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Level 1

16 points

i5 / i7 MBP / Logic Pro benchmark test

So I have been thinking about consolidating both my Mac Pro and MacBook Pro into one newer MBP i5 or i7. I stumbled on a benchmark test and ran it on both my Mac Pro and MBP.

http://www.evan.se/logicprobenchmark/EvanLogicBenchmark.zip

My MacBook Pro is a 2.2 Core 2 Duo (3.1, not unibody) and I was able to play around 18 tracks by dragging the loop point right before the tracks, un-muting all tracks, starting playback and then dragging each track one by one until it can't played anymore.

I did the same thing with my Mac Pro 2 x 2.66 Xeon (first gen). I was able to get about 28 tracks going.

I got to stop in the Apple store for a short while tonight and was really disappointed by the new i5/i7's with this benchmark test. I actually got better results with the i5 than the i7 (really strange). I tried the i5 2.53 and was able to get about 22 tracks going and on the i7 2.66 I was only able to get about 16 tracks going.

Something is definitely wrong because the i7 should definitely be able to do more than the i5. I for sure thought the i7 would at least be able to match my current Mac Pro.

One more thing is that Logic Pro is not loaded on the Macs in the Apple store, only Logic Express is, so Space Designer was not present in the test at the Apple store. This was even more of a let down because when I was running the test on my Macs, Space Designer was obviously running as well.

Other people have gotten similar results in this thread on Gearslutz:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/music-computers/371545-logic-pro-multicore-benchm arktest.html

Please run this benchmark test and give some feedback on your results, there might be something I'm missing here...

Mac Pro, MacBook Pro, Logic Studio, iPhone, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on May 1, 2010 12:21 AM

169 replies

tbirdparis

Level 5

5,518 points

Jun 20, 2010 1:29 PM in response to Gandi

Hi,

I've done the update to 10.6.4, and I just ran my test song in Logic (the one I made to compare performance between my i7 and C2D 2.33). Looks like there's no change for now, Logic still only displays 2 CPU bars on the i7 and it still hits the red at practically exactly the same amount of plug ins as it does on the Core 2 Duo.

If I were you (and if money is not a major problem), I'd still consider picking one up in the states. Even though Logic seems to currently not perform as well as it could, you at least get the advantage that when you push it to the limit, the fans don't even kick in because Logic isn't capable of asking the CPU to do as much work as it could. But if you really need significantly more horsepower and you don't want to hold out hope that a Logic update will fix things, then you might want to be cautious and hold off on buying right now. Your call. The prices in the states are quite a bit lower so it might be worth taking advantage of. But if you decide to do that, bear in mind that a lot of configs are build to order (such as, say, if you want a 17" with an i7 not an i5 CPU, or if you don't want a glossy screen). So if you decide to get one, it might be wise to get a friend over there to order it so it arrives in time while you're there.

Jun 21, 2010 11:02 AM in response to djanthonyw

It's possible that an OS update could fix the issue, but it could also require a Logic fix. We probably won't know until they finally get around to fixing it, which could be months more, or could be never. I definitely wouldn't recommend buying a new computer based on assumptions of future performance.

Jun 21, 2010 3:55 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Mike Connelly wrote:
It's possible that an OS update could fix the issue, but it could also require a Logic fix. We probably won't know until they finally get around to fixing it, which could be months more, or could be never. I definitely wouldn't recommend buying a new computer based on assumptions of future performance.
Mike Connelly wrote:

How true... in 1992 I bought a PowerBook 140 specifically to use with Notator Logic, which wasn't out yet. Once Logic came out, I realized the MIDI timing of the PowerBook was intrinsecally sloppy... I had spent 3000 € for nothing.

vince :)

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2010 12:40 AM in response to bwanakitoko

Reading this thread has really brought up some questions for me since i am gonna be in the market for a new machine soon (obviously by my stats you can tell my machine & system is old!) Hasnt given me any problems ever so i have defintiely got my moneys worth out of it.

Looking at getting a new 21.5" imac 3.33ghz and 8G of ram. How much do you roughly guess i could handle on logic with it ? Considering i will be completely out of the box and nothing extra. If i kept running Logic pro 7 w/ this new machine do you think i would see a considerable difference as opposed to my current configuration ?

i accidently had replied to someones comment i apologise this is general and to anyone reading

Message was edited by: vince 🙂

Jun 23, 2010 7:25 AM in response to vince :)

Coming from a single G5, you'll see a big improvement on any new mac - personally I'd go with the i7 if you plan on getting an iMac over a higher clocked core duo. And you'll need at least Logic 7.2 for the new machine, 7.1 didn't support intel. At this point, if you get a new machine I'd spring for a Logic upgrade as well.

vince :)

Level 1

0 points

Jun 23, 2010 1:13 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Mike thank you for your response 🙂

I would absolutely LOVE to go to a quad core machine but my space is severely limited (hint apple give us a quad core 21.5" imac option) as well as the cash flow lol. The machine i mentioned above i could pay for all at once and not have to put anything on credit.

Now you mentioned the 7.2 version on Logic. I did see in the dwnld support section there is an update for that so i could (hypathetically speaking) get my new machine and just update the version of logic i currently have and run it on the new machine ?

Jun 23, 2010 3:38 PM in response to vince :)

Assuming there is a free download of 7.2, you should be good to go. It was originally a paid upgrade, but it's possible that it's old enough that Apple is finally making it available for free. If you did have to actually buy it, it would probably be hard to find.

Gandi

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2010 1:56 PM in response to djanthonyw

Installed the Logic 9 update - MBP 2.33 C2D got 22 tracks like the others...
What a bugger - was so going to do the upgrade and now - groan!

bwanakitoko - Off topic (ur email is not listed so couldn't email u direct) but I see you used a Fireface 400 - do u also use a Focusright LiquidChannel?
I have a FF800 and just got an LC so am trying to connect the 2...

Gandi

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2010 3:26 AM in response to djanthonyw

So why are these brand new Apple machines and Logic not able to access/use the "famed" Grand Central /Open CL and all the super graphics excess bundles of horse power lying just idle. Logic is not graphics intensive. Aren't Apple touting Snow Leopard could make everything work way faster if coded to take advantage of it. Logic is an Apple product so you would think they would have been the first to have used this extra performance ability, for bragging rights and to have way more happy customers.... and have many more wanting to upgrade. Apple used to promote adding a second machine via ethernet to boost Logics performance, so a new machines internal super fast GPU can't be that hard to harness.

Message was edited by: Gandi

Message was edited by: Gandi

Message was edited by: Gandi

Jun 25, 2010 7:59 AM in response to Gandi

The OS and apps are different teams, and it's obvious that the app teams have little if any motivation to support new technologies in the OS, much less in the hardware itself. Makes all the OS (and hardware) hype ring very hollow, if the company was smart they'd have the apps actually take advantage of the OS and use those apps as examples of what can be done.

Jun 25, 2010 8:35 AM in response to Gandi

OpenCL is not well suited for realtime audio processing. We've had a lengthy thread about that some months ago. But even if it was it would need all processing code to be rewritten. Also, the audio processing in Logic is not completely parallelizable, and the part that is doesn't have the massive parallel structure that makes GPU processing fly. So don't expect openCL processing to come in the next 5 years or so.

And yes, I have first hand experience. We're developing audio software that uses OpenCL.

Cheers,

Jazz

Jun 25, 2010 9:16 AM in response to Jazzmaniac

I have no expectations for Logic using OpenCL, but they certainly should be able to use more of the cores, whether that's by using Grand Central or not. Heck, at this point it sure looks like the app can handle using more cores on many machines but the software just kicks in limitations on certain machines.

vince :)

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2010 6:02 PM in response to Mike Connelly

Hey mike after thinking long and hard i made the decision

Got a quad core 2.66 imac w/ 8G of ram and got the upgrade to newest logic studio. This way i have no regrets later on except being broke right now lol

How many tracks do you guys think i could get with a setup like that ? About 40-50 ? maybe more ?

vince :)

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2010 6:35 PM in response to vince :)

Also is hyper-threading only in the 2.8 quad core model and not the 2.66 ?

I am confused from reading this

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP576 (look under processor & memory section)

vince :)

Level 1

0 points

Jun 25, 2010 6:54 PM in response to vince :)

just answered my own question. 2.8 i7 is the only processor with hyper-threading

changin my order now

So i will have 2.8 quad core w/ 8G ram and new logic studio

I havent had a new setup since 2004 its about time and this one should last me awhile again

i5 / i7 MBP / Logic Pro benchmark test