I am considering a Dual Xeon CPU Set up for Pro Tools LE

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2005 5:46 pm

I have a Digi002 rack set up and I am currently using a P4 3.2 GHZ CPU. I record mainly acoustic based music, with little to no MIDI used at all. I don't usually track with effects to 'tape' so needless to say, there are a lot of plugin's being used when it comes time to mix down.

I have recently installed a UAD-1 which seems to help quite a bit but I don't want to be restricted only to using UAD plugs. I am looking at upgrading to a Dual Xeon Processor Motherboard and CPU and I am wondering if anyone here has used a Double Xeon Processor setup on an Pro Tools LE system (on PC of course).

I am not a computer idiot and I know that theoretically a dual CPU 'should' allow more plug-in's - but I am more interested in someone who has first hand knowledge on whether or not it worked for him or her. Please refrain from directing me to the digidesign website Evil or Very Mad

- which I have already scanned and I have already spoken with a digidesign CSR.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated, thanks. Smile

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 10:48 am

I thought Protools didn't work with dual processors? Or is this a vicious rumour.

I seem to remember reading this on a digidesign compatability document.

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2005 12:57 pm

Im using PTLE just fine on a PowerMac 2.0 dual; not sure dual=more plugins though...

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:28 am

Hey, apparently there are new processors in the pipeline (from Intel) due for Q2 2005. I believe they are releasing their new 'dual core' chips... They say this is the first "non-linear" shift in cpu performance in a while.. which means a sh!tload of grunt Cool

I'd wait a bit Wink

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 10:30 am

I use a Dual Xeon 2.4 with my PT HD system. It most definitely makes a difference with plugins. I also have 6Gb of RAM. Huge processing power won't do much unless you have the RAM and buss speeds to match up.

Dual architecture allows for more processing power in the same box. Supercomputers use the same basic theory, but using multiple machines. Mucho power!

However there is a limitation to how much data can be passed back and forth through the i/o bus (Firewire uses the PCI bus) so don't bother with the fastest processors, The i/o buss will generally reach saturation point before your processors do.

In an LE system you shouldn't really have that much difficulty with the machine you have.

What is your setup??? RAM, Chipset etc. And just how many plugs do you run at once.

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