Message
Re: [Logic_Cafe] Disappointed
2005-02-02 by GAmoore@aol.com
Ultimately a single computer has a single bus. One CPU can't access RAM
while the other is accessing it.
I'm no expert but I am not so sure about this. What if one CPU grabs some data from RAM then processes it on the next clock cycle while the 2nd CPU accesses the RAM? I don't know how Logic implements dual processors now - but before it used to be that one CPU handled the MIDI and the user interface and graphics and the other did Audio I think. So one processor might be talking to the graphics buss while the other is ram processing.
Having two CPUs will never double the speed
of the computer - as the real world tests you provided show.
In the case of a photoshop filter, if the task is divided half for each processor, it can be pretty close to twice as fast. That "parallel processing" - which we will be seeing more and more. In fact one of the Apple rumor sites says that there is a dual core G4 coming out soon.
I am also
thinking of buying a G5 and if I do, it will either be the 20" iMac or the
1.8 Dual that you are thinking of buying. The iMac is a much better value
overall
That is not clear. The imac is single processor isn't it? Isn't the bus speed slower? No digital audio in/out. No powercore, no scsi, no graphics board upgrade, the lack of upgradability means you need to replace it sooner. Apple usually hobbles these in various ways.
Although I really hate having cables all over my workspace
The joy of being a modern musician. I got some of those hooks you hang over the door to hang shirts, and use them to hold cables without being tightly coiled. I also went to the hardware store got some of those plastic ties to bundle cables.
the difference
in cost is significant
Is it? $1500 for a G5 single processor steel tower and about the same for an imac depending on the speed.
I also may wait for OS 10.4 to come out before I buy.
You might have to wait a few months after it comes out. I have bought a mac after one OS came out but it was still boxed with the previous system.