Windows 10 PC vs Apple Mac Pro 7.1 - Compared For Studio Recording With Real World Test
In this article, we run a power test on a new custom-built Windows 10 computer for studio use. We set out to discover how it compares to Apple’s new Mac Pro 7.1 and share our findings on how the user experience is of this machine when pushed to the max. Have we found a budget-friendly Mac Pro alternative in the Windows 10 machine? Read on to find out…
In February 2020, we tested Apple's new Mac Pro 7.1 courtesy of our friends at Jigsaw24. The results of this test proved that the Mac Pro 7.1 is indeed a competent machine for demanding recording studio applications. It was also the most powerful computer we've ever tested on Production Expert to date. So powerful that we concluded that the Mac Pro 7.1 might negate the need for HDX for some Pro Tools users. Check out our article to find out what we learned from this test.
Is There A Windows Alternative Powerful Enough To Take On Apple’s Mac Pro 7.1?
Over the last 18 months or so I've thought long and hard about what my future studio computer could be. For over a decade I've owned several Mac Pro 5.1 systems which have proved time and again to be not only reliable in daily studio use but excellent value for money as well. I reverted to type when Apple announced the new Mac Pro 7.1. I briefly considered buying one but the price of the entry-level system and specification didn't appeal. Sadly there are no other systems in Apple's current computer line-up that I feel are suitable solutions either for my current studio needs which means for the foreseeable future, Apple computers, which were once a no-brainer studio computer, no longer seem the smart choice for me.
After a lot of research, I decided to switch to a Windows-based PC. These days you can spec a potent machine for a similar price of what Mac Pro 5.1 computers used to cost back in the day.
I recently took delivery of my new Windows 10 computer. The specification of this machine appears quite generous on paper but how does this system compare to the current Mac Pro 7.1 we tested?
Mac Pro 7.1 Specification
Tested February 2020
OS: macOS 10.15.2
Processor: 3.3GHz 12-Core Intel Xeon W
Memory: 64 GB of 2933MHz DDR4 RAM
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro Vega II with 32GB of VRAM.
Custom Windows PC Specification
Tested March 2020
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel i9 14 Core Processor i9-10940X (3.3GHz) 19.25MB Cache
Memory: 128 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000MHz (8 x 16GB)
Graphics: 4GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 - HDMI
The Test - Is This PC More Powerful Than The Mac Pro 7.1 We Tested?
We used our Pro Tools Expert Mac Power Test Session to be able to compare these two different systems fairly.
This test session uses a sample rate of 96KHz to reflect use in many pro recording studios with a hardware buffer size of 256 samples. We performed two tests of the Mac Pro 7.1, one with a single HDX card the other with Pro Tools running natively. We chose not to run an HDX test on this Windows computer for two reasons. We wanted to avoid hitting the voice count of 128 voices and we wanted to compare the differences in native performance between these two machines as most audio engineers run their DAWs and plug-ins natively.
Results Compared With Other Performance Tests
For reference, we’ve included the results of other power tests we performed including our recent Mac Pro 7.1 test. The different results for the mac mini are from two tests which show different results depending on the combination of tracks and plug-ins.
Windows PC Pro Tools Power Test Results Notes
557 instances of Boom
456 instances on Instrument tracks
101 instances on Aux tracks
Our Findings On The Power Test
The results of this Windows PC power test were quite surprising. We were able to outperform the Mac Pro 7.1 we tested earlier in 2020 by a sizeable margin. We managed to double the number of native instances of Eleven, which is a remarkable feat as this particular plug-in is regarded as quite power-hungry. We also managed to add 45 extra instances of Boom on top of what the Mac Pro 7.1 could achieve natively. In terms of sheer power, the Windows machine proves to be well equipped to handle extremely large sessions, but how was the general user experience?
I thought the machine would start to ramp up the speed of the case fans while the number of tracks and plug-in instances increased. This did not happen. Even when Pro Tools finally stopped working with a CPU warning the machine itself was still running whisper quiet. So far, so good, what’s the catch? Graphical and operational performance both started to suffer in Pro Tools as the test grew to its limits. The meters didn’t display smoothly and the cursor lagged which wouldn’t be suitable in a real world session of this size. While this machine proved it could host and playback this huge track count the user experience was severely compromised.
A Worthy Mac Pro 7.1 Alternative That Deserves Consideration
When I ordered this Windows PC I had a hunch its performance could be comparable to the results of our Mac Pro 7.1 test but I didn’t think for one moment this machine would be capable of leaving it in the dust. Of course, a Mac Pro 7.1 with a higher spec would easily outperform this machine but that extra CPU grunt would be at an enormous cost. Let’s not forget the Mac Pro 7.1 we tested wasn't the entry-level system which costs around £6,000, it was in fact more powerful costing around £10,000 which is a sizeable outlay. The Windows machine used in this test cost £2,800 and features several modern conveniences you find in the Mac Pro 7.1 such as Thunderbolt 3 and NVMe storage. Like for like these machine differ in many ways such as price and expandability but when power is concerned, which for some of us is important, there’s really not a lot in it but the Mac Pro would be able to run more smoothly when nearing its limits.
I don’t work on sessions that ever demand maximum computer performance but it’s nice to know I’ve got plenty of headroom in reserve when those occasional big sessions come in which need a lot grunt. This test proved that I have found a Windows PC comparable to a current Mac Pro and that I have a machine that can run quietly when under heavy load, which is an absolute must for me as I record and mix in the same room. A computer that spins its fans in a demanding tracking session is never ideal.
If you own a Mac Pro 5.1 and you are considering an upgrade then Windows based solutions are well worth investigating. In a few months I’ll publish an article which will share my everyday user experiences using this Windows machine and how it differs from working in Mac OS. Owning a computer that didn’t break the bank while offering a boat load of power isn’t always the full real-world picture. For me, I now need to know if this new Windows 10 system suits my everyday studio lifestyle. So far I have no complaints but time will tell if this switch was a good choice or one I live to regret.