Buffer Underflow 6085 error (yes, another one)

[dezwits]

Hello and good evening from a Pro Tools Newbie. Brand new machine, brand new Pro Tools 8.0.5 LE user with Mbox Mini 3g (all updated to latest version). I'm wondering what I'm missing to make those 6085 errors go away that pop up every 30 or so seconds.

Here's my Sandra report:


SiSoftware Sandra

Computer
Model : Lenovo IdeaPad Y560p
Workgroup : WORKGROUP
Host Name : LenovoJKMH
User : Jacco

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
Speed : 2.6GHz
Cores per Processor : 4 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 2 Unit(s)
Type : Mobile, Quad-Core
Integrated Data Cache : 4x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L2 Cache : 4x 256kB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 8-way, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing
L3 Cache : 6MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 12-way, Exclusive, 64 byte line size, 16 threads sharing

Computer
Mainboard : Lenovo KL3
BIOS : Lenovo 3FCN19WW 02/11/2011
Bus(es) : ISA X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB PCMCIA USB i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (APIC) : Yes
Total Memory : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM

Chipset
Model : Lenovo Core (Sandy Bridge) Mobile DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 100MHz
Total Memory : 4GB DDR3 SO-DIMM
Channels : 2
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 667MHz (1.33GHz)

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Ramaxel RMT1950MD58E8F1333 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (10-10-10-27 4-37-11-6)
Memory Module : Ramaxel RMT1950MD58E8F1333 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMM PC3-10700S DDR3-1334 (10-10-10-27 4-37-11-6)

Video System
Video Adapter : AMD Radeon HD 6570M/5700 Series (400 SM5.0 650MHz, 1GB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : AMD Radeon HD 6570M/5700 Series (400SP 5C 650MHz, 832MB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : AMD Radeon HD 6570M/5700 Series (400SP 650MHz, 1GB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit)
STREAM GP Processor : AMD Radeon HD 6570M/5700 Series (400SP 5C 650MHz, 1GB DDR3 1.6GHz 128-bit)

Storage Devices
Seagate ST9500325AS (500.1GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 466GB (C:) (D:)
eSATA-2 ExternalRAID (500.1GB, SATA300) : 466GB (G:)
SlimtypeDVD A DS8A5SH (7.7GB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : 7GB (F:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : 200MB (NTFS)
Pro Tools (G:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ eSATA-2 ExternalRAID (500.1GB, SATA300)
LENOVO (D:) : 30GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST9500325AS (500.1GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
Hard Disk (C:) : 420GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST9500325AS (500.1GB, SATA150, 2.5", 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
Pro Tools LE (F:) : 7GB (CDFS) @ SlimtypeDVD A DS8A5SH (7.7GB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Lenovo HM65 LPC Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : Winbond W83687THF
Audio Device : Lenovo Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Audio Device : Lenovo Redwood HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 5600 Series]
Audio Codec : ATI (AMD) HDMI Audio
Disk Controller : Lenovo Cougar Point Mobile 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : Lenovo Standard SD Host Controller
USB Controller 1 : Lenovo Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 2 : Lenovo Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Samsung ML-2525W Series (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

Network Services
Wireless Adapter : Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (802.11g (ERP), AES-CCMP, 54Mbps)

Power Management
Mains (AC) Line Status : On-Line
Battery No 1 : 100%

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

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 5.8

Any thoughts would be appreciated. The G drive to record to is new and is spec'd at 7200 rpm, access time less than 9ms. As far as I'm aware, it's set up for RAID0 (so no RAID, really). Anything else I may be missing?

[Bob L]

As far as I'm aware, it's set up for RAID0

I think you've hit it. RAID is RAID, and not supported. Famously. You can look it up and everything...

Bob

[dezwits]

Thanks for getting back to me. Before I buy another hard drive and still run into the issue - is it a problem that the internal hard drive on my laptop runs at 5400 rpm? I don't use this to record audio; only to run the application.

[Bob L]

System drive at 5400 rpm is OK. Read up on the drive requirements for externals before dropping any cash...

Bob

[dezwits]

Thanks Bob, indeed - don't spend money if you don't have to...

So I borrowed a Lacie d2 Next Quadra from work (7200rpm, 16MB cache, 9ms access time), plugged in through eSATA port. No RAID on this thing, record, and within 10 bars I got the same error message: buffer underflow. So I'm guessing there's something other than the external drive that's causing trouble.

Any other thoughts of what could be causing this? I have nothing plugged into any USB ports other than the MBox Mini, I have done all the Windows 7 optimization steps. Jack up internal memory? Replace internal disk as well?

[albee1952]

Have you disabled all networking? What is running in the background? Antivirus and such can kill you, so open the task manager and see what's running. Symantec can cause 6085 errors.

[dezwits]

So here's something I found out last night as I was A/B-ing my own drive (RAID0) and the one from work. In spite of the fact that the message tells you to decrease the H/W buffer size, INCREASING it (from 128 to 1,024) actually worked with the none-RAID drive: I was able to record for several minutes at a time without the 6085 error. Symantec has always been disabled, as were all network adapters. I'm hoping this stays resolved.

Thanks for the help guys! I'll try to return the favor once I get more experienced with the actual system.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by dezwits

So here's something I found out last night as I was A/B-ing my own drive (RAID0) and the one from work. In spite of the fact that the message tells you to decrease the H/W buffer size, INCREASING it (from 128 to 1,024) actually worked with the none-RAID drive: I was able to record for several minutes at a time without the 6085 error. Symantec has always been disabled, as were all network adapters. I'm hoping this stays resolved.

Thanks for the help guys! I'll try to return the favor once I get more experienced with the actual system.

I was mistaken about Symantec. Its actually MacAfee that caused this error for another user. RAID is not supported or recommended for Pro Tools(although I have read of some that use it). Use it at your own risk

[Bob L]

Originally Posted by dezwits

So here's something I found out last night as I was A/B-ing my own drive (RAID0) and the one from work.

Does this imply that you had both drives attached at the same time?

I'm not 100% certain of this, but I think I recall Digi mentioning that simply having a RAID attached to the system could be problematic, whether it was in play for the session or not. Can anybody verify or debunk my recollection?

Is there some reason why you wouldn't want to format the existing drive as NTFS non-RAID?

As far as the decrease buffer messages, were you paying close attention? There are both increase and decrease buffer messages, which are similarly numbered and read about the same at a glance.

Bob

[dezwits]

I only have one eSATA port on my machine, so I had my (RAID) drive plugged in - trouble. Turned off machine, swapped drive to be the work (non-RAID) drive - no trouble.