going from 1.25GB to 2GB on Macbook - how much of a benefit?

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:25 am

I currently use a Macbook with Logic and Live using 1.25GB and it performs reasonably well despite numerous plug-ins (and my refusal to Freeze most of the time!)

Sticking with Live, the track i'm working on at the moment plays around 60% CPU.
Sometimes though, if it's playing a looped x bars and I spark up a plugin's UI, there can be a hiccup (i.e, short loss of sound) if that plugin had never been opened in the current session or maybe had been opened a while back.

I get other losses of sound occasionally, probably linked to performance load.

Will 2GB of memory improve things (majorly)? I know it's also easy to say "Yes" for more memory etc, but will Live basically hold more stuff in the memory cleverly avoiding hard drive loads or will I end up with loads of extra RAM to do other things and still be left with same performance?
I.e: is this a situation which can only be improved with a higher spec'd Mac overall?

Thanks

ahlstrominfo · Post by **ahlstrominfo** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:51 pm

It will be huge. When you got paired RAMs they somehow work better together. Dammit can't remember what the techie guys at work told me.

Anyhow I use 2 GB Ram and it rules. The difference from 1,25 GB is huge. My friend had 1,25 and upgraded to 2 GB and he told me it was a big difference.

Cryptic UK · Post by **Cryptic UK** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:01 pm

muscleandhate · Post by **muscleandhate** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:04 pm

What hard-drive you using?

Are you using identical RAM that is paid?

Briefly on the last question, it's important that you make sure you use high quality RAM from the same company. Moreover, pairing RAM in an equal devision is important but I'm not sure why.

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:27 pm

1) i'm using the 60GB 5400rpm that came with the Macbook
Does 7200rpm make a massive difference?

2) Currently using 1GB chip + 256MB that came with the Macbook

slashthrough · Post by **slashthrough** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 2:57 pm

Hi,
Yes, the other guy was correct: to acheive maximum throughput for the RAM, you need matched pairs of DIMMS. See the section on RAM at this page:
http://www.macworld.com/2006/05/firstlo ... /index.php
And yes, you will do a lot better writing to an external 7200rpm drive, rather than writing to the system drive.
Peace in the M.E.
-Jamie P.

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:03 pm

thanks for this slashthrough

ok, so with external drive, is it:
1) mac os on internal
2) ableton on external drive? (is it possible or am i forced to put Ableton running from inside Applications on the local drive??)
3) all samples/ableton ALS/midi/bla bla on external drive

correct?

by the way, is it not better just replacing the internal drive with a bigger and fast 7200rpm one?

Idgy · Post by **Idgy** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:09 pm

I just did this and the laptop is like lightning ... Really great machine with 2GB onboard.

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:12 pm

if anybody can guide me in the best approach to use an external 7200rpm with Ableton, that'd be great

important things are;
1) can ableton run on the external drive? (the app itself)
2) can ableton's cache file run on the external drive?
3) is it better (and easier) to just replace the internal 5400rpm with a 7200rpm?

slashthrough · Post by **slashthrough** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:26 pm

Hi again,
You will be running Live off of your system drive like normal, and have an external drive formatted with the Mac filesystem. I would want to defer to an expert on how to set up the external drive. I'm not sure if you would just create a live set on that drive, or if you would want to change any folder settings in Live for optimal performance.
For sure, you will get better track counts and performance writing to a separate drive dedicated to audio recording. -Jamie

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 3:30 pm

thanks dude!

I got some cash to burn - RAM + External drive sounds good to me!

I'll work out the logistics afterwards

If anybody knows more, do pls post!! thanks

Macriada · Post by **Macriada** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:40 pm

Hi there, recently upgraded my MBP to 2GB. I have to say I'm suprised by how much difference it actually makes. Machine runs snappy as hell, you will notice an improvement just using the finder!

If you really wanna get serious with the external drive I would recommend getting a SATA express card & SATA drive as USB 2 / FireWire disk are not recommended for live recording / playback. I use my FW800 drive purely for drag n drop backup and transfer of files.

my $0.02

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:44 pm

i'm on Macbook not Pro

Dont have PC card slot

Anyway, i've just asked this question on another thread:
If I got a SanDisk flash drive (not HDD) of 4GB and chucked the project I'm currently working on, Abes' Cache and Abes Library (and currently used Sample Library)

4Gb is all I need for a current job (I dont even record external audio, everything is software and rendered)

Would it be faster than a usual USB / Firewire drive?

Macriada · Post by **Macriada** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:02 pm

Ah sorry Krugger, didn't realise the MacBook lacked the expess card slot.

I am afraid while flash memory is technically faster than a HDD you are always limited by the bandwidth of the connection you use to interface with the computer itself. In this case USB so a flash drive would not outperform a HDD.

Krugger · Post by **Krugger** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:04 pm

yeah but would a USB flash drive outperform a USB HDD?

same connetion medium, different storage (and read/write speeds)