Audio Buffer Underflow Error but firewire disabled in BIOS

[Russell Smith]

Hi Guys,

As is in the tittle I am receiving the 'Audio Buffer Underflow' error but I not only am not using firewire (I use an Mbox 2) but have it disabled in the BIOS. I have optimized my PC for Pro Tools according to Avid.

It only occurs when I am using a RAM intensive VI , mostly Kontakt or Superior Drummer. I run Win 7 64bit and am not connected to the internet. Anyway here is my Sandra , thank you all in advance for taking the time to have a look :)

***** Start of Report *****
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<<< Computer Overview >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

< Computer >
Model: Gigabyte EX58-UD3R
Workgroup: WORKGROUP
Host Name: protooler-PC
User: pro tooler

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 920 @
2.67GHz
Speed: 2.67GHz
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: Gigabyte EX58-UD3R
BIOS: Award (Phoenix) Fj8 08/02/2010
Bus(es): X-Bus PCI PCIe IMB USB i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support: No
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (:Yes
Total Memory: 6GB DIMM DDR3

< Chipset >
Model: Giga-Byte X58 I/O Hub
Front Side Bus Speed: 2x 2.4GHz (4.79GHz)

< Chipset >
Model: Giga-Byte Core Desktop (Bloomfield) UnCore
Front Side Bus Speed: 2x 2.4GHz (4.79GHz)
Total Memory: 6GB DIMM DDR3
Channels: 3
Memory Bus Speed: 2x 798MHz (1.6GHz)

< Memory Module(s) >
Memory Module: Corsair CM3X2G1600C9 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U
DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)
Memory Module: Corsair CM3X2G1600C9 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U
DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)
Memory Module: Corsair CM3X2G1600C9 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U
DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-24 5-34-10-5)

< Video System >
Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (216 SM4.0 1.25GHz,
896MB DDR3 2x1GHz, PCIe 2.00 x16)

< Graphics Processor >
OpenCL Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (216SP 27C 1.35GHz,
873.4MB 2x1GHz)
CUDA Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (216SP 27C 1.35GHz,
873.4MB 2x1GHz)
Compute Shader Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (216SP 1.25GHz,
873.4MB 2x1GHz)

< Storage Devices >
WDC WD5001AALS-00L3B2 (500.1GB:466GB (D:)
Seagate ST31000528AS (1TB, SAT:932GB (C:) (I:)
SAMSUNG HD103SJ (1TB, SATA300,:932GB (F:)
SAMSUNG HD103SI (1TB, SATA300,:932GB (G:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 (SATA:N/A (H:)
PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-218L (SATA:N/A (E:)

< Logical Storage Devices >
Audio (D:): 466GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD5001AALS-00L3B2 (500.1GB,
SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
System Reserved: 100MB (NTFS)
Old OS (F:): 932GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD103SJ (1TB, SATA300,
3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Bertha (G:): 932GB (NTFS) @ SAMSUNG HD103SI (1TB, SATA300,
3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ, 32MB Cache)
Hard Disk (C:): 636GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST31000528AS (1TB,
SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ)
Pro Tools (I:): 295GB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST31000528AS (1TB,
SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, NCQ)
Optical Drive (H:): N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 (SATA150, DVD+-
RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (E:): N/A @ PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-218L (SATA150, DVD+-
RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)

< Peripherals >
LPC Hub Controller 1: Giga-Byte LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1: ITE IT8720F
Audio Device: Giga-Byte HD Audio Controller
Disk Controller: Giga-Byte 4 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller: Giga-Byte 2 port SATA IDE Controller
Disk Controller: Giga-Byte JMB36X PCIE-to-SATAII/IDE RAID
Controller
USB Controller 1: Giga-Byte USB UHCI Controller #4
USB Controller 2: Giga-Byte USB UHCI Controller #5
USB Controller 3: Giga-Byte USB UHCI Controller #6
USB Controller 4: Giga-Byte USB EHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 5: Giga-Byte USB UHCI Controller #1
USB Controller 6: Giga-Byte USB UHCI Controller #2
USB Controller 7: Giga-Byte USB UHCI Controller #3
USB Controller 8: Giga-Byte USB EHCI Controller #1
SMBus/i2c Controller 1: Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus

< Network Services >

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

< Operating System >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows 7 Business 6.01.7600
Platform Compliance: x64

< Windows Experience Index >
Current System: 5.9


Thanks again for taking the time.

btw in my searches I noticed a few users getting this problem with my exact RAM type - plz let me know if you have this RAM and how it is working out for you... My spidey senses are telling me it might be a RAM issue... but you guys are the experts :)


Russ

[Russell Smith]

UPDATE:

Just did a Dverb test and got a low 144 Dverbs at 1024 h/w buffer. According to the i7 thread I should expect at least 215 and some are getting high 300's with similar hardware.

Am I expecting too much?

Thanks Again.

Russ

[Russell Smith]

Yay! Triple post for me (sarc) :)

Guys just an update... When I do my Dverb test the error I get when I reach my maximum amount of Dverbs is this blasted 'Audio underflow error' even though......I don't have any blasted firewire!!!!!

btw I knew this was a hard one to figure out :) I have re-done my Dverb test after double checking my optimizations and now get 246 Dverbs which all though not earth shattering I can live with and I am happy with......But when I am sketching ideas myself the drum track (Kontakt or Superior Drummer ) gives me this error....I need drums , you know?


I will have to start to rewire Reaper and host the VST there ... LIKE I DID ON MY P4....... 3 years ago..... I thought my new PC would be much more responsive.

Just before I go , I have a hunch that the new front side buss less chipsets (X58) are not being used as well as they could by PT9 and hopefully in the RTAS efficiency work they are doing they can give us i7 guys and gals a little love..Over at the Kontakt forums people are getting the same , although not as bad low performance from their i7's.

Once again a really appreciate any help I can get , no matter how little - I would love to have some ideas.

Thanks Russ

[mano111]

I cant help you with the errors. All I can say is 246 Dverbs is very nice for i7 at stock speed. all the scores that you've seen higher are overclocked scores.

There is no shame in rewire.

Ask yourself these Qs to start troubleshoot
What ver of PTLE are you using? Latest CS?
Have you done all the windows 7 optimizations recommended by Avid?
Have you set BIOS setting according to i7 thread's first page recommended?
Have you set prober RAM speed manually in the BIOS?
Do you have the latest version of the offending plug ins?
I know Nvidia Physx might cause problems on some systems. Have you installed it?

[Russell Smith]

Thank Mano for taking the time to have a look. :)

Yes you are right , maybe I am chasing the end of a rainbow a little. I should be very happy with the performance I am getting and there is nothing wrong with hosting in Reaper.

Your other points I had already mostly done except the PyhsX thing which made me quickly rush to uninstall only to find that I had not installed it in the first place. Over at the NI forums other users are having performance issues with Abbey road drums series in PT9 and I think maybe I will just use work arounds until an update from either NI or Avid can help my situation - until then I will be a happy with the PT9 and Reaper combo.

Thanks again for your time.

Russ

[albee1952]

I run the same mobo and I can tell you that firewire has nothing to do with this issue. Which hard drive is Pro Tools installed on?(MUST be C:). What version of Pro Tools?(I assume PT9). Have you set your RAM timings manually?(the Auto setting sucks on this mobo). Do you have the latest BIOS?(there are 2 versions of this mobo and mine, version 1, runs F11, but the later versions run letter versions so it gets confusing). Which drive are you recording to?(try another one since you have several). Are you running lots of samples, and if yes, which drive are they installed on?(I keep mine on a separate drive from system or sessions). Have you installed the latest Mbox driver? Not sure if it matters but I am running OCZ RAM.

[Russell Smith]

Thanks Albee , it is great to see you :)

I actually followed your build and based mine on yours. I made a few 'other' decisions like my graphics card and RAM which till this day I am not sure if they are the culprits.

I have version 1.6 of that motherboard and am using the latest BIOS. I have done all of the Win 7 optimisations as well as the first page BIOS changes from the i7 thread. But there are two points of interest you bring up that have me thinking.

1) My RAM ( Corsair CM3X2G1600C9 2GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U ) for some reason seems to be the disowned child of Corsair. It does not come up on their product search and when it comes up in the forums it is always followed by 'I do not know the timing but they must be x-x-x-x' or 'Just try x-x-x-x'. It is this kind of advice i do not need. I can not find the RAM timings on their site , maybe i am blind and or stupid but I just cant find this RAM. So my question is this , if I set it to XMP profile would those timings be what you are asking for , in other words - correct ?

2) My samples are in fact on the same drive as my OS. Is this Audio buffer underflow error not specifically talking about firewire ( which I don't have ) and I should just read it as 'Pro tools can not get data fast enough' ? Maybe I should try moving them - I will give that a go .

Thanks very much Albee for your help so far :)

Russ

[musekic]

After following many dead-end streets caused by the recurring "buffer underflow" error (during playback) - I finally found a cure that fixed what ailed me - So I am posting my happy ending on several threads. The cure for me was to disable a couple of "Performance" settings in the BIOS.

Disabled "Intel SpeedStep"
Disabled "C-state" control

Now I'm back to creating music again - woo hooo! This was such a maddening experience. I was so excited with my new rig (i7 quad core, Solid State hard drive, 8GB ram, Windows 7 64bit) - but then my buzz came crashing down when I couldn't get Pro Tools LE to work (it worked fine with my old PC running on XP - 2GB RAM, outdated processor). I hope this can save others from the pain and suffering experienced by me and others.