xpand is KILLING my cpu!!

[phentalmyst]

hi,

so i have one instrument track with xpand 2 on it and a master track...nothing else. im combining 2 sounds in xpand and sustaining my notes. after about 5 seconds of recording and/or playback, my H/W buffer goes kaput. i've tried tweaking the playback settings in every way i can to no avail. i have all of the unnecessary apps/hardware disabled (network, etc).

what can i do to be able to utilize these killer sounds, save for buying a new PC?

im running a sweetwater creation station rack. 2.81ghz, 2gb ram, pt 8.0...

thanks for any help!

[fenderrocker]

Do you have you CPU set for background applications? Go through the optimization process found in the user manual and fully optimize your system.

Also, is that a P4, C2D, C2Q, Athlon 64, 64X2? The CPU frequency isn't the only important thing about the processor.

[phentalmyst]

im pretty sure it's a P4.

i'll look into the background stuff. thanks!

[fenderrocker]

Hmm, which P4 is it? I'm not sure if you really have the kind of juice required to run PT8 efficiently. There are a few things I could recommend. Post a Sandra report.

[phentalmyst]

would love to but dont know how. show me?

[fenderrocker]

lol. second time I've used this today

[phentalmyst]

ha. thanks. something like this?

SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : CSRACKDC
User : Audio User
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz
Speed : 2.81GHz
Cores per Processor : 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Type : Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache : 2x 16kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 2x 1MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector

System
System : System manufacturer System Product Name
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5WD2-Premium
Bus(es) : ISA PCI PCIe IMB USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : 1 Processor(s)
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 0606
Total Memory : 2.00GB DDR2

Chipset 1
Model : ASUS 82955X Memory Controller Hub
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 201MHz (804MHz)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed : 4x 134MHz (536MHz)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : RADEON X300/X550 Series
Adapter : RADEON X300/X550 Series
Adapter : C.P. Technologies Inc. RADEON X300SE
Adapter : RADEON X300/X550 Series Secondary
Adapter : RADEON X300/X550 Series Secondary
Adapter : C.P. Technologies Inc. RADEON X300SE Secondary
Imaging Device : HP Photosmart C4380

Physical Storage Devices
ST380817 AS 80GB (SATA150, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 74.53GB (C:)
ST320082 6AS 200GB (SATA150, NCQ, 8MB Cache) : 186.31GB (D:) (F:) (G:)
Generic IC1210 CF (USB) : N/A (H:)
Generic IC1210 MS (USB) : N/A (I:)
Generic IC1210 MMC/SD (USB) : N/A (J:)
Generic IC1210 SM (USB) : N/A (K:)
LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S (ATAPI66, 48x CD-R, 48x CD-W, 6x DVD-R, 6x DVD-W, 2MB Cache) : N/A (E:)

Logical Storage Devices
Programs (C:) : 72.02GB (56.96GB, 79% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST380817 AS 80GB (SATA150, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Samples (G:) : 50.30GB (44.47GB, 88% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST320082 6AS 200GB (SATA150, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Files (D:) : 50.01GB (5.94GB, 12% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST320082 6AS 200GB (SATA150, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
Audio (F:) : 86.00GB (22.40GB, 26% Free Space) (NTFS) @ ST320082 6AS 200GB (SATA150, NCQ, 8MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A @ LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S (ATAPI66, 48x CD-R, 48x CD-W, 6x DVD-R, 6x DVD-W, 2MB Cache)
Removable Drive (H:) : N/A @ Generic IC1210 CF (USB)
Removable Drive (I:) : N/A @ Generic IC1210 MS (USB)
Removable Drive (J:) : N/A @ Generic IC1210 MMC/SD (USB)
Removable Drive (K:) : N/A @ Generic IC1210 SM (USB)

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 0 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB
USB Controller/Hub : Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Mass Storage Device
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Microsoft PS/2 Mouse

Printers and Faxes
Model : Send To OneNote 2007
Model : Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007 Document Writer
Model : HP Photosmart C4380 series

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

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP (2002) Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86

Network Services
Adapter : Marvell Yukon 88E8001/8003/8010 PCI Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection

Performance Tips
Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[phentalmyst]

bump...

[fenderrocker]

Originally Posted by phentalmyst

bump...

Sorry. I've heard mixed things about the Pentium D's. Some are having success with occasional buffer errors, and some say it flat out sucks. Do some research on all your components and post back with what you find.

[phentalmyst]

i tweaked my startup and services properties and that helped a little, but not a lot. im trying to figure out the background apps setting, but to no avail so far. is that a registry thing?