Samples In RAM

I dare not try this on my rig, but want to badly get a laptop just for Kontakt that accommodates Express 34 for a PCI-e Connector, and sadly the only storage would be USB 3.0.
Since this is a simple live performance rig no automations just triggering real time samples, I was hoping someone else loads their entire samples into RAM, not just portions, but like the old hardware samplers did.
If so, could I get away with 16GBs of RAM on a fast laptop, only loading 9GBs max w/o any clicks / pops, etc.etc.

Thanks

I have waded through a never ending series of YouTube tutorials, obviously many never vetted, so a familiar name here would inspire confidence to spend a few large on this monster laptop.

Thanks

 

You can, but:

1) Perhaps you underestimate how good disk streaming is nowadays. It really is incredibly good, seamless, light on the CPU, and efficient. I've streamed probably millions of cumulative hours of samples without a problem. Also -- if your dream laptop has an SSD drive, then even more so -- its streaming speed would (I believe) be in the realm of the performance you'd get from RAM anyway.

2) Load time would be longer.

3) Every computer needs some overhead. It's entirely possible you could do the calculation carefully, e.g. 16GB total, used for samples, 2GB used for the OS, 2GB used for the host, etc. -- and still the computer may require additional RAM unexpectedly if you do something different on it.

In short...why bother? Just let it stream. It works perfectly.

 

Are you certain streaming from an external USB SSD would be as good as the SSDs we are use to on the SATA III protocol. If so then I can proceed with the builders. I figured USB would suck, but it is a NCW based rig only. All instruments I use have been developed that way. I believe the trade off for the PCI-e / Express 34 Slot was no additional internal drives except the Hybrid Seagate for OS+Apps.

Thanks Double D, appreciate your experience and help.

 

I don't have hard data to give you, and it may depend upon specific models (there are good USB bridges and not so good ones, for example), and everyone's usage is a little different, but my gut says you'll be just fine. I have yet to run a rig (desktop or laptop, including ones several years old) that can't stream well.

 

Of course a regular HDD won't be as fast as SSD, but it does a good job in most circumstances.

 

I have to agree because now that I think about it, years back when I still ran Giga alongside of Kontakt, I had Raptor 360s @ 10k and SATA II and it was fine.

If it sucks, I will rebuild my old 1U in a short ATX 15" just for Kontakt, and use the laptop with remote desktop for 2 x PCs. Either way it beats lugging my ATA Shock rack around with slanted mixer top for the LCD.

Will report back on which external streaming solution I come up with.

 

I think I got what I need to get the laptop and use it by itself.
http://www.thessdreview.com/our-rev...2go-pocket-ssd-wrk-ssds-computex-2014-update/
These guys make great hand built products, and 400+ MBps reads with fast access times should do the trick.
Plus BitWig has jumped all in with both feet too.
Total costs with the fastest CPU and 2 x BitWiggers is 1950 USD.
Nothing but NCW on this little gem.