LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

[commuter]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 52%
2) Laptop/Desktop Make/Model: unibody Macbook pro
3) Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5.7
4) Ableton Live version: 8.0.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed: Intel, Core 2 2.40Ghz
6) Amount of Ram: 4Gb @ 1066MHz
7) Soundcard: MOTU Ultralite
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7200RPM
9) Number of playback tracks: 8

[UnderwaterSunlight]

Hello.
When I download the Live 8 Test Project, I get a set that is named "Live 6-7 Performance Test".
Is this the right set ? I am confused by the old name of this project. (I definitely chose the right link for the download.)
Should't the name for this project be "Live 8 Performance Test" ?

Cheers
R.

[UnderwaterSunlight]

Ah, never mind my previous post- the download does indeed provide the right Live 8 set. Only its name is "Live 6-7 Perf. Test".

So here the results (I bought this rig brandnew last week):

1 ) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 31 percent (way too high, other comparable DAWs show 21% on average)
2 ) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - Desktop Audioworkstation Extreme Core i7 PC From DA-X.DE (Digital AudionetworX)
3 ) Operating System? - Windows XP Home SP3
4 ) Ableton Live version? Live 8.0.4
5 ) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? - Core i7-920 at stock speed 4x 2,67 GHz
6 ) Amount of Ram? - 3GB DDR3 1066 Mhz Triple Channel
7 ) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? - RME HDSP 9632 with latest driver 3.0.8.0
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 1x SSD SuperTalent UltraDrive ME 64 GB (System), 1x SSD 128 GB, 1x conv. HD Samsung 750GB (7200rpm)
9 ) Number of playback tracks? 8

Now if someone could enlighten me what accounts for the high CPU figure, that would be marvelous. Could it be SP3 or the SSD's ? Or some BIOS setting ?
Please, I need some help here. (The DPC Latency check proved to be flawless.)

Thanks,
UnderwaterSunlight

[UnderwaterSunlight]

I just retested my i7 DAW with HT off in the BIOS.
It got slightly better- only 27-28 % CPU usage.
Ableton Support told me that Live doesn't support HT at all.
So, according to my findings here, they are right.

Greetz,
Un.Su.

[IP]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 20%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? custom made desktop
3) Operating System? win-7 beta
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.4 demo
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Quad (4 x 2,66 GHZ)
6) Amount of Ram? 8 GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? maudio profire 610 (5.10.0.5081)
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

[UnderwaterSunlight]

My Test result used to be on an i7 = 31%. (See earlier posts in this thread.)
I found the culprit, why the CPU usage was relatively high:
In the Windows system control panel, the energy scheme was set to "minimal energy usage".
When I set it to "always on", my DAW tested at 21%, that's just as it is supposed to be.
When I set the energy scheme to "Desktop", the CPU usage went down to about 18%. It is unbelievable !
Problem solved !
Sorry if I use this thread for troubleshooting, but I want other users of i7 to benefit as well.
I just can't contain my joy !!! Yaaaaaaay !!!!

Even with smaller buffer sizes of 128 samples or below, it is almost the same CPU usage...
I'm close to giving way to tears of joy by now...

[UnderwaterSunlight]

One more comment (I hope I am not exasperating you all):
My system has a stable test result of 24% CPU usage at 32 samples buffersize (yes, you read rightly, thirty-two samples buffersize).
A lower buffer size is not possible with RME HDSP 9632, nor is it needed for my workflow.

[ethios4]

^ thanks for the info on Windows power setups. I'm about to get a very similar setup, so good to know!

[darzhliebek]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak) 22%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Custom PC
3) Operating System? Win XP SP2
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.2
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Q6600
6) Amount of Ram? 4Gb 667Mhz
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Ultralite K2
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8


Was going to get a macbook pro for on the move but looks like it will at least halve my performance based on the results on here :/

[glitchrock-buddha]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 48%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? MacBookPro
3) Operating System? OSX 10.5.7
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Dual Core Intel 2.53 GHz 2.8 GHz core2duo
6) Amount of Ram? 4gb 1067Mhz ddr3
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? internal
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5200rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

So which is it? 2.53Ghz or 2.8Ghz?

[v00d00ppl]

My Test result used to be on an i7 = 31%. (See earlier posts in this thread.)
I found the culprit, why the CPU usage was relatively high:
In the Windows system control panel, the energy scheme was set to "minimal energy usage".
When I set it to "always on", my DAW tested at 21%, that's just as it is supposed to be.
When I set the energy scheme to "Desktop", the CPU usage went down to about 18%. It is unbelievable !
Problem solved !
Sorry if I use this thread for troubleshooting, but I want other users of i7 to benefit as well.
I just can't contain my joy !!! Yaaaaaaay !!!!

Even with smaller buffer sizes of 128 samples or below, it is almost the same CPU usage...
I'm close to giving way to tears of joy by now...

yea, my hp was doing the same thing and it sucked. So for now, i am gonna install live 8 and see whats up.

[v00d00ppl]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak) 19% (but levels off at 18%)
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? HP Elite e9180f
3) Operating System? Vista 64 bit sp1
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel i7 920 2.66GHz
6) Amount of Ram? 9GB DDR3
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Novation X station
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

i'm about to install windows 7 RC1 and run this test.

[Genesius]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % 54
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? VAIO Laptop FW275D
3) Operating System? Vista 64 bit sp1
4) Ableton Live version? 8.0.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Core 2 Duo P8400
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Maudio Fast Track Pro
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400 rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

^that elite looks sweet though.. hmmm.

[keeko]

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % 48%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? HP Laptop 6730b (KU216ET#ABU - 1680x1050 Resolution, now discontinued)
3. Operating System? XP SP3 (tweaked for audio - no internet or network resources; no firewall, no Antivirus)
4. Ableton Live version? 8.0.4
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Core 2 Duo P8600 - 2.40GHz
6. Amount of Ram? 2GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Echo Indigo DJx (Expresscard)
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400 rpm
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

I'm delighted with the performance I've achieved so far compared to my old single core HP Laptop (nx8220). Tracks that were maxing out on the old machine are running at only around 30% CPU now.

[ethios4]

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % 19%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Custom desktop PC
3. Operating System? XP SP3 Pro
4. Ableton Live version? 8.0.4
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel i7 920 2.66 GHz
6. Amount of Ram? 4 GB (only 3 GB recognized)
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Presonus Firebox
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 rpm
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

Had to set buffer to 528 samples because Firebox doesn't let you set it in samples....only latency ms.

edit : CPU went down to 17% with Windows 7