CPU Spikes in audio performance window

jazzcatt · Post by **jazzcatt** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:31 pm

I'm using Quicksilver Dual 800 G4 with, 1.2 Gig onboard, latest drivers, and 896 + 828 interfaces. DP 4.61 and OSX 10.4.8 When recording and playback, even with CPU usage at barely 10%, experience CPU Redline spikes a couple times a minute that interrupt audio playback or recording. Hard drive has 14 out of 80 Gigs free, and I run Disk Warrior on a regular basis. Any Help, and does anyone know if this is an inherent problem with this G4 configuration? Thank You

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:14 am

That's a problem with all the version 4 DPs. Version 5.11 was the first to eliminate a lot of that. Unfortunately, a dual 800 G4 is on the borderline of the computers that can run DP efficiently. You may continue to get processor spikes. You can turn off the warning dialog, if that's what is interrupting you, and it will work with less interruption.

Shooshie

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:16 pm

I see you are running two interfaces. What do your settings look like? You might try a work priority of medium and/or up the host buffer multiplier (it should at least be 2 because of having more than one interface).

jazzcatt · Post by **jazzcatt** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:46 pm

Hi folks,
I've tried High, and medium work priorities, and all different buffer sizes. I have had the best success with medium work priority, and a buffer of 1024, with host multiplier set to 2. Thanks for the input. Next question: but probably for a different post. If I need to buy new now, and I'm a pro studio, which BOX? Should I even dare go Imac, and what about the new quad processors around the corner?

Thank You ,
Jck

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 8:02 pm

jazzcatt wrote:Hi folks,
I've tried High, and medium work priorities, and all different buffer sizes. I have had the best success with medium work priority, and a buffer of 1024, with host multiplier set to 2. Thanks for the input. Next question: but probably for a different post. If I need to buy new now, and I'm a pro studio, which BOX? Should I even dare go Imac, and what about the new quad processors around the corner?

Thank You ,
Jck

iMac? I wouldn't. A lot of people here DO use iMacs, so it's very workable, but you can't use any PCI cards with an iMac, so that limits you to Firewire, Ethernet and/or USB interfaces. Pro studios should not be subject to such limits.

Shooshie

jazzcatt · Post by **jazzcatt** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:46 pm

Thanks for the opinion on the IMac. I figured as much, and appreciate the second on that notion. I have 5.11 on the way from MOTU. Thanks again for your help.
Sincerely,
Jack

Ebaange · Post by **Ebaange** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 8:32 am

Shooshie wrote:That's a problem with all the version 4 DPs. Version 5.11 was the first to eliminate a lot of that. Unfortunately, a dual 800 G4 is on the borderline of the computers that can run DP efficiently. You may continue to get processor spikes. You can turn off the warning dialog, if that's what is interrupting you, and it will work with less interruption.

Shooshie

Really? How interesting. I've stuck with DPv4.61 because I didn't think my poor l'il single 1.4GHz G5 couldn't support v5. Is this assumption in error?
I, too, have seen those spikes -though I *do* seem to be pushing my CPU with 4.61- and wonder if upgrading would be the answer. I'm not exactly what you would call a "power user"

Dwetmaster · Post by **Dwetmaster** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 9:51 am

For equal use, DP5.11 is more CPU effective.

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:44 pm

Ebaange wrote:
Shooshie wrote:That's a problem with all the version 4 DPs. Version 5.11 was the first to eliminate a lot of that. Unfortunately, a dual 800 G4 is on the borderline of the computers that can run DP efficiently. You may continue to get processor spikes. You can turn off the warning dialog, if that's what is interrupting you, and it will work with less interruption.

Shooshie
Really? How interesting. I've stuck with DPv4.61 because I didn't think my poor l'il single 1.4GHz G5 couldn't support v5. Is this assumption in error?
I, too, have seen those spikes -though I *do* seem to be pushing my CPU with 4.61- and wonder if upgrading would be the answer. I'm not exactly what you would call a "power user"

All I can say is that on my humble, aging, Dual 1GHz G4, DP 5.11 significantly lowered my CPU loading. Your mileage may vary, but if you'd seen the difference on mine, I think you'd have been very impressed.

Shooshie

Ebaange · Post by **Ebaange** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 11:27 am

I can't help but notice that you say "Dual" CPUs, there, Shoosie and I have but one. Still, the G5 was supposed to be a big step up from the G4, right? (dunno, really, the G5 is my first Mac) So, is a single 1.4GHz G5 comparable, plus or minus, to a dual 1GHz G4? All I know is that DP 4.61 took my CPU to the wall a LOT faster than I thought it should. Now I guess I know why.

Well, OK, maybe I'll just take that plunge, then!
Time to go read up on what else 5.11 offers.

Thanks guys.

jrdmcdnld · Post by **jrdmcdnld** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:02 pm

So, is a single 1.4GHz G5 comparable, plus or minus, to a dual 1GHz G4? All I know is that DP 4.61 took my CPU to the wall a LOT faster than I thought it should. Now I guess I know why.

I thought the slowest G5 you could get was a 1.6?

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:06 pm

Another machine I work with a lot is a single processor 1.8GHz G5. I haven't done a side-by-side shootout between it and my home machine (single 1.8GHz G5 vs. the dual 1GHz G4) but I know that it smokes my G4 on normal loads. Things just feel effortless on that machine. I suspect that there are tests that could be done that would favor the dual processor machine even though it's slower, but just speaking generally, task-for-task, the G5 is a much faster CPU.

Shooshie

Ebaange · Post by **Ebaange** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:26 pm

jrdmcdnld wrote:
So, is a single 1.4GHz G5 comparable, plus or minus, to a dual 1GHz G4? All I know is that DP 4.61 took my CPU to the wall a LOT faster than I thought it should. Now I guess I know why.
I thought the slowest G5 you could get was a 1.6?

Yep, now. I was an early -really early- adopter. They offered a 1.4GHz. and then dropped it from the line within the first couple of months. Maybe I'm wrong about that. It was a few years ago and my memory ain't what it used to be. It was a few years ago and my memory ain't what it used to be.

Meanwhile, according to MOTU tech support, my box can handle it as long as I have 1GB RAM minimum. Which I do.

EDIT: I stand corrected. I just checked the historical G5 specs on Apple's site. Looks like we're both wrong, it IS a single 1.8GHz. Don't even know what floggin' box I have. Sheesh. OK, I'm not sweating it then

Shooshie · Post by **Shooshie** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:39 pm

I had a sneakin' suspicion that yours was a 1.8 G5 like the one I work with. It's a great machine.

Shooshie

Ebaange · Post by **Ebaange** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 1:46 pm

Shooshie wrote:I had a sneakin' suspicion that yours was a 1.8 G5 like the one I work with. It's a great machine.

Shooshie

Oh yes, I love my G5!

I used to use ProTools FREE on an old wintel piece of garbage.
I couldn't believe what the G5 allowed me to do. I mean, apply effects in real time during playback? Unheard of.

I've had mine since August or September 2004... now I just use it and don't worry much about what its config is.

MOTUnation.com

CPU Spikes in audio performance window

CPU Spikes in audio performance window

Thank You for the advice

Re: Thank You for the advice