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All text and image links lead to Amazon unless stated otherwise. All product scores are based on ProRec’s in-house scoring model
| Thumbnail | Desktops for Ableton Live | ProRec Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 9.1 | Check Price on Amazon | |
 | 8.9 | Check Price on Amazon | |
 | 8.2 | Check Price on Amazon |
Introduction
If you’ve dug around for the best possible machines for Ableton, in terms of performance and features, you’ve probably considered a desktop over a laptop for your production setup. Unlike laptops, desktops offer a lot of customization options to fit your exact needs (especially in comparison to MacBooks). However, navigating the numbers and various combinations can be a bit disorientating unless you know exactly what you’re looking for.
Your choice in platform will be the most consequential, weeding out what products don’t fit your needs. Windows vs. mac OS is an age-old question that mostly boils down to personal preference, however, there are some merits to both. With Windows, you get a bigger ecosystem of creative apps than mac OS, since it has significantly more users with a market share of 74%. Both operating systems have exclusive apps, however, most of the popular DAWs such as FL Studio, and Pro Tools, run perfectly fine on both platforms.
When choosing the best desktop for Ableton, Windows will take a bit more effort to get all the file paths and plugin installations right initially. Mac is a lot more straightforward and generally provides more stability with your hardware such as audio interfaces, mixers, and synths. The OS also manages resources like RAM and storage more efficiently. Macs also offer more utility if you already use other Apple devices, since their ecosystem is heavily integrated. However, Windows computers are a lot more budget friendly. At the end of the day, what OS you go for is more a matter of preference than anything else. Ableton will do just fine regardless of whether you run it on Windows or mac OS.
Next, your choice in CPU will determine how much computation your machine can handle at once. This will affect how well you can run multiple tracks with FX, how quickly your projects render, and how many timelines you can work on in parallel. While digital signal processing is sequential and higher clock speeds do help with longer audio chains, Ableton is able to make use of up to 64 cores, so a good mix of clock speed and cores will cover most projects. If in doubt, you can always go for a gaming PC for music production since their requirements are very similar.
AMD generally offers more cores than Intel at a lower price point on their Ryzen processors. With Apple, there are fewer options but their M2 lineup performs really well in the regular, Pro, and Max versions. Whatever CPU you get, the processing heavily depends on how much memory you have. If your use case isn’t as heavy (e.g Podcasting or Voice Overs), then you’ll be okay with pretty much any processor, otherwise, you need to pay attention to the config accordingly.
While 16GB will get you by, it won’t be enough to run 3rd party plugins such as SSLs, synths, or Kontakt, We recommend 32GB of RAM at 3000 MHz as a sweet spot to give you the best performance. With music production, more RAM will almost always improve performance since it gives DAWs more cache to work with, as well as more headroom for VSTs, plugins, and multitasking.
Storage can run out quickly as projects pile on. To get the most out of your device, we recommend at least a 1TB SSD to start with, and adding an HDD for archiving old tracks, and backing up important projects, rendered music, and presets. We generally recommend adding repositories like your audio packs on the secondary drive so it doesn’t clog up space.
Finally, you need to make sure your device has the right connectivity and form factor. The motherboard should be able to accommodate your production equipment with enough room to add in your mixers, synths, and your audio interface through the Thunderbolt or USB ports. Similarly, if you have a smaller space then Mini PCs are a better option than desktop towers. Whichever device you end up choosing, it’s important that it caters to your needs, regardless of the platform.
Minimum System Requirements for Ableton
Ableton Live 11
| Windows | mac OS |
| Windows 10 (Build 1909 and later), Windows 11 | macOS High Sierra 10.13 to Monterey 12 |
| Intel® Core™ i5 processor or an AMD multi-core processor | Intel® Core™ i5 processor, Apple silicon |
| 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| 1366×768 display resolution | 1280×800 display resolution |
| ASIO compatible audio hardware for Link support (also recommended for optimal audio performance) | Core Audio compliant audio interface recommended |
Ableton Live 10
| Windows | mac OS |
| Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 | macOS El Capitan 10.11.6 to Monterey 12 (as of 10.1.42) |
| 64-bit Intel® (Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended) or AMD multi-core processor. | Intel® Core™2 Duo processor. Intel® Core™ i5 processor or faster recommended, Apple Silicon using Rosetta (as of 10.1.35) |
| 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended) | 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended) |
| 1366×768 display resolution | 1280×800 display resolution |
| ASIO compatible audio hardware for Link support (also recommended for optimal audio performance) | Core Audio compliant audio interface recommended |
Source: Minimum System Requirements Official Ableton Live Page
Best Desktop for Ableton Reviews
All text and image links lead to Amazon unless stated otherwise. All product scores are based on ProRec’s in-house scoring model
The Mac Mini comes with the newest addition to Apple’s own M-series silicon SoCs, the M2 Pro. It is designed with two more cores than its predecessor, the M1 Pro. This two core upgrade is substantial since the additional cores are both performance cores. Running Ableton, our tests with multiple tracks and plugins confirmed as much, with the newer M2 showing an 18% jump in performance. Even with relatively heavy workloads, we found there was substantial headroom beyond what we needed for processing.
Being based on a 5nm manufacturing process, the efficient processor doesn’t heat up a lot, even with heavy load. You will see some throttling with prolonged heavy use, which is caused by a mix of the design of the fans and software. We found that the fan doesn’t kick into high gear at the right temperatures, and the curve of the blades isn’t the best, causing heat to build up. There isn’t too much noise on the fans unless it’s at max RPM. You can easily record audio if the Mini is a bit of a distance away.
The 16GB of unified memory allows for a reasonable amount of plugins and tracks, however, it will struggle if loaded with tons of memory intensive work. Unless you’re using a ridiculous amount of plugins and effects, the memory will suffice. The Mini’s 512GB of storage will be enough for your ongoing projects, however, for backups and archiving, we recommend getting an external SSD to expand storage.
One notable issue we found was that the storage on the new Mini was slower than the M1 version. We did some digging and found that Apple went from two 256GB NAND chips in the previous model to a single 512GB NAND chip on the newer one. This slashes read and write speeds on the new Mac Mini considerably. However, it is still snappy, and you won’t notice it too much unless you work with really large files.
The port selection on the Mac Mini is really good. It comes with 4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB-A ports, 1 HDMI port, an ethernet port, and a headphone jack. Since a lot of newer hardware has switched to Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, the ports are fairly future-proof. The fewer overall ports will need solutions like docks and dongles for expansion if you plan on connecting more hardware.
We recommend connecting your core equipment like the audio interfaces and synths directly to the ports, since Ableton does cause issues when used with daisy-chained hubs and adapters.
The Mini’s chassis has a small footprint measuring 7.75 x 7.75 x 1.41 inches, so the device can be tucked away in small spaces. This is particularly useful when you’re cramped for space, however, we still recommend you give it enough space to draw in fresh air so it doesn’t heat up. It is surprisingly portable, weighing 2.8 pounds.
In summation, the Mac Mini M2 offers heavy performance concentrated in a small form factor. It provides a decent amount of RAM and storage, along with a good selection of ports that can easily be expanded as needed. The Mini’s access to the Apple ecosystem gives it additional utility beyond its physical specs.
Mac Mini M2 Pro Benefits
The new M2 Pro processor handles DAWs like Ableton well, yielding better render times with more plugins.
The compact chassis size allows you to save space if you have a small studio setup.
The port selection is excellent with its multiple Thunderbolt ports, prioritizing newer hardware.
Mac Mini M2 Pro Drawbacks
The single NAND chip on the Mini’s SSD sacrifices read and write speeds for affordability, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable unless you work with large files.
The thermal design raises temperatures under heavy sustained load, however, for most applications, The Mini runs cool.
The 16GB of memory will fill up quickly if you add too many plugins, which shouldn’t be an issue with most use cases.
All text and image links lead to Amazon unless stated otherwise. All product scores are based on ProRec’s in-house scoring model
Dell’s XPS 8940 is another budget addition to their prebuilt roster. The XPS comes with an Intel Core i7 11700 clocked at 2.5 GHz, boosting up to 4.9 GHz. It has an appreciable core count, offering 8 cores and 16 threads. In terms of performance, the 11th gen i7 yielded 23% better results than the 8th gen counterpart on its predecessor, the XPS 8930.
Having support for up to 64 cores, Ableton utilizes the extra cores and the higher clock speed on the newer model well, giving us better render times, and allowing us to add more tracks and FX to our timelines. The XPS didn’t quite catch up to the Mac Mini, lagging behind by 42.5%. This won’t matter on most workloads, however the Mini will perform faster on heavy rendering projects.
As is the case with most budget prebuilts, the XPS’s thermal management isn’t the best under sustained load and heavy applications. You could remedy it with another fan, however, there isn’t an extra cable to connect an additional fan, so the upgrade will require a SATA to 3-Pin PWM adapter to work. Thermals aside, the fans don’t produce much noise, which is perfect for a recording setup.
The unit comes with 32GB of DDR4 RAM, which is excellent for heavy DAW production. Even with large projects, you’d really have to be trying to run out of usable memory. With the addition of a 512GB NVMe SSD, and a 1TB HDD, the machine provides enough storage for both active projects, and archives and backups. You won’t need to upgrade any time soon, however, when needed, you can always slot in another SSD/HDD in one of the three SATA bays.
The connectivity on the XPS is one of the best we’ve found in consumer desktops based on the number of ports. Between the front and the rear, it houses 7 USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and 1 USB Type-C port, along with the SD Card Reader, and the usual audio jacks. This will more than accommodate your audio interface, synths, mixers, and anything else you’d want to connect.
The footprint of the XPS 8940 isn’t too big, with dimensions 12.13 x 6.65 x 14.45 inches, weighing 18.08 pounds. The chassis is proprietary however, so the size isn’t standard, which also means it comes with a proprietary motherboard. This leaves a somewhat restricted upgrade path since the non-standard hardware is harder to find and expensive to replace. This shouldn’t hinder you too much, since you can upgrade the most crucial parts, i.e., the RAM, storage, and the processor (up to an i9 11700k).
Like the motherboard, the 360w power supply is proprietary as well. This is more than enough for any production applications, and has plenty of juice in it to add substantial upgrades and equipment. Replacing the PSU would be a problem if you require a GPU for other applications, however, for DAWs like Ableton, CPU performance is all you really need. The build quality and cable management could have been better, however, it won’t matter since it mostly stays in one place.
In a nutshell, Dell’s XPS 8940 is a well-rounded budget desktop that will fulfill all your production needs. The powerful CPU, the high-volume RAM and storage provide an excellent DAW experience, and the motherboard has ample options for meaningful upgrades.
Dell XPS 8940 Benefits
The Intel Core i7 11700 provides a high core count with greater clock speeds that DAWs like Ableton perform well with.
The 32GB of RAM provides enough memory for a professional production setup, and will be hard to fully utilize, and the 1.5TB of combined SSD/HDD storage provide ample active and deep storage.
The 10 assorted USB ports on offer provide more connectivity than most consumer desktops on the market.
Dell XPS 8940 Drawbacks
The thermal design causes the device to heat up, however, adding another fan fixes the issue entirely.
The excessive proprietary hardware does get difficult to upgrade and replace, but there are options available since Dell is a big manufacturer.
Working with internals can get difficult with the awkward cable management, however, you won’t have to mess around with it too much anyway.
All text and image links lead to Amazon unless stated otherwise. All product scores are based on ProRec’s in-house scoring model
The ThinkCentre M80s is from Lenovo’s business line of SFF (Small Form Factor) machines. It comes with an i5 10500, clocking at 3.1 GHz, and turbo boosting up to 4.5 GHz under load. The chip has 6 physical cores and 12 threads. Performance on Ableton was stable throughout our testing, owing to the higher base clock, which DAWs generally work well with. We didn’t encounter any stutters, even when working with multiple tracks with different plugins.
However, it wasn’t able to handle demanding workflows as easily as the XPS or the Mac Mini, falling behind the two by 17% and 116% respectively. The difference isn’t too noticeable in most cases, but it is very apparent during heavier processing.
The machine is encased in a small chassis, which is economical with space, however, it’s not good for thermals. The device started to warm up as we worked different timelines and began to throttle with sustained load during long renders. Granted, most workflows won’t be as strenuous as our stress tests, however, the extra headroom is nice to have. The fans are mostly silent, however, the machine gets the fan spinning often as temperatures rise. For recording applications, an isolated vocal booth will be required.
The M80s comes with 32GB of RAM, paired with a 1TB NVMe SSD. For professional DAW production, this is a good starting point to give you enough memory to run multiple tracks, timelines, and be comfortable using memory-intensive VST instruments and plugins. The storage is enough for your active projects, and has some headroom to archive and back up files, however, depending on how large your projects are, you might need to consider adding in a 1TB drive for deep storage.
The IdeaCentre does well with connectivity, offering 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a microphone jack in the front, and 4 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a microphone jack, an HDMI port, and 2 DisplayPort ports in the rear. Altogether, the 9 USB ports allow for a lot of connectivity for your production equipment.
The dimensions of the chassis are 11.7 x 3.6 x 13.4 inches, weighing 11.6 lbs. The build quality is good, however, there isn’t a lot of room for expansion with limited connectors on the motherboard. Devices in this form factor usually don’t have too much in the way of upgrades. The 260W power supply runs the hardware well, and has room for minor upgrades, so long as you don’t add in a GPU, which isn’t a DAW requirement anyway.
Overall, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M80s offers quite a lot of performance for the price. The 32GB of RAM keeps workflows smooth in the cache, the 1TB storage gives plenty of room to store your files, and the connectivity is plenty for your audio interface, synths, mixers, and other equipment.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M80s Benefits
The addition of 32GB of RAM helps in production since DAWs perform well with more memory.
The connectivity provides more than enough ports to plug in your studio setup and still have room left over.
The 1TB NVMe SSD provides enough storage for your project files, and some archiving.
Lenovo ThinkCentre M80s Drawbacks
The small form factor combined with the limited airflow heats up the device under continuous load, however, the temperatures remain cool in most applications.
Upgradability will be a challenge since chassis real-estate is limited, and the 260W power supply doesn’t come with many connectors.
The fans produce quite a bit of noise to combat the heat, which can be remedied by isolating your recording area.
Verdict
Based on our scoring model, you can see the highest variance in the Processor and Additional Features categories. The M2 Pro on the Mini stood out especially for its exceptional performance, earning a 10 in the Processor category, 9 in Price to Performance, and 9.5 in Additional Features. The XPS and IdeaCentre both score 9.5 in RAM for their impressive 32GB of memory. Additionally, the XPS also scores ahead of the two in the storage and connectivity categories.
The Mac Mini performs respectably in all categories. The system offers a ton of Additional Features such as better onboard graphics, stability, hardware support, and seamless connectivity with Apple devices. It scores less than its competition on RAM and Storage, however, this is somewhat mitigated by macOS’s exceptional resource management, providing the best overall performance of the lot. For the price, the Mini is a complete ready-to-go package that you can set and forget, which is handy when you don’t want to rack your brain on technical specs.
While it falls behind on a couple of categories, Dell’s XPS 8940 provides performance on a budget. The XPS possesses more potential for working on tracks in parallel and multitasking than the Mini with its massive 32GB of memory. It also comes with a lot more storage for your projects without the need for an external drive. With the combined 1.5TB of storage, you won’t need to worry about upgrading any time soon. Compared to the Mac Mini, the XPS falls short of winning by just 0.2 points.
All things considered, the Mac Mini M2 Pro earns its place as the best desktop for Ableton, scoring 9.1 points across all categories based on our testing. Between its powerful M2 Pro Apple Silicon, future-proof port selection, and the range of additional features like the stability of macOS, hardware integration, onboard graphics, and parity with other Apple devices – the Mac Mini provides the best possible deal for the price, and warrants a good recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of Computer do I need to run Ableton?
The requirements to run Ableton are slightly different depending on the version you have. For Ableton Live 11, you’ll need a machine with either Windows (10 or 11), or macOS (High Sierra 10.13 to Monterey 120), with an i5 processor or an Apple silicon chip with a minimum of 8GB of RAM. For Ableton Live 10, you need a device with macOS El Capitan 10.11.6 to Monterey 12, or Windows 7, 8, or 10, with at least 4GB of RAM.
Additionally, for your audio hardware, you’ll need to make sure they have ASIO compatibility for Link support on Windows, and Core Audio compliance on macOS.
How much RAM do I need for Ableton?
DAWs like Ableton provide better performance with more RAM. For a usable experience with light usage, 16GB of RAM will suffice, however for professional production, we recommend at least 32GB.
How many Cores do you need for Ableton?
The number of cores you need will vary depending on the type of work you do. However, a minimum of 4 cores is recommended for optimal performance. Ableton is able to make use of up to 64 cores, however, so having more will almost always provide a boost in performance.
Does my Computer come with Ableton already installed?
DAWs don’t generally come pre-installed on your operating system and will have to be manually installed from either the company website, through an optical disc, or using a pen drive with the software preloaded.
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