Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by mike59271

Hey i was really hoping someone here could help me get my computer up to snuff with compatibility standards. here is a report of my comp's info

<<< System Summary >>>
> Mainboard : Asus P5KC
> Chipset : Intel P31/P35
> Processor : Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 @ 2533 MHz
> Physical Memory : 4096 MB (2 x 2048 DDR2-SDRAM )
> Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS
> Hard Disk : ST3320620A (320 GB)
> Hard Disk : MICRONET (1000 GB)
> DVD-Rom Drive : Memorex DVD16+/-DL4RWlD2
> Monitor Type : Dell Computer DELL E172FP - 17 inches
> Monitor Type : IBM IBM L191p - 19 inches
> Network Card : L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller
> Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 Service Pack 3
> DirectX : Version 9.0c (May 2005)


From what i can tell so far the chipset is no good. Ive been experiencing relentless problems with BFD2 where it runs out of memory all the time and it keeps crashing PT. If anyone could just check that out for me and let me know what NEEDS to be done and what SHOULD be done id be very grateful.

I dont want to break the bank but i definitely want to get the necessary components and anything else that is going to make my system more stable without completely cannibalizing it. Thanks guys!

Im running Pro Tools LE 8.0 with Windows XP Pro (SP3)

P5KC should be a P45 running DDR2/DDR3 if my memory serves correctly. It should run PT just fine.

BFD2 runs everyone out of memory

Check for the /3GB switch thread and you should pickup a 1GB or so of usable memory for PT and its apps. How much you end up with depends on how much your video card is reserving for its frame buffer. Smaller cards are better in this regard.

EDIT: Thread on 3GB switch Basically all you need to since 8.0 or later is already LargeAddressAware is add the switch to your boot.ini file.

Some more reading http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system...AE/PAEmem.mspx

[mike59271]

Originally Posted by sunburst79

P5KC should be a P45 running DDR2/DDR3 if my memory serves correctly. It should run PT just fine.

Are you sure the compatibility grid doesn't list the P31/P35 chipset. To be perfectly honest this is all jargon to me. All i know is pro tools is acting wierd and i want it to work, so im trying to understand what this all means. Would you mind explaining in laymen s terms what chipset is and how it relates to my issues?

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by mike59271

Are you sure the compatibility grid doesn't list the P31/P35 chipset. To be perfectly honest this is all jargon to me. All i know is pro tools is acting wierd and i want it to work, so im trying to understand what this all means. Would you mind explaining in laymen s terms what chipset is and how it relates to my issues?

Your correct it is the P35 and not the P45. The nomanclature is just a naming convention. P45 is a one generation newer than the P35.

Chances are theres nothing wrong with your chipset. It's how Windows uses memory thats the issue.

I added a link to the post above.

You have 4GB of RAM. Thats all the 32bit Windows can "See".
Windows Splits this 50/50 between the operating system itself and any applications. This made sense when 256MB of RAM was a lot... Now that we have 4GB it doesn't make sense. Windows doesn't need 2GB of space 1 GB is sufficient. The /3GB switch changes that to a 25/75 % ratio for the OS and its applications. 1GB for windows and roughly 3Gb for applications.

Windows reserves part of this 3Gb space for the frame buffer of your video card. In order to feed your video card it needs some virtual storage space. If all the information flowing into your video card is like water in a trough the frame buffer is the "bucket" were are using to pour the water with.

[mike59271]

Hey there, i just did the boot file mod that kid talked about. Followed it to a tee and it still crashed. I wasn't sure how to try and get it to crash so i just opened up my previous session, pulled up BFD2 and just let it play and about 1 minute later it crashed. It was the same error message about memory usage. Any thoughts?

I have no idea how to get this stupid thing to stop, mind pointing me to some troubleshooting guides or something? Thanks alot for the help man

EDIT: Maybe i should update from 8.0 to 8.0.1? I tried the most recent update 8.0.3 and it just glitched the hell out of my system so i had to reformat, this time i was hesitant to do any updating given my past experience. Thoughts?

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by mike59271

Hey there, i just did the boot file mod that kid talked about. Followed it to a tee and it still crashed. I wasn't sure how to try and get it to crash so i just opened up my previous session, pulled up BFD2 and just let it play and about 1 minute later it crashed. It was the same error message about memory usage. Any thoughts?

I have no idea how to get this stupid thing to stop, mind pointing me to some troubleshooting guides or something? Thanks alot for the help man

Well I don't have BFD so I can only offer suggestions. My email is to the left in my user information. If you want to send my a copy of your boot.ini I will double check it.

The next step would be to check the stickies at the top of the Windows forum called "General Troubleshooting" and "Help Us Help You" follow the general troubleshooting thread to the "T". Its important because it establishes a common system base line to start troubleshooting from.

BFD has some settings for quality and you might try reducing that slightly to keep on working. Also it might be helpful to reboot after PT has crashed to ensure that all the memory gets released.

To really go any farther we need a Sandra report and for you to set the system up as recommended.

[mike59271]

email sent. Im going to go through those checklists one more time right now and make sure everything is up to snuff. I will report back Thank you for your help sunburst!

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by mike59271

email sent. Im going to go through those checklists one more time right now and make sure everything is up to snuff. I will report back Thank you for your help sunburst!

You need Tom@Metro to help with the USERVA and guitardom to help you set up BFD2 to play a little nicer. Not having BFD2 limits what I can do to help.

[TOM@METRO]

The USERVA switch is a command for increasing the amount of RAM allocated to the system by reducing the amount given to programs. It can be useful to PT users who employ the /3GB switch on a 32bit system and find that they need more RAM for the system in order to achieve stability. Large video cards are one of the culprits that can cause the system to become more RAM hungry.

BFD2 can be made more RAM efficient by using the "load on demand" feature in the latest release.

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by TOM@METRO

The USERVA switch is a command for increasing the amount of RAM allocated to the system by reducing the amount given to programs. It can be useful to PT users who employ the /3GB switch on a 32bit system and find that they need more RAM for the system in order to achieve stability. Large video cards are one of the culprits that can cause the system to become more RAM hungry.

BFD2 can be made more RAM efficient by using the "load on demand" feature in the latest release.

Thank you Major Tom for touching both points.

[mike59271]

thanks guys. I did the 3GB switch as well as updating to the newest release of BFD and my system is running a lot better. I just finished a session with about 20 tracks, maybe 15 of those were VI intensive with lots of automation and extra plugins and it worked out pretty good. So thanks, im going to revert to an older system image and make sure i employ everything from the getco this time...

thanks a lot, you've been a great help!