Help me stabilise my damn PC!

[rfeather1]

Hey guys! I bought a high end PC last year for home use against my better judgement of using both Mac and PC for over a decade.

Since then i've spent more time trouble shooting than recording. Ive optimised, changed bios settings, tried multiple operating systems, multiple Pro Tools versions but can't get the damn thing to be stable.

All my hardware and software are listed in my profile. I have latest drivers, BIOS, software etc. Currently i'm back to Windows 8.1 with PT 12.4 but that froze yesterday during mixing. Windows 10 with 12.4-12.5.1 kept freezing / crashing.

I've done all the AVID / Sweetwater optimisation. Done all the BIOS optimisation (disabling wi-fi, bluetooth, hyper threading, c-state etc). Have minimal software installed, no AV or unnecessary background processes. Keep it offline. Always do a complete uninstall of PT before installing another version.

Using a SSD for main hard drive, 7200rpm for Instruments / Samples and another 7200rpm for Sessions.

Hoping some PC and PT experts might know something else as i'm tired and just want to enjoy it instead of throwing it out the window . Thanks!

[PatriotsBiker]

First off, kind of a preemptive warning. Many of the experts dwelling here in the DUC will insist on seeing a Sandra report as listed in the Help Us Help You page linked at the top It's helped in the past, but it's really more of a massive time saver for those needing detailed info on your system. It's very easy and very free to do.

Other than that, specific information, if any exists, on the crashes and freezes. EG, do any of the errors spit out lovely error messages? Is there anything quick and easy that you can do to cause a lock up or crash? Imagine if there was an expert looking over your shoulder and you wanted to show him an issue - what's the most sure-fire way to do this?

I went through months of digi-hell getting my system to agree with this software's rather finicky tastes. (do NOT get me started) It was a few things for me, and I ended up on PT12.4 and almost never get an error now. (knock on wood.)

Best of Luck!!!!

[musicman691]

You could start by telling us what you mean by your system not being stable. Is it throwing up aae errors? CPU usage high? What are the circumstances when you run into problems?

[rfeather1]

Hey guys, sorry first time posting here! Will prepare a Sandra report tonight.

The biggest problem at the moment is PT / the whole system randomly freezing. No AAE error messages and my only option is hard reset. I've come across many problems and solutions in the past but this baffles me.

The scenario would be mixing a session, lots of plugs and instruments. CPU is showing no spikes and my specs should handle most things easily.

Upon rebooting I might get sent back to BIOS and the hard drive order has changed.

Thank you for taking time to get back to me!

[weezul]

Sounds like a hardware issue... Perhaps overheating, bad overclock or bad RAM? Can even be sometimes a HDD fail. Especially if the HDD listing is resetting :/ Listen out for that dreaded click if you have physical drives...

[babaorum]

What's your soundcard ?

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by rfeather1

Hey guys, sorry first time posting here! Will prepare a Sandra report tonight.

The biggest problem at the moment is PT / the whole system randomly freezing. No AAE error messages and my only option is hard reset. I've come across many problems and solutions in the past but this baffles me.

The scenario would be mixing a session, lots of plugs and instruments. CPU is showing no spikes and my specs should handle most things easily.

Upon rebooting I might get sent back to BIOS and the hard drive order has changed.

Thank you for taking time to get back to me!

Originally Posted by weezul

Sounds like a hardware issue... Perhaps overheating, bad overclock or bad RAM? Can even be sometimes a HDD fail. Especially if the HDD listing is resetting :/ Listen out for that dreaded click if you have physical drives...

Yep - a major hardware issue. Possibly overclocking, something funky on the motherboard or the power supply is marginal, especially if this is an off-the-shelf computer and not custom built. If this computer is still under warranty - take it back and get it fixed or replaced.

[YYR123]

Haswells need special power supplies iirc

If your having problems all around I would suggest to default the bios and start over.

It's a long arduous process but can be rewarding, I hope this isn't on a production machine....if so you might be down awhile

Default the bios, turn off hyper threading and the like, then as the system becomes stable, begin turning those items back on one by one.

[rfeather1]

Hey guys, here's the Sandra report:

< Computer >
Model: ASUS All Series ASUS MB
Serial Number: System Serial Number
Chassis: Default string Desktop
Mainboard: ASUS RAMPAGE V EXTREME
Serial Number: 140729853300055
BIOS: AMI (OEM) 3202 05/17/2016
Intel vPro: 9.01.37.1002
Total Memory: 32GB DIMM DDR4

< Processors >
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5930K CPU @ 3.50GHz (6C
3.6GHz, 3.6GHz IMC, 6x 256kB L2, 15MB L3)
Socket/Slot: FC LGA2011

< Chipset >
Memory Controller: Intel Xeon (Haswell-E) DMI2 100MHz
Memory Controller: Intel Xeon (Haswell-E) Integrated Memory
Controller 0 Target Address, Thermal & RAS
Registers 100MHz, 4x 8GB DIMM DDR4 2.13GHz
256-bit
Memory Controller: Intel Xeon (Haswell-E) Integrated Memory
Controller 1 Target Address, Thermal & RAS
Registers 100MHz

< Memory Module(s) >
Memory Module: G.Skill F4-2133C15-8GRR 8GB DDR4 PC4-17100U
DDR4-2132 (15-15-15-36 4-52-17-6)
Memory Module: G.Skill F4-2133C15-8GRR 8GB DDR4 PC4-17100U
DDR4-2132 (15-15-15-36 4-52-17-6)
Memory Module: G.Skill F4-2133C15-8GRR 8GB DDR4 PC4-17100U
DDR4-2132 (15-15-15-36 4-52-17-6)
Memory Module: G.Skill F4-2133C15-8GRR 8GB DDR4 PC4-17100U
DDR4-2132 (15-15-15-36 4-52-17-6)

< Video System >
Monitor/Panel: LG IPS224
(1920x1080, 21.5")
Monitor/Panel: Dell Computer DELL U2412M
(1920x1200, 24.0")
Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (16CU 2048SP SM5.2
1.13GHz/1.39GHz, 2MB L2, 3.9GB 7GHz 256-bit,
PCIe 3.00 x16)
Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (16CU 2048SP SM5.2
1.13GHz/1.39GHz, 2MB L2, 3.9GB 6GHz/7GHz 256-
bit, PCIe 3.00 x16)

< Graphics Processor >
CUDA GP Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (2048SP 16C 1.13GHz/
1.39GHz, 2MB L2, 4GB 6GHz/7GHz 256-bit)
OpenCL GP Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (2048SP 16C 1.13GHz/
1.39GHz, 256kB L2, 4GB 6GHz/7GHz 256-bit)
Compute Shader Processor: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (2048SP 16C 1.13GHz/
1.39GHz, 2MB L2, 3.9GB 6GHz/7GHz 256-bit)
OpenGL Processor: GeForce GTX 980/PCIe/SSE2 (4GB)
OpenGL Processor: GeForce GTX 980/PCIe/SSE2 (4GB)

< Storage Devices >
Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (2T:2TB (D:)
Crucial_CT512MX100SSD1 (512.1G:477GB (C:)
Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (2T:2TB (E:)
Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164 (2T:2TB (F:)
Generic STORAGE DEVICE (128.1G:119GB (G:)
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NSB0 (4GB,:4GB (L:)

< Logical Storage Devices >
INSTRUMENTS (D:): 2TB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164
(2TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
System Reserved: 350MB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Crucial_CT512MX100SSD1
(512.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)
SESSIONS (E:): 2TB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164
(2TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
BACKUP (F:): 2TB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Seagate ST2000DM001-1ER164
(2TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Removable Drive (G:): 119GB (exFAT, 512kB) @ Generic STORAGE DEVICE
(128.1GB, USB3)
Hard Disk (C:): 476GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Crucial_CT512MX100SSD1
(512.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)
Hard Disk: 450MB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Crucial_CT512MX100SSD1
(512.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)
MB Support CD (L:): 4GB (CDFS, 2kB, Read-Only) @ HL-DT-ST DVDRAM
GH24NSB0 (4GB, SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW)

< Peripherals >
LPC Hub Controller 1: ASUS Wellsburg LPC Controller
Audio Device: ASUS Wellsburg HD Audio Controller
Audio Codec: Realtek Semi 0900
Audio Device: nVidia GM204 High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec: nVidia nForce4 Intel Edition CPU to PCI
Bridge
Disk Controller: ASUS Wellsburg sSATA Controller [AHCI mode]
Disk Controller: ASUS Wellsburg 6-Port SATA Controller [AHCI
mode]
Disk Controller: ASUS Asmedia 106x SATA Controller
USB Controller 1: ASUS Wellsburg USB xHCI Host Controller
USB Controller 2: ASUS Wellsburg USB Enhanced Host Controller
#2
USB Controller 3: ASUS Wellsburg USB Enhanced Host Controller
#1
USB Controller 4: ASUS ASM1042A USB 3.0 Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller 1: Intel ICH SMBus
SMBus/i2c Controller 2: Intel SNB/IVB/HSW-E XMB Ch 0 SMBus
SMBus/i2c Controller 3: Intel SNB/IVB/HSW-E XMB Ch 1 SMBus

< Printers and Faxes >
Printer: Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 (600x600,
Colour)
Printer: HP Deskjet 3520 series (600x600, Colour)
Printer: HP Deskjet 3520 series (600x600, USB, Colour)
Fax: Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)

< Scanners and Cameras >
Scanner: Microsoft HPA2BD5D (HP Deskjet 3520 series)
(Scanner, USB)
Scanner: Hewlett-Packard HP Deskjet 3520 series
(Scanner, USB)

< Peripherals >
Media Player: Generic STORAGE DEVICE (119.16GB)

< Network Services >
Network Adapter: Intel(R) Ethernet Connection (2) I218-V
(Ethernet, 100Mbps)

< Operating System >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Professional 6.03.9600
Platform Compliance: x64

[JuanPC]

¿Power supply?

Try:

http://www.memtest.org/

http://systester.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

http://www.maxon.net/products/cinebench/overview.html
http://http.maxon.net/pub/benchmarks/CINEBENCH_R15.zip

http://ratgpu.twomini.com/

http://ssd.userbenchmark.com/