Show Cue System

Last year, I directed a production of Peter Pan Jr. I created several animated projections and ran them thru SCS. During performance, they would sometimes freeze. They ran fine on my gaming desktop where I created them, but I assumed the DELL laptop I borrowed from the school didn't have enough processing power to sustain them. Does that make sense? I am about to invest in a laptop of my own so I don't need to borrow from the school.
I'd like to keep it under $800. Can you suggest a model or specs I should be looking for?

Can you email me the SCS log file from a run in which this occurred? Note that SCS automatically deletes log files more than 7 days old, so if the production was 'last year' then if there are any relevant log files then do not start SCS before moving the existing log files to another folder.

Log files are created and saved in a folder named "SCS Logs" under "Documents", and the name of each file includes a time-stamp indicating when the log started.

The reason for this request is that there may be some SCS Option settings you could change, and the log file will show me all the option settings you have, as well as much other useful information.

Regarding new computer specs, see SCS Prerequisites in the Help. If you are running videos then I strongly recommend a computer with an Intel i7 or higher processor. I'm not sure that $800 will get you a suitable computer.

Can you play the files in the laptop smoothly with other media player?

The videos have a reasonable bit rate? I mean, if the projector is 1920x1080 you do not need a 4k video file (re-render it).
With common 1920x1080 videos, the bit rate of 10Mbps is enougth (Youtube specs.).

Stop all unnecessary software. Update de video driver to the last release.

I play videos with a 10 years old laptop smothly, while playing other sound efects, controling lights and sending commands to the sound desk.
You should do it too.

Regards,
Lluís

I can play smooth videos with this computer:

System Model: HP ProBook 640 G8 Notebook PC
Processor: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-1135G7 @ 2.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 16GB RAM
Storage: 256GB SSD
Display Card name: Intel(R) Iris(R) Xe Graphics
Display Memory: 8160 MB
Dedicated Memory: 128 MB

I think you can find something like this for les than $800 that I consider it is full enought.
Laptop: HP 15s-fq5060ns
OS: Windows 11 Home
Processor: Intel® Core™ i7 1255U (12 generation)
RAM:16 GB RAM
Storage: 512 GB SSD
Display: 39,6 cm (15,6 pulg.), FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics card: Gráficos Intel® Iris® Xe

But I remark!!! Use properly rendered video files and uninstall unneded software.

Regards,
Lluis