PTLE 8.05 Mbox 2 playback buffer issues

[nozmoking]

With a fresh install of PTLE 8.05 on Win7 64 bit I am getting Mbox output dropouts and less than 3 minutes of contiguous recording before I get playback buffer errors and/or the usual distortion or lockups that go with the issue. I've relieved the PC of as much superfluous CPU load as possible but I do a lot of voice work that requires at least an open browser and sometimes Skype or Soundstream per customer demand so I can't really run PT in a pristine environment, but even when I do the issues are intolerable. The PC should have plenty of headroom - I've installed an SSD for audio and it made no difference. The one big concern I have is that the box is a micro-ATX form factor with integrated video and if that is the issue I would either have to replace the PC altogether or find a low-profile display adapter which is a pricey endeavor. All device drivers are up-to-date. Any ideas wold be greatly appreciated.

SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : permafried-PT
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Model : Si-DH61DL-Classic
Serial Number : 1074*****
Chassis : Desktop
Mainboard : Intel DH61DL
Serial Number : BTDL12******
BIOS : Intel BEH6110H.86A.0028.2011.0715.1815 07/15/2011
Total Memory : 8GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU G620 @ 2.60GHz (2C 2.4GHz/2.6GHz, 2.4GHz IMC, 2x 256kB L2, 3MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1155

Chipset
Memory Controller : Intel Core (Sandy Bridge) DRAM Controller 100MHz, 2x 4GB DIMM DDR3 1GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Crucial CT51264BA160BC16F 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (11-11-11-29 5-40-13-6)
Memory Module : Crucial CT51264BA1339M16F 4GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-10700U DDR3-1334 (9-9-9-25 4-34-10-5)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : ACI ASUS VS228
(1920x1080, 21.7")
Video Adapter : Intel(R) HD Graphics (6CU 30SP SM4.1 850MHz/1.1GHz, 80kB L2, 64MB DDR3 1GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Graphics Processor

Storage Devices
HGST Hitachi HDS721050CLA362 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 14MB Cache) : 466GB (C:) (D:)
SanDisk SDSSDX120GG25 (120GB, SATA300/600, SSD) : 112GB (E:)
WDC WD20EADS-00R6B0 (2TB, USB3/SATA300, 3.5", 32MB Cache) : 2TB (H:)
Slimtype DVD A DS8A5S (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (G:)
Disk (, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache) : N/A (F:)
Disk (, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache) : N/A (I:)

Logical Storage Devices
SYSTEM : 500MB (NTFS, 4kB) @ HGST Hitachi HDS721050CLA362 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 14MB Cache)
Zippy (E:) : 112GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ SanDisk SDSSDX120GG25 (120GB, SATA300/600, SSD)
Hugo (H:) : 2TB (NTFS, 4kB) @ WDC WD20EADS-00R6B0 (2TB, USB3/SATA300, 3.5", 32MB Cache)
ImageBackup (D:) : 40GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ HGST Hitachi HDS721050CLA362 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 14MB Cache)
WINDOWS (C:) : 425GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ HGST Hitachi HDS721050CLA362 (500.1GB, SATA300, 3.5", 7200rpm, 14MB Cache)
Optical Drive (G:) : N/A @ Slimtype DVD A DS8A5S (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Optical Drive (F:) : N/A @ Disk (, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache)
Optical Drive (I:) : N/A @ Disk (, DVD+-R, CD-R, 512kB Cache)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Intel H61 LPC Controller
Audio Device : Intel Cougar Point High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : Realtek Semi High Definition Audio
Serial Port(s) : 1
Parallel Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Intel Cougar Point 6 port SATA AHCI Controller
USB Controller 1 : Intel Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #2
USB Controller 2 : Intel Cougar Point USB Enhanced Host Controller #1
USB Controller 3 : Intel Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Send To Microsoft OneNote 2010 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer (networked/not native) : Dell 968 AIO Printer (600x600, USB, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection (Ethernet, 1Gbps)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Media Center 6.01.7601 Service Pack 1
Platform Compliance : x64

[mjslakeridge]

Your motherboard and CPU are somewhat outdated and underpowered, but may be OK to use if you are primarily doing voice work without a lot of tracks and plugins. Refer to this link-http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php The biggest problem is your mis-matched memory modules. They have different speeds and timings, which is not good for Pro Tools. I would completely remove the 1334 memory and see if performance improves with only the 1600 module.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by mjslakeridge

Your motherboard and CPU are somewhat outdated and underpowered, but may be OK to use if you are primarily doing voice work without a lot of tracks and plugins. Refer to this link-http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php The biggest problem is your mis-matched memory modules. They have different speeds and timings, which is not good for Pro Tools. I would completely remove the 1334 memory and see if performance improves with only the 1600 module.

Beyond this, I see 2 issues.
#1-as you mentioned, Integrated Graphics was a show stopper with older systems and LE(not so sure about newer hardware),
#2-you have mis-matched RAM sticks which is probably hurting performance. I would remove 1 stick of RAM(leave the fastest stick in SLOT 1(or A) and see if that makes any difference. Truthfully, I suspect a new computer is in order

[nozmoking]

Thanks for the response. Removing one of the memory modules seems to have improved things significantly.

- cheers