Decent older MAC?

[Tekkas]

Hi Guys. Ive been using Live and a PC for some years now and to be honest it isnt really working out for me.I dont know whether its WinXP or my soundcard (NI Audio Kontrol 1), but i get random dropouts,crashes and generally not the performance i would expect from the processing power i am using ATM.I would really like to give the MAC a go.I cant afford a new one so i would like to know what would be a decent less current setup MAC wise,Anybody got any advice on what i should be looking for or is anyone currently using an older mac system that can report good results?
And secondly, i own Live Suite 8 for PC.Is there anyway to get that licence transferred to the mac?I'm really keen on this idea, any advice is welcomed.


Regards,
Marty

PS.........Likewise any info on what MAC not to get for whatever reason would be helpful also.

[SubFunk]

any intel based mac from 2.0ghz onwards will do still just fine, just stick maximal ram and a large fast drive into it and your a set.

i still have a 2.16ghz laptop with 4gb ram and a 500gb 7200rpm drive... fine machine that is still serving me well.

i probably would look for a used macbook 2.0ghz the older model with still firewire (the ones where you had the black model option)
those you should get fairly cheap i reckon.

[JAMM]

i think you can install ableton on two computers?
Mayby you can download the mac version and registrate on the abs website.
Best thing is to first contact ableton and explain the situation.

[Saxer]

if you have the install-cd: win and mac versions are included. if you bought by download: download the mac version. after installing just authorize it. no problems, if you don´t do that every few weeks.

all macs from 2006 on should work fine. i have a 2007-macpro and its still a very fast machine. never maxed it out with ableton. get 2GB ram or more.

[Captain Johnson]

For my live set up I use a 2006 1.83 MBP with 2 gig of ram and a 320Gig 7200RPM WD Black Scorpion HD. Runs pretty fast/fine! Well analogue

[Dr. Zoiberg]

don't get one of the older macbooks: make sure it has a Core 2 Duo processor and not a Core Duo

[Tekkas]

Thanks a lot everybody.SOLVED.

regards,
Marty.

[pulse]

maybe you can have a look at the performance test for live 8 then you can see the results for all kind of machines...

just make a research with performance test and you will find the thread

by the way everybody looks for 7200 rpm (and I was also in that way) but I have to admit 5400 rpm is fine for me (but i dont record with my macbook pro, ...)

good luck

[SubFunk]

a 5400 rpm drive is sufficient, i did moved recently up to a 7200 rpm one, but the difference is tiny and so far (did not made any track count tests) i only recognise a really small speed bump while starting the system and launching apps.

[Dr. Zoiberg]

And sometimes a bigger 5400 drive can be faster than a 7200... much depends on where the heads are reading / writing: if data is on the outer edge of the platter, transfers will be faster.

[fishmonkey]

one thing i'd look out for is that some of the older Core 2 Duo machines (like my 2.16 C2D, same as SubFunk's) can actually only use 3GB of RAM, although you can put 2x2GB modules in there...

[SubFunk]

^^^ yep, but it utilizes something like 3,6 gb of the 4 installed, it is so cheap tha i can recomend it, i paid ages ago 60 euros for apacer 2x2 gb, quality ram.

[fishmonkey]

nope, 3GB. open up your Activity Monitor, select the System Memory tab and add up the free+wired+active+inactive values...

[Dr. Zoiberg]

I have the same Macbook Pro as you (2.16ghz C2D) and don't feel the need for 4gb ram, 3 is enough for my needs.

[fishmonkey]

of course it depends on how you use your computer. it is definitely worth bearing in mind when considering buying an older machine though.