Anyone try Intel Mac Mini with Live?

aviavi · Post by **aviavi** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:55 pm

Just curious about the performance, per the Adam Jay "Live Fiver Performance Test."

Avi

aviavi · Post by **aviavi** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:31 pm

Anyone take the plunge?

Mmm...

aviavi · Post by **aviavi** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:00 pm

I just tried it on an intel mac mini, 1.66 duo, with 512 RAM, running the Adam Jay performance test.

The maximum CPU with PDC off was 33%.

Great news to me. My lowly ibook G3 couldn't even run the test.

Avi

Machinesworking · Post by **Machinesworking** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:04 am

aviavi wrote:I just tried it on an intel mac mini, 1.66 duo, with 512 RAM, running the Adam Jay performance test.

The maximum CPU with PDC off was 33%.

What about with PDC on? I'm trying to get an idea of how it compares to old powerbooks and PC's in the performance test.

aviavi · Post by **aviavi** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:35 am

With PDC, it was maxing out at 37%.

FORMAT · Post by **FORMAT** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:21 am

Is 33% good? From what I remember when looking at the Performance Test posts a while ago, Wintel machines sometimes were as low as 12% or something?

AdamJay · Post by **AdamJay** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:37 am

FORMAT wrote:Is 33% good? From what I remember when looking at the Performance Test posts a while ago, Wintel machines sometimes were as low as 12% or something?

yes, its good. 37% with PDC is very good.

my iMac G5 1.8ghz scores 48%.
so a Mac Mini Core Duo is using less than 3/4th's as much CPU as my iMac.
also, consider Live 6 will bring that cpu% even lower with a multi-threaded audio engine. These Core Duo's are the gifts that keep on giving as far as using Ableton Live is concerned.

you wont find any wintel machines at 12%, not in the v.5 test at least.
the most recent test result of an AMD 4800+ 2.4 (dual core) was 23%.

hey Avi. thanks alot for going to the Apple Store and running the test on the Mini.

FORMAT · Post by **FORMAT** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:42 am

AdamJay wrote:
FORMAT wrote:Is 33% good? From what I remember when looking at the Performance Test posts a while ago, Wintel machines sometimes were as low as 12% or something?
yes, its good. 37% with PDC is very good.

my iMac G5 1.8ghz scores 48%.
so a Mac Mini Core Duo is using less than 3/4th's as much CPU as my iMac.
also, consider Live 6 will bring that cpu% even lower with a multi-threaded audio engine. These Core Duo's are the gifts that keep on giving as far as using Ableton Live is concerned.

you wont find any wintel machines at 12%, not in the v.5 test at least.
the most recent test result of an AMD 4800+ 2.4 (dual core) was 23%.

hey Avi. thanks alot for going to the Apple Store and running the test on the Mini.

OK thanks. I had't followed the tests too closely.

I'd like to know if it would be safe to get a MacBook relatively soon then if one's main working enviroments are Logic and Live? It would mean that theoretically one could continue working as normal provided one's got Live 5.2 and Logic 7.2?

R.

SkeptikTank · Post by **SkeptikTank** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:49 am

Yes, with the reservation that not many au/vst are universal binary yet, and that your audiocard needs a universal driver. I plan to take the macintel plunge quite soon, anyway.

FORMAT · Post by **FORMAT** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:09 pm

SkeptikTank wrote:Yes, with the reservation that not many au/vst are universal binary yet, and that your audiocard needs a universal driver. I plan to take the macintel plunge quite soon, anyway.

Well, the Motu has a universal driver and except Reaktor and Reason, most stuff should be able to run.
Are there any known issues with the MacBook's first revisions? Stuff that many people are encountering, such as the broken hinge problem on the Ti Book?

r

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:37 pm

Google "macbook problem" and it seems a few people are having some problems with annoying noise, both "accoustic" and "interference on audio signal". Some people are reporting brightness inconsistancies on the lower portion of the screen.

This is making me a little concerned as I suffered a blown FW port on my rev1 Tibook due to an Apple design fault - solution: just replace motherboard - and NO WAY IN HELL do I plan on finding out the hard way again.

FORMAT · Post by **FORMAT** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:20 pm

Pitch Black wrote:Google "macbook problem" and it seems a few people are having some problems with annoying noise, both "accoustic" and "interference on audio signal". Some people are reporting brightness inconsistancies on the lower portion of the screen.

This is making me a little concerned as I suffered a blown FW port on my rev1 Tibook due to an Apple design fault - solution: just replace motherboard - and NO WAY IN HELL do I plan on finding out the hard way again.

.... which probably means waiting for the RevB Macbook?

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:37 pm

Yeah, more universal binaries will be available then too, and possibly other features like FW800 and dual-layer DVD-R. Maybe a 17" as well.

Digi V · Post by **Digi V** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:20 pm

yeh the "whine" problem is all over the net. though i think its being blown way out of proportion. I have this little "whine" happens only occasionally and i only notice it half the time.

the only time u can hear it is in when you are in a very quiet environment. truthfully, a lot of powerbooks have the same whine, dont know why the fuss is happening now.

regardless apple should come up with something to fix it. it wont fly with the community.

there is a trick however to rid yourself of this annoying little static. click dashboard, open up widegts, (if u dont have it download it) mirror widget, close mirror widget, boom noise gone.

FORMAT · Post by **FORMAT** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:08 pm

Pitch Black wrote:Yeah, more universal binaries will be available then too, and possibly other features like FW800 and dual-layer DVD-R. Maybe a 17" as well.

The new one doesn't do dual layer DVDs?
Lame....