Searching and reading your questions and opinions I found the LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php? ... 5#p1101785 topic and I decided to test my system. My results aren't so shiny so I would like to ask you for your opinions. First of all here are the results:
1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 67-68%
2. Desktop: MacBook White (mid 2007)
3. OS: Leopard 10.5.8
4. Ableton Live version: 8.1.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: Intel C2D 2.16
6. Amount of RAM: 2 GB
7. Soundcard: built-in
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 5400 rpm
9. Number of playback tracks: 2 (!?!?!?)
with 3 tracks the play is still ok, but 4 or more are causing serious problems: over 100% prc, with all 8 tracks ableton cpu meter shows 128% ...
this is unbelievable, only 2 tracks, however other users with the same or worse configuration had successfully run all the 8 tracks.
I don't have any programs/processes running, excepting the ones of the operating system. Airport, bluetooth, dashboard and other useless stuff - ALL OFF.
I don't know what could I do to improve the performance or, in other words, I don't know why the Live's CPU meters shows such a huge value (the Live's manual explains that the CPU meter shows only the power needed to process the audio).
Could you tell me what could I optimize to get a better result??? (Also sometimes I have cracks while playing 7-8 simultaneous wave files).... Unfortunately I use the application for professional work and until now I thought this is what Ableton's Live can do... now I realize that my system is down...

Any help is highly appreciated, thank you a lot!!!!