What's best computer for 001 these days?

[azure sky]

I'd like to get a G-4 tower and use it with a 001 using PT 6 under OSX. What would be your recommendation? Is a dual 1.4GHZ overkill? Thanks in advance. (I've searched but most posts on this subject are quite old).

[Homebelly]

Nope,,!
Go for it,,
At the moment PT only uses one of the CPU's,, but if you get reason that will sit on the other one,,
Only problem with this scenario is that the 001 is end of the line,, so any changes to how PT works will probably not work with your 001,,,

[where02190]

Nope,,!
Go for it,,
At the moment PT only uses one of the CPU's

This information is incorrect. PT6 utilizes both processors.

We run PT on a dual 1Ghz G-4 Quicksilver, and under both OS9.2.2/PTle 5.2.1 and OSX(panther)/PTle 6.3 we are able to pretty much take the software to it's limits.

Bigger processor is never bad, I'm assuming this is what is refered to as a mirror door model G-4, or MMD, they ahve a couple known issues and workarounds. 1 is the fan noise, which for not alot of money you can get a replacement psu/fan from Apple (I thik around $40) to quiet it down. The other is motherboard compatibility with the 001, which Apple is aware of, and will replace the motherboard with a properly compatible one for free.

Get as much ram as you can popssibly afford, at least 768mb, add a couple internal hdd's for audio(check www.pricewatch.dom vendors for best pricing, and fwiw we use IBM/Hitachi 8mb cache 120gb drives in our G-4) and a FW drive for offsite backup and you'll be in great shape.

[azure sky]

Thankyou! I was pretty sold on the 001 as there just doesn't seem to be the issues with that box compared to the 002R. I understand now that the 001s not going to be supported after this current software revision. Shucks, maybe I should just take a chance on a 002R and a G-5 afterall? I've got a brand new unopened 002 that I bought on an audiomedia upgrade but I'm afraid to open it up as I'd rather ebay it as an unused unit. Sure would like to know the percentage of happy 002R users. Anyway, I've digressed here. Thankyou for the useful information!

[where02190]

IF you've already got an 002R, I'd go with that. While there are some issues (power harness, etc.) inevitably it will be supported for a few years, while the 001, well, sadly it's done. The converters on the 002R, as well as the mic pres, are worlds above that of the 001. IF you really want to go the 001 route, I'd recommend investing in outboard mic pre/converters, which puts the cost above that of the 002R.

[Slaterman]

I believe that **only** the current low-end G5 (dual 1.8 GHz) supports standard PCI cards, like the one the 001 comes with. Can anyone confirm that the DIGI001 works with that particular G5?

[Homebelly]

I'm almost certain PT dose only use one processor,,if you have a dual cpu machine and set it to use 95% cpu in the preferences dialogue it will use all of one processor and leave the other processor to the mac os,,
so even if you have a single cpu 1 gig.. you are not using the whole processor with pt as you are having to share it with the os,,
Having two of the same size cpu will allow you to use 95% of the second cpu to run pt and the first cpu will run the os with the 5% left over on the second being the communication between the two processors,, so your going to get better performance from a 1 gig processor on a dual machine than you would on a single machine,,,this is why,, i think,, on a single cpu machine you can only set the cpu preferences to 85%,, if at all,,
I also think the Mo'board problem is redundant,, i have one of the last DP1.25 MDD FW800 G4's and have no problems running my 001,,,

[where02190]

Actually none of the G-5's will run the 001, it's a different PCI format.

One of the main features of PTle6 is that it utilizes both processors.

[Homebelly]

Sorry,, but i stand by what i said,,
One of the main features of PTLe on OSX is that PT "supports" Dual CPU machines,,
were as under OS 9 it was recommended that you turn the second CPU off,,
Under OSX with a dual CPU machine you can allocate 99% of the CPU to PT which will give PT one whole Processor,, this frees the second processor up for the system or any other software you are running,, ie,, REASON via RE-WIRE were REASON will only allow you to select 85% of the CPU under these circumstances ,,
PT dose not use the second processor at all to run any functions except to communicate with the OS,,
It will run better on a dual 1 gig machine than it will on a single 1 gig machine because it is using 99% of the 1 gig,, were as on a single cpu machine it is only using 85%,,

[where02190]

Call ti what you want, both processors work under OSX/PTLe 6, only one processor is working under OS9/PTle5.