dual core cpu or not?

blargh · Post by **blargh** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:54 pm

Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying a new desktop, and I'm trying to decide between the Pentium 4 630 chip (3.0Ghz) and the new Pentium 4 820 (2.8Ghz, dual core). I use Ableton with a large number of power-hungry vsts (Reaktor, Guitar Rig). I know Ableton itself isn't multithreaded, and so won't see any performance gains from the dual core, but will I see advantages in being able to spread my vsts over two CPU's? Or do all vsts share the same cpu as the host environment (Ableton)? Will the slightly lower clockspeed of the 820 be offset by the dual core performance?

If anyone has experience with dual-cores, or even dual processor machines with Ableton, I'd appreciate the advice.

Thanks

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 2:22 pm

It's my understanding the only way Ableton utilises dual processing is that one processor gets the brunt of the work, while the other is only used to run the graphics.

This my seem like small beans, and it is, but I use Live on a dual 1.8 G5 and when I use Ableton on single processor machines it always bugs me how unfluid the graphics are.

I recently bumped up from 512 to 2.5 gigs of RAM and I didn't really notice any major improvement in proformance.

NEVER ENOUGH POWER! Arrrgh. I could never use Live on a laptop. I want to run 10 Reaktors! I want first class reverbs on everything! I mean LUSH!

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:18 pm

Dual Core CPUs are designed for multi-tasking.... ie running lots of different programs at once.

Ableton, or software like games, aren't really going to take full advantage of dual cores, in that respect.

You should look into the new AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 CPU. It just came out, and is performing better for games than the AMD 64 X2 dual core. If it works better for games, it will work better for Ableton, too.

AMD is blowing away Intel and Apple right now with the performance of their CPUs.

sidownes · Post by **sidownes** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:19 pm

I could never use Live on a laptop. I want to run 10 Reaktors! I want first class reverbs on everything!

..get a centrino then

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 10:20 pm

Centrino is not a CPU. Centrino is Intel's name for their laptop systems featuring onboard WiFi.

A laptop with Centrino is obsolete when compared to the high-end desktop replacement boxes for sale these days. They use Pentium 4m processors.

The AMD Athlon 64 X2 & FX-57 are both desktop processors which have now been used in laptop cases. They vastly outperform anything with Centrino technology, as those are just Intel Pentium M processors.

blargh · Post by **blargh** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:44 am

Thanks for the replies, but I'm not sure my original question was clear: while I know that ableton itself isn't really multithreaded, does it treat vsts that it runs as separate programs, which can be spread across multiple CPU's?

Thanks

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:24 am

I see what you're saying now.

I don't know the answer.... but my suspicion is no. I think the VSTs run as part of Ableton, so they won't take advantage of multi-tasking... therefore, dual-core not utilized fully.

I think that for a music computer, you should look for similar specs as a top gaming computer. Like I said... the AMD FX-57 is beating the AMD dual-core for games. So I think the FX-57 will also be better for music.

But I could be wrong...

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:39 am

subterFUSE wrote: ...
The AMD Athlon 64 X2 & FX-57 are both desktop processors which have now been used in laptop cases. They vastly outperform anything with Centrino technology, as those are just Intel Pentium M processors.

My 1.87 GHz Pentium M ("Centrino") performs on par with a 3 GHz desktop P4 when it comes to running Live 4. Now, I'm not really up to speed on AMD benchmarks but I would be VERY surprised if those processors "vastly outperform" a 2 GHz Pentium M. Probably a little bit faster, but I guess we are talking 10% rather than 50%.

See the performance thread:

http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0