[Elixir]

ok so the new macbooks dont come with an option to have automatic cpu speedstepping turned on or off.

i've been surfing the ableton forums and some are saying that apples new cpu algorythms have been implemented to allow for better battery life.

apparently the cpu does not kick in full gear unless it is under heavy load and even then it might still not give up the full cpu for you to use.

its been noticed that the cpu under one core does not max out or achieve full potential unless the second core is being challeneged as well.

so in conclusion it is difficult to get the macbook to run at full cpu speeds unless both cores are running...

is this truly because apple wanted to keep battery life up? is this speedstepping flawed considering your paying for 2.0 but in actuality you're getting a 1.0?


someone with some knowledge please chime in

[mduell]

That is mostly correct. The system will decrease the clockrate (down to about 800Mhz) and even shut off one core if the demand for CPU time is low enough. A standard feature for Intel's mobile chips.

Flawed? Far from it! it allows you to have more battery life and a cooler laptop when you don't need the full performance of two 2Ghz cores. When you do need the performance, they will both clock up "instantly"; it's a seamless operation for the user.

[Elixir]

yes but the debat is if apple's algorythms are off.

because when ableton live users start to tax the machine, the speedstep wont work right and sounds will begin to pop.


however i guess this has to do with more of ableton's software code and the way its using one core than apple.

i guess the main issue is it wouldve been nice to incorporate an option to allow full use of the cpu. which they did in the last powerbook models but now not in the macbooks.


how come?

[mduell]

As far as I know, none of the Speedstep logic was developed by Apple; it's all developed by Intel, and used by everyone who buys their chips.

"Full use" of the CPU is available as soon as an app needs it.

Does Ableton Live work fine on Intel laptops running Windows? If so I'd guess it's a bug in OSX or the OSX port of Live causing the popping sounds.

[Elixir]

not sure about it running windows with the same chips.

it might be ableton, it might not be fully written right yet... its still beta.




however i still dont see why apple cant give us that option to turn off the stepping function.

[Maflynn]

Dumb question, but on my powerbook's preference panes, I can select the cpu performance - automatic, highest, reduced. Does the MPB not have this, or is this speedstepping an additional battery enhancing ability?

[Elixir]

Originally Posted by Maflynn

Dumb question, but on my powerbook's preference panes, I can select the cpu performance - automatic, highest, reduced. Does the MPB not have this, or is this speedstepping an additional battery enhancing ability?

which rev do you have? the early powerbooks did not have them, then they did have them, and if i remember correctly the last rev did not.



i have no idea why.

this is why i'm asking why cant apple just give us that cpu preference option?

[mrmister]

Because Apple is just implementing hooks into the CPUs built-in performance tools, and I believe Intel advises manufacturers that the speed of its switching is faster/better than human control. As you noted, later G4 PowerBooks do something similar.

[Elixir]

ok so its safe to say unless apple runs their own test and concludes the speedstepping as flawed or if apple users complain enough which it would then be in apples interest to give us the option

we prob wont get one (if ever) for a long time.



i guess at this point software companies need to start using both cores.



thanks for everyones help.

[Morn]

But it needs an override. I mean, use suffers of a whiny macbook need a better way to change the CPU's sleep modes than things like mirror widget.