Scan 3SX laptop?

Cantabile
1

Hi everyone,

I’m moving towards replacement of my primary gigging laptop. I currently suffer from issues related to DPC latency, and I’ve been searching for suitable laptops speced high enough, but with demonstrated low DPC latency. I’ve discounted desktop (including ITX) for reasons of practicality.

The Scan https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/daw-digital-audio-workstation-pcs/workstation-laptops range seem appropriate, and with more memory & storage, the 15" looks like it will do the job; they also have been very clear there are no DPC issues.

So, anyone have experience of these laptops for Cantabile? I’m also interested in how Cantabile handles the E- and P-cores of a 12th-gen processor, and what implications that has for performance. DAW users seems to report a good experience though.

They are at https://www.synthfest.co.uk/ next month in the UK, and I’ll probably chat to them then.

Thanks, John

2

I use a Scan 3XS (i7) laptop. In fact I’ve just replaced my previous one, since it was getting a bit battered and bruised, and it was starting to fail on boot-up. But it has put in a few years of sterling service, and not always in the best of conditions. I’ve no complaints.

They are great machines - as long as you accept that they are not a cheap option. The power and speed are really something. I’m running Cantabile configurations that simply choke on lesser machines - I have to compromise with my backup (Dell i5) laptop.

The only thing I dislike about the ones I’ve had are the keyboards, which seem intent on making me hit the wrong keys. Neither am I a huge fan of the new (hidden buttons) mouse pad.

1 Like
3

I’ve used my Scan laptop live for 10 years. It’s a bit bulky (it’s got a desktop processor) but it’s been a stalwart workhorse and has never let me down once. You pay a premium but they’re great. I like it so much, when I needed to upgrade my self build studio computer, I went with scan.

Added to the quality build and testing they do, their customer service is great.

My 2c

P

4

Hi Folks,

I have a question on the Scan laptop i7 CPUs you all use. What is the core speed that they run at?

Thanks

Dave

5

All their current audio laptops use the I7 12700H, specs here: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-12700H&id=4721

@The_Elf do you follow glitch free to run at 100% all the time? Any issues from that?

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Mine says:

12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H 2.30 GHz

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7

So I got one a couple of weeks ago, and also a MOTU Ultralive 5. At the weekend did a gig and rehearsal for two different bands with the new setup. I had my old laptop as a spare just in case.

In short this really works well with Cantabile, the interface runs at super-low latency even with the most complex of songs, and there’s CPU to spare. Really good service from scan too, and nice touches like they default to an audio power plan that has all the glitch-free covered off. Recommended.