Tackling CPU issues?

[ShipwreckSoundWorks]

My computer:
Macbook Pro (Late 2010)
2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor
Memory (recently upgraded, as I thought this would help.. It didn't):
8 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 memory.
How do I tackle the massive 95%+ CPU issues that I'm having when I run all of my software? I was looking at an iMac with a 2.8 quad core i7 processor, 8 GB DDR3 Memory.. Would a processor like that help?

 

[greyskull]

Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce Bounce.
And increase the play back buffer

 

[Rhys Llewellyn]

It really depends what you're doing!

That's a healthy spec system, it should be able to handle a lot so unless you're running convolution reverbs and tonnes of VSTs on low buffers alongside 100 tracks of high quality audio with effects, I'd say there's a fault in your setup or rather there's a conflict somewhere...

I have a very similar spec'ed system which crackles and pops every now and then even when just playing back a single VST synth... It was due to the WiFi card. It's good as gold once deactivated, so that'd be my first port of call.

We need more info though but the classic causes are non-music friendly chipsets on motherboards and FireWire cards (You want TI, not VIA for FireWire cards), outdated drivers (and generic ASIO), WiFi cards/Anti-Virus deactivated...