Sounds like you have a 1,1 or 1,2. Your friend may have a newer machine. Big advances have been made in the years since Apple switched to Intel CPUs. Google Geekbench scores or download Mactracker and and compare for an idea.
Altiverb is no longer a concern on newer machines, but I even recall being able to run three or four with a few VI's to boot on my G5 Quad. Now I almost always have at least four Altiverb instantiations running in DP, usually with a number of VI's and tons of other plug ins. Too many VI's will push my Mac at buffer of 64, but I have so far been able to run every project, including some very beefy ones, with a buffer of 128 all the way from start to finish with CPU headroom to spare.
New Black Mac Pro vs last Gen
Moderator: James Steele
Re: New Black Mac Pro vs last Gen
Actually mine is a 2,1 (Intel Mac). I guess the later MP models are faster since they have faster RAM also?…
Anybody have experience comparing the DSP / processing power of DP vs Cubase?..
Anybody have experience comparing the DSP / processing power of DP vs Cubase?..
Main SYS: 12-Core New Mac Pro (Dec 2013), 64GB RAM, OS10.10, Apollo Quad Interface, 3xSSD work/sound drives in TB Enclosure, UAD Plugs, DP, VE PRO, All NI, All Spectrasonics, many libraries, VIs etc.
2nd SYS: Intel 8-Core Mac Pro (2007), 28GB RAM, OS10.7, MOTU PCI 424, 2408 interfaces (4), DP8.07, VE PRO, All NI, All Spectrasonics, many libraries, VIs etc.
2 Mac Minis (2011): Dual Quad, 16GB RAM running VE Pro, various libraries in Kontakt, G-Player, UVI.
2nd SYS: Intel 8-Core Mac Pro (2007), 28GB RAM, OS10.7, MOTU PCI 424, 2408 interfaces (4), DP8.07, VE PRO, All NI, All Spectrasonics, many libraries, VIs etc.
2 Mac Minis (2011): Dual Quad, 16GB RAM running VE Pro, various libraries in Kontakt, G-Player, UVI.