDR4 | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) | 256GB SSD |
List of the Best Laptops for FL Studio Under $500 (Picked and Reviewed by An Audiophile)
$500 laptops are not costly. These are the lowest-priced laptops, so let’s find out the best ones in this range. Looking for the best consideration for FL Studio it looks difficult to get such laptops within $500 budget, but let’s try to find them!
1. ASUS VivoBook 15
The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a great laptop for music production and it is quite a budget laptop for you for running FL Studio. The features of this laptop make it the best suitable laptop for FL studio.
Here are the best features of ASUS VivoBook 15
- Processor: The ASUS VivoBook 15 is powered by an Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, which is a dual-core CPU clocked at 1.2 GHz that can be turbo-boosted up to 3.4 GHz. This may not be the most powerful processor in the current age, but it is quite sufficient for running FL Studio. And, that is our requirement.
- RAM and Storage: The laptop comes with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, which is sufficient for most music production tasks. It also has a 256 GB solid-state drive (SSD) for fast boot times and quick access to files.
- Display: With a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, this laptop is the best suited for any type of work including FL Studio. It delivers sharp visuals for working with FL Studio’s interface.
- Sound Card: The ASUS VivoBook 15 has a built-in sound card that supports 7.1 channel output, which is important for audio production. The sound card is capable of providing high-quality audio output, which is crucial for music production.
- Graphics: The laptop is equipped with an Intel UHD graphics card, which is sufficient for basic graphics tasks and video playback. Although Graphics is not an important consideration for FL studio, it is always good to have a better one.
- Connectivity: The ASUS VivoBook 15 features a range of connectivity options, including USB Type-C, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. These ports can be used to connect external audio interfaces or other peripherals that are required for music production.
- Few Other Features: The laptop also includes a backlit keyboard, which is useful when working in low-light conditions, and a fingerprint sensor for added security.
Overall, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is a solid laptop for running FL Studio and other music production software programs. Its affordability, specifications, built-in sound card, and enough RAM, and storage make this the best suitable laptop for FL studio within the $500 range as per our factors of consideration.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6″ Laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6″ Laptop is one of the most powerful laptops in this range. It boasts 20GB of RAM which makes it more than ideal for running FL Studio and any other music production software.
Here are the best features of Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6″ Laptop
- Processor: The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, which is a quad-core CPU clocked at 2.4 GHz that can be turbo-boosted up to 4.2 GHz. This powerful processor provides fast and efficient performance for running FL Studio.
- RAM and Storage: The laptop comes with a whopping 20GB of DDR4 RAM, which is more than enough for most music production tasks. It also has a 1TB solid-state drive (SSD) for fast boot times and quick access to files, which is ideal for music production.
- Display: The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display that delivers clear and sharp visuals for working with FL Studio’s interface. A better and bigger display helps you work without your eyes getting tired.
- Sound Card: The Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6″ Laptop has a built-in sound card that supports high-quality audio output, which is crucial for music production. The sound card is capable of providing a rich and detailed sound that is essential for mixing and mastering tracks.
- Connectivity: The laptop features a range of connectivity options, including USB Type-C, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. These ports can be used to connect external audio interfaces or other peripherals that are required for music production.
- Other Features: The laptop includes a backlit keyboard, which is useful when working in low-light conditions. It also has a built-in webcam and microphone, which is great for virtual collaborations and online music lessons.
Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6″ Laptop is a powerful machine that is well-suited for running FL Studio and other music production software. Its high amount of RAM, fast processor, built-in sound card, and range of connectivity options make it a great choice for music producers who need high performing laptops for their work.
3. HP 2022 Pavilion
The HP 2022 Pavilion is a versatile laptop that is suitable for almost all types of general use and music production as well. With its 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD it is well suited for FL studio. The processor is a bit old version, but still, it can go well with the job.
Here are the best features of HP 2022 Pavilion
- Processor: The HP 2022 Pavilion is powered by an Intel Dual-core Pentium Processor which is not that great but well enough to work with FL Studio.
- RAM and Storage: The laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 256 solid-state drive (SSD), which provide fast boot times and quick access to files.
- Display: The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display, which delivers clear and vibrant visuals that are best suited for working on any projects that require a long time to sit in front of the screen.
- Connectivity: The laptop features a range of connectivity options, including USB Type-C, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. These ports can be used to connect external devices, such as a mouse or a printer.
- Battery Life: The laptop has a 3-cell 41 Wh Li-ion battery, which can last up to 8 hours on a single charge, depending on usage.
Overall, the HP 2022 Pavilion is a reliable laptop for working with FL Studio. Its fast processor, sufficient RAM, Good storage, and vibrant display make it great for any professional use.
4. Dell 2022 Newest Inspiron 15 Laptop
Dell 2022 Inspiron 15 is a great laptop for students, and professionals as well. A good amount of RAM and storage along with a bigger display make it a perfect fit for working with FL Studio.
Here are the Features of Dell 2022 Newest Inspiron:
- Processor: The laptop comes with Intel Celeron N4020 Processor which has 2 cores, and within our budget, it is quite efficient to work with FL studio and other general works.
- RAM: The strength of this laptop is its high RAM which is 16GB. It allows you to multitask without any lag.
- Storage: Another big strength of this laptop is its 1TB SSD which is more than enough for working in a music production house. More storage means more projects and software programs can be installed and stored without any pressure on the system’s performance.
- Display: The display size is big enough for any type of work including FL studio. It has a 15.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare LED-Backlit.
- Sound Card: It has an inbuilt sound card installed which offers crisp and clear sound output making it a well-suited laptop for FL studio.
Overall, Dell 2022 Inspiron comes with all the features that are quite well-suited for Music Production work.
5. Acer 2023 Newest Aspire 5
Acer 2023 Aspire 5 is a great laptop for FL Studio under $500 price range by having all the traits that it should for being used in a music production house.
Here are the features of Acer 2023 Newest Aspire 5:
- Processor: It comes with an AMD Reyzen 3 quad-core processor with 4-cores which is one of the good processors in the market, and can handle music product work quite well.
- RAM: 8GB RAM is there is enough for any type of work in general.
- Storage: 256GB SSD storage is well enough and also the SSD technology makes it quick to access files and folders at the best.
- Display: The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch anti-glare display with a widescreen IPS display.
- Backlight Keyboard: The backlight keyboard makes you work even in low light.
Overall Acer 2023 Aspire 5 is quite suitable for working with FL Studio or any other software that are used in music production.
6. Chicbuy Laptop 15.6” Laptop
The Chicbuy Laptop 15.6″ appears to be a budget-friendly laptop. You might be surprised to know that it is not a famous brand but if you go to its Amazon sales page, and see the reviews, you will see most of the users found it quite great at this budget. Generally, we don’t buy new brands when it comes to laptops but those who tried found it the best in the market even better than some of the high-priced known brand’s laptops in this range.
Here are some of its notable features and specifications:
- Display: 15.6″ HD screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels
- Processor: The laptop comes with the powerful Intel Celeron N5095 processor whose frequency is up to 2.9GHz. It is powerful and faster than normal processors on the basic frequency.
- RAM: 12 GB
- Storage: 512GB SSD which is well enough for music production work.
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
Overall, the Chicbuy Laptop 15.6″ seems to be a good laptop that can handle any basic and professional computing tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and streaming media. Its low price point and lightweight design make it a good option for students or anyone on a tight budget. Moreover, it can work well with FL studio as well because it has the RAM, Storage, and processor that can handle the software quite well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need a High-performance GPU in your Laptop For FL Studio?
No, FL Studio has nothing to do with GPU in general. Unlike video production work, music production doesn’t need high-performance GPU. So, GPU is not a critical component of a laptop for working with FL Studio.
What are the Critical Components of Laptops for FL Studio?
The critical components that you need in your laptop for FL studio are Processor, RAM, and Storage. Thus, you should focus on getting the best of these. If you have a big fat budget, you should go for i5 processor or more, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. However, in this article, we have talked about the low-budget laptops for FL Studio, we chose the best ones without meeting these criteria. But, they are still good to work.
Can a gaming laptop be used for music production?
YES, gaming laptops are generally high-performance and have the best configuration, thus, they can be suitable for almost all types of work. And, for music production work, Gaming laptops will be good. But, gaming laptops come with heavy and fast fans that create noise. And, those noises are not good for music production.
Do Heavy and Loud Fans in Laptops Affect Music Production Work?
Yes, heavy and loud fans in a laptop can potentially affect music production work. The fans are responsible for keeping the laptop’s internal components cool and preventing overheating. However, if they are too loud or powerful, they can create background noise that interferes with the recording and mixing process.
While recording audio, the microphone can easily pick up the sound of the fans which will result in unwanted noise in the recording. This can be especially problematic for delicate recordings or when recording in a quiet environment.
Additionally, when mixing audio, it’s important to have a clear and accurate representation of the sound. Loud fans can create a distracting and inaccurate representation of the audio, making it difficult to make precise adjustments to the mix.
Conclusion
It was quite tough for me to find the best laptops for FL studio within this $500 budget. But, I tried my best to hand-pick some of the best in this range, and I am sure you will find them quite good for your Music Production business.
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