they_fit

Q: iMac Retina vs Logic Pro X

Hi,

I recently bought the new iMac, since my 2012 MacBook Pro 13" couldn't handle the CPU load on some of my bigger projects.


The good thing: no CPU load at all. The projects that I couldn't even play on my MPB hardly peak on CPU/HD. So thats cool.

The bad thing: g*ddamn the GUI is lagging/slow/annoying. Zooming is impossible. Pressing solo takes a full second to change (you hear the solo, but you don't see it applied). Opening mixer is slow. Just about everything feels very slow.


Im very inclined on blaming the (2gb) GPU. I've opened the projects Im currently working on on my MPB and whaddaya know? No lag AT ALL. Some CPU overloads but my workflow there is still better, since everything runs smooth


So then I realized my MBP was still running on 10.9. So might Yosemite be the problem? Upgraded my MPB. Still smooth.


Ok, clean install on the iMac. Everything seems fine. But once I open a project (without ANY of the external plug ins installed yet, just the midi and audio), the lagging is still there.


I understand the GPU needs a lot of power to run this Retina display, but if that means that I can not run a big Logic Pro X file....I dunno man. An audio program shouldn't cost that much of the GPU.


Any thoughts on what could be causing it? Should (and if so, how?) I monitor my GPU to see if everything's working properly? Should I wait for an Yosemite and/or Logic update?


Or, am I just in bad luck because of the hardware in my iMac vs Yosemite vs Logic Pro X and should I revert back to Mavericks for the time being?

 

Specs: iMac i7, 32 gb ram, 500gb SSD. MacBook i7, 16 gb ram, 500gb SSD

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 13, 2014 1:43 PM

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Q: iMac Retina vs Logic Pro X

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  • by they_fit,Solvedanswer

    they_fit they_fit Nov 13, 2014 2:58 PM in response to they_fit
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 13, 2014 2:58 PM in response to they_fit

    Note: changing Logic to low resolution (applications > rmb > low resolution) fixed the lag thing for me. But the problem remains, not being able to run Logic in hi res is kind of weird to me.

  • by The Art Of Sound,

    The Art Of Sound The Art Of Sound Nov 13, 2014 4:57 PM in response to they_fit
    Level 6 (12,117 points)
    Nov 13, 2014 4:57 PM in response to they_fit

    Yes.... Macs with retina displays often seem to be subject to such lag issues.. 

     

    Turning off Automatic Graphic Switching seems to resolve or lessen the issue....

     

    Note:

     

    Serious lag in LP9/X in Yosemite

     

    Namely my post there that read......

     

    Actually I'm seeing more problems on Macs that have Retina screens... but then the same seemed to apply initially with Mavericks too....

     

    Prospective iMac Retina owners.... You have been warned!

  • by Webstersp,

    Webstersp Webstersp Mar 12, 2015 7:05 AM in response to The Art Of Sound
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2015 7:05 AM in response to The Art Of Sound

    I'm in need of a new computer.

    With my girlfriend school rebate the difference in price is 200$ for a 5k with this build...

    So should I stay away from the 5k?

     

    2564$

    Non retina imac 27

    3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz

    1tb fusion drive

    8gb (I'll add 16gb myself)

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5


    2754$

    Imac 5k

    4.0GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.4GHz

    1tb fusion drive

    8gb (I'll add 16gb myself)

    AMD Radeon R9 M290X 2GB GDDR5


    I'll be using logic x 80% of my time

    The only game i play is World of Warcraft

    and some photo editing


    thanks

  • by punkmanmatthew,

    punkmanmatthew punkmanmatthew Mar 28, 2015 3:10 PM in response to they_fit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mar 28, 2015 3:10 PM in response to they_fit

    Yes this issue is with every retina imac or macbook I've used.

     

    The thing that seems to work is to turn off transparency in the system settings within Accessibility

    or mess with the contrast settings which will make it uglier but it does help with some macs.

  • by Webstersp,

    Webstersp Webstersp Mar 28, 2015 4:51 PM in response to punkmanmatthew
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 28, 2015 4:51 PM in response to punkmanmatthew

    Not true, I've had an imac 27 2012 and never had this problem, and also never had this problem wiht my macbook pro retina beside the first weeks.