LIVE 8 PERFORMANCE TEST - Results Here

[jensm]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 21 %
2) Laptop/Desktop? Custom PC
3) Operating System? Windows 7 64 Bit (Professional)
4) Ableton Live version? 8.2.1
5) CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1090T slightly overclocked @ 3.6 GHz (P-state locked)
6) Amount of Ram? 8 GB
7) Soundcard: Tascam US-144
8) Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7200 rpm
9) Number of playback tracks: 8

Edit: Did some more tests. With lowest latency (49 bytes buffer) I get 75% with 40 tracks and 90% with 48 tracks. Both plays without problems.

[carpekd]

1.) Ableton Live CPU Meter 18%
2.) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Custom Desktop PC (my first build)
3.) Operating System? Windows 7 64 bit
4.) Ableton Live version? Live 8.2.1
5.) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Core i7 950 3.07 GHz
6.) Amount of Ram? 12g
7.) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Focusrite Saffire PRO 40 - driver version 2.2
8.) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 rpm
9.) Number of playback tracks? 8

[nik85]

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 29%
2. Laptop/Desktop?: Custom Desktop PC
3. Operating System: Win XP SP3
4. Ableton Live version: 8.2
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: AMD Athlon II x4 635 2.9ghz
6. Amount of Ram: 2GB - Kingston Value ddr3 - 1333mhz
7. Soundcard: Audigy
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 5400-7200 - WD Caviar Green 1TB - 32mb cache
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

I cannot set 512 samples in my Audigy Asio settings, so I set latency of 10ms, which is the closest, with 480 samples.
When I put the lowest latency of 2ms, progress bar shows 34%. Nothing is overclocked.

[Khazul]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 16%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Mac Pro
3) Operating System? 10.6.5
4) Ableton Live version? 8.2.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2 x 2.66 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
6) Amount of Ram? 24 GB 1333 MHz
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Saffire 6
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

so let me get this straight... you spent over $7500 on a computer and only $200 on an audio interface???
is it easy to see where you are walking with your head up your ass?

the post just above makes this seem even more ridiculous because that's only a $2000 computer at most and he gets the same performance on the test.

Thank you for making assumptions.

I will explain in simple terms so you can understand. My main computer was a newer model iMac. For what I do, the Saffire has worked out fine (but I do plan on upgrading soon). A few weeks ago I had an injury that will keep me from going to work for a couple of months. I am a graphic designer and also work with various 3D software. The place at work graciously bought me the Power Mac and allowed me to use it at home while I recover. I thought it would be nice to get my audio software running on that machine for obvious reasons. If that is an example of having my "head up my ass" then I am sorry. I would think any of us presented with the same opportunity would do the same.

Either way - shows power macs are over priced and way way overrated vs the perf test results posted by many i7 PC users.
Perhaps they run logic alot beter and the real fault is with Live's multi core handling?

[blakjesus]

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak)
34% (doesn't bounce around)
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?
Macbook Pro (2010)
3. Operating System?
OSX 10.6.4
4. Ableton Live version?
8.2.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed?
Core i7-620m (4M Cache 2.66Ghz)
6. Amount of Ram?
4GB 1066Mhz
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)?
Core Audio (plan to test with my m-audio interface soon)
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)?
5400rpm
9. Number of playback tracks?
8

Really satisfied with the performance of my new laptop. My last one was really finicky and the cpu would spike all of the time for no reason, but i haven't experienced anything like that so far.

[commuter]

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 41%
2. Laptop/Desktop?: macbook pro 2010
3. Operating System: OSX 10.6.4
4. Ableton Live version: 8.2
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: intel core i5 @2,4ghz
6. Amount of Ram: 4GB - DDR3 1066
7. Soundcard: internal core audio
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 5400rpm
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

This is a friend's core i5 macbook pro.(the 15" entry level )
Not bad, but my core 2 duo 2,4 ghz unibody macbook pro still perform well (50% with the same test)
So, for me not worth the upgrade yet..
And Yes, the i7 macbook pro performs better (33/34%), but for a lot more money.

[tourist]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 38%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Macbook Pro
3) Operating System? Mac OS 10.6.5
4) Ableton Live version? 8.2.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2,4 i5
6) Amount of Ram? 4
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Metric Halo ULN2 Legacy, newest drivers
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

[photonal]

1 ) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 20 / 21 % (Keeps alternating between the two values)
2 ) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - iMac i7
3 ) Operating System? - OS X 10.6.5
4 ) Ableton Live version? Live 7
5 ) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? - Intel Core i7
6 ) Amount of Ram? - 4GB
7 ) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? - Edirol
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM SATA
9 ) Number of playback tracks? 8

1 ) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 21%
2 ) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - iMac i7
3 ) Operating System? - OS X 10.6.5
4 ) Ableton Live version? Live 8.2.1
5 ) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? - Intel Core i7
6 ) Amount of Ram? - 4GB
7 ) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? - Edirol
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM SATA
9 ) Number of playback tracks? 8

[LukeLSB]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 16%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model: PC Custome Antec p183
3) Operating System: Windows 7
4) Ableton Live version: Live 8.
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed: Intel i7 950 (no overclocking)
6) Amount of Ram: 6GB Corsair 1333
7) Soundcard: Onbaord atm (will test my MOTU 828 mk1 when i have it hooked in later)
8] Hard Disk Drive Speed: 64gb SSD
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks

Just built this today, pretty happy with the results, be interested to see what difference the MOTU makes

[jamief]

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 20% 21% peak
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?
HP DV8-1080EA LAPTOP 18.4'' CORE i7 6GB 640GB BLU RAY

3) Operating System? Win7 home premiun 64
4) Ableton Live version? 8.2.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7-720QM 1.6 - 2.8GHz
6) Amount of Ram? 6 gb ddr 1333
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? laptop standard at moment
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 320gb x 7200 rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

very happy with this as iots roughly comparable with my i7 920 2.8ghz desktop

best

[jamief]

Not wanting to start a flame war hear but i notice all the mac i7 laptops lagging behind in these tests.
Apple has decided to install duo core i7 instaed of the quad core version which is in my HP plus also 1056mhz ram instaed of 1333mhz. This is one of the reasons i never went for mac again. Even the highest specififed and most expensive mac laptop speced upto my spec is over £2500 and wont outperform the laptop i bought (which cost me £700 on ebay).
Apple always use to lag behind ( in the days before they adopted intel and stuck with motorola) and it seems they are at it again.
If you are doing audio quad core is what you want

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 20% 21% peak
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?
HP DV8-1080EA LAPTOP 18.4'' CORE i7 6GB 640GB BLU RAY

3) Operating System? Win7 home premiun 64
4) Ableton Live version? 8.2.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7-720QM 1.6 - 2.8GHz
6) Amount of Ram? 6 gb ddr 1333
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? laptop standard at moment
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 320gb x 7200 rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

very happy with this as iots roughly comparable with my i7 920 2.8ghz desktop

best

[jamief]

Not a quad core mac - my point in kind

best
j

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter % (if it bounces around, please list the peak)
34% (doesn't bounce around)
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?
Macbook Pro (2010)
3. Operating System?
OSX 10.6.4
4. Ableton Live version?
8.2.1
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed?
Core i7-620m (4M Cache 2.66Ghz)
6. Amount of Ram?
4GB 1066Mhz
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)?
Core Audio (plan to test with my m-audio interface soon)
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)?
5400rpm
9. Number of playback tracks?
8

Really satisfied with the performance of my new laptop. My last one was really finicky and the cpu would spike all of the time for no reason, but i haven't experienced anything like that so far.

[jamief]

No macs are not quad core unless you by one of there desktops



Either way - shows power macs are over priced at moment.

OSx is probably a better system (we have a macbook) but win 7 has closed that gap considerably in mu opinion.


best

[jamief]

mac desktop about £4500 uk at least.

16% verses 20% on my laptop £700. Although i know with 16 potiental cores the mac will undoubtedly have a lot more headroom when you start having 17 instances of omnisphere, 12 alchemy and loads of plugins waves etc etc and 60 tracks.
We are going back to mac ( next year) but will always have a pc running side by side with mac desktop as there are some pc only programs that we use

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 16%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Mac Pro
3) Operating System? 10.6.5
4) Ableton Live version? 8.2.1
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2 x 2.66 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon
6) Amount of Ram? 24 GB 1333 MHz
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Saffire 6
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

[LukeLSB]

@jamief - i see your point, i was very tempted by the imacs, they look great. however for £900 )including a 28" HD monitor) I got this performance. I also got a best in class heatsink and fan and extra large case which means I should be bale to comfortably overclock to 4ghz if i need too. (and higher if i want, but maybe not so comfortably)

TO get that performance on a MAC i would have needed to spend 3x the money.

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 16%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model: PC Custome Antec p183
3) Operating System: Windows 7
4) Ableton Live version: Live 8.
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed: Intel i7 950 (no overclocking)
6) Amount of Ram: 6GB Corsair 1333
7) Soundcard: Onbaord atm (will test my MOTU 828 mk1 when i have it hooked in later)
8] Hard Disk Drive Speed: 64gb SSD
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks