PC specs...

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
Living_Fiction
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Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:46 am

PC specs...

Post by Living_Fiction » Fri Aug 05, 2005 5:51 am

What is some fantastic specs to run this program on? My PC obviously can't handle it well...I was thinking 1 - 2 GB would be enough RAM, but I could be wrong...Also, what Intel processor is needed to handle this? I need to be able to DJ with this, and not have my PC perform like a turtle.

New Yawkah
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Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:21 pm

Post by New Yawkah » Fri Aug 05, 2005 5:59 am

Do a search for "performance test" and you will find plenty of info. Seems like this program likes the 64 bit AMD processors better than the Pentium's. Also, 1 gig of ram should do a more than adequate job.
Just got an AMD 3700+ laptop w/ 1 gig of ram this week- can't wait to install version 5 and try it out!

Good luck!

subterFUSE
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Location: Winter Park, FL

Post by subterFUSE » Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:27 am

RAM has very little to do with the performance of Ableton. For proof, just look at the performance tests. You will see people with 2 gigs that have higher % CPU usage than people with 512 MB.

Your CPU is the most important factor. After that, your hard drive speed. RAM is about the least important factor.

The performance tests are showing clearly that Ableton is performing best with AMD Athlon 64 CPUs, and with Intel Pentium M laptops.

Living_Fiction
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Post by Living_Fiction » Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:58 pm

Okay, so get 512MB of ram, right? Also, what AMD 64 processor, and HDD would be rockin for this? Recomend top quality stuff. I have a hefty grand to dump into a PC.

donnydonny
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Post by donnydonny » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:36 pm

AMD processors will work the best for desktops... Pentium M's if you're getting a laptop. Pretty much anything available for those will run Live smoothly. My 1.9gHz AMD w/ 512mb RAM runs the exact same, if not better, than my 3.2gHz P4 w/ 1gb RAM (for Live, at least). Anywhere between 512mb and 1gb of RAM will be fine.

subterFUSE
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Post by subterFUSE » Fri Aug 05, 2005 9:48 pm

Living_Fiction:

If you want a laptop, I suggest you look at: http://www.mtechlaptops.com

I just bought a computer from them, and they are definitly a price leader. I did a lot of research before buying my laptop, and they were certainly the best prices to spec ratio I found. Do your own research, because its possible there might be someone even better... but I would recommend M-Tech highly.


As stated, if you want a laptop... the best performance specs are for the Pentium M boxes. As luck would have it, these are also the best priced laptops on the market.

Get the fastest Pentium M chip you want, and put on 512-1024 RAM... plus a 7200 rpm hard drive.... and you'll be rockin'.

Living_Fiction
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Post by Living_Fiction » Sat Aug 06, 2005 12:11 am

Actually, I decided to the take the time to design a rig. It's an ATX/Mid Tower case, but that's fine with me. Here is the specs...I'm just looking for a good CD-RW to go with it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813130485

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103562

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820145440

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148032

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817104934

Just picture a clear case with a bunch of LED's, cathodes, etc (bunch of cool lighting) The rest I don't need post, because it really doesn't affect Ableton.

kineticUk
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Post by kineticUk » Sat Aug 06, 2005 12:53 am

I thought the Pentium 4 Laptop processors were the fastest?
What is the benefit of the pentium M is it to do with the power consumption?
I will have access soon to a PC laptop (P4 3.4ghz) and would like to know what current users think of the above.
I had always thought the pentium 4s would have run live well.

Thanks

Living_Fiction
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:46 am

Post by Living_Fiction » Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:00 am

Just found a rock solid CD-RW. It's by ASUS, so it is bound to great!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 24&CatId=0

subterFUSE
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Location: Winter Park, FL

Post by subterFUSE » Sat Aug 06, 2005 2:53 am

I thought the Pentium 4 Laptop processors were the fastest?
What is the benefit of the pentium M is it to do with the power consumption?
I will have access soon to a PC laptop (P4 3.4ghz) and would like to know what current users think of the above.
I had always thought the pentium 4s would have run live well.

The Pentium 4 CPUs run Ableton well, but apparently not as well as the Pentium M.

I just bought a Pentium 4 3.4 GHz laptop, myself.... and I'm quite satisfied with my decision... but I must admit the performance numbers in the test done by forum members does show the Pentium M has an edge.

My results on the Live 5 test were about 35%-37%. Decent, but certainly not the best seen thus far.

Steve Christian
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Post by Steve Christian » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:00 am

I've got the Dual G5 2.7Ghz w/ 2.5GB of RAM and it runs quite well on my machine. I use Ableton more like a realtime effects processor then a DAW, but still, I've got no problems.

Living_Fiction
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Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:46 am

Post by Living_Fiction » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:16 am

I would easly go Mac if they weren't so expensive for a G5. I don't have money to fork out for power just to run OS X. I honestly don't have hardly any issues with XP. If you use Spyware, Adware, and Virus scanners, and keep your firewall on, you should be fine.

New Yawkah
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Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:21 pm

Post by New Yawkah » Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:03 am

Living_Fiction

If you use Spyware, Adware, and Virus scanners, and keep your firewall on, you should be fine.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not to start a MAC vs PC war, but as a MAC user, I've never heard of this...stuff. Just made the switch to a PC laptop based on the performance ratings myself, and I'm not looking forward to learning all this maintenance crap- not to mention buying more expensive software just to keep running smooth. It should run smooth without my intervening.

Living_Fiction
Posts: 121
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:46 am

Post by Living_Fiction » Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:24 am

The scanners are free...You just simply open up the program once a day, and click scan...

New Yawkah
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Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:21 pm

Post by New Yawkah » Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:44 am

I plan to use this laptop STRICTLY for audio and never go on the net. Do I still need to do all these extra steps to keep running smooth?

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