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  #1  
Old 04-02-2010, 09:01 PM
Bill Mellow Bill Mellow is offline
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Default CPU spikes with 003

Hello all, I've been trying to trouble shoot a frustrating issue with my new system that I built a month ago.

Protools 8.01cs1
003 Factory
Win XP sp3
(sandra report below)

The problem is when I load up Protools, one of the cores on my CPU goes crazy and looks like it is almost oscillating on the Windows task manager view. It rides up to about 80% then back down to about 10% over and over. This is with a completely empty session. The average CPU(RTAS) usage in Protools is sitting at about 3%, but the spike is visible. Changing the playback engine H/W buffer size from 64 to 1024 greatly reduces the spike, but it is still there. I've also tried changing the number of host processors from 1 to all the way to 8 with no change.

I've been trying the typical solutions usually suggested here on the DUC to try and figure out what is causing this but I stumbled upon something tonight that is leading me to believe that it might be a firewire issue. I own a Mbox micro as well so I tried it and the problem went away completely.

I'm using a certified firewire card (SIIG NN-440012-S8), I've also tried removing it and using the onboard port and there is no change.

Any thoughts, tips or comments are welcome!

Thanks
Bill




SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : System manufacturer System Product Name
Workgroup : MELLOW
Host Name : bmdesktop
User : Billyum

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz
Speed : 3GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 4x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L2 On-board Cache : 4x 256kB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L3 On-board Cache : 8MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size, 8 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : Asus P7P55D-E
BIOS : AMI 0711 02/22/2010
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR3

Chipset
Model : ASUS Clarksfield/Lynnfield DMI
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.41GHz (4.82GHz)

Chipset
Model : Intel Core Desktop (Lynnfield) UnCore
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 2.41GHz (4.82GHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DIMM DDR3
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 804MHz (1.6GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Corsair CMD4GX3M2A1600C8 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)
Memory Module : Corsair CMD4GX3M2A1600C8 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)

Video System
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX (24 PS3.0, 8 VS3.0 679MHz, 512MB DDR3 2x797MHz, PCIe 1.00 x16)
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX (24 PS3.0, 8 VS3.0 679MHz, 512MB DDR3 2x797MHz, PCIe 1.00 x16)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
WDC WD1001FALS-00E3A0 (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache) : 932GB (E:) (F:)
ST3320620AS (320GB, SATA300, 3.5", NCQ, 16MB Cache) : 298GB (G:)
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : 4GB (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
Main (E:) : 195GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1001FALS-00E3A0 (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Docs (F:) : 736GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD1001FALS-00E3A0 (1TB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Audio (G:) : 298GB (NTFS) @ ST3320620AS (320GB, SATA300, 3.5", NCQ, 16MB Cache)
HARMONY_DVD (D:) : 4GB (UDF) @ TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : ASUS P55/PM55/3400 LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : T0 B3-53h
Audio Device : ASUS P55/PM55/3400 High Definition Audio
Serial Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : ASUS P55/PM55/3400 4 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller : ASUS P55/PM55/3400 2 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller : ASUS JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID Controller
Disk Controller : ASUS 914Dh
USB Controller 1 : ASUS P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller 2 : ASUS P55/PM55/3400 USB2 Enhanced Host Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 1 : Avlab Technology TSB43AB23 1394a-2000 OHCI PHY/link-layer Controller
FireWire/1394 Controller 2 : ASUS VT6306 VIA Fire II IEEE-1394 OHCI Link Layer Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

Network Services
Network Adapter : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet, 1Gbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86
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  #2  
Old 04-02-2010, 09:32 PM
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TOM@METRO TOM@METRO is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

Are you running any 3rd party plug-ins that may involve outdated versions or questionable authorizations?
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Formerly hobotom

Pro Tools Ultimate 2024 HDX Hybrid
HD Omni and 192 I/Os
Windows 10
Intel Hexcore i7
All Samsung Pro SSDs
Ampex MM1200 2" 24 trk tape
Outboard: UREI, Eventide, Lexicon, Yamaha, TC Electronics, Orban, ART, EchoAudio, Dolby, Hughes, API, Neve, Audio Arts, BBE, Aphex, Berringer, MOTU, dbx, Allison, etc.
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  #3  
Old 04-02-2010, 09:58 PM
Bill Mellow Bill Mellow is offline
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Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 18
Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

The only plugins that I have installed other then the ones that came with ver8.0 and the 003 Factory bundle are:

Eleven LE
Transfuser
DV toolkit 2
Steven Slate Drums.
Line6 Pod Farm

As far as I can tell they are all up to date with the exception of Transfuser, as I haven't purchased the new AIR instrument bundle yet (Hope to soon though!)

The thing that is throwing me for a loop is that the USB Mbox Micro doesn't have these issues on the same system. I also just noticed that the same cpu spiking happen when I use Reason 4 with the Digi ASIO driver and the 003. The problem disappears when I use Reason 4 with the Mbox Micro.

Its a real head scratcher!
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  #4  
Old 04-02-2010, 10:15 PM
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TOM@METRO TOM@METRO is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

You may have a corrupt Digi or system firewire driver. Try re-installing both in device manager. You may also need to check for an IRQ issue with the F/W port.

EDIT: Also try a new firewire cable. And don't hot swap the devices, shut everything down first.
__________________
~ tom thomas

Formerly hobotom

Pro Tools Ultimate 2024 HDX Hybrid
HD Omni and 192 I/Os
Windows 10
Intel Hexcore i7
All Samsung Pro SSDs
Ampex MM1200 2" 24 trk tape
Outboard: UREI, Eventide, Lexicon, Yamaha, TC Electronics, Orban, ART, EchoAudio, Dolby, Hughes, API, Neve, Audio Arts, BBE, Aphex, Berringer, MOTU, dbx, Allison, etc.
Plug-ins: Too many to talk about.

www.metrostudios.com
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  #5  
Old 04-03-2010, 08:10 AM
Bill Mellow Bill Mellow is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

Hey Tom, thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it.

I've looked at the Device Manager and the windows firewire drivers appear to working. I haven't re-installed them yet as I'm not quite sure how to do that yet. I'll google that in when I finish this post.

This morning I've re-installed Protools and upgraded to 8.03cs2 from 8.01.cs1, but the problem is still there. I swapped the firewire cable two times to make sure that wasn't the problem (good suggestion, never even thought of that!) but that didn't fix it either.

Somthing new with 8.03cs2 though, when I have the Playback Engine window open and change the value for the H/W Buffer, the CPU spiking disappears but it returns when I click OK.

I'll keep plugging away at it!
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  #6  
Old 04-03-2010, 01:41 PM
flametop1 flametop1 is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mellow View Post
Hey Tom, thanks for the replies. I really appreciate it.

I've looked at the Device Manager and the windows firewire drivers appear to working. I haven't re-installed them yet as I'm not quite sure how to do that yet. I'll google that in when I finish this post.

This morning I've re-installed Protools and upgraded to 8.03cs2 from 8.01.cs1, but the problem is still there. I swapped the firewire cable two times to make sure that wasn't the problem (good suggestion, never even thought of that!) but that didn't fix it either.

Somthing new with 8.03cs2 though, when I have the Playback Engine window open and change the value for the H/W Buffer, the CPU spiking disappears but it returns when I click OK.

I'll keep plugging away at it!
Bill, to update/ reinstall a device driver is easy. Just follow these steps:
1. Right click on 'My Computer'
2. Choose 'Properties'
3. When System Properties opens click the 'Hardware' tab
4. Click 'Device Manager'
5. Find your Firewire card (or installed chipset driver)
6. Rick click on it and choose 'Uninstall'
7. Click 'Action/ Scan for hardware changes'
8. Reinstall driver
You can do that with any drivers that you need to update or uninstall.
Hope this helps.
L.A.
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  #7  
Old 04-04-2010, 07:57 AM
Bill Mellow Bill Mellow is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

Thanks for that tip L.A.

Still no luck yet.

Reinstalled all firewire drivers, reinstalled Protools, reloaded the firmware for the 003, swapped cables, updated the motherboard BIOS, and checked for IRQ conflicts.

I'm well at the end of my computer tinkering know how. The system works, it's just not nearly as efficient as I think it should be, or everything is as it should be and I'm chasing a problem that isn't there.
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  #8  
Old 04-04-2010, 02:59 PM
Bill Mellow Bill Mellow is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

Just noticed an oddity while I've been troubleshooting my problem. The H/W Buffer Size options with my 003 are 64,128,256,512,1024. When I have my MBox2 Micro hooked up it has the extra option of 2048. Is this normal?
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  #9  
Old 04-05-2010, 09:53 AM
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Mellow View Post
Just noticed an oddity while I've been troubleshooting my problem. The H/W Buffer Size options with my 003 are 64,128,256,512,1024. When I have my MBox2 Micro hooked up it has the extra option of 2048. Is this normal?
Yes, that's normal.

When you say you've tried 'the typical solutions' - can you be more detailed? Have you disabled extraneous hardware in the device manager? What about turning off startup services that aren't necessary for running Pro Tools? Are there any utilities or other apps running in the background?

These are definitely odd symptoms - it seems firewire communication is causing the spikes, so I think we should focus there, but it's not quite clear what could be causing it.
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  #10  
Old 04-05-2010, 12:00 PM
Bill Mellow Bill Mellow is offline
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Default Re: CPU spikes with 003

By "Typical Solutions" I mean that I have run through most of the suggestions stated in the General Troubleshooting thread.

Here's a list of what I've done so far (or that I can remember doing)

I've implemented all of the Windows optimizations as stated on the AVID Knowledge base.
Using a selective startup for Windows with everything turned off except Digi services.
Re-installed Protools version 8.01cs1.
Installed Protools version 8.03cs2.
Re-installed the standalone ASIO driver.
Turned off all ASUS overclocking and Power saving options in the BIOS.
Turned off the onboard 1394 port.
Turned off the SIIG 1394 card, tried the onboard 1394 port.
Turned off the network port.
Swapped the firewire cable twice.
Reloaded the firmware for the 003.
Deleted and re-installed all firewire drivers in WinXp. (SIIG card does not have a dedicated driver as stated on their webpage)
I've don't have IE8 installed. (This was causing me issues before, but I did a fresh re-install of windows to get rid of it)
I use a dedicated audio hard drive to record to.
I've tried to see if there is an IRQ conflict, but I haven't been able to locate one.

After working on this for a few days now, there have been some small changes.

Please remember this is with a completely blank session.

The CPU spike use to be on the last visible core (8) on the Windows Task Manager, it is now on core 4.
The CPU spike is slight more stable at a H/W buffer size of 64 - 1 RTAS processor, on the WTM it is oscillating between 35-60% on core 4 with an overall CPU usage reading between 6-11%. On the Protools System Usage meter it read solid yellow to 1-2%, but there is a single line bouncing around 15-20%.
The more RTAS processors I allocate the higher the CPU usage and oscillation occurs.

When I select a highest H/W buffer setting of 1028, the overall CPU usage comes down about 1%, but the CPU core that is spiking comes down to about 20-25%.

If there is any other information I can give you, or if you have any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks again!
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