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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

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169 replies

May 1, 2010 3:23 PM in response to djanthonyw

I edited the benchmark test and removed Space Designer so I can compare the results from my systems to the i5 and i7's / Logic Express again tonight at the Apple store.

My MBP 2.2 Ghz (2007) - 25 tracks.
My MP 2 x 2.66 (first gen) - 42 tracks.

I'm running Logic in 32 bit mode. I will be sure to test in both 32 and 64 bit mode at the Apple store.

Here is the updated benchmark test, add tracks and copy / past midi data as you need them.

http://www.anthonywebster.com/l.zip

May 1, 2010 11:49 PM in response to djanthonyw

Ok, I went to the Apple store again before my gig tonight and all I can say is that I'm extremely disappointed. I was maxing out at 25-26 tracks with my edit of the benchmark test (no space designer) on ALL of the current MacBook Pros. I tried the 13 inch C2D, 15 inch i5 2.53, 15 inch i7 2.66 as well as the 17 inch i7. So disappointing...

It definitely looks like I'm keeping my current MacBook Pro and Mac Pro.

May 3, 2010 2:37 PM in response to Helander

While not expecting the new MBP's to be as good as the new iMacs, still I thought they might get close. But looking at the figures people are returning it is striking how good the i5 and i7 Imacs are doing. They get about 50 tracks, compared to the 8 cores about 70. That makes the MBP look disappointing in comparison. It has put me off getting one, though it has made me think seriously about an iMac, despite the drawbacks. The Mac Pros are too expensive, the quad is slower than an iMac, and we have been waiting too long for news of an upgrade - I guess Apple has more important things to develop.

i5 / i7 MBP / Logic Pro benchmark test

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