CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgrade

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MELTHEDOG13
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CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgrade

Post by MELTHEDOG13 »

Hi all-

I've been running DP7 for a while on my 2006 3.0ghz Mac Pro dual core (quad core), with no real problems. Recently though, I've got a few projects where my CPU meter is getting into the red and causing projects to stop during play back. So I went ahead and sprung for a CPU upgrade to two quad core Xeon x5365 3.0ghz CPU's, giving me a 8 core machine. I tested my computer before and after the upgrade and it went form a Geekbench score of 6262 to 10569--pretty sweet right....? Well, the problem is that I am still getting red CPU spikes on projects with the 8 core CPU as I did with the 4 core CPU. Can anyone help shed some light on this....?
2012 Mac Mini 2.6ghz i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB Fusion drive, DP 8.01, MOTU 896, UAD Satellite DUO, Adam A7's
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MIDI Life Crisis
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by MIDI Life Crisis »

If it is the DP feature to stop audio on spikes that is stopping playback, then just disable that in the preferences. I know, it makes no sense, but since about DP 3 or 4 disabling the "auto stop" with CPU spikes (I forget which actual preference it's in) will usually solve the problem. I'm guessing that Apple's Activity Monitor will show less of a CPU hit. I'm not sure why DP sees that but it does every so often, even on less demanding projects.
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MELTHEDOG13
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by MELTHEDOG13 »

Very interesting. So basically, DP isn't necessarily working the CPU as hard as the DP CPU meter may say that is.....
2012 Mac Mini 2.6ghz i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB Fusion drive, DP 8.01, MOTU 896, UAD Satellite DUO, Adam A7's
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FutureLegends
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CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgrade

Post by FutureLegends »

I have the same machine and have also upgraded it with the X5365s. I was a bit underwhelmed with the improvements. I'm only having problems with processor spikes when using VIs and need to keep the buffer low. Men mixing pure audio recordings I'm still to run it to it's limits.
My theories:
1) DP is not very efficient in it's VI handling.
2) The memory, bus and other things in these ancient Mac Pros are not fast enough causing bottlenecks for the processor.

As I cannot afford a new machine my plan is to wait for DP8 and see if that improves things. If not, get VEP and SSDs for the system and samples.
Hackintosh 6-Core 3.7ghz/32gb ram, macOS Mojave
Hardware: Apollo 8, Apollo 8p, Apollo Twin mkII, MOTU 828mk3 & Original 828 | UA LA-610 | Vanguard V13 Tube Mic | MindPrint En-Voice | Genelec M040AM | Gretsch Guitars & Drums
Software: DP8 | FCPX | Logic Pro X | Play
| EWQL Gypsy, Choirs, Orchestra Gold, VoP | EZDrummer w/ Twizted Kit | Action Strings
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FutureLegends
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CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgrade

Post by FutureLegends »

MELTHEDOG13 wrote:Very interesting. So basically, DP isn't necessarily working the CPU as hard as the DP CPU meter may say that is.....
DP always shows more CPU use (+spikes) than the Activity Monitor utility. Usually in my projects Activity monitor shows a steady use of 30-35% across all cores while DP is jumping madly between 40-80%.
Even if DP isn't stopping, the spikes sometimes cause cracks and pops.

These issues are almost the only problems I'm having with DP, but they are serious enough to really mess with my workflow.
Hackintosh 6-Core 3.7ghz/32gb ram, macOS Mojave
Hardware: Apollo 8, Apollo 8p, Apollo Twin mkII, MOTU 828mk3 & Original 828 | UA LA-610 | Vanguard V13 Tube Mic | MindPrint En-Voice | Genelec M040AM | Gretsch Guitars & Drums
Software: DP8 | FCPX | Logic Pro X | Play
| EWQL Gypsy, Choirs, Orchestra Gold, VoP | EZDrummer w/ Twizted Kit | Action Strings
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MIDI Life Crisis
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by MIDI Life Crisis »

Just turn off the DP pref and we're done here - unless you're totally crapping out after that.
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FutureLegends
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CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgrade

Post by FutureLegends »

In my case the processor spikes makes working with low enough buffers impossible. Which is annoying as the Activity Monitor just shows something like 40-50% of CPU use when DP craps out.
Hackintosh 6-Core 3.7ghz/32gb ram, macOS Mojave
Hardware: Apollo 8, Apollo 8p, Apollo Twin mkII, MOTU 828mk3 & Original 828 | UA LA-610 | Vanguard V13 Tube Mic | MindPrint En-Voice | Genelec M040AM | Gretsch Guitars & Drums
Software: DP8 | FCPX | Logic Pro X | Play
| EWQL Gypsy, Choirs, Orchestra Gold, VoP | EZDrummer w/ Twizted Kit | Action Strings
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James Steele
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CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgrade

Post by James Steele »

Also consider dropping your work priority from High to Medium.
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Killahurts
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by Killahurts »

I had that machine too, before I upgraded to a 12 core. I had the same problem, for a while..

I know this is counter-intuitive, and I do not have an explanation for it, but.. give it a while. The systems nowadays are so complex, I think it takes some usage before the computer knows what has happened with the upgrade, and finally, in a sort of quiet resolve, everything starts to work as it should. Like a wild horse.

When I first got the 12-core, I was very disappointed in the lack of extra performance in DP. I thought I had made a very costly mistake.. but at some point, I dunno, a month or two? The computer was "broken in", and I began to experience what has become the most powerful recording system I have ever used. Seriously, I have done some profound processing on this thing, and it never seems to buckle, not even close. I kept the same hard drives, other than the startup drive, so it's kind of like you upgrading your processor.

Really, stay with it.. a few weeks from now, you will have a smile on your face, and you will be glad you upgraded.
DP11, 2019 16-Core Mac Pro, OS 14 Sonoma , 64GB RAM. RME HDSPe MADI FX to SSL Alphalink to SSL Matrix console, and multiple digital sub consoles. UAD Quad PCIe. Outboard stuff.
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malditoyanki
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by malditoyanki »

FutureLegends wrote:I have the same machine and have also upgraded it with the X5365s. I was a bit underwhelmed with the improvements. I'm only having problems with processor spikes when using VIs and need to keep the buffer low. Men mixing pure audio recordings I'm still to run it to it's limits.
My theories:
1) DP is not very efficient in it's VI handling.
2) The memory, bus and other things in these ancient Mac Pros are not fast enough causing bottlenecks for the processor.

As I cannot afford a new machine my plan is to wait for DP8 and see if that improves things. If not, get VEP and SSDs for the system and samples.
It's number 1. This should likely be solved with DP8.
Intel 6core 3.33 Ghz Westmere 48 gigs ram, MOTU micro lite, OS 10.9, DP 8.06, Apogee Symphony I/O, PLAY, most WAVES v9 plugs, Slate plugins, Soundtoys, ProTools 10, Kontakt 5, Omni, Stylus, Ivory

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tyronehowe
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by tyronehowe »

I have compared DP's CPU meter with Activity monitor many times.

My conclusion is that the DP's meter shows the thread with the highest CPU usage and not overall CPU usage.

Many times I have had DP (and Logic) stop with CPU overload even though my CPUs overall are being used quite lightly, but one core has hit 100%.
Tyrone Howe
DP 7.24, Mac Pro 8-core 2.26Ghz 32 GB (OSX 10.7.4)
MELTHEDOG13
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Re: CPU usage meter doesnt change much after processor upgra

Post by MELTHEDOG13 »

Thanks for all the good info everyone....Maybe with some time and fine tuning of settings I can get things in better order.
2012 Mac Mini 2.6ghz i7, 16GB RAM, 1TB Fusion drive, DP 8.01, MOTU 896, UAD Satellite DUO, Adam A7's
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