Ableton Forum

1 ) Ableton Live CPU Meter % - 23%
2 ) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? - MacMini I5 2.5GHz 2011 model with ATI radeon Graphics
3 ) Operating System? - Lion (OS X 10.7.5)
4 ) Ableton Live version? LIVE 9.b51 64 bits
5 ) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? - 2.5 GHz i5 with Turbo Boost
6 ) Amount of Ram? - 8 GB DDR3
7 ) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? - Mackie Blackjack (core audio)
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? OCZ Agility3 120 go
9 ) Number of playback tracks? 8

25/26% with LIVE 8.4 beta 64 bits on the same computer!

...
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Self-built system, Asus M4A88t-M/USB3 motherboard
3) Operating System? Windows 7
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? AMD Phenom II X6 1055T
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB DDR3 1333mHz (upgrade needed here, admittedly)
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? RME Multiface II with PCI-Express HDSP interface
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200rpm
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

I haven't listed the percentage because I have two to report.

Before disabling core parking, CPU usage would fluctuate between 24% and 35%. After disabling core parking, CPU usage would go no higher than 24% and it would stay there throughout most of the 8 track section.

Anyone that is using a quad-core CPU (of any sort) or "more" should disable core parking, it makes a tremendous difference to stability. Though I have also set Win7 to give priority to background apps, and have disabled "cool n' quiet".

On another note, I do NOT recommend building an audio workstation with this Asus motherboard. It suffers with horrible "high-pitched" whining (possibly the VRMs or coil whine), no matter what PSU or GPU I have installed, and even with C1E / CNQ / Turbo Core disabled.

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 16%
2. Laptop/Desktop Make/Model: Custom Desktop on ASRock 970DE3/U3S3
3. Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit SP1
4. Ableton Live version: 8.3.4
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHZ
6. Amount of Ram: 8GB DDR-3
7. Soundcard: M-Audio Venom (built-in a/i with Asio drivers)
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7200rpm
9. Number of playback tracks: 8

Thanks casiblake for the tip!!
Before disabling core parking the meter was @25% and now as you can see only @16%!! Wow!!!

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 16%
2. Laptop/Desktop Make/Model: Custom Desktop
3. Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit SP1
4. Ableton Live version: 9
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: intel i5 760 2.8
6. Amount of Ram: 8GB DDR-3
7. Soundcard: RME Fireface UC, asio drivers
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7200rpm
9. Number of playback tracks: 8

1. Ableton Live CPU Meter: 15%
2. Laptop/Desktop Make/Model: Thinkpad W530
3. Operating System: Windows 8 Pro 64
4. Ableton Live version: 8.3.4
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed: Intel i7 2.6 IVY
6. Amount of Ram: 16GB DDR-3
7. Soundcard: Roland Edirol UA-101 vista 64bit driver - w8 driver crashes
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7200rpm
9. Number of playback tracks: 8

ramonpichot wrote:1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 20-24%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Apple MacbookPro (Non Retina Display)
3) Operating System? Lion 10.7.3
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? RME FF400
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks


1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 20-21%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Apple MacbookPro (Non Retina Display)
3) Operating System? Windows 7
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7-3720QM 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? RME FF400
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 17-18 %
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Apple MacbookPro july 2012 (Non Retina Display)
3) Operating System? Lion 10.7.3
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7- 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 16GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks

It's the same Macbook pro with QuietMBP. That means all the test could be better for speedstep concerned computers.
I noticed better results with Ableton And a lot of programs running, that's why I gave QuitMBP a try.

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 18-19 %
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Apple MacbookPro july 2012 (Non Retina Display)
3) Operating System? Lion 10.8
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7- 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks

with Quiet MBP

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 21 %
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Apple MacbookPro july 2012 (Non Retina Display)
3) Operating System? Lion 10.7.3
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i7- 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks

Without QuietMBP

... So Mountain Lion just seems to speedstep diferently, but result are not better with QuietMBP (even worst).

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 27 %
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? early 2011 Apple MacbookPro
3) Operating System? Snow leopard
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i5- 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracks

With QuietMBP

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter 33 %
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? early 2011 Apple MacbookPro
3) Operating System? Snow leopard
4) Ableton Live version? 8.3.3
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i5- 2.3GHz base clock
6) Amount of Ram? 4GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? internal
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? internal 5400
9) Number of playback tracks? 8 Tracksù

Without QuietMBP

And I completed my test that way:
I copied the track as much as possible before crackle (with Quiet MBP set to 0, to prevent speedstepping):
65 tracks for the MBP 15 July 2012 (75% cpu)
31 tracks for the MBP 13 early 2011 (78% cpu)

So one of those computer is really twice more powerful for that kind of work; one couldn't imagine that when looking at cpu load with the original test (without duplicating tracks).

If you want to try my test, please lower the level of all the tracks (to prevent distortion), and change the loop to a quarter note loop (to detect better the crackles), and leave the computer 10 seconds without any action between 2 test (the crackles always occurs when starting after a while, but they disappear if starting stopping several times)

1 ) Live CPU Meter 9-10 %
2 ) Custom desktop system
3 ) Windows 7 Home 64-bit
4 ) Live 8.4b9 64-bit
5 ) Intel i7 3770k 3.9 GHz
6 ) 16GB DDR3
7 ) RME HDSPe AIO
8 ) 7200 RPM SATA HD
9 ) 8 tracks

After testing the above, I duplicated the eight tracks over and over again.
Minor glitches when running 120 tracks, totally workable with no actual problem whatsoever. At 136 tracks, glitches still manageable, in the sense that I could theoretically mix a project with that amount of occasional crackle while monitoring. Duplicate those eight tracks again one or two times... project starts skipping while still sounding pretty solid in between skips (i.e. not a cracklefest), but yeah, that would be pushing it

Update with new Mac Mini from previously tested 2007 Macbook

Big performance boost... me likey!

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % ................. 19%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? ......... Mac Mini Late 2012
3) Operating System? ........................... Mountain Lion 10.8.2
4) Ableton Live version? ........................ 8.3.4
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? .......... i7 Quad 2.6ghz
6) Amount of Ram? .............................. 16gb 1600mhz
7) Soundcard? ...................................... Native Instruments AUDIO 6
Hard Disk Drive Speed? ................... 7200 FW400
9) Number of playback tracks?.............. 8



Earlier tested Macbook...

murgatroid wrote:1) Ableton Live CPU Meter % 64%
2) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Macbook
3) Operating System? OSX 10.6.5
4) Ableton Live version? 8.1.5
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel 2GHz C2D
6) Amount of Ram? 2GB
7) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Saffire LE-v1.4
Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 external
9) Number of playback tracks? 8

1) Ableton Live CPU Meter: 15-17%
(down to 10% @ 2 tracks. I get 19-20% running how I configure it for my live setup (2 ins / 4 outs, 2 ms asio buffer size (86 samples))
2) Laptop: Lenovo W530
3) Operating System:win7 64bit
4) Ableton Live version: 8.3.4 32 bit
5) CPU Make, Model, and Speed: i7 3630 2.4ghz
6) Amount of Ram: 8 gig
7) Soundcard: Focusrite Scarlett 8i6 USB (2.4 driver version) Set at 11.ms asio buffer equaling 530 sample size.
8 Hard Disk Drive Speed: 7200
9) Number of playback tracks: 8

Also used NF's setting:
***All reverbs at all tests at HIGH quality!

did one with Live 8.4b9 and one with Live 9b63, cheers!

1. Ableton Live Meter: 14-15%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
3. Operating System? OS X 10.6.8
4. Ableton Live version? 8.4b9 (64-bit)
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 (quadcore)
6. Amount of Ram? 8GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Apogee One
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

1. Ableton Live Meter: 12-13%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
3. Operating System? OS X 10.6.8
4. Ableton Live version? 9b63 (64-bit)
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 (quadcore)
6. Amount of Ram? 8GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? Apogee One
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? 7200 RPM
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

also pushed things to the limit with 100 tracks

Live 8.4b9 (64-bit): 109-111%
Live 9b63 (64-bit): 91-92%

that's almost a 20% improvement right there

this seems like the right place to ask - has anybody gone from (or is using both) a 2011 i7 Macbook Pro to a current Macbook Air? It looks like about a 10% difference in the tests here, but I'm wondering if that works out to mean actual lags/glitches, or just that the fan turns on more often, or what. I really just want to switch to something lighter, but I'm not seeing any options with the same processor speed (and not just looking at Mac).

peter181 wrote:this seems like the right place to ask - has anybody gone from (or is using both) a 2011 i7 Macbook Pro to a current Macbook Air? It looks like about a 10% difference in the tests here, but I'm wondering if that works out to mean actual lags/glitches, or just that the fan turns on more often, or what. I really just want to switch to something lighter, but I'm not seeing any options with the same processor speed (and not just looking at Mac).

It is more like 40% difference compared to slowest 2011/2012 15`MBPs. Air is only slightly behind 13`MBP (which has unacceptable 1280x800 resolution) but it would be frustrating downgrading now. I wait for next generation Air (hate the bulkiness, weight of my 15`MBP) or 13`MBP.

yeah, that's kinda my sense, I should wait for next year's netbooks to catch up. I'm using the 13" 2011 model and am fine with the resolution tho.

So...Live 9

1. Ableton Live Meter: 12-13%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Custom Mini-ITX PC
3. Operating System? Windows 7 64-bit
4. Ableton Live version? 9.0.1 (32-bit)
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i5-3470 (Ivy Bridge)
6. Amount of Ram? 8GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? M-Audio Fast Track Pro
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
9. Number of playback tracks? 8

Compared to Live 8...

1. Ableton Live Meter: 14-16%
2. Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model? Custom Mini-ITX PC
3. Operating System? Windows 7 64-bit
4. Ableton Live version? 8.4 (32-bit)
5. CPU Make, Model, and Speed? Intel Core i5-3470 (Ivy Bridge)
6. Amount of Ram? 8GB
7. Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)? M-Audio Fast Track Pro
8. Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)? SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
9. Number of playback tracks? 8