intel macs side by side

bland_handl · Post by **bland_handl** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:16 am

I did this for my own purposes, thought it might be useful to others.

performance details on new macs, taken from the Live 5 performance test:
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... mance+test

thanks to Adamjay for the Test thread

page numbers refer to the relevant page on the Performance thread & thanks to everyone who supplied their results

These figures might be a little out of context for the following reasons:

1) Live 5 doesn't use both processors (waiting for Live 6)

2) "speedstepping" and how it works on the new laptops (much discussed on the forum - see ".kext file" & xbench)

3) probably some others - I'm no tek-wiz

I don't own a macbook & don't have enough knowledge to comment on the speedstepping thing - if anyone wants to summarise how it affects these figures, please do so.

MACBOOKS
---------------

drjpdx p40

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 37%
2) Macbook
3) OS X 10.4.6
4) Core Duo 2ghz
5) 1,25MB RAM (stock)
6) Soundcard - Built in
7) 5400 rpm hard drive (stock)

This is my numbers without editing anything to enhance performance. I can browse and cruise aroud the OS and it never goes above 40%. My G5 1.8 with 1.0 gb of ram got around 55-60% and really wanted to choke. I wonder how far I can push this!!! sweet

drj

danny futuro p39

Apple Macbook
2.0 ghz Core Duo
29-31%
1gb ram
60gb 5400rpm HD
Built-in Audio

this is with the .kext file removed. a few thing to note about this:
with the kernal extension in place, the CPU clock speed fluctuates, based on the need for higher CPU clock speed. idle clock speed is 1.5ghz. average clock speed thru live 5 test was between 1.33 and 1.5ghz. tempertures in the range of 68-81 degrees, based on workload. No mooing.

with the kext deleted, the idle clock speed is 1.66ghz, and remains constant, regardless of the processor workload. the coreduotemp CPU strain did not surpass 21%. tempurture is between 68 and 72 degrees. constant mooing.

in all honesty, for core duo owners, the live 5 performance test doesnt mean shit, thanks to the CPU throttling. Look at it like this: when running the test WITH the extension, it performs the same as a 2.1ghz G5, because the OS sees that more performance is not necessary at that workload. however, when running another test alongside a 2.1ghz G5 in which the G5's processor workload was 80-83%, the core duo barely broke the 55% mark!!!! Throttling is your friend, if you're a core duo owner.

i tried puting back the .kext file but upon booting, i get a message saying I did not install it properly. how do i get it to work again?

scientist p38

Without speed stepping extension removed:
1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 39%
2) Macbook
3) OS X 10.4.6
4) Core Duo 1.83ghz
5) 512MB RAM (stock)
6) Soundcard - Built in
7) 5400 rpm hard drive (stock)

With speed stepping extension removed:
1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 37%
2) Macbook
3) OS X 10.4.6
4) Core Duo 1.83ghz
5) 512MB RAM (stock)
6) Soundcard - Built in
7) 5400 rpm hard drive (stock)
i haven't tested much else yet with the speed stepping extension removed. it might make a bigger difference on sets with a larger cpu load.

That's the haps for the new mac laptops. sure beats the 97% score for my 1ghz 12" powerbook.

MACBOOK PRO'S WITH 7200rpm DRIVES
--------------------------------------------------

reggiecsf p38

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 49%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model - Mac Book Pro
3) Operating System - OSX
4) CPU Make Model and Speed - Dual Core Intel 2.0ghz
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram - 1GB
6) Soundcard - ASIO driver on MOTU Ultralite
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed - 7200rpm

Not so good huh?

Adamjay p37

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 28% peak
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model - Apple MacBook Pro
3) Operating System - OS X 10.4.6
4) CPU Make Model and Speed - Intel Core Duo 2ghz
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram - 2GB DDR2 667mhz
6) Soundcard - Metric Halo 2882+DSP
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed - 7200RPM Internal

*note - this is after deleting the kernel extension file "IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext" (located in: System -> Library -> Extensions -> IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext)

This kernel extension is what throttles the CPU up and down.
Before deleting this kernel extension the CPU meter read 40%
Deleting this file will reduce battery life by roughly 30%, but a proportionate amount of CPU performance was gained in doing so.

In deleting this extension, the MacBook runs at the equivalent speed it would under Apple's "Boot Camp" and Windows XP. So it is my opinion that this is a safe practice, though back up your data before doing so.

warpus p35

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % 39%-42% (44% Peak)
2) Apple MacBook Pro
3) OS X 10.4.5
4) 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
5) 2 GGB DDR2 SDRA
6) MOTU Traveler
7) 7200 rpm

A little slower than my 2.3Ghz Dual Core PowerMac. But for this kind of portability, I'll take it.

warpus p36

Just tried the Live Performance test on the MacBook Pro with OS X running Live 5.2 on a Windows XP virtual machine via Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta3. Pretty good results considering I have two OS's running at the same time.

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % 26%-30% (32% Peak)
2) Apple MacBook Pro
3) Windows XP Pro Virtual Machine under OS X 10.4.6
4) 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo
5) 2 GGB DDR2 SDRA
6) Internal Audio
7) 7200 rpm

MACBOOK PRO'S WITH 5400rpm DRIVES
--------------------------------------------------

DJSK p37

1)Ableton Live CPU Meter 28-34% peak - OSX 23-28%peak - XP SP2

2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model - Apple MacBook Pro
3) Operating System - OS X 10.4.6 Windows XP SP2 bootcamp demo installation
4) CPU Make Model and Speed - Intel Core Duo 1.83ghz
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram - 512 mB DDR2 667mhz
6) Soundcard - Stock
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed - 5400RPM Internal

*note - for OSX this is after deleting the kernel extension file "IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext" (located in: System -> Library -> Extensions -> IOPlatformPluginFamily.kext)

I cannot believe how much faster windows runs Ableton then OSX. It baffles me. Also to be noted is that windows has better latency with ableton when using stock sound card or external (Fast Track Pro) sound card.

freekster p36

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % 28%-40% (41% Peak without xbench, with xbench 31%)
2) Apple MacBook Pro
3) OS X 10.4.6
4) 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo
5) 1.5 GB DDR2 SDRAM
6) Internal soundcard
7) 5400 rpm

Running XBench on background lowers the meter by 10%

bencodec p36
OK, heres the spec on the macbook using XP...

1) 25 %
2) 2 Ghz Macbook Pro
3) Windows XP with service pack 2
4) 2 Ghz intel core duo
5)2 GB
6) Stock soundcard
7) 5400rpm

musozo p35

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % 28-32 (with XBench running in background); 39-42% (without Xbench)
2) Laptop/Desktop? MacBook Pro 1.1
3) Operating System: MacOS X 10.4.5
4) CPU Make Model and Speed: 2Ghz intel Dual Core
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram: 1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM (one slot)
6) Soundcard: integrated Core Audio
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed: 100GB SATA 5400RPM

MINI'S (SOLO & DUO)
-----------------------------

commuter p37

) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 42% peak
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model - Apple MAC mini core solo
3) Operating System - OSX 10.4.6
4) CPU Make Model and Speed -Intel core solo 1,5 ghz
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram (if you know) 512mb
6) Soundcard (Stock or add on?, usb/firewire/pci ?) - stock
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know) - 5400rpm 60GB
_________________
MacBook Pro 1,83ghz, 1gb,80gb
Intel core solo 1,5 ghz Mac Mini, 1gb ram,OS 10.4.6
Edirol UR 80,Firewire Solo,Tapco S5, BCF2000
LIVE 5+Operator, Reaktor 5,etc..

kenn michael p35

ust bought a Core Duo Mac Mini and have both OSX AND Windows XP SP2 installed. (Dual Boot)

Ran the Live test...

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 36% (running windows) / 38% (running OSX)
2) Core Duo 1.66 Mac Mini
3) Operating System - OSX 10.4.5 / Windows XP SP2
4) Dual 1.66 Proc
5) 1.25GB RAM / 5400 RPM 80GB Drive
6) Soundcard / Emagic EMI 6|2

iMACS
-----------

band-x p29

HI guys,

thought i'd drop you a line on the 5.2 beta performance for comparison

1 - 27-29%
2 - iMac Desktop
3 - OSX 10.4.5
4 - 2GHz Duo Core Intel 32bit
5 - 1GB (one stick)
6 - Onboard (waiting for Alesis to pull their fingers out!)
7 - 7200RPM (250GB)

Not too bad! Performing about as well as a Dual Core G5 (running at 2.3 GHz) but a little less than 64bit PC processor.

Would be good to hear how others get on with the new Mactels.

Andy

ToLTek p29

1 - 27-31%
2 - Intel iMac
3 - OSX 10.4.5
4 - 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
5 - 1GB Ram (2x512)
6 - Onboard Audio (default 13 ms)
7 - 160 GB 7200RPM SATA

The only VSTi visible and usable by Live 5.2 is Crystal...
But the good news is that all of my favorites (VSTi's) are comming soon to Intel Macs anyway and even better news is that Live 5.2 runs like a champ
Thanks heaps Abletons...

QUAD (not intel)
---------------------

monofever p35

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % -> 28-32
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model -> Powermac Quad (2.5)
3) Operating System -> Osx 10.4
4) CPU Make Model and Speed -> Powermac 2.5 Dual Core * 2
5) Amount of Ram / Speed of Ram (if you know) -> 4*1 GB Kingston + 500mb OEM
6) Soundcard (Stock or add on?, usb/firewire/pci ?) -> MOTU 828
7) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know) -> 7200 250GB

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Fri May 26, 2006 8:21 am

Thank you very much! I hope you maintain this! I amvery curious how these macbook stats are going to change with the proposed 3 waves of 64bit chips coming out and clever optimizations.

FaX-01 · Post by **FaX-01** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:55 am

Still confirms my decision if I get a Mac next.
I'll definately get the iMac 20" Dual Intel over the Macbook or MacBook Pro.
That's good performance stat's on the iMac BTW.

FORMAT · Post by **FORMAT** » Fri May 26, 2006 1:55 pm

Good idea to put the results side by side!

There's no result with a Macbook (Mirrorbook) yet, right? Looking forward to those. I expect them to be on par with the Probooks...