Threlly

Cpu Load Per Interface ?

What type of interface should give the lowest CPU load per track ?
Firewire, USB, USB2 ?
Core audio or VST etc ?

One thing to note, on my old PC, if the CPU(3Ghz P4) approached 80% the audio would crack up regardless of interface or application.
But my powerbook continues to provide pretty much crackle-less audio when the CPU load 99-100%...weird or what !
Threlly
www.joyfulprocess.com

Firewire 410 Or Built-in ??

I have moved over from using the PC as my production platform, to the Mac.
I have the 12" G4 1.33Ghz Powebook with the M-Audio Firewire 410 I used on the PC.
When I tried to run the standard demo song in Reason 2.5 on the 410 the CPU was over 50%, when switched to the built in card, it dropped to almost nothing !
Is this usual ?
Would I be better off using ASIO drivers.
I want to use Garageband to get some vocals in, and reason for the backing track, they seem to work well together, but the CPU thing is worrying having just come from a P4 3Ghz.
Would I be better off running DP 4.5 and Reason together instead.
Also (sorry), what is the minimum ram I should have, as at the moment I am struggling with 256Mb !!!


Cheers, Threlly.