Now of course these tests were done in Logic, but a test such as this that measures disk limitations with audio can be applied to other applications (like LIVE), as well.
http://gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php ... stcount=27
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I just wanted to point out that the Intel architecture doesn't just rock as far as speed goes, but also disk I/O. It's been clear for a long time that something about Apple's PowerPC architecture just isn't as conducive to streaming massive amounts of audio tracks as a PC. Also, Logic favors CPU integrity over track count, so Logic tends to get conservative track counts itself.
But I ran a test to see how many unique, 24-bit, 44.1kHz stereo tracks I could stream before overloading the Disk Performance meter in Logic 7.2. Audio buffer was 1024, Large Disk Buffer was NOT checked. OS X 10.4.5.
On my G5 Dual 2.0GHz PowerMac, 2.5GB RAM, with the audio streaming off an internal 2nd drive (7200RPM 120GB SATA), I was able to stream 56 stereo 24/4.1 tracks before overload.
On my MacBook Pro Core Duo 2.0GHz, 1 GB RAM, with the audio streaming of the internal system drive (7200RPM 100GB SATA) I was able to stream 78 stereo 24/44.1 tracks before overload.
THAT, my friends, kicks all ass. We can get outboard processors and Node computers to augment CPU, but the main machine has to be able to handle the track count. It looks like with the Intel architecture (or the way OS X works on Intel, at least), the main computer will have more track capability than the previous machines.
These are good days for the Macintosh!
Orren
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thats 40% more tracks!!!!
Personally, i'd love to see how an intel mac with stock 5400rpm (mini or macbook) fairs with reading AND writing from hard disk against a PPC mac with 7200rpm.
I'd imagine it would be very close, and would make the stock 5400rpm drives on Mac Mini's not as much of a shortcoming as many of us think.
So if anyone has an Intel Mac w/ 5400rpm and a PPC Mac w/ 7200rpm... it'd be great to hear how they compare with track counts.
