Time for new hardware
Hello,
I've been working for several years with my current configurations, but I'm feeling it's time to upgrade my hardware and software for speed considerations, and would like some opinions. I'm currently using Mac OS 10.6.8 and CO 6.4.2 on 2 computers:
Mac Book Pro, 2.33 GHz Intel Core Duo 2, 3 GB ram (max for this computer), for location work
Mac Mini 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB ram, used the most, for studio work and kept bare bones without other software
I know some people don't think the Mac Mini is enough computer for CO, but it has performed great. I shoot mostly product still life with a P45+ Back on a Sinar View camera, so bulk processing is rarely a concern. I'm hoping that an upgrade in hardware will speed up 2 areas; image refresh when I zoom in, and most importantly, live view, which I use constantly. There is currently a 3-4 second delay with live view, and it is rather 'jerky'. I'm hoping these will improve with a faster processor.
The laptop seems to be a no brainer, just buy the fastest Mac currently available, maxed out with ram. Would the fastest Mac Mini out there be a reasonable choice again for my studio computer? Or should I bite the bullet and make it a Mac Pro. Will the speed difference really be noticeable?
Of course, I'll have to upgrade CO as well, which also concerns me after following all the complaints here. Opinions appreciated, and thanks!
Tim
I've been working for several years with my current configurations, but I'm feeling it's time to upgrade my hardware and software for speed considerations, and would like some opinions. I'm currently using Mac OS 10.6.8 and CO 6.4.2 on 2 computers:
Mac Book Pro, 2.33 GHz Intel Core Duo 2, 3 GB ram (max for this computer), for location work
Mac Mini 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB ram, used the most, for studio work and kept bare bones without other software
I know some people don't think the Mac Mini is enough computer for CO, but it has performed great. I shoot mostly product still life with a P45+ Back on a Sinar View camera, so bulk processing is rarely a concern. I'm hoping that an upgrade in hardware will speed up 2 areas; image refresh when I zoom in, and most importantly, live view, which I use constantly. There is currently a 3-4 second delay with live view, and it is rather 'jerky'. I'm hoping these will improve with a faster processor.
The laptop seems to be a no brainer, just buy the fastest Mac currently available, maxed out with ram. Would the fastest Mac Mini out there be a reasonable choice again for my studio computer? Or should I bite the bullet and make it a Mac Pro. Will the speed difference really be noticeable?
Of course, I'll have to upgrade CO as well, which also concerns me after following all the complaints here. Opinions appreciated, and thanks!
Tim
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On the MacBook Pro: consider the processor upgrade option which on some models upgrades the amount of VRAM to 1 GB (on some models that amount is standard) , which is great for OpenCL hardware acceleration. And 16 GB RAM (which is not an Apple option on non-Retina MBPs but possible though).
On the Mac Mini versus Mac Pro: if you feel happy on the current Mac Mini, the new model should be fine for the purpose but video power is lacking, hence to fast preview redraws.
Apple gave a sneak preview on its upcoming Mac Pro yesterday, but is won't arrive in short notice (but probably this year 2013).0 -
T'hanks for the info Paul. For Live View, is the 2-3 second delay and somewhat jerky movement normal, regardless of which computer is used? Or would a tower produce a real live time, smooth result? 0 -
[quote="Timandrews" wrote:
For Live View, is the 2-3 second delay and somewhat jerky movement normal, regardless of which computer is used? Or would a tower produce a real live time, smooth result?
That depends a lot on the camera that you are using, and unfortunately you are using one that is not going to have video smooth fast frame rate live view. The limiting factor is how much data the big sensors would have to push to get that video-like live view, think about that for a second. How much data a medium format back is pushing to the computer and what some of the potential bottle necks would be: the ability to read that much data that quickly off of the sensor, the processor in the back, the tethering speed through Firewire, etc etc etc.
The long and the short of it is that it is going to likely be a long time before you see the kind of live view you can get off of a DSLR in a medium format back... But a DSLR is never going to beat the quality of the image that a MF back can give you. I do wonder if there is a good way to bin pixels in live view to give a 1/2 or 1/4 res feed with a faster refresh, or if that is going on already.
With that said, you might get your hands on an IQ and see if you think it is any better... but keep in mind that any gain is going to be incremental.0 -
Thanks for that info Nathan. It seems that there might not be much point in upgrading my Mac Mini if I will not be gaining any speed in Live View. At the very least, it looks worthwhile to see Apple's hardware coming out later this year. 0 -
[quote="Timandrews" wrote:
... The laptop seems to be a no brainer, just buy the fastest Mac currently available, maxed out with ram. Would the fastest Mac Mini out there be a reasonable choice again for my studio computer? Or should I bite the bullet and make it a Mac Pro. Will the speed difference really be noticeable? ...
Of course it will make a difference, quite a big one when you wait for the new Mac Pro. However, a maxed out mini will perform fine for most tasks.
Your live view speed isn't very much depending on your computer system speed though. Once USB3 is implemented for both your camera and CO, then a bit more. Otherwise USB2 is the max and no problem for most any system to cope with that (even if it is firewire).0
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