I need to run some performance tests on my Mac Pro

[dubaifox]

You may have read a few post of how underwhelmed I have been with my:
Mac Pro 2.66
4 gigs of RAM
OSX 10.4.9
PT 7.3.1cs3
002r

It seems particularly bad when using Kontakt 2.2.1, but I also have a sneaky suspicion I may not be getting the type of performance other people are talking about.

I have done disk utility hardware tests and all come up OK, and the computer is very stable.

Is there a performance test I can run without using Pro Tools? If that all checks out normal I want to try a DaveC type of test without any plug-ins installed.

If that all checks normal then I will add my plug-ins until I find the problem.

I use: Kontakt 2.2.1, RMX, Reason, EZ Drummer.

[sunburst79]

If your going to do any PT test the Quad Dverb test would be best.

Your not really running 10.3.9 somehow correct?

[dubaifox]

Your not really running 10.3.9 somehow correct?

Well spotted. I fixed it in my post. Thanks

[dubaifox]

I did a search for this but didn't come up with much. Is there somewhere I can compare what my machine should be able to do?

[sunburst79]

i did a quikie Google web search for "Intel Mac benchmarcks' and didn't come up with much.

I beleive you should be getting around 323 dverbs with a Macpro 8 core and 190 if its a 4 core. If the Dverb test is not up on the the Sticky of the AMD Quadzilla page check out the "Intel Core 2 Duo- Anyone got one working yet" thread" I've got the Dverb instructions at the bottom of the test results.

[sunburst79]

The Quad Dverb Test

Start the computer. Create a brand new 24bit/48k Session on your audio drive for the Dverb test. Open up the system usage window in PT. Create 32 tracks. Go to your buffer setting and select 64 and then 1024(CPU usage must be 90%). Since all your tracks are still selected, hold ALT(option) and click on the record button on one of the tracks, all 32 tracks will now be in record arm mode. Hold ALT(option) and insert the Dverb on the first insert. This will create 32 Dverbs all the way across. Repeat with the next insert. You want to be able to record with as many Dverbs as you can before your computer doesnt do it anymore for 5 minutes. Keep in mind that playback only will give you a few more Dverbs than record mode.

Please make sure that RTAS Engine Ignore Errors During Playback/Record box is unchecked

If you can make it past the 32 or 48 mono tracks, then start adding mono Aux tracks.

This is a quick benchmark stress test that can be done in a few minutes.

Note set CPU usage to 90 or 95% depending on your version of PT and number of processers.

[dubaifox]

Thanks, I'll give this a whirl.

Paul

[dubaifox]

OK so I tried the above procedure and my machine choked after 2 minutes in PLAY with 160 Dverbs with two processors set to 90%. Was able to get it to play with 152.

I switched to 4 processors and got up to 200.

[sunburst79]

OK so I tried the above procedure and my machine choked after 2 minutes in PLAY with 160 Dverbs.

That is not very good is it?

I beleive Nikki K was getting 190 with the same configuration-MacPro 2.66, 4GB.

Question for you.

Do you have the memory set up right?

You should have 2 1GB modules in the upper memory tray and 2 1GB modules in the lower memory trayay. Nikki K tested this. It makes a BIG differance. Configuring it correctly opens up the internal processing path to 256 bits http://diglloyd.com/diglloyd/free/Ma...eNumberAndRank

You might want to redo the Dverb test to find out how you CAN run without choking the macine. This will give you a good baseline to work with 155? 157? maybe?

Number 2 is I'm pretty much a Mac newbie, This about the extent of my Mac Pro knowlage.

But we have determined something is not quite right.

[sunburst79]

I just noticed the bottom of your post were you said you switched to four processers and got 200 (How did I miss that?) Thats fine then.

You normally run the machine using all 4 cores right?