Pro Tools 8 performance G5 report: help powermac owners!

[weeman182]

Hay guys heres a place to write your experiences with PT8 and your G5 powermac to help me and future user issues.

I currently have an issue that needs resolving where PT8 runs fine in terms of CPU/disk usage but lags when using the GUI during scrolling, edits and browsing my mix/edit window. Can anyone help? here my specification.

My Specifications

Computer
Powermac G5 Dual

Software: Pro Tools 8.1 same problem with 8
OS: OSX 10.5.8
CPU:2GHZ dual processor G5
RAM: 2GB 3200 samsung 400mhz
HD: 300GB 16meg chache 7200rpm "high quality branded drive"
GPU: Radeon 9600PRO 128 Mac edition

Ran system diagnostic tests and everything is checked running fine: RAM CPU DISK ect.

I believe the issue is caused by my graphics adapter but wanted more reference points to make an informated decision. Can anyone test their radeon in the same instance?

Is anyone using a similar setup with better results?

Many thanks John!

[The Teardrop Collector]

John,

Dual 2.0 G5 PPC + 8.0/8.1 + 10.5.8 with great results.

I have six gigs of RAM. I think it's cheaper now than when the G5 was new. Maybe that would help.

I have a separate issue with the CAM wanting to default to 48kHz when running without PT, but it doesn't affect things when I'm running PT.

Hope that helps somehow.

TTC

[weeman182]

Hay TTC could you tell me what graphics card you are using? and is your mac late 2005 with pci-e?

[Carl Fuehrer]

I'll be testing my PowerMac G5 dual 1.8GHz, 4.5Gb RAM, 250GB HDD this weekend as kind of a beta test to see how a G5 works. We are planning on getting a PowerMac G5 2.5GHz quad-core w/ 8Gb RAM gonna be running dual OWC 750GB, 32Mb cache FW800 drives. I can't wait.

[weeman182]

Sounds great be sure to avoid the liquid cooled systems they leak!

[Carl Fuehrer]

As far as I know the machine is not liquid cooled. I will know in a few weeks went I get it.

[ChuckS]

One addition to a G5 you might want to consider is an eSATA adapter and use external SATA rather than firewire for samples and/or sessions. In my case I was running a 003R, a Liquid Mix and external FW drives on the internal buss plus an adapter card. I noticed a real bump in performance after switching the externals to eSATA. Though not approved, I haven't had any problems. Setup is now boot drive and sample drive (Kontakt/Komplete, BFD, Drumcore, various) on internal SATA; 003R on internal firewire; session drive on eSATA and Liquid Mix on adapter card firewire (seperate fw buss). Time Machine backup is also on eSATA but only powered on when nothing else is happening (some say that TM doesn't really interfere with anything, but I haven't been able to test that yet). PT8 with this configuration has best performance yet.

[Carl Fuehrer]

I thought eSATA was not supported?

[weeman182]

Chucks and future posters please include graphics card details available in about this mac/more information. Chucks what GPU are you using ?

[weeman182]

eSATA adapter via PCI card