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Specifically, my current lappy is a lenovo ideapad basic thing..I've upgraded the ram to (i think) 12 gig... but it's naff integrated graphics, and though zwift runs, it struggles live streaming as well (laggy) and the graphics are super basic.. I've seen screen shots of lovely looking graphics!
I don't really play games on the PC as i've an xbox...
I've been thinking about getting a better laptop - looking at refurb dell G3s at £670.. Ahs specific NVIDEA graphics card etc etc
But it's a lot of whack to spend on a 'thing' that'll mostly be used for zwift and the odd online game/roblox!!
DrP
Am I mad, and should I jsut stick with what I've got?
Run the Zwift on an android tablet/phone/iPad and test if it streams ok
You'll at least know then
I brought a new laptop about a month ago and I love it. I have zwift running on it but can also run discord, amazon music and traimerroad at the same time without any lag or slow down. We now use it for a lot of other things which we used to use a ipad for because it starts up so quick which makes it convenient to use.
I have to lug my MacBook Pro down to the garage each time I Zwift, which with the 100 days challenge is most days, I'm thinking about grabbing an Apple TV and a cheap 4k monitor.
No is the short answer. I got a refurb Dell all in one 19" i5 8gb SSD from Gigarefurb for £220 which sits in front of my bike. Its never been a problem and runs fine - although Zwift it all it does.
For example at £299: https://www.gigarefurb.co.uk/refurbished-desktop-pcs/hp-eliteone-800-g1-23
They have a 21" iMac on there for less than your laptop will cost DrP.
No I don't think so. I have an ancient ex-work laptop and it runs Zwift fine. I mean, when it's not randomly going to sleep in the middle of races...
If it's just for Zwift you could investigate getting a PC on a stick and plugging it into a monitor that you could leave in the garage on one of those arm things...
Apple TV 4k for me - zero problems with and it lives in the shed with an old 2nd hand wide screen tv. Phone for companion/discord/music.
It takes about 20 seconds from power on to zwifting, and it has zero fettling required.
If you can wait a few months there is a new one in the pipeline, and that will have even better graphics on zwift (eventually) or you can get the current one at a reduced price, which is currently less than £200 with a warranty.
Just the number of 'my pc crashed/updated/failed at the critical moment' messages in zwift should be enough to turn a sane man away from pc's.
There was a limit with the number of BLE connections, but now more than 2 can be done through the companion if you need to.
The graphics will not be as high res as a good pc - but they'll be better than any cheap laptop.
ipad and a Tacx Handlebar mount works a treat.
Super contained and the ipad is much easier to lug around the house.
phone running the companion app sits where the bottle is in that pic
Depends.
Graphics are massively better on a better machine. Detail is deeper and in big events you get more riders round about you.
Zwift was pretty crap on my old laptop but when I changed to the desk top on an old TV wall mounted it was alot more immersive which I need to keep me motivated on an exercise bike
If you were happy enough staring at a wall on a dumb turbo then any old computer will do
Currently running a cheap laptop.
Likely upgrade would be apple TV as it seems most cost effective. Still got to get a TV from somewhere though.
Not for zwift itself. Once it plays properly, it plays properly. You can pay more (and more, and more) for better graphics if you like. I don't think it's worth it but you might.
The streaming is really the requirement that sets you apart. It might be worth it for that. Have a look at https://blog.zwiftalizer.com/post/buyersguide-2019/ maybe?
I bought a decent refurb laptop with an i7 processor, 12 gig ram and a graphics card. It made a massive difference to running Zwift but that's cos the old one was crap. It loads instantly (to the point that shutting down to change world's isn't an issue), it runs high Res graphics properly without the frame rate stutter that I was getting, all in all it makes it enjoyable, BUT it sounds like you're current one is decent so probably not the same impact for you.
If you have room then a proper PC is better and far cheaper for more power. Mine was around £400 and runs everything on MAX!
See if your mobile will run the Android app, or maybe look at the https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUAWEI-MediaPad-T5-Octa-Core-Processor/dp/B07P8VN3BL or whatever the latest model is (M6?) https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7261464
I run Zwift on a gaming PC I built a few years back which runs Zwift fine at 4k with everything turned on. I've turned most stuff on in Nvidea control panel too which should override Zwift I think and help with AAliasing etc.
It does look good on my cheap Hisense tv BUT Zwift will always look a little old school graphically tbh. Does feel more immersive on a big screen but a big screen does show up the graphical defects so you need all graphics stitched on if poss. If just looking at a small screen I wouldn't bother other than if frame rates are an issue. The PC only dips to high 20fps(never gone below 27fps) when max amount of riders are on the screen. Other than that fps is up around 60.
Cheers for the info...
I actually ordered a Dell G3, then thought to cancel it via their website, which i did...
Dell then sent me a ‘shipped’ email!!!
Hmm.. still COULD send it back, but TBH I was zwifting this eve and with zwift and Spotify, with got a bit jumpy at times. Also it’s interesting it tell you load up times. 58 seconds to load up.
Sloooow!
I actually sent the log to Zwiftaliser and it was BASIC graphics, about 24 FPS (48ish high), so not amazing!
Hmm.... the LappY is several years old now, so I will probably keep the Dell TBH...
Probbaly..hmm...
I kinda need a PC as my power meter is ANT+ only at the moment..
I could jsut use the bluetooth turbo for power, but the crank PM is always going to be more accurate.
DrP
I use a ‘digital av adapter to hdmi’ to display from my iPhone to an old tv. Works fine imo although nothing to compare to.