Maxing Out The CPU on an G4 iBook

James Yuill · Post by **James Yuill** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:28 pm

I’m running Live 5 on a 14” iBook, 1.42 GHz, 512MB. Using an Mbox 2.

I find that however I set the Audio Buffer, it struggles. Dropping out, clipping and generally hesitating when for example there’s a crash cymbal coming up or new piece of audio.

Is it because my computer albeit new, is actually crap?

I was aware that because of all the real-time calculations and on-the-fly processes it is obviously cpu intensive, but it stipulates a G3 or faster to run Live. Mine is a G4 Power PC.......iBook

I naturally have CPU intensive plug-ins on Aux channels to free up some RAM, but I can’t see what else might be causing such a high CPU load. Any suggestions?

Any tests I can run to see why it’s happening?

Also, has anyone ever experienced the audio just stopping completely? Where the levels are still showing signs of audio playback, but no sound is coming out.

You can tell me straight if it’s just my computer, but I don’t have much money, and although I’d consider upgrading to a G4 Power PC with 1.5GHz or 1.6 GHz…would that really make a noticable difference?

Groovecake · Post by **Groovecake** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:51 pm

James,

Until just recently, I was using Live on my G4 iBook 933 with 1.12 GB or RAM and it worked pretty well. I couldn't get crazy with the effects. More than a couple reverbs would bog things down.

In other words, your computer is way faster than mine, so it is probably RAM and maybe some other settings. I don't know if the MBOX creates any CPU load but that could be something to look into.

kineticUk · Post by **kineticUk** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:22 pm

James ... I usually use around 14% Cpu on my Powerbook
Even at this low usage I have a program that seems as though it is under pressure like a fat bitch.
(It responds slowly to me clicking on Clips and doesn't fire them in time etc, Obviously not everytime but enough to make it dangerous to jam live with)
My friend/bandmate Uses 12" New PBook Same Thing there too...(Cryptic?)
I would love to know whats going on with that too (Comeon 14%???, I don't have dropouts though but maybe this is because I am taking it sooo easy,because loads of people do)
Are you using beta? Check it and report to them..Seriously best chance of action
Good Luck (By the way MBox 2 are class compliant ie you should have no problems because of that...)
As for Ram (People like AJ keep going on about a need for at least 1GB to use this program...this needs to be updated on the system requirements because as far as I know it does not say that, which is misleading and very unfair on people)
I think ... Programs not using resources well

Atomikat · Post by **Atomikat** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:42 pm

I use an iBook G4, 1.0Hgz (slower than yours), 512 Mb, and I have no problems with it, I use reason 3.0 (rewired), some plugins, effects. I think you have to check the buffer size in your soundcard (Mbox 2) and the plugins, this can help.
It seems that is a problem with your plugins (maybe CPU intensive) rather than a crappy laptop or system requirements.

kineticUk · Post by **kineticUk** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:53 pm

I only wish I was one of those fortunate enough to have the perfect working version of Live
Also Just 2 add ...
I am not using any plugins just audio
.. Something is wrong here and on bandmates PBook
Sounds to me your problem is Live and Plugin Incompatibility
Yes I have had the stopped audio and also stopped graphics (NI R5 and 5.0.3 problem)

taprik · Post by **taprik** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:38 pm

I use a G4 800 powerbook and the Mbox(1) with Live 5 and with PANTHER. When I used Live (same version), same sound card, same project with tiger it cliks, cracks, even with cpu at 20%. The problem was Tiger with Mbox (don't really know if it's a Tiger bug or a Digidesign bug but I red somewhere on this forum that with "slow" cpu Tiger is too heavy).
For me, with Panther it works great.