Processor Speed Question

Hi,

This is my first post here, and I'll admit I'm a little embarrassed by how little I know. So, bare with me. I work at a recording studio, and have been tasked with researching what its going to take to upgrade our recording system. If anyone knows Pro Tools, or cares, we are currently running an HD|3 rig with PT8 on a 2010 8 core Mac Pro. Obviously time to make some upgrades.

Upgrading the computer is the first link in the chain. And computers are expensive. A new, loaded 12 core Mac Pro costs as much as a decent used Honda. But we need something fast and powerful. I was doing some research and came across this from OWC

Turnkey Program for Apple Mac Pro 2009 or 2010 - Intel Xeon Processor Upgrades for up to 12-Core 3.33GHz

I can send in my CPU tray and they'll upgrade me, and send it back. Looks like I can upgrade to "two x 2.93GHz 6-Core 'Westmere' (Intel X5670, 12-Cores, QPI: 6.4GT/s)" for about 1100 bucks. We'd install a 1TB SSD system drive, upgrade the ram from 16 to 32GB, and call it a day. Total cost about $2100.

In reality I can't upgrade to a new computer because of compatibility issues between the new OS and older software that we simply don't have the money to upgrade (probably $10,000 in plugins). But I want to get the most power out of the machine we're using right now.

So here are my questions:

1.What kind of improvement in processing power would this upgrade give? Would it be comparable in any way to a new Mac Pro?

2. What is the difference in power between a 2.93GHz, 3.33GHz and a 3.46GHz 6 core processor? To my uneducated brain, 2.93 isn't a whole lot less than 3.33, or even 3.46. Yet the 3.33GHz is $600 more than the 2.93GHz and the 3.46 is $1200 more than the 2.93GHz. What is the difference in computing power between the 3?

3. Besides upgrading the CPU, ram, internal storage, is there anything else that can be upgraded to maximize my current machine?

4. Would this be a "wise" investment into this computer? $2100 is a lot to spend on a computer thats coming up on being five years old. Baring any extreme discovery in computing technology, would this computer still be relevant in 4 more years?

Sorry this was so long, hopefully someone can be patient and educate an idiot!!

Thanks so much!

jaminjames said:

1.What kind of improvement in processing power would this upgrade give? Would it be comparable in any way to a new Mac Pro?

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Assuming your software takes advantage of all of the computers cores…CPU benchmarks for various Mac Pro models:

- $2999: quad-core 3.7ghz new Mac Pro = 14426
- $3999: 6-core 3.5ghz new Mac Pro = 20654
- $5499: 8-core 3.0ghz new Mac Pro = 25648
- $6999: 12-core 2.7ghz new Mac Pro = 32797

With the CPU upgrade from OWC:

- 12-core 2.93 benchmark score: 26929
- 12-core 3.06 benchmark score: 26146

Don't ask why the 3.06 is slower than the 2.93. Not sure exactly.

The 12-core 3.33ghz and 12-core 3.46ghz are not configurations offers by Apple…so it's difficult to get benchmark scores for this setup. But they would certainly be faster than the 12-core 3.06ghz setup.

jaminjames said:

2. What is the difference in power between a 2.93GHz, 3.33GHz and a 3.46GHz 6 core processor? To my uneducated brain, 2.93 isn't a whole lot less than 3.33, or even 3.46. Yet the 3.33GHz is $600 more than the 2.93GHz and the 3.46 is $1200 more than the 2.93GHz. What is the difference in computing power between the 3?

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Cost is NOT linear. The higher the CPU speed the MUCH more expensive. I ddn't even know that there was a 3.46ghz upgrade until you mentioned it. Thus this is a very expensive upgrade.

Performance wise (2.93 vs. 3.33 vs. 3.46). If you did the math…each is pretty much faster by the difference in the numbers. Thus 3.46 is about 18% faster than 2.93. Not a lot in my opinion vs. the upgrade price.

jaminjames said:

3. Besides upgrading the CPU, ram, internal storage, is there anything else that can be upgraded to maximize my current machine?

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You could install an SSD.

jaminjames said:

4. Would this be a "wise" investment into this computer? $2100 is a lot to spend on a computer thats coming up on being five years old. Baring any extreme discovery in computing technology, would this computer still be relevant in 4 more years?

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I would probably go for the 2.93ghz 12-core upgrade ($1099). This is the most "bang for the buck" upgrade.

- Nick

I should have mentioned. If you currently have a 2010 8-core 2.4ghz Mac Pro then the benchmark comparison would be (if you went for the 2.93ghz 12-core upgrade):

- 8-core 2.4ghz = 15462
- 12-core 2.93ghz = 26929

So that would be about a 74% increase in CPU performance.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

I should have mentioned. If you currently have a 2010 8-core 2.4ghz Mac Pro then the benchmark comparison would be (if you went for the 2.93ghz 12-core upgrade):

- 8-core 2.4ghz = 15462
- 12-core 2.93ghz = 26929

So that would be about a 74% increase in CPU performance.

- Nick

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Woah! Thank you for the information! Is there a resource for the benchmark numbers?

Also, how has ram speed changed over time (2010 to present) and how much does that play into the performance of a computer? I'm guessing a lot of it depends on the way its utilized by the software?

You can also compare here.

Press "command F", easiest to just enter the 4 digit number portion of the CPU ID to find the one you're looking for.
The scores are the average of those reported and you can hover over the bar and see the number of samples and the number of cores reported - so you can tell whether the test was with a single or dual CPUs - dual CPUs will not double the score - typically you'll get a 70-90% speed boost over a single depending on the application.

Depending on the work you're doing with the machine, you'll may want to check out the benchmarks comparing the video cards between the old and new also - you'll find a tab there to head for GPU benchmarks.

jaminjames said:

Also, how has ram speed changed over time (2010 to present) and how much does that play into the performance of a computer? I'm guessing a lot of it depends on the way its utilized by the software?

Click to expand...

Nothing that's going to compare to a 74% performance increase from an 8-core to 12-core cpu upgrade.

- Nick