Running a show does not take a lot of computing power. I have an older laptop I have used for several years. Check falcon Christmas and see if you could use a pi to run your show. As for sequencing what software are you using? if you own mac s and the sequencing software works on a mac then use that. I have used LOR of the on/off dimming sequencing, its what I got started with. I have since moved to xlights , its free, and if you are learning for the first time its not difficult to use, there is a lot of support and the guys that develop it and update it use it in there own displays and know whats works best..