|
Post by Ward on Oct 22, 2020 18:42:19 GMT -6
As much as it totally sucks, I think you have to go with a completely clean install, Adam. It's the only way to judge the machine on its own merits and not on whatever may have inadvertently creeped into your 2012 machine's time machine backup. Agreed. And who knows? Maybe a clean install on my 2012 would go a long way to keep that fan down. 2012 Westmere? Bought a loaded one in 2014. Still runs like a swiss watch. Flawless but I know it's eventually going the way of the dodo bird.
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 23, 2020 7:34:03 GMT -6
I literally cannot get Pro Tools to run without crashing. Makes it hard to evaluate a new computer. At this point, I'll take my 2012 and it's fan noise over a new computer that cannot run the software I need. Or vice versa. Either way, I'm at a loss.
Trying the iMac now to see if it's any better. I will say the mini is quieter as far as fan noise. The iMac fan is on 100% of the time, where the mini is silent until it starts to hit the gas on the CPU.
|
|
|
Post by the other mark williams on Oct 23, 2020 18:52:10 GMT -6
I literally cannot get Pro Tools to run without crashing. Makes it hard to evaluate a new computer. At this point, I'll take my 2012 and it's fan noise over a new computer that cannot run the software I need. Or vice versa. Either way, I'm at a loss. Trying the iMac now to see if it's any better. I will say the mini is quieter as far as fan noise. The iMac fan is on 100% of the time, where the mini is silent until it starts to hit the gas on the CPU. I haven't used Pro Tools in years and years, so I have no idea: is it ready for prime time with Catalina?
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 23, 2020 18:55:07 GMT -6
I literally cannot get Pro Tools to run without crashing. Makes it hard to evaluate a new computer. At this point, I'll take my 2012 and it's fan noise over a new computer that cannot run the software I need. Or vice versa. Either way, I'm at a loss. Trying the iMac now to see if it's any better. I will say the mini is quieter as far as fan noise. The iMac fan is on 100% of the time, where the mini is silent until it starts to hit the gas on the CPU. I haven't used Pro Tools in years and years, so I have no idea: is it ready for prime time with Catalina? Should be. It's been what, a year?
|
|
|
Post by bentley on Oct 23, 2020 19:32:50 GMT -6
I literally cannot get Pro Tools to run without crashing. Makes it hard to evaluate a new computer. At this point, I'll take my 2012 and it's fan noise over a new computer that cannot run the software I need. Or vice versa. Either way, I'm at a loss. Trying the iMac now to see if it's any better. I will say the mini is quieter as far as fan noise. The iMac fan is on 100% of the time, where the mini is silent until it starts to hit the gas on the CPU. Have you been able to narrow down the crashes to anything specific? Running Catalina 10.15.2 here on a 2019 Mac Pro and only had a few crashes related to UAD DSP allocation. Other than that it's been pretty much problem free.
|
|
|
Post by howie on Oct 23, 2020 19:39:03 GMT -6
I literally cannot get Pro Tools to run without crashing. Makes it hard to evaluate a new computer. At this point, I'll take my 2012 and it's fan noise over a new computer that cannot run the software I need. Or vice versa. Either way, I'm at a loss. Trying the iMac now to see if it's any better. I will say the mini is quieter as far as fan noise. The iMac fan is on 100% of the time, where the mini is silent until it starts to hit the gas on the CPU. Fans on all the time on a new iMac? A 2020 iMac i7? That's not right. My 2019 iMac (i9) is quiet doing Logic Pro X - or anything else I do with it - the only time I ever hear the fans rev up was when doing an Apple system software update. Could it be some Catalina conflict, or T-security chip? My 2011 Imac with spinning harddrive was noisy sometimes doing Logic - and would aslo get very warm. The newer 2019 iMac stays cooler - less need for fans to kick up.
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 23, 2020 20:09:23 GMT -6
I literally cannot get Pro Tools to run without crashing. Makes it hard to evaluate a new computer. At this point, I'll take my 2012 and it's fan noise over a new computer that cannot run the software I need. Or vice versa. Either way, I'm at a loss. Trying the iMac now to see if it's any better. I will say the mini is quieter as far as fan noise. The iMac fan is on 100% of the time, where the mini is silent until it starts to hit the gas on the CPU. Fans on all the time on a new iMac? A 2020 iMac i7? That's not right. My 2019 iMac (i9) is quiet doing Logic Pro X - or anything else I do with it - the only time I ever hear the fans rev up was when doing an Apple system software update. Could it be some Catalina conflict, or T-security chip? My 2011 Imac with spinning harddrive was noisy sometimes doing Logic - and would aslo get very warm. The newer 2019 iMac stays cooler - less need for fans to kick up. Are you certain it’s not running all the time? Could it be running and you just not notice? Are you able to check via the rear vent?
|
|
|
Post by howie on Oct 23, 2020 20:20:16 GMT -6
Fans on all the time on a new iMac? A 2020 iMac i7? That's not right. My 2019 iMac (i9) is quiet doing Logic Pro X - or anything else I do with it - the only time I ever hear the fans rev up was when doing an Apple system software update. Could it be some Catalina conflict, or T-security chip? My 2011 Imac with spinning harddrive was noisy sometimes doing Logic - and would aslo get very warm. The newer 2019 iMac stays cooler - less need for fans to kick up. Are you certain it’s not running all the time? Could it be running and you just not notice? Are you able to check via the rear vent? If I put my head right behind the iMac almost touching I can hear a very slight sound. I called in my wife to check - better ears than mine - same result - a slight sound close behind. She did not hear anything a foot in front of the iMac. Then again - you may have better ears?
|
|
|
Post by sirthought on Oct 24, 2020 11:22:45 GMT -6
The fan on my iMac only runs if I've been watching video for extended periods. Usually very quiet. If you're hearing it, there must be some heavy load...or maybe those i7 chips are just hotter than the chassis really can handle.
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 24, 2020 19:11:26 GMT -6
The fan on my iMac only runs if I've been watching video for extended periods. Usually very quiet. If you're hearing it, there must be some heavy load...or maybe those i7 chips are just hotter than the chassis really can handle. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but can you confirm that it’s not running? Or is it that you just don’t think you hear it? Just put your hand to the vent to feel if it’s running. Mine is definitely running and I definitely hear it. BUT, the 2018 Mini is still giving me software issues. PT crashes. I’ve got it narrowed down to the cloud authorization. The iLok software is acting up or something. Funny thing is, the same installers installing the same software is rock solid on the iMac.
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 26, 2020 12:57:31 GMT -6
I've got a 52 track session that I've played back on both the 2018 Mini and the 2020 iMac, no plugs. On the 2018 Mini, the PT CPU meter is all over the place. The meter for the cores are bouncing in the 20-30% range while the total is crazy, from 40-90%. No plugins.
On the iMac, that the meters are barely moving. Single digits.
I don't know what's going on, but dag. That iMac has got some muscle to it.
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 26, 2020 13:56:03 GMT -6
There are quirky things on the Mini. Like, for whatever reason, sometimes the meters on the CPU meter in PT are grey instead of orange/yellow. Just little quirky things like that.
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Oct 26, 2020 14:28:58 GMT -6
Here's my thoughts, not that I'm assuming anyone cares. It just helps when I write it out.
This iMac is a beast. The Mini isn't shabby either. Both are better than the 2012 mini. The iMac doesn't seem to break a sweat. At all. I can make the Mini ramp up the CPU. It just reacts differently and is a little more quirky than the iMac.
The Mini, when idle, is silent, but the fan ramps up from time to time. The iMac has a higher idle noise floor, not much, but it stays consistent when pushed.
I already have a screen that I like. That LG ultrawide is just a sweet looking monitor. I actually like it better than the iMac monitor, at least in the superficial looks department.
The iMac has that big lower chin. Rumor is the redesigned iMac is going to be sleeker. But that's just superficial.
If I kept the iMac, I thought that I'd sell the Ultrawide monitor to help recoup expenses. BUT, resale on that monitor isn't great. I'd probably net only a couple hundred. The thought occurred to me last night to use the Ultrawide as a secondary display placed away from the iMac, almost like a remote tracking station. That way when I track, I can control the DAW (with the bluetooth keyboard and mouse) and setup away from the iMac fan.
I ordered a USB-C to HDMI cable to test this out.
Short story, as much as I like the cost-saving option of the Mini, that iMac has some serious horsepower. It's gonna be hard to walk away from that.
|
|
|
Post by kcatthedog on Oct 26, 2020 15:28:04 GMT -6
Makes sense to me. The other way of looking at it is that the mini costs x, what percent increase (Y) is the iMac vs it’s benefits?
Or why pay X, if X+Y adds more value ?
I was checking out the i7, 8 core at local Apple store over weekend. U agree that sucker is impressive.
|
|
|
Post by nudwig on Oct 28, 2020 9:42:58 GMT -6
I have a refurbished 16" laptop arriving today to replace my 2015 MBP I use for the mobile/home system. It'll be interesting to see how everything works with Catalina as eventually my 10 year old MP studio machine will have to be upgraded, hopefully not for a while still.
|
|
|
Post by Blackdawg on Oct 28, 2020 9:45:02 GMT -6
I said fuck it and moved my HDX card and software over to my new(Spring this year) PC. So far it's flawless. And its SO much more powerful than my old mac. Plus It's endlessly upgradable.
Haven't run a mix down yet but with how easy the install went and how nicely everything booted I don't see it being an issue.
|
|
|
Post by svart on Oct 28, 2020 11:28:41 GMT -6
Just started running a mix through my new Lenovo m920q small form factor. 60 tracks and busses, most with Crave EQ, waves 1176 or waves SSL compressor and others with tape emulators and 4 banks of reverbs. 4 channels with Melodyne 5.
I turned off EIST in bios so that the CPU wouldn't ramp speed or voltage which is a huge issue with a lot of audio programs it seems.
6 cores with 12 threads running about 30% each, RAM at about 10% of 24GB. SSD about 1% and HDD about 30%. Barely gets warm.
|
|
|
Post by OtisGreying on Oct 28, 2020 22:52:11 GMT -6
A14 Bionic Single core scores almost 1600.... That's seriously fast. Single core scores being especially important for music as plug-in chains sends and all tracks connected by busses rely on a single core's processing ability and is a very common source of bottlenecking your CPU for producers. Something to think about...
Thats like 30% faster than the latest intel 27inch iMac scores ... (1250 single core) & more than double as fast as my 2015 15' MBP i7 scores (750).
That being said, unless you're sessions are pretty serious and you mix mostly ITB it's not completely necessary and the latest intel power will be totally good enough for most. To each his own!
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Nov 10, 2020 19:01:42 GMT -6
Apple announced their new silicone macs today, a mini, air and 13” MBP.
All are capped at 16GB soldered in RAM. I feel good about the 2020 intel iMac purchase decision (I sent the 2018 mini back). I will use this machine for as long as I can, and by that time, there should be some serious advances in computing power from Apple, as well as all the bugs worked out from software developers.
That iMac though. Most powerful computer I’ve ever had.
|
|
|
Post by OtisGreying on Nov 10, 2020 19:18:01 GMT -6
M1 chip has 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU. Same Chip in Mini as in the 13" MBP. Which means the GPU in the mini is now on par of the current 13" MBP which is probably a huge upgrade from previous gens. The mini starts at 699.... (+200 for 16gb ram, but this may be user-upgradeable) That's crazy cheap for next gen tech. Very interesting!
|
|
|
Post by jeremygillespie on Nov 10, 2020 19:44:33 GMT -6
M1 chip has 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU. Same Chip in Mini as in the 13" MBP. Which means the GPU in the mini is now on par of the current 13" MBP which is probably a huge upgrade from previous gens. The mini starts at 699.... (+200 for 16gb ram, but this may be user-upgradeable) That's crazy cheap for next gen tech. Very interesting! That’s pretty insane - I’ll wind up buying my next mini for less than my 2012 cost me 8 years ago!
|
|
|
Post by indiehouse on Nov 10, 2020 20:37:43 GMT -6
M1 chip has 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU. Same Chip in Mini as in the 13" MBP. Which means the GPU in the mini is now on par of the current 13" MBP which is probably a huge upgrade from previous gens. The mini starts at 699.... (+200 for 16gb ram, but this may be user-upgradeable) That's crazy cheap for next gen tech. Very interesting! Pretty sure it’s soldered memory, not upgradeable. Max 16GB. So, if you need lots of RAM for sample based VI’s, this might not be a viable option.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2020 20:51:16 GMT -6
It’s soldered. Everything is soldered to the board in a system on a chip. If anything goes wrong, you’re fucked. The repair bill post Apple care or if Apple care burns you will be astronomical.
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 10, 2020 20:53:28 GMT -6
M1 chip has 8 core CPU and 8 core GPU. Same Chip in Mini as in the 13" MBP. Which means the GPU in the mini is now on par of the current 13" MBP which is probably a huge upgrade from previous gens. The mini starts at 699.... (+200 for 16gb ram, but this may be user-upgradeable) That's crazy cheap for next gen tech. Very interesting! Pretty sure it’s soldered memory, not upgradeable. Max 16GB. So, if you need lots of RAM for sample based VI’s, this might not be a viable option. There’s always a ****ing catch
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Nov 10, 2020 21:00:26 GMT -6
So - is 16gb of this Ram better in this newer computer? Or is ram ram?? This is super tempting to me because right now, my 2012 handles everything really well - I’d really just like to shorten render times and maybe not have to freeze different VIs sometimes. Also like to be able to use Luna a little more efficiently
|
|