i5 or i7 processor

[Steven Hayes]

I'm building a sac/saw system and need to know which would be a better choice

[905shmick]

Whatever one has the fastest single core speed.

[Dave Labrecque]

I'm building a sac/saw system and need to know which would be a better choice

Depends what's important to you. Speed? Cost? Other stuff? Also -- how much processing power to you need, practically?

[905shmick]

Depends what's important to you. Speed? Cost? Other stuff? Also -- how much processing power to you need, practically?

Don't let those details get in the way. If he wanted to discuss those, he clearly would have started off with them :D

If I was building 72 in/out system today, I'd probably go with this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

[Dave Labrecque]

Don't let those details get in the way. If he wanted to discuss those, he clearly would have started off with them :D

If I was building 72 in/out system today, I'd probably go with this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

Ah, but now you've contradicted yourself. :eek:

This one's faster (it's also mine :)):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Now, if cost was a consideration... ;)

[Steven Hayes]

I was Looking At Most likely using the behringer preamps and having four of them giving me 32 channels in for sac and running saw studio in the background to record sometimes. what pre built computer would be good for this?

[Carl G.]

Ah, but now you've contradicted yourself. :eek:

This one's faster (it's also mine :)):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Now, if cost was a consideration... ;)

Dave, how about including your system info in your sig for all to benefit from wisdom of a successful setup? (or PM?)

[Dave Labrecque]

Dave, how about including your system info in your sig for all to benefit from wisdom of a successful setup? (or PM?)

And draw attention away from Bob, the felonious Enzyte guy?

Details here: http://www.sawstudiouser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=152603

Sorry it's not more reader-friendly. Too much on my plate right now to make it pretty. ;)

[Russell Landwehr]

Ah, but now you've contradicted yourself. :eek:

This one's faster (it's also mine :)):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

Now, if cost was a consideration... ;)


Don't let those details get in the way. If he wanted to discuss those, he clearly would have started off with them :D

If I was building 72 in/out system today, I'd probably go with this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072

If speed of a single core is the determining factor, why not go with an i3?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115092

Russell

[Dave Labrecque]

If speed of a single core is the determining factor, why not go with an i3?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115092

Russell

There ya have it.

[Russell Landwehr]

I was Looking At Most likely using the behringer preamps and having four of them giving me 32 channels in for sac and running saw studio in the background to record sometimes. what pre built computer would be good for this?


You could keep your cost down by going with i3 processor. If you are looking at pre-built, then you need to make sure the video card or on-board video is one that doesn't step on the threads when the screen/Fkey changes get busy. (you can search the forum for video card issues, Bob says nVidia is a problem and suggests ATI)

Really it does come down to getting the fastest GHz possible.

Also, make sure you don't get a "dummy" bios where you can't do any decent tweaks. Some pre-built-package-deal computers are like that ('specially laptops.) HP/Compaq, Dell, and some other cheap consumer brands were like that at one time... dunno about now since I build my own machines and haven't bought any pre-built for a long time.

All that being said, "Force Single CPU" in the SAC/SAW software is suppose to be only used if you have problems in Multi-CPU land. If you get your system working best without having to use the Force Single CPU mode, then it is possible that an i5 or i7 would be beneficial. However, if you are only running 32 channels, the benefit of the extra threads probably won't matter.


HTH

Russell

p.s. You said you wanted to go with 4 behringer preamps... (I'm assuming the ADA8000s) What interface are you planning on hooking them to?

[Russell Landwehr]

All that being said, "Force Single CPU" in the SAC/SAW software is suppose to be only used if you have problems in Multi-CPU land. If you get your system working best without having to use the Force Single CPU mode, then it is possible that an i5 or i7 would be beneficial. However, if you are only running 32 channels, the benefit of the extra threads probably won't matter.



In another active thread at the SAC forum Bob L just posted this:

The old Core 2 Duo E7500 and up to the E8500 were fine used in single core mode... The Planet Hollywood system is handling 20 stereo in-ear mixers at about 55%... and you may find that single core will give you better performance than dual core... with a lower load in many cases.

In almost every system I have built and tested with a stress session, dual core mode would start slipping buffers at about 85% load... while the same system in single core could handle 99% load with no slippage.

Bob L

But I don't think you can get a turn-key Core 2 Duo anymore. But from what he says, running Single CPU mode (if stable) is still a better bet. So those extra cores aren't needed for a system like what you are considering.

Russell

[Russell Landwehr]

Sorry to keep banging this topic but in the other thread, Bob L explained the core thing better than I've ever seen it before. It looks like having more than 2 cores won't make a difference.

Here's his post:

Each system will be different... test your system before doing gigs with it... learn its limitations.

The multi-core thing is pretty simple really... SAC is designed to use two cores... one for the engine loop and one for the display and meters.

Two cores will interact and step on the engine at some point... that is just the way the architecture is designed... there is no priority recognition across cores... so a single core system will ALWAYS keep the engine on top and the display will slow down after the 50% load mark... with a dual, the display will not slow down... but after a certain point, the display core will start stepping on the engine core and cause buffer slippage... you must find that point and don't load beyond it... on most of my systems this point is around 85% load... change that same system to single core and the load can generally be taken right to 99% with no slippage.

Bob L

[Hava_wj]

Hello:

Note: SAC is designed to use two cores. SS is not mentioned.

[Sound Machine Inc]

not sure where you got that from, but SAC is NOT designed to use 2 cores

[Sound Machine Inc]

also if it's all about speed

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106011

and disable some cores

[905shmick]

also if it's all about speed

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106011

and disable some cores

That thing gets terrible reviews online. Plus, I don't think you want a liquid cooling kit for your SAC rig. I know I wouldn't.

[Sound Machine Inc]

That thing gets terrible reviews online. Plus, I don't think you want a liquid cooling kit for your SAC rig. I know I wouldn't.
if done properly I wouldn't mind a liquid cool setup, but it freezes here too much for that to be ok with me leaving in the truck :( and I never use AMD but it IS a faster core if one wants to rely on specs only...

[Russell Landwehr]

also if it's all about speed

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819106011

and disable some cores

Ah, good point. AMD vs. Intel for our kind of use proves it's not ALL about speed.


not sure where you got that from, but SAC is NOT designed to use 2 cores

That's what I thought too until BOB L posted otherwise

Bob L said it in this thread:
http://www.sawstudiouser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15358
way at the end on page 3

I copy and pasted BOB L's exact post.

Here it is again:



The multi-core thing is pretty simple really... SAC is designed to use two cores... one for the engine loop and one for the display and meters.

Two cores will interact and step on the engine at some point... that is just the way the architecture is designed... there is no priority recognition across cores... so a single core system will ALWAYS keep the engine on top and the display will slow down after the 50***37; load mark... with a dual, the display will not slow down... but after a certain point, the display core will start stepping on the engine core and cause buffer slippage... you must find that point and don't load beyond it... on most of my systems this point is around 85% load... change that same system to single core and the load can generally be taken right to 99% with no slippage.

Bob L

But Hava wj is right, Bob's not saying there that SAW uses 2 cores.

Found these threads that indicate that SAW does use 2 cores:

http://www.sawstudiouser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8950&highlight=saw+cores

SAW Basic uses only 1 core

http://www.sawstudiouser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10344&highlight=saw+cores


Russell

[bit]

I've run dual-cpu systems in SS since 2004. AMD and Intel. Never heard glitch on those systems. My single cpu HP/AMD Turion64 laptop, on the other hand, I never got working properly. RME cards in all systems. Since Bob L fixed a MT-window freeze bug some years ago, the dual systems with SS are the most stable DAW's I've ever experienced.

BIT