What is a good "stress test" for a G4?

[jcrichardson30360]

A buddy of mine has given me a MDD Dual 1 to potentially replace my QS 867 with a 1.4 processor upgrade, and was wanting to know of a good ap to put it through it's paces to know if it would eeveen be worth switching over.

This computer is mainly to run Pro Tools LE, so ANY performance increase would be worth it for me as I try to eek a little more life before I need to do the BIG upgrade.

[MacMagus]

So you're not looking for a stress test so much as a benchmark?

Xbench.
http://www.xbench.com/

[TheTominator]

Exporting DV footage (e.g. iMovie) to MP4 with the H.264 codec is pretty darned taxing. QuickTime will use both processors to do it. You should see a performance difference between the two machines there by timing the activity.

You can get a similar test using the "Convert Selection to iPod" in the Advanced menu of iTunes 7 using an arbitrary (non iPod-ready) movie file.

[jcrichardson30360]

Yes I was hoping for more of something that would make any flaws come out.

If I keep his computer, he wants my old one in return since he just needs a modest system to run a few basic aps and email.

I would just hate to switch everything over only to find out in a couple of weeks some MAJOR problem with the system that didn't surface with just light computing. Make sense?

[TheTominator]

Run the Hardware Test software that came with the System Restore CD (or DVD).

And/or run the diagnostic software of TechTool Pro (commercial) or TechTool Deluxe (included with AppleCare).

[incognegro]

Run iTunes with the visualizer on, Power Fractal set to automatic refresh mode, Solar System Simulator if you like.

http://www.daugerresearch.com/fractals/p...ctal.shtml
http://www.daugerresearch.com/SSS/index.shtml

[edgarbc1]

how about the D-verb test (search the DUC for d-verb test specifics)
duc.digidesign.com
or
the davec test which are specifically for protools?
http://www.studiofx.ca/Protools/PT_Test_7-Pack.htm


test your current machine
and then test your potentially new machine
and compare...

RAM and a 2nd hard drive specifcally for recording
is the key for many instances of plugins and tracks.

here is a link for a thread discussing mac scores for the davec test
http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB24&Number=929252&Forum=f24&Words=unsupported%20davec&Searchpage=0&Limit=100&Main=918685&Search=true&where=sub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post929252

forgot to ask.. what is the bus speed of the Quiksilver 1.4 Ghz vs the MDD 1Ghz?
that is likely the hardware bottleneck difference between the two systems..

the later MDDs had 167 Mhz bus' and the earlier ones were less.. i cant remember
133?

[cbelt3]

Perhaps I'm stating the obvious, but why not run it from your 'main' system drive (Target Disk mode ) and run the app you normally run, and see how it looks and feels ? At the end of the day its performance to you, the user, is all that will really matter.

Benchmarks and other geeky ' tests' attempt to define acceptability based on how the system uses itself. Skip that. Just use it.

[jcrichardson30360]

Man I toatally forgot about the davec test!!!

Yes the bus speed is 167 Mhz VS 133 Mhz.

Thanks edgarbc1, I'll do the hardware test first to make sure everything checks out and then do the davec test.

Thanks everybody!!

Now if I can only locate the hardware test cd...