Argh...new system issues.

[nasa09]

I recently upgraded from an old Windows PC I've had since 2007 or so to a new i7 machine with 16GB of memory. I thought that the new system would run ProTools about a thousand times better since the processor is much more powerful and I now have about four times as much RAM, but no such luck; I often find myself with the HW Buffer error, even when I have my playback settings set up to what should be the most lenient settings.

Here's my system. I'm recording to the blue harddrive.

< Computer >
Model: Dell XPS 8500

Chassis: Dell Desktop
Mainboard: Dell 0YJPT1
BIOS: Dell A06 05/25/2012
Intel vPro: 8.00.04.1441
Total Memory: 16GB DIMM DDR3

< Processors >
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz (4C
8T 3.9GHz, 3.9GHz IMC, 4x 256kB L2, 8MB L3)
Socket/Slot: FC LGA1155

< Chipset >
Memory Controller: Dell Core (Ivy Bridge) DRAM Controller 100MHz,
2x 8GB DIMM DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit

< Memory Module(s) >
Memory Module: Hynix (Hyundai) HMT351U6CFR8C-PB 4GB DIMM
DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-
13-6)
Memory Module: Hynix (Hyundai) HMT351U6CFR8C-PB 4GB DIMM
DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-
13-6)
Memory Module: Hynix (Hyundai) HMT351U6CFR8C-PB 4GB DIMM
DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-
13-6)
Memory Module: Hynix (Hyundai) HMT351U6CFR8C-PB 4GB DIMM
DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-
13-6)

< Video System >
Monitor/Panel: ViewSonic Generic PnP Monitor (1680x1050,
22.0")
Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (384 SM5.0 1.91GHz, 1GB
5GHz 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

< Graphics Processor >
OpenCL GP Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (384SP 2C 1.91GHz, 1GB
5GHz 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (384SP 1.91GHz, 1GB
5GHz 128-bit)
CUDA GP Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 (384SP 2C 1.91GHz, 1GB
5GHz 128-bit)

< Storage Devices >
Seagate ST31000524AS (1TB, SAT:932GB (C:)
Seagate ST3500830AS (500.1GB, :466GB (D:)
WDC WD5000BMVW-11AMCS2 (500.1G:466GB (G:)
WDC WD10TMVW-11ZSMS5 (1TB, USB:931GB (H:)
Generic- SD/MMC (USB2): N/A (I:)
Generic- Compact Flash (USB2): N/A (J:)
Generic- SM/xD-Picture (USB2): N/A (K:)
Generic- MS/MS-Pro (USB2): N/A (L:)
Optiarc DVD RW AD-7200S (ATAPI:N/A (E:)
TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW SH-216BB (22:212MB (F:)

< Logical Storage Devices >
RECOVERY: 12GB (NTFS)
HD2: Electric Boogaloo (D:): 448GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST3500830AS (500.1GB,
SATA300, 3.5", 8MB Cache)
Blue HD (G:): 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000BMVW-11AMCS2
(500.1GB, USB3/SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB
Cache)
Red HD (H:): 931GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD10TMVW-11ZSMS5 (1TB,
USB3/SATA300, 5200rpm, 8MB Cache)
OS (C:): 919GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST31000524AS (1TB,
SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Removable Drive (I:): N/A @ Generic- SD/MMC (USB2)
Removable Drive (J:): N/A @ Generic- Compact Flash (USB2)
Removable Drive (K:): N/A @ Generic- SM/xD-Picture (USB2)
Removable Drive (L:): N/A @ Generic- MS/MS-Pro (USB2)
Optical Drive (E:): N/A @ Optiarc DVD RW AD-7200S (ATAPI, DVD+-RW,
CD-RW, 974kB Cache)
Kay14e_SCD (F:): 212MB (CDFS) @ TSSTcorp DVD+/-RW SH-216BB
(222.8MB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

< Peripherals >
LPC Hub Controller 1: Dell Panther Point LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1: T2 87-72
Audio Device: Dell Panther Point High Definition Audio
Controller
Audio Codec: Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Audio Device: nVidia 0E1BHigh Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec: nVidia GeForce 6800 LE [NV40.2]
Disk Controller: Dell Panther Point 6 port SATA AHCI
Controller
USB Controller 1: Dell Panther Point USB xHCI Host Controller
USB Controller 2: Dell Panther Point USB Enhanced Host
Controller #2
USB Controller 3: Dell Panther Point USB Enhanced Host
Controller #1
FireWire/1394 Controller 1: Jmicron IEEE 1394 Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1: Intel ICH SMBus

< Printers and Faxes >
Printer: Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver
(1200x1200, Colour)
Printer: PDFLite Virtual Printer (4000x4000, Colour)
Printer: Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600,
Colour)
Fax: Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer: Adobe PDF Converter (4000x4000, Colour)

< Peripherals >

< Network Services >
Network Adapter: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (Ethernet)
Network Adapter: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
(Ethernet)
Wireless Adapter: Linksys AE1000 #2 (802.11g (ERP), AES-CCMP,
144Mbps)
Wireless Adapter: Dell Wireless 1703 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz)
(802.11n (HT), AES-CCMP, 72.2Mbps)

< Operating System >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home 6.01.7601 (Service
Pack 1)
Platform Compliance: x64

< Windows Experience Index >
Current System: 5.9

[TCM]

What is your interface?

You have two computer audio devices installed! Disable.

Bluetooth and wireless should be disabled as well.

Do you run any virus or other software that for example came with your graphics card?

[albee1952]

More to consider:
Blue HD (G:): 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5000BMVW-11AMCS2
(500.1GB, USB3/SATA300, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB
5400 rpm drives are not supported for recording. You must record to a 7200 rpm drive. FWIW, you will always get better performance from a SATA drive over USB2 or 3.

RAM timings look rather slow to me. Mine is 9-9-9-24(lower numbers=faster RAM). You might check BIOS to see if timings are set to the AUTO setting, nad maybe change to manual(but check with Hynix to verify the proper timings for that RAM.

Since this is a Dell, its likely loaded with a bunch of "bloat ware", so either spend the day removing unwanted crap, or reformat and install Windows 7 clean(leaving out all the garbage as much of it can sap system resources). Review the system tweaks too, and don't forget to set Pro Tools to Run as Admin, Disable Desktop Themes, and disable Desktop Composition. I would install another internal SATA drive for recording(WD Caviar BLACK are a great choice) and cross your fingers. With proper setup, this should be a powerhouse