Dumb laptop question

Hi all

I frequently find that my ensembles are stretching the CPU limit of my PC (damned reverb!).

I'm looking to buy a laptop on which to run Reaktor and wonder what kind of machine would be best for supplying Reaktor with extra CPU power.

Is it basically about finding a machine with the fastest single processor? Are there any recommendations about type of processor (e.g. AMD / Intel or whatever)?

Is it possible to buy a dual-core machine and route the OS and any other stuff through one core so that Reaktor can have one all to itself?

What other considerations are there? What recommendations can you guys make?

Thanks

David

 

I've got an old-ish (2007) white Macbook running Tiger which still seems fine with pretty much anything I throw at it.

Would definitely recommend it as an easy option, but I guess it depends how much your budget is adn if you want PC or Mac ?

 

I have to say that I'm running Mac OSX with 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, but 3-4 Kaleidon's (without effects) and some reverb unit almost kill my whole CPU. I'm planning to buy new Mac over next year and any suggestions are also welcome!

 

from what i understand the way macs use multiple cores is either just changed or is about to. from what i understand it is going to kill any way to, one proc. does this, one does that. im new to macs but i would check into this concept as your core assigning ability was something i was very interested in. though i might be wrong

 

I bought a laptop PC and went for the fastest Core 2 Duo chip I could get (T9600 2.8GHz), 4GB RAM. I'm running WinXP 32-bit and, although I know XP can only see just less than 3GB of my RAM... and I'm not sure if R5 can use both cores... it's WAYYYY faster than my old 3GHz Pentium 4 desktop with XP 32-bit and 1.5GB RAM. I was very pleasantly surprised... if you're on a PC too, and you want to Zip and attach a test ensemble, I'd be happy to "benchmark" it for you. Ideally something that canes the CPU with only one note, so we don't need to worry about setting up specific chords on MIDI controllers. Oh, and small sample maps would be cool too. Lots of oscillators, lots of reverb

 

If you use Reaktor as VST in a VST host that has multiple core support you can utlize all the CPU. E.g you can put your reverb ens in a separate VST

 

Cubase SX2 mate Strictly old skool.

 

Dave, how much CPU does it take on your PC:

4 Kaleidons + Space Master?

Thx.

I should try VST trick in Logic as well, because I'm not composing much last months, but I need to check it..

 

What, 4 x Kaleidon instrument, 1 x SpaceMaster 2 instrument, just in an ensemble?

I can't upload to the forum just now, but here is a version of that ensemble, which - without me playing any notes, but also browsing the Net, writing a spreadsheet, FTPing and writing a mindmap in FreeMind, takes about 20% CPU on my laptop just now. Can't really play it because I'm at work without a controller keyboard, but feel free to download and compare numbers!

Cheers

Dave

 

55% here.. Thx! Probably I can improve my stability somehow..

 

49% on my 2Ghz/1Gb RAM C2D Macbook.

 

I just thought - I guess CPU also depends on how hard you're driving down your latency? I'm not trying particularly hard in that regard, because I don't need to perform live.

 

It's true - the higher the latency, the lower the CPU load. I have 35% for 120-130 ms of latency and it works okay, but of course I would prefer lower latency.. Also does it depend on sound card? Basically when I don't compose music, I've standard internal sound card set in Reaktor, but when I compose I'll switch on my M-Audio friend..

 

68%, 8ms latency. I won (And I actually play live with it. Who is brave, hm?)

 

Nice attempt.. Btw, I think it's okay as long as it depends how you will set up your instrument - of course I won't use 4 Kaleidon's live, instead I will try to build something that will combine less CPU eating synths..

 

Get a machine, which is good for games. Games-oriented machines have best overall performance. Only two disadvantages: 1) price; 2) noisy cooling fan for graphic chip

 

But DON'T PUT ANY GAMES ON IT FOR FUNK'S SAKE

 

:lol:

 

Thanks for your responses everyone.

I'm kind of getting the idea that there's no one answer to this question. I assumed that Reaktor would use only one core but ZooTook's post is interesting:

Unfortunately, I use Reaktor standalone and don't even own a VST compatible sequencer! ZooTook, do you know off the top of your head if Temper does VST?

And are we sure that PCs don't offer any way to give Reaktor a whole core to itself?

I will try m3m's ensemble and compare my results to everyone else's.

Dave, you get very good performance but you're running XP. Any new laptop would have crummy old Vista on it. . I may also send you an ens of my own as you suggested. Probably just a chained bunch of SpaceMaster 2 units or something.

 

Hmmm. I'm looking at about 64% for m3m's linked ensemble, which ain't too bad I guess.