I'm using a Dell Dimension Laptop, P4 with 1Gig of RAM to project moving video onto a dual screen format (monitor and projector) AND recording live video at the same time via Magix Studio Pro 2004 Deluxe.  My video has begun to get "jumpy" and slow.

I've been told (by a Gateway tech trying to sell me a new system) that what I REALLY need is a P4 with hyper-threading, as well as the 1 Gig of RAM.  What do you think, do I really need to buy a new system or is it some other problem?

By the way, I'm using WINDOWS XPI notice you said your video has "begun to get jumpy and slow", does that mean it wasn't always like that?

Also is your computer connected to the internet?
If so do you have antivirus sortware installed?
How about anti-spyware?
Have you recently done a scan for both?
Whats the frequency of your processor (megahertz)? And what is the size of your hardrive? Is it full(ish)?
What's your graphics card?

Lol I know thats alot of questions when your looking for answers but the more specific you are the better. And if you don't know any of those I can PROBABLY walk you through how to find out so don't hesitate to ask!Sorry, I should have included all of that.

1.6 Ghz

37 Gig HD with 25 Gig used...

NVidea GeForce 2 Go (video card)

Now that I think of it, the only time it runs smoothly is when we are not streaming the audio into the system.

The system is never on the Net when projecting/recording, but during the week it is.  We do have anti-spyware, etc. and RUN it at least weekly.  The system is clean of viruses too.Lol no problem, it always sems like youve listed everything important untill some idiot comes in and says what about...  

Laptop hard drives are usualy slower than desktop hardrives but that might not be a total limiting factor. There are sooooo many differant things that it could be. If you say that the only time it gets chopy is when your streaming audio into the system? Whats the source your recording audio from? A mic or a line input? If line input then is it RCA (the kind of plug you plug into the back of a vcr, not the screw-ons but the other ones)? A POSSIBLE problem, being a laptop it means your audio card (along with almost everything else) is integrated and thus sharing RAM with your processor. But lets not jump the gun here, the first things to try are these:

1: defrag your hard drive

2: do a spyware/virus scan if its on the internet.

3: try shutting down unnecisary processes, you see all those little icons down in the lower right hand corner of your start bar? they eat up your resources. If there is something down there you don't use then right-click on it and hit close, or quit, or turn off etc. BUT if your on the net DON'T shut of your virus protection while your on the net. if your not on the internet but the virus stuff is RUNNING anyway, then shut it off but remember to turn it back on before going back on!

4: also you might want to try turning your windows scheme to a non-xp theme to save prosessing power. To do this right-click on an EMPTY area on your desktop and then hit properties in the drop-down menue that appears. Now go to the "themes" tab and then drop down the menu that has the word "theme" above it and select "windows classic". You'll lose the pretty windows XP stuff but you might gain some power.


if none of these worked and if you have a USB port you may want to try one of these:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1225693&CatId=0

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1034850&CatId=0

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=575677&CatId=0

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1166030&CatId=0

They range from the inexpensive to the ridiculous. You can probably find similar items all over the place these are just examples. It may cut down on the load by bypassing your internal audio card.

Try the solutions that dont require purchasing something first, then maybe one of the external audio cards. If that still doesnt work then you may indeed need a HT processor. I could think of few better applications for an HT processor than yours. Basicly an HT pretends to be 2 prosessors and so can multitask pretty good.

HTH!Might also wanna take a look at the size of your page file as well, if it too small (or too large for that matter, it affects system performance) though i would defrag, then shutdown my Antivirus, Firewall and any extraeneous programs that may chewing up your system resources. For the presentation that is, not permanantly. Or try 2 gigs ram if you have the space.

As far as that guy telling you NEED a processor with Hyperthreading technology, thats bull, as all that is, is a processor with the ability to split in half for multi-tasking certain programs, BUT they still share the same resources, RAM, FSB etc do NOT split as well. So no, i would NOT listen to him. If you really need to run all that at once, try a MAC. I dont use them, BUT i have several buddies that do and i have seen them run an insane amount of multitasking apps at once with no hiccups. Cheers!Run diagnostics.......type dxdiag in the run box......and place the laptop on a thermal pad or a couple of wooden blocks to improve air flow....>.p4 does  generate loads of heat.....make sure the side fan is not obstructed.....
hth.