G4/Sonnet 1ghz - dave c test results

[jjjamison]

Okay! Here are the Dave C test results before and after the Sonnet upgrade. The Sonnet requires OS 9.2 - as does Digi 002 - and a simple g4 firmware upgrade. Instructions are very good and installation was a snap - about thirty minutes from start to finish. System configuration:

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">G4 466 "digial audio" (133 mhz system bus)
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">AGP graphics - 17' apple studio monitor (flat)
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">30 GB internal HD
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">1.5 GB RAM installed
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Audio Drive - Easyquest external 80GB Firewire HD
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Mac OS 9.2.2
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">DIGI 002/ PTLE 5.3.2
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Upgrade = Sonnet 1ghz G4 processor

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Minimal extensions set - all ATI extensions disabled and no Control Strip. Memory control panel disk cache set to 512k. 1 GB RAM allocated to ProTools. ProTools play back engine settings: H/W buffer=512 samples/CPU usage=85%/DAE playback buffer=Level 2. Plug- ins used in Dave C test:

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">compressor
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">4-band EQ
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">short delay
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">med delay
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">long delay

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">RESULTS @ 24BIT/44K

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">G4 -11 Tracks
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">W/ Sonnet - 18 Tracks

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">RESULTS @ 24bit/96k

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">G4 - 5 tracks
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">w/Sonnet - 8 tracks

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Average "performance" boost is about 64%, which is similar to going from single processor to dual processor. Not earth shattering, but not bad when you consider total downtime of about 30 minutes. System appears to be very stable and FAST. Haven't used it for any long sessions so still too early to tell if there are any heat related problems. All in all, this seems to be a good option if you're running on old G4 and have an immediate need for more processing power. Hope you all find this helpful. Good luck.

[GORILLA]

Thanks JJJ!!! There's still hope for my lil' G4/400 [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[jjjamison]

Yup! I went this way because the jury's still out on OSX and - I hate to say it - PC's. My next move will be a major one and I am waiting for the dust to settle. In the meantime I could really needed a boost in power.

[John H]

RESULTS @ 24bit/96k

* G4 - 5 tracks
* w/Sonnet - 8 tracks

I'm very impressed that the performance scales with samplerate. plus, the 18 tracks at 44.1Khz seems to scale perfectly from the 6 tracks in the same test (also at 24bit) I get with my 300Mhz beige G3. I'd never expect a 1Ghz G4 to be more than 3 times faster than my beige G3 but the fact it's bang on 3 times faster certainly gives me hope for the kind of performance I'd expect in the future.

I don't know whether I'll just save a little a buy a used 466Mhz G4 and add the upgrade later on, It's certainly impressive for the relative cost of the hardware and upgrade involved.

I can't help thinking that where's been playing a big prank on us with his results when so many people have got similar results with similarly specified macs and we're all pretty much as mac savy as each other when it comes to extension and RAM allocation tweaks [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[jjjamison]

Originally posted by John H:


I don't know whether I'll just save a little a buy a used 466Mhz G4 and add the upgrade later on, It's certainly impressive for the relative cost of the hardware and upgrade involved.

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">If you go to b uy a used G4 keep in mind that the "digital audio" versions have a faster system bus(133) than some other models.
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[John H]

If you go to b uy a used G4 keep in mind that the "digital audio" versions have a faster system bus(133) than some other models

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I know the 466Mhz G4 is a 133Mhz bus version, I'd go for one of those as bare minimum, it's just that now I've worked it all out, the CPU upgrade comes to just under £600, the used G4 seems to be around the £500 - 600 mark. It makes no sense, I might aswell just go for a used 867 or 933Mhz G4, at least it comes with a superdrive. I'd hate to have to buy an upgrade card that's worth more than the mac it's going in. I might aswell aim a little higher and stay beige for a while longer.

On a basic level, I just want a G4 that's significantly faster than my current mac (2 or 3 times faster in Dave C test) to tide me over for a year or so and let me run protools 6.0.

I wouldn't want to sink £1,300+ on a new powermac even if I had the cash, it's not worth it for the hassle, my next mac is going to be used QS G4 and the one of after that... I'll leave it up to apple to bring out something genuinely impressive and in my opinion a dual 1.5Ghz+ IBM PPC970 based mac would be worth waiting for.

[mhvoiceuk]

I have an AGP G4/400 and have followed the Sonnet 1ghz upgrade threads with interest. There is a big difference in price between the 800mhz version and the 1ghz. The 1ghz is £250.00 ($350.00 US) more - making the upgrade seem a bit less viable. Has anyone opted for the 800mhz version? I would like to go down the 800mhz route as it seems like a sensible stop gap and, off topic, will allow me to run Final Cut Pro with all the real time features enabled.

MHVoiceUK

[Dopamine]

Yeah, I wonder about the performance gain with the 800mhz Sonnet as oppseed to the 1gHz. Also, where is the cheapest/best place to buy?

[jpoprock]

John H, I'd see your point, but I'm considering the 1gig upgrade myself, and I'd like to know where you're finding used 867 or 933 QS's for $700 US.

Jason

[jpoprock]

Also, does anyone know of any issues w/ OSX? Does the Sonnet card perform well in Jaguar for instance?? I'm int OSX way more than I'm in OS9. Once PTLE comes out for OSX and is nice and sound, I'll never use OS9 again.

Jason