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  3. 4, 6, 8, or 12 processor cores?

  • 4, 6, 8, or 12 processor cores?

    S
    S

    What is the maximum number of processors VSL software can make use of? There is an interesting discussion of the latest Mac Pro machines at:

    http://macperformanceguide.com/index_topics.html#MacProWestmere

    The results of some tests posted there are surprising - - showing that, in some circumstances the 6-core 3.33 GHz "Westmere" may be faster than the 12 core 2.66 model. This is because it has a higher clock speed and there is a lot of software that cannot make use of all 12 cores. Significant speed advantages occur only when the software is written to take advantage of all 12 processor cores. 

    Logic Users may be interested to read the following:

    http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-MacProWestmere-LogicStudio.html

    This test appears to show that Logic Pro can make use of only 3 processor cores.

    All this is important because the 3.33 GHz 6 core machine has a list price of $3699 while the 12 core machine's list price is $4999 for the base, 2.66GHz,  model. 

    Other World Computing has 8GB memory sticks that will work in this machine so that, despite the fact that the 6 core machine is equipped with only 4 memory slots, it can hold up to 32GB of memory. 

    I would be most appreciative of anyone's thoughts about this. 

    Thanks,

    Stephen
  • M
    M

    I'm glad this guy posted this but his conclusions are wrong.

    Clock speed and number of cores both do matter with Logic.  The problem with the current version of the app is that it seems to be optimized for 2/4/8 cores and other numbers of cores cause it to have a major performance hit (specifically, on a 6 core machine with hyperthreading, it performs about the same as a quad with HT disabled, and it performs much worse than a quad with ht enabled).

    Logic simply wasn't programmed to work well on 6 cores (and probably 12), it needs to be updated to work right.  In the meantime, I suspect the six core machine may run Logic much better if two of the cores are disabled, making it run as a quad.

    Personally, I wouldn't buy a 6 or 12 core machine until Logic is updated to support them, hopefully that will be very soon.

    How many cores does VEP use on a mac?  Does it use HT cores?  Does using it get around the core limitations of Logic?
  • S
    S

    Hi Mike,

    I'm sure you're right, but you'll note that, in these tests, Logic overloaded before much happened with the 4th processor core. Clearly, as you suggest, an update of Logic is necessary. Just to make things even more interesting the price of a refurbished an eight core 2.66 GHz "Nehalem" has dropped from $3999 to $3299 at the online Apple Store. 
  • D
    D

    Mike, if you use VEP you should be able to use as many cores as your machine has. This might be one way of getting round the 8 core issue that Logic has.

    DG
  • S
    S

    Thought those interested in this question might find the following link helpful:

    http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-MacProWestmere-LogicStudio.html

    Essentially, Mr. Chambers found that the 8 core 2.5GHz machine was capable of running more Logic tracks before overload occurred than the 3.33GHz 6 core machine. (Please note that Chambers also describes a 3.33GHz 12 core machine. This appears to be an error as the fastest 12 core Mac Pro is, as far as I know, rated at 2.93GHz.) 
  • J
    J

    How can I disable HT on Mac?
  • S
    S
    [quote=jens grötzschel]

    How can I disable HT on Mac?

    [/quote]

    Check out the following link 

    http://macperformanceguide.com/Reviews-MacProWestmere-Photoshop-CoresSlower.html

    Apparently you need to download the developer tools from Apple. 

    Hope this is helpful