# Laptop w/monitor or desktop? **URL:** \ **Category:** 📄 General\ **Created:** [January 30, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077 "2022-01-30T16:30:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wpgstreetglide](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/e79b87/32.png) [@wpgstreetglide](https://forum.sienci.com/u/wpgstreetglide)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/1 "2022-01-30T16:30:03Z")
Hello I’m new here and also new to the CNC community as a whole. I am ordering a Longmill MK2 30x30 and I am ordering a new computer to run it but I don’t know if a desk top or lap top is a better option. I would only be using it for the CNC and also youtube for tips and tutorials. any input is appreciated and i’m excited to get my CNC and do some learning ---
**Author:** ![ozguzzi](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@ozguzzi](https://forum.sienci.com/u/ozguzzi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/2 "2022-01-30T19:05:25Z")
Welcome to the group. It really does not take much of a computer to run the LongMill. I just use an old (14 year old) laptop for the LongMill, and a new laptop for my design work, and Utube videos. I transfer the files with a cheap thumb drive. Just my two cents worth. Oz ---
**Author:** ![wpgstreetglide](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/e79b87/32.png) [@wpgstreetglide](https://forum.sienci.com/u/wpgstreetglide)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/3 "2022-01-30T20:38:42Z")
I think I’ll fire up my old lap top. Thanks for the input Oz ---
**Author:** ![RickW](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@RickW](https://forum.sienci.com/u/RickW)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 8:15pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/4 "2022-02-22T20:15:45Z")
I agree with Oz, old cheap laptop works just fine for the Longmill and a cheap thumb drive. Old cheap desktop would work too. I do build my own hybrid boxes for the CAD side of things, more power, more faster, more $ ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/jake/32/2491_2.png) [@Jake](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/6 "2022-04-19T21:41:04Z")
I am anxiously awaiting my MK2 and purchased a refurbished dell laptop from dell. Additionally, I dug out an old flat panel monitor I had boxed up for years, got a cable with an hdmi end and a dvi end and now I have dual monitors. I’m a Mac guy so this whole windows thing is somewhat frustrating to me. I have an old MacBook Pro from 2011 that I will load gsender software on. I do believe a workspace with my windows laptop and monitor in the shop will be good. I have a decent plan for a clamshell desk designed for shop use. Welcome to the forum @erinnapizzuti @wpgstreetglide. Seems like good folks here that will help with the new guy issues. Be safe! Jake ---
**Author:** ![RickW](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@RickW](https://forum.sienci.com/u/RickW)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/8 "2022-04-22T22:54:53Z")
So new CPU and GPU, chuck out the hard drive and put in a new one and don’t use it for anything else. You might need an operating system of some sort and windows will cost a few bucks more but it will work for a few weeks, OS’s… New hard drive means no pre-installed anything! ---
**Author:** ![RickW](https://forum.sienci.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@RickW](https://forum.sienci.com/u/RickW)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/laptop-w-monitor-or-desktop/5077/9 "2022-04-22T22:57:33Z")
As a side note, I did put an old laptop out in the driveway with a hammer next to it and my wife took care of it