System Usage CPU meter randomly spiking?

[PatrickJ]

hello everyone,

I've got a Music XPC 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo laptop with 2GB of RAM, a dedicated graphics card installed, recording to a 100GB external 7200 rpm hard drive in PT 7.3.1 into an Mbox 1. I can't record anything into Pro Tools because of errors (-9093) and (-9129) telling me I either need to increase or decrease the H/W buffer size, however this happens when I've only got one track running in Pro Tools.

I believe this is because the CPU meter under Windows > System Usage randomly spikes into the red, even when there is no recording or playback occurring. It remains at a very low, static reading, maybe 15% or less, but jumps up into the red and overloads without provocation.

Here is a list of things I've already done to try and fix this problem:

- No other programs running other than Pro Tools.
- Wireless adapter is disabled.
- Tried recording both to external hard drives and to internal hard drives.
- Closed all background processes through msconfig. (except Windows and Digidesign ones)
- Power schemes is set to "Always on".
- Hard drive IDE channel transfer mode is set to "DMA if available".
- Tried all USB ports for the Mbox.

I'm not sure if I've forgotten anything else.

Despite all of these efforts, I still cannot record in Pro Tools successfully, and I still get the random CPU power spikes in the System Usage window, which creates the errors and prevents me from working.

Let me state also that I am aware of the 100% CPU load issue, and that issue does not appear to affect this laptop because in Windows Task Manager while Pro Tools is running the CPU workload is only at a maximum of 15%.

This is a good laptop built specifically for audio production and has supposedly been tested for use with Pro Tools extensively.

So long question made short, is anybody familiar with this problem of the CPU meter spiking, and is there a remedy for this, perhaps something I've overlooked? Thanks.

-Patrick

[Greg M]

PatrickJ,

This is a longshot, but will this problem go away if you go to Setup>Playback Engine> and change the hardware buffer? I used to have a similar problem and changing the Hardware Buffer did something to stabilize PTLE. Change it to anything other than what it is when you open PTLE, then change it back if you like. For a while, it was SOP for me to do this every time I opened PTLE.

Hope this helps,
Greg

[PatrickJ]

Thanks for the response Greg. Unfortunately that did not solve my problem, but I appreciate the insight nonetheless.

For an update: I'm lucky enough to know someone who has a Digi002R and I tried plugging it into my laptop and running PT with it, but I only got the same problems. I can't even play 1 lousy virtual instrument (DFH Superior, which is compatible, also tried Garritan Personal Orchestra and Spectrasonics Trilogy) without it giving me the H/W Buffer error, nor can I record more than 5 seconds of audio in either Mbox or Digi002R.

Below are some links to thread starters who've suffered the same or similar issues as I'm describing here:

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...part=1#1154732

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...=&fpart=1&vc=1

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...157038#1153797

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.p...part=1#1155141

We all suffer from this inexplicable H/W Buffer size error. I'm bringing this to attention because we all deserve a solution, I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this. I already sold my last laptop because of the 100% CPU load issue that Digidesign constantly ignored, please don't make me sell this laptop too (which is built specifically for music production and Pro Tools). Digidesign, fix the problem this time.

[PatrickJ]

Well several days later and I still have the same issue here. I followed every step in the Digidesign general troubleshooting guide, did every system optimization trick known to man and it yielded absolutely no results. I still cannot record a damn thing on my machine without the Pro Tools CPU meter spiking drastically every 5 seconds and getting the H/W Buffer Size error. There is a Sandra report below.

Please God, help, anybody. I've literally lost weeks to this problem. I sacrificed my weekend reinstalling Windows and going back to the factory default setup of my laptop, and after reinstalling Pro Tools and my massive library of plugins, I still have the same problem. This makes absolutely no sense, because this model of laptop is proven to run Pro Tools 7.3.1 flawlessly. Somebody out there has to have an answer...



SiSoftware Sandra

System
Host Name : MOBILESTUDIO
User : Patrick
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 set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 1x 4MB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 16-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 threads sharing

Mainboard
Platform Compliance : Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Bus(es) : PCI PCIe PCMCIA CardBus USB FireWire/1394 i2c/SMBus
MP Support : 1 Processor(s)
MP APIC : No
System BIOS : COMPAL 255.255
System : MusicXPC M4_M4x
Mainboard : COMPAL HEL8X
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : Compal Electronics Inc 955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 166MHz (664MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 2GB DDR2-SDRAM
Shared Memory : 8MB
Memory Bus Speed : 4x 166MHz (664MHz data rate)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Adapter : Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family
Imaging Device : Integrated Camera

Physical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : ST910021AS (93GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : Slimtype DVDRW SSM-8515S (CD 24X Rd, 24X Wr) (DVD 3X Rd, 3X Wr)

Logical Storage Devices
WinXPC (C:) : 20GB (12GB, 61% Free Space) (NTFS)
Files (E:) : 15GB (15GB, 100% Free Space) (NTFS)
Recording (D:) : 58GB (17GB, 29% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD (F:) : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 1 COM / 0 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
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 Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
FireWire/1394 Controller/Hub : VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
PCMCIA/CardBus Controller : ENE CB-712/714/810 Cardbus Controller
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : Elantech Touchpad
Mouse : HID-compliant mouse
Human Interface : USB Human Interface Device

Communication Device(s)
Device : Agere Systems HDA Modem

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

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)
Platform Compliance : Win32 x86

Network Services
Adapter : Realtek RTL8168/8111 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC
Adapter : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection

Performance Tips
Notice 5901 : CD 1x= 150kB/s; Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Notice 5902 : DVD 1x= 11.08Mbps Exercise caution when comparing measured versus published ratings.
Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.

[spkguitar]

I followed every step in the Digidesign general troubleshooting guide, did every system optimization trick known to man and it yielded absolutely no results.

I'm sorry, you are wrong about that.

You are only using one physical hard drive:

Physical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : ST910021AS (93GB)

Partitioning is not a viable solution. You need to be using a separate physical hard drive for audio sessions. Not doing so can cause the errors that you are getting.

This is covered on the compatibility pages, which is the very first suggestion in the general troubleshooting thread. I guess you must have overlooked that one?

[streetcorna]

yea the person above me is correct you should use another external drive or some sort of drive to run and save your sessions and audio files. decreasing the buffer size is not gonna do anythign to solve is unless you get an external drive, or again some sort of drive to store your sessions data in

[dmh]

I had EXACTLY the same problem with my Music XPC M4. Identical specs.

I gave up after a few weeks of problem solving. I returned the computer for a refund.

It is still unclear what the problem was, however, I believe that the motherboard and chipset are fundamentally incompatible with Pro-Tools.

I just purchased my replacement computer from a competiting vendor. Before purchasing, I had the vendor run the "empty pro-tools test" to see if the processor spiking problem was occuring and/or if there would be H/W errors upon playback at reasonable playback buffers. The vendor reported no H/W errors at 256 sampeles and 128 sample buffer size with DAE level = 2. Moreover, the computer vendor reported a "stable" CPU usage monitor (on my previous computer, the CPU monitor was stable). The XPC M4 failed these all of these tests. I bought the replacement computer from the competing vendor - it should arrive within the week. I'll post again in a week if this computer truely performs as the vendor claims.

Also, strangely, I have exactly the same issue on my quad core rack computer. I haven't been able to solve the problem there either, but the CPU headroom seems to be enough so that pro-tools runs OK as long as there are not too many RTAS plugins. Anyway, as I paid a huge sum for the rack computer too, I will continue to work to solve this problem - or, return the rack as well.



-

[PatrickJ]

I'm sorry, you are wrong about that.

You are only using one physical hard drive:

Partitioning is not a viable solution. You need to be using a separate physical hard drive for audio sessions. Not doing so can cause the errors that you are getting.

This is covered on the compatibility pages, which is the very first suggestion in the general troubleshooting thread. I guess you must have overlooked that one?

I believe I stated clearly on the very first line of my first post that I'm recording to an external 7200rpm 100GB Hard Drive, and I've tried it both via firewire and USB 2.0. I've even tried recording to the internal one too, to the separate partitions and all. That's not the issue here. This is a laptop so it's not always connected, and that's why the external drive didn't come up on the Sandra report, because it wasn't connected when I did the report.

I refuse to believe that the chipset is incompatible because it's listed under supported chipsets on Digidesign's website, although this wouldn't be the first time they were wrong. I bought a Dell Inspiron 8600 over two years ago because it was supposedly supported, and not only did I get the 100% CPU load problem, but I was unable to use Phantom Power because every time I tried, there would be a power surge on my USB ports and they would become inoperable. Needless to say they took that computer down shortly after from their list, and I was stuck with a $2,000 paperweight, much like I am now again.

Thank you for your replies. That last one was along the lines of what I expected, there being no solution, considering no Digi techs are responding to this. I'm still going to keep hope though for awhile longer before I take any drastic solutions.

[spkguitar]

It's important when doing the Sandra report that you have everything setup exactly the way that you do when you are using Pro Tools (drives connected, devices disabled, etc). It helps us see exactly how your system is setup.

Does the external drive you are using have the recommended Oxford 911 chipset? That is just about as important as anything else.

Apparently, the M4 laptop that you are using has been "tested extensively with Pro Tools 7" so if it is not working, your beef really is with Music MCP, not Pro Tools. If they have indeed tested it extensively with Pro Tools 7, as they claim, then they should know how to set it up properly. You might want to contact them to find out how they did it. As far as I'm aware, Digidesign has never qualified that particular computer for use with Pro Tools.

Since you're in PGH, If you want me to come and take a look at it sometime, hit me up via email from my website.

[JohnnyG]

If you must get work done, at any cost, you might try going into the BIOS and disabling multicore support on your machine.

I did that on my Core2 Duo machine and 7.3 stopped spiking on me and recording has been flawless ever since.

Pretty drastic measure, but easier than me having to return my notebook and my machine still is plenty fast under Pro Tools and I've been getting work done without issues now.

I too followed all the recommended optimizations and had no resolution until I ventured into the BIOS and tinkered.

Hope this helps.