"Nehalem Mac Pros Have Serious Problems With Audio Processing" - Gizmodo Article

[Ironbird Studios]

I was just about to buy a Mac Pro, as my PPC G5 is quickly becoming a dinosaur...then my friend sent me this recent article:

Nehalem Mac Pros Have Serious Problems With Audio Processing - Mac Pro audio problems - Gizmodo

I've read threads about random compatibility issues with different DAW versions & OS versions.

But this is such a broad, general claim that I don't know whether to believe it or not. And I know that many users run these machines, I don't know how this could be legit...but it was on the internet so it must be true!

Any thoughts from 2009 Mac Pro users?
Do I have a reason to be concerned about a purchase?
If I buy a new model off the Apple Store will it be the "Late 2009" model that the article refers to?

Thanks for your help,
gee_lo

[Alndln]

If there is a problem, it would be processor related or chipset related from the sounds of it.

[Jack Orff]

I have a 2009 2.66 Ghz Quad-Core Nehalem here, OS 10.6.2

I read the Gizmodo err article/post/blog whatever, and have just tested for the same issue.

Not running iTunes and then booting up iTunes and playing some audio made absolutely no difference to the CPU usage, well, like 0.2%. I took some screen shots should you wish to see them.

These days I don't tend to notice my CPU usage, it's sweet as....

Not sure there was a late 2009 model though I've read there's new 6-cores due to be released any day now. But I think Apple seem to have had other priorities recently.

[Alndln]

It appears the description and solutions are in this thread here.

• Could this be why the Nehalem Mac's aren't faster?

[synthoid]

Originally Posted by Jack Orff

I
Not running iTunes and then booting up iTunes and playing some audio made absolutely no difference to the CPU usage, well, like 0.2%. I took some screen shots should you wish to see them.

These days I don't tend to notice my CPU usage, it's sweet as....

The problem that's been widely reported is a sharp increase in CPU temperature. It is said to make a difference to CPU utilization, but the primary symptom and what has gotten all the attention is the CPU temp shooting up from 30C or so to something like 60C.

I've also got a 2009 nehalem 8-core system, and I've been running istat menus as I work (mostly in Logic, but I played some stuff through iTunes and Quicktime just to see). I'm not able to get my CPU temps to budge -- they hang around 43C for CPU A and 33C for CPU B, no matter what I'm doing. In other words, I can't reproduce this problem on my system.

I'm not using a firewire or USB audio interface, dunno if that has anything to do with it.

-synthoid

[Jack Orff]

same here, can't reproduce the problem (with or without firewire audio device attached). This has become big news on the interweb and yet, to me, smacks of anti-Apple propaganda (i.e. works fine under Windows bootcamp!)

[Firechild]

gee-lo, if it is a problem or not...Please hold your horses a couple of weeks. It is very close for a brandnew macPro line to arrive.

[Ironbird Studios]

Originally Posted by Firechild

gee-lo, if it is a problem or not...Please hold your horses a couple of weeks. It is very close for a brandnew macPro line to arrive.

Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate the reassurance that many owners are not able to reproduce this problem.

I think I am going to go with Firechild's suggestion, and wait for the new Mac Pro line if it is that close. Thanks for that info!

Thanks!

[Squawk]

Audio Processing Causing Heat and Performance Issues for Nehalem Mac Pros - Mac Rumors

Nehalem Mac Pros take 20% performance hit when playing audio

[Ironbird Studios]

Mac Pro Audio Update Seen as Fixing Performance Issues - Mac Rumors

I am still holding out for the new Mac Pro though.