Which Machine?

thewitt · Nov 15th, 2004, 10:25 PM

For heavy Audio work, what you recommend:

QS 1Ghz DP
2Mb L3 cache per processor

or

MDD 1.25 DP
1Mb L3 cache per processor

Don't worry about drives or RAM, I have lots of both. Just sitting here looking at two machines and wondering if the extra speed of the MDD makes up for the cache the QS tower has.

Whaddaya think?

Bjornbro · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:07 PM

Hey thewitt, you have one of the specs wrong about the MDD. Speaking as the man who owns one, it has a 2mb L3 cache. Still don't believe me? Need proof? Look at Item #5 here.

That said, it's the MDD all the way baby. Oh! And don't forget to max the RAM. Good luck.

thewitt · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:19 PM

	Quote:
	Still don't believe me?

No, I don't (no hard feelings). Here it is straight from the System Profiler's mouth:

Hardware:

Hardware Overview:

Machine Model: Power Mac G4
CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (3.3)
Number Of CPUs: 2
CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz
L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB
L3 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB
Memory: 768 MB
Bus Speed: 167 MHz

Still don't believe me? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Bjornbro · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:25 PM

Well whaddyaknowbout that? Here is a screenshot from my own dualie:

Go figure... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Is it even possible to downgrade the L3 cache? And why would anyone want to???

iChard · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:28 PM

if it's for pro audio in a studio - beware of noise from the MDD. lots of people here - including myself can tell you of some of the nightmares. Either make sure it's one of the quite machines or if it's not, keep it in the closet! That said, I know people still running legacy systems on Graphite G4's (OS 9 / Pro Tools)

Lots of RAM = lots of plug-ins running.
More many spent now = less future upgrades.

If you're just starting out in audio the QS is great - how many internal drives can they hold again? My MDD holds four which is great for a system drive - audio drive - backup drive etc etc. . .

thewitt · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:36 PM

The QS holds 3 drives (one on the slower buss, good for back ups).

I'm not 'starting out' in audio, this is what I do. Just wonding about these machines.

There are two MDD models, not many folks know that, don't feel bad.

Oh... And I have changed fans before, also not a concern.

Now... Any opinions about the two machines? Again, Pro Audio, don't worry about drives and such, just horsepower, bus speed and L3.

MacDoc?

iChard · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:47 PM

sorry the witt, I don't really know you that well - i work in sub-amateur audio myself . . . might take into consideration which one can hold more RAM as well. cheers!

jfpoole · Nov 15th, 2004, 11:48 PM

There were two models of dual-processor 1.25GHz G4 MDD PowerMacs -- one had FireWire 400 and 2MB of L3 cache per processor, while the other had FireWire 800, Bluetooth, Airport EXTREME!, and 1MB of L3 cache per processor.

Macaholic · Nov 16th, 2004, 12:25 PM

Hey there, TheWitt. In my spare time when not tending to my duties at ehMac, I'm a professional composer [img]tongue.gif[/img]

My vote is for the MDD. It has a faster memory bus, faster processors -- AND FOUR RAM SLOTS. The Quicksilver only has three. if you want to do virtual sampling/synthesis (I am a heavy user of Logic Audio's EXS24 virtual sampler), then the more RAm the merrier -- not to mention (again) about other plugins loving RAM (like convolution reverb plugs)