new macbook pros

tom24569 · Post by **tom24569** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:18 am

I'm considering buying one of the new MacBook Pros for DP audio work. My question is whether the speed of the internal hard drive is important or not. For the new machines, Apple seems to have dropped the option of adding a 7200 RPM drive (or at least made it only available on the 17-inch version).

My current thinking is that the speed of the internal drive isn't a factor since the recommended best practice is to record to an external hard drive, and the new MacBook Pros have a firewire 800 port that could be attached to a very fast drive.

Can anyone confirm or poke holes in this line of reasoning?

sdemott · Post by **sdemott** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:36 am

or use an eSATA express/32 card and leave the FW bus available for your audio interface.

Best practice is to keep your interface & recording drive on separate buses.

tom24569 · Post by **tom24569** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:05 am

So, from what you're saying, I take it the speed of the internal HD is not an issue?

How about the speed of the processor? The MacBook Pro 15 inch comes in two processor speeds - 2.16 and 2.33 GHz. Is the extra speed worth the extra $500?

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:52 am

A similar thread just came up on my Media Motion list, about using a 5400 to capture DV resolution. Users report no problems capturing digital video, so audio should be a slam dunk, provided you're talking about modest track counts and sample rates. (I choked my own G3 867 Mhz PowerBook at four to six tracks of 192/24, but it recorded 8-tracks of 44.1/24 just fine, without errors, to my (presumably 5400) internal drive.) To some, lugging external FW drive to a recording gig (or just on the road) isn't feasable, so it is necessary at times to use the internal drive for recording, even though it could be problematic.

The faster 7200 drives are also smaller (in storage capacity), and many felt that having a smaller drive wasn't a satisfactory trade-off.

The processor speed doesn't matter as much for recording as it does for playing back with multiple plug-ins.

I hope that's helpful.

BobK · Post by **BobK** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:10 am

For the extra $500, you also get 2GB of RAM instead of 1 GB, and 256 MB of video RAM instead of 128.

For serious audio work, the conventional wisdom is to get as much processing power as you can afford, particularly if you'll be using VIs and convolution reverbs like Altiverb.

To add an extra GB of RAM to a 2.16 GHz MBP would cost around $150; I don't know if the video RAM is upgradeable, or how much it would cost, or what performance difference more of it would make - faster screen redraws in DP maybe??

In any case, to me it was worth the extra money for what is hopefully a bit more processing power and better video performance. I'm curious to see what Macworld's tests reveal about performance differences between the 2.16 and 2.33, but I went ahead and got a 2.33.

I'm frustrated that Apple doesn't offer a 7200 RPM drive option for the 15" - it was available for the last Powerbook G4 15". But you can purchase and install 7200 RPM drives for the new MBPs yourself. OWC (macsales.com) sells some, and you can download a video on how to do the upgrade (they also offer a rebate if you send them a working drive). Looks tedious, and I won't do it unless I really feel a need.

Do a search and you'll find people on this board recording to internal 5400 RPM notebook drives occasionally. Conventional wisdom is to use external drives, but I also think MOTU once told me they do testing and development recording using internal drives.

I only had time to load in one DP 5.1 project, but it ran effortlessly - around 17 mono audio tracks at 44.1k/24 bit. I have some larger projects (30-something tracks with lots of edits, for example), and I'll test 'em later and post the results.

jweisbin · Post by **jweisbin** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:51 am

I don't know which manufacturer Apple is using for it's 160GB/5400 RPM hard drive option - whether it's Seagate or Hitachi. Those are the only two that I know of that are manufacturing these as SATA drives. However, both manufacturers are using a new technology called "perpendicular recording" which gives a big speed and density boost. Also, I know the Seagate uses a 16 MB buffer, don't know about the Hitachi. According to reviews I've seen, these drives may be almost as fast as 7200 RPM drives utilizing the older 8 MB buffers and the older recording technology. Since the 17" comes standard with one of these, and 2 GB RAM, it's a no-brainer. I ordered one last week.

jb · Post by jb » Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:20 am

I upgraded to a hitachi 7200rpm 100gb on my macbook dual 1.83ghz ,
it is very easy to install (make sure to get a SATA , not an ATA )
I notice a difference overall but especially for sessions with high track count , I used my macbook at firsts with the original 5400rpm drive which also worked fine but I feel the 7200 is a plus , I guess it depends on what you do , but if you rely on your gear to make a living I'd recommend it.
jb
macbook dual 1.8 ghz 2gig ram . Hitachi 7200 rpm

aranos · Post by **aranos** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:02 pm

I bought a MacBook 2Ghz (white one) and apple dealer installed a 7200rpm, 100 gig drive into it. I think it is a Hitachi. Does not afect the warranty, they said. When you are thinking of buing they are more helpful than they are after you gave them the money. Sad, I know, but that was my experience so far.
aranos

Dwetmaster · Post by **Dwetmaster** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:09 pm

When I bought my MBP 17" 2.16GHz I couldn't wait the extra time to have a custom configuration with the 7200RPM. So I bought it with the 5400RPM. I then ordered a seagate momentus 7200 to put in mine eventually. I'm right in the middle of a big project right now so it's not the time to start playing in computer. But I've recorded an hour long session with my 896HD of 8 tracks on the internal 5400RPM and I didn't have any problem.