H/W Buffer Size grief (errors 9092, 9093)

[noam_e]

Hi all,

I got an Mbox Mini around three months ago, and have been using it only for editing so far. The H/W buffer condition was edgy right from the start - I had to work with 1024 samples latency, and it through a 9092 or 9093 in my face every half hour or so (which was a pain, but for editing work it wasn't critical). I also got spells of digital white noise.

System basics (Sandra report below):
Lenovo T60 Laptop, Mbox Mini, PT LE 8.03cs,

Recently upgraded my external HD (former external demoted to BU). It worked like a charm for a day or two, but since then I cannot get PT to play at any buffer size (1024 samples says "increase", 2048 samples says "decrease").

I am under a deadline to finish this edit work, and would generally like to use PT for real work (I don't intend to record with a 1024 sample buffer).

I went through the XP optimization routine, and to no avail.

Please help!

The Sandra:

< System >
Host Name: LENOVO-7560F700
User: Lenovo
Workgroup: WORKGROUP

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz
Speed: 2.00GHz
Cores per Processor: 2 Unit(s)
Threads per Core: 1 Unit(s)
Type: Mobile, Dual-Core
Internal Data Cache: 2x 32kB, Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way,
Inclusive, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache: 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive,
64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

< System >
System: LENOVO 2007GCG
Platform Compliance: Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Mainboard: LENOVO 2007GCG
Bus(es): PCI PCIe IMB PCMCIA CardBus USB i2c/SMBus
Multi-Processor (MP) Support: 1 Processor(s)
Multi-Processor Advanced PIC (:Yes
System BIOS: LENOVO 2.35
Total Memory: 3.00GB DDR2

< Chipset 1 >
Model: Legend 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express
Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed: 4x 166MHz (664MHz)
Total Memory: 4GB DDR2
Memory Bus Speed: 4x 166MHz (664MHz)

< Video System >
Monitor/Panel: Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel: Default Monitor
Monitor/Panel: ThinkPad Display 1400x1050
Adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon X1300
Imaging Device: hp psc 1310 series

< Physical Storage Devices >
Hitachi HTS722012K9SA00 120GB :111.79GB (C:)
Ext Hard Disk 1000GB (USB): 931.51GB (E:)
HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4247N (ATA:N/A (D:)

< Logical Storage Devices >
Main (C:): 107.56GB (31.02GB, 29% Free Space) (NTFS) @
Hitachi HTS722012K9SA00 120GB (SATA150, NCQ,
15MB Cache)
CD-ROM/DVD (D:): N/A @ HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4247N (ATAPI33, 24x
CD-R, 24x CD-W, 3x DVD-R, 2MB Cache)
Tera1 (E:): 931.51GB (640.65GB, 69% Free Space) (NTFS) @
Ext Hard Disk 1000GB (USB)

< Peripherals >
Serial/Parallel Port(s): 2 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 Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub: USB Printing Support
USB Controller/Hub: USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub: Generic USB Hub
USB Controller/Hub: USB Mass Storage Device
USB Controller/Hub: USB Composite Device
USB Controller/Hub: Digidesign Mbox 2 Firmware Updater
USB Controller/Hub: USB Mass Storage Device
PCMCIA/CardBus Controller: Texas Instruments PCI-1510 CardBus Controller
Infrared Device: IBM ThinkPad Fast Infrared Port
Keyboard: Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/
2 Keyboard
Mouse: PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Mouse: HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface: HID-compliant consumer control device
Human Interface: HID-compliant consumer control device
Human Interface: USB Human Interface Device

< Communication Device(s) >
Device: ThinkPad Modem

< Printers and Faxes >
Model: PrimoPDF
Model: Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Model: hp psc 1310 series

< Network Printers >
Model: \\dc1\Xerox Phaser 8500N PCL 5C
Model: \\dc1\Xerox WC M15 Series PCL 6
Model: \\Lt-sharon\Xerox WC PE120 Series PCL 6

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

< Operating System(s) >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows XP (2002) Professional
5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86

< Network Services >
Adapter: Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection #2
Adapter: Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network
Connection

<<< Processor Arithmetic >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

< Benchmark Results >
Dhrystone ALU: 16619MIPS
Whetstone iSSE3: 12570MFLOPS
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Speed >
Dhrystone ALU: 8.33MIPS/MHz
Whetstone iSSE3: 6.30MFLOPS/MHz
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Power >
Processor(s) Power: 25.82W
Dhrystone ALU: 643.65MIPS/W
Whetstone iSSE3: 486.83MFLOPS/W
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance Test Status >
Run ID: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz (Dual-Core, 2.00GHz, 4MB L2, 664MHz
FSB)
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86
NUMA Support: No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmar:No
Total Test Threads: 2
Multi-Core Test: Yes
Cores per Processor: 2
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark:No
Processor Affinity: P0C0T0 P0C1T0
System Timer: 3.58MHz
Number of Runs: 64000 / 640

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz
Speed: 2.00GHz
Cores per Processor: 2 Unit(s)
Type: Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache: 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive,
64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

< Features >
SSE Technology: Yes
SSE2 Technology: Yes
SSE3 Technology: Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology: Yes
SSE4.1 Technology: No
SSE4.2 Technology: No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology:No
SSE4A Technology: No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technolo:No

< Performance Tips >
Notice 5008: To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004: Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-
life' performance.
Notice 5006: Only compare the results with ones obtained
using the same version!
Warning 5009: Mobile processors yield lower indexes in
power management modes. Check power settings
if index is low.
Tip 2: Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip
is selected for more information about the
tip.

<<< Processor Multi-Media >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

< Benchmark Results >
Multi-Media Int x8 iSSSE3: 107995iit/s
Multi-Media Float x4 iSSE2: 58320fit/s
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Speed >
Multi-Media Int x8 iSSSE3: 54.13iit/s/MHz
Multi-Media Float x4 iSSE2: 29.23fit/s/MHz
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Power >
Processor(s) Power: 25.82W
Multi-Media Int x8 iSSSE3: 4182.61iit/s/W
Multi-Media Float x4 iSSE2: 2258.71fit/s/W
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance Test Status >
Run ID: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz (Dual-Core, 2.00GHz, 4MB L2, 664MHz
FSB)
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86
NUMA Support: No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmar:No
Total Test Threads: 2
Multi-Core Test: Yes
Cores per Processor: 2
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark:No
Processor Affinity: P0C0T0 P0C1T0
System Timer: 3.58MHz
Rendered Image Size: 640x480

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz
Speed: 2.00GHz
Cores per Processor: 2 Unit(s)
Type: Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache: 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive,
64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

< Features >
SSE Technology: Yes
SSE2 Technology: Yes
SSE3 Technology: Yes
Supplemental SSE3 Technology: Yes
SSE4.1 Technology: No
SSE4.2 Technology: No
EMMX - Extended MMX Technology:No
SSE4A Technology: No
HTT - Hyper-Threading Technolo:No

< Performance Tips >
Notice 5008: To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004: Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-
life' performance.
Notice 5006: Only compare the results with ones obtained
using the same version!
Warning 5009: Mobile processors yield lower indexes in
power management modes. Check power settings
if index is low.
Tip 2: Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip
is selected for more information about the
tip.

<<< Multi-Core Efficiency >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

< Benchmark Results >
Inter-Core Bandwidth: 5.19GB/s
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Inter-Core Latency: 152ns
Results Interpretation: Lower index values are better.

< Performance vs. Speed >
Inter-Core Bandwidth: 2.67MB/s/MHz
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Inter-Core Latency: 0.08ns/MHz
Results Interpretation: Lower index values are better.

< Performance vs. Power >
Processor(s) Power: 25.82W
Inter-Core Bandwidth: 205.93MB/s/W
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.
Inter-Core Latency: 5.89ns/W
Results Interpretation: Lower index values are better.

< Detailed Benchmark Results >
Processor Affinity: CPU0-CPU1
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 2x 8kB: 2.04GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 4x 8kB: 2.15GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 2x 32kB:2.75GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 4x 32kB:8.52GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 16x 8kB:7.99GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 2x 128k:8.63GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 4x 128k:8.65GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 16x 32k:8.55GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 64x 8kB:8.02GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 16x 128:8.57GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 64x 32k:8.32GB/s
Inter-Core Bandwidth @ 64x 128:1.29GB/s

< Performance Test Status >
Run ID: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz (Dual-Core, 2.00GHz, 4MB L2, 664MHz
FSB)
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86
Buffering Used: No
NUMA Support: No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmar:No
Total Test Threads: 2
Multi-Core Test: Yes
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark:No
System Timer: 3.58MHz

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz
Speed: 2.00GHz
Cores per Processor: 2 Unit(s)
Type: Mobile, Dual-Core
L2 On-board Cache: 4MB, ECC, Synchronous, ATC, 16-way, Inclusive,
64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

< Performance Tips >
Notice 5008: To change benchmarks, click Options.
Notice 5004: Synthetic benchmark. May not tally with 'real-
life' performance.
Notice 5006: Only compare the results with ones obtained
using the same version!
Tip 11: Use the 'Switch Chart Type' button to switch
between Detailed and Combined charts.
Warning 5009: Mobile processors yield lower indexes in
power management modes. Check power settings
if index is low.
Tip 2: Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip
is selected for more information about the
tip.

<<< Power Management Efficiency >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<< ALU Power Performance >>
<< 25Hz (25fps, e.g. PAL video) >>
< Benchmark Results >
ALU Power Performance: 4806MIPS
Power Efficiency: 0.00
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Speed >
ALU Power Performance: 2.41MIPS/MHz
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< Performance vs. Power >
Processor(s) Power: 25.82W
ALU Power Performance: 186.13MIPS/W
Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

< APM System Status >
Mains (AC) Line Status: On-Line
Processor Dynamic Throttle Pol:Adaptive
Optimised for Performance: Yes

< Performance Test Status >
Run ID: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @
2.00GHz (Dual-Core, 2.00GHz, 4MB L2, 664MHz
FSB)
Platform Compliance: Win32 x86
NUMA Support: No
SMP (Multi-Processor) Benchmar:No
Total Test Threads: 2
Multi-Core Test: Yes
Cores per Processor: 2
SMT (Multi-Threaded) Benchmark:No
Processor Affinity: P0C0T0 P0C1T0
System Timer: 3.58MHz

[BradLyons]

Is your external drive a FW drive or USB? If USB, there's a problem. If it's firewire, what brand? Is it a Glyph drive?

http://www.theaudioprofessional.com/...ph_Drives.html

[word_play]

this worked for me:

http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=267727

(apparently it's in the "sticky" section but I couldn't find it)


hope this works.

[noam_e]

the laptop only has USB, and a PCMCIA slot.
If I'm to purchase a Firewire<->PCMCIA card what should I pay attention to?

I'll also give word_play's idea a go (the minute I get home) - will keep you posted

thx

[albee1952]

Hopefully someone will post the compatible firewire cards as you need one(I couldnt find the page). USB drives are not supported or recommended. Check your version of IE as IE8 is a problem(roll back to IE7). updating PACE Interlok drivers might be a good idea while you are going thru and double-checking all your system tweaks(turn off wifi when running Pro Tools).

[word_play]

Originally Posted by noam_e

the laptop only has USB, and a PCMCIA slot.
If I'm to purchase a Firewire<->PCMCIA card what should I pay attention to?

I'll also give word_play's idea a go (the minute I get home) - will keep you posted

thx

let us know how it goes.

[noam_e]

well, I just did the entire optimization procedure to the letter - the computer is absolutely naked - and no 9092s even at 128sample latency. (woohoo!)
(I'm not so keen on beta software, so if it's not a must, I decided not to try out the windows 7 driver).

I am getting the "your HD is too slow, buddy" error every once in a while, but it's workable for my very pressing editing work and I'll get the firewire card next week.

Thing is, this computer serves me for all sorts of work (day job, just plain having a life), so I'll need to figure out how to have two very different setups. Is adding another user enough, or do I have to do something more fundamental (two different boot modes)?

thanks again

[Shan]

Originally Posted by noam_e

Thing is, this computer serves me for all sorts of work (day job, just plain having a life), so I'll need to figure out how to have two very different setups. Is adding another user enough, or do I have to do something more fundamental (two different boot modes)?

Definitely Dual boot in this case. Once you have PT up and running and stable, lock it out from any changes including OS updates etc.

Shane

[albee1952]

Most laptop drives are 5400 rpm and PT requires 7200 rpm (or faster).