PCAudioLabs vs. MacBook Pro – Which is Better for DJs?
While in LA in 2017, I (Brian, CTO of PCAudioLabs) was asked by an artist and DJ with whom I was speaking, “What makes your laptops better than a MacBook Pro?”, which translates to this article, answering the question of PCAudioLabs vs. MacBook Pro – Which is Better for DJs?
In this case, I was at a Drum N’ Bass show in Downtown Los Angeles, speaking to artists and DJS about what they needed/wanted in a laptop for DJing, music production, and most importantly, being able to be on the road, as most DJs are.
Now real quick; that should tell you something about what we do. I like to go to clubs, speak to artists, and see what they’re doing with technology. These are the people who define what it is that it means to use technology for making and playing music.
Apple doesn’t have a CTO that goes to Drum N’ Bass shows — keep that in mind.
So, how do PCAudioLabs Rok Box MC Mobile X pro audio laptops compare to an Apple MacBook, and more specifically why would you choose a Rok Box over a MacBook?
Well, it’s simple; we built an ecosystem that supports creatives and the tools they use. Apple doesn’t have that anymore. We build our Rok Box pro audio PCs specifically for Audio Engineers, DJs, Creatives, and those that work in the audio industry. Apple doesn’t do that, as much as the marketing hype has told us that they do.
PCAudioLabs PCs are specifically configured and built for music and video production, DJing, and content creation. Our support backs our PCs for their lifetime and is provided entirely in-house by a team of professionals who are also musicians, audio engineers, and creatives.
Now, make no mistake, an Apple MacBook is an impressive piece of hardware, and we love brushed aluminum as much as the next guy, but let’s get real about specs and what they cost when it comes to what you need in a computer to be creative with.
Size matters
First off, size; the largest screen you’ll find on an Apple MacBook is 16″, and you’ll pay a lot more to upgrade to that screen size. — so if you like a bigger laptop, that’s not happening.
Comparatively, a PCAudioLabs Rok Box MC X pro audio laptop may be configured with a 15.6″ screen and up to 18″ of screen real estate.
I’ve had many DJs tell me that, when they’re in a dark DJ booth, it is imperative to have more screen real estate to be able to utilize their Serato crates and pull lists. If you need a large screen, you’re not going to get it with Apple.
CPU Power
Second, CPU power. The CPU in any computer is the most important component; if it is underpowered, you’re going to have a bad time.
A top-end MacBook Pro features a 16-core M4 CPU and 40-core GPU, and you’ll need to step up to the top-end MacBook configuration to get it. If you don’t, the standard MacBook Pro is configured with a 10-core CPU and GPU.
Not bad, but compare that with our top-end Rok Box MC Mobile X PRO, which features an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU with 24 cores running at 5.4GHz, plus an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 24GB GPU. That’s a huge difference, and one you’ll feel when you load bigger sessions in Pro Tools or render video from Davinci Resolve and other host applications.
It is also important to note that Apple’s move to combine CPUs and GPUs leaves you without the ability to utilize discrete GPUs — a GPU that isn’t reliant on the CPU. We don’t do that at PCAudioLabs — our GPUs are discrete and therefore may provide their entire attention to video processing. As DAWs and plugins begin to also process DSP on the GPU with future updates, a powerful GPU is going to be more important than ever.
Storage
Third; storage. The MacBook Pro features only one internal solid state drive, upgradeable to 8TB.
Again, not bad, but if you’ve ever tried to add more storage to a MacBook, you know it can’t really be done. You can’t open your MacBook (good luck trying) to add more storage, and if you do, you’re likely voiding that precious AppleCare warranty. So, you’re stuck with the internal storage and dragging around external drives, thumb drives, etc.
Compare that to our Rok Box MC X PRO audio laptop, where you may choose up to four internal NVME m.2 SSDs (in the Rok Box MC Mobile X PRO model, 3 drives in the Mobile X and Mobile X POWER), with two SSDs standard in every build configuration. This is especially important for DJs and those that are producing on the go. Being able to carry your entire Serato track collection, your recorded audio, or video projects, all in your laptop, without external hard drives, will greatly simplify your workflow and how much gear you need to carry. It also speeds up workflow, and makes it easier to backup your system, because you’re not saving all of your data onto your primary OS drive (which is a big no-no).
Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM is very important to anyone who wants to use their PC for sample-based instruments, such as those from East West, Native Instruments, and more.
MacBook Pros support up to 128GB RAM, but adding that additional RAM will run you an additional $1,000. You have to choose that RAM option when purchasing, because upgrading your RAM yourself will void your precious AppleCare warranty. Remember, Apple doesn’t want you opening your own computer.
Compare that with the Rok Box MC Mobile X PRO, which supports up to 192GB RAM, for an additional $400. If you don’t wish to step up to that much RAM when purchasing, you may upgrade your RAM yourself later on, without voiding your hardware warranty.
Yeah, you just saved $600 and upgraded your RAM beyond what the MacBook supports.
Video Cards and Video RAM
As previously mentioned, the M4 MacBook Pro may be configured with up to a 40-core GPU, but that’s only if you upgrade to the 16″ model. A standard MacBook comes configured with a 10-core GPU.
There are distinct differences between Apple’s GPU and PC GPUs — specifically, Apple has combined their CPU and GPU processing in their latest model laptops.
Rok Box MC Mobile pro audio laptops feature built-in Intel GPUs as well as discrete Nvidia GPUs that can be specified with up to 24GB of GDDR7 RAM.
If you’re looking to render video or work with 8k video files, you’ll find good performance on both platforms, but you’ll maximize your GPU with a Rok Box MC Mobile pro audio laptop, without the additional cost of a MacBook.
Connectivity (And yes, USB)
Oh, and, let’s talk about connectivity. Apple, as many of us have seen, has been keen to remove the USB port from their systems, and relegate you to using either Thunderbolt ports (and converter dongles), or simply ignoring the fact that creatives need to be able to plug things into their computers.
The average MacBook comes with a whopping three USB type-C ports. Wow, amazing.
A Rok Box MC Mobile X pro audio laptop offers at least four USB ports, with options for Thunderbolt 4 and 5.
That’s why we still offer you lots of USB ports on our pro audio laptops, as well as Thunderbolt, and lots of video outputs, all for expandability of your workflow. You can plug in multiple devices, audio interfaces, and peripherals, without having to carry dongles/docks or expanders.
Fine, but what’s it all cost?
And, of course, price — the most important factor (for most).
A fully-loaded Apple MacBook, upgraded to a 16″ screen, 128GB of RAM, and 8TB of internal storage, will run you $7,349.00.
It is not expandable and you are locked into many of the features I have previously spoken about.
Compare that with a PCAudioLabs Rok Box MC Mobile X PRO pro audio laptop, which features a larger (18″) screen, Nvidia RTX 5090 24GB GPU, 1TB primary m.2 SSD and two additional 4TB m.2 SSDs (1TB more storage than the MacBook, with the option to add up to an additional 4TB of storage), and 192GB RAM (more than a MacBook), and you’ll be looking at $6,269.97.
Total savings going with PCAudioLabs: $1079.03.
And, you can still upgrade your storage for more internal storage should you wish to do so down the road, without voiding your warranty.
PCAudioLabs wins on all fronts.
Let’s talk about customer support
Additionally, you get the best support in the business, from pro audio engineers and trainers who are here to help you with questions you have about your new system. You don’t get that with Apple, no matter how many Genius Bars are out there; if you’re not using Apple Logic Pro, you’re not going to get training with your new computer.
Apple doesn’t have a support team that specifically supports Pro Audio, and we do — that includes our trainers with OBEDIA, where you can get one-on-one training and tech support for digital audio and the applications you run on your PC.
But don’t pros “Only use Macs”?
And, of course, that old question of, “Isn’t Windows buggy?”, “Won’t I have crashes?”, and “Isn’t Mac OS the greatest OS ever for creatives?”
The answer to all of those questions, simply, is no. We wrote the white paper on Windows 10 for pro audio. We tweak Windows specifically for pro audio production, and we test it so we know it is stable. We work with all major pro audio developers in the industry to test our systems and make sure they work with the software that you use. And, Apple has shown that many of their past iterations of their Operating system, OS X, have not fared well with the pro audio community; there have been multiple issues with applications not working, entire lines of audio interfaces being discontinued from working with OS X, and more, all due to Apple’s consistent updating of their operating system, without having worked directly with the pro audio community prior to those updates.
In Closing
We care about working with creatives, DJs, and people who make music. It’s the reason we make our computers, and the reason we do what we do. That’s not the reason that Apple operates. That’s fine, but again, if you choose the ecosystem you want to be a part of, you should choose the one that offers you the most support for your workflow. That will always be PCAudioLabs.
Call us and set up your dream system: 615-933-6775 or visit our store here: https://f82bed6464.nxcli.io