PT Lags/freezes on PC when network enabled!?

[shakti]

Hi everyone,
Recently my son's PT install on his i7 32G RAM with M.2 and SSD drive-based system has started doing some crazy lagging and freeze ups.
He's got Nvidia graphics and Focusrite Scarlett I/O. He brought it home for the holidays for me to look at. I’ve been running it through its paces and it’s solid on all other apps. Plays Call of Duty smoothly (high FPS) using all the “high” settings and that’s a real acid test for any PC as we know. However, I can make PT (2023.12) stall playing back a completely empty timeline by just switching between edit/mix windows while the timeline is running. I mean, it’s really, really bad. It can't handle the simplest session. It even freezes up during quit. So, something is going on in the background. I’ve tried all the usual stuff: experimenting with different playback buffer sizes, deleting all prefs, moving all plugins to unused folder, reloading drivers, reinstalling PT. Everything I can think of. Nothing seems to help! (even made sure that sending usage data to Avid is switched off too). I’ve spent hours now.

So, the last thing I tried is to shut off the network so there’s no connection to the internet and low and behold, that seems to have fixed it!? WTAF right? But, sure enough, if the network is disabled, (wifi and ethernet ‘cause he’s got both) PT works as normal. Turn on either network connection, and big lags and freezes with the most basic timeline.

Have any of you ever heard of this?
Sandra to follow asap...

This is not my first rodeo, as I have built a very capable PT HD setup on a liquid cooled i9 PC w/32gigs RAM with all M.2 and SSD storage that works very well. It’s a beast and can run a ton of virtual instruments without breaking a sweat, so while I’m no newbie to PC builds, this has me truly stumped.

The goal for us is to try and fix it before he goes back to college.
TIA for any advice.

[shakti]

Here's the Sandra for his PC:
SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : KaelenPC
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Model : MSI MS-7D91 Default string
Serial Number : Default*******
Chassis : MSI Desktop
Mainboard : MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI (MS-7D91)
Serial Number : 07D9141_N*********
BIOS : AMI (OEM) H.70 07/10/2023
Intel Management Engine (ME) : 16.1.27.2216
TPM - Trusted Platform Module : Intel ADL 2.0 2019 (24PCR 64Ses 7Obj 128Ctr)

System Memory
Total Memory : 32GB DIMM DDR5

Processors
Processor : 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700K (8C + 4c 20T 4.91GHz + 3.61GHz, 3.6GHz/4.6GHz IMC, 8x 1.25MB + 2MB L2, 25MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA1700

Chipset
Memory Controller : MSI Core12S (Alder Lake-S841) Host Bridge/DRAM Registers 100MHz, 4x 8GB DIMM DDR5 5.6GHz 128-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Corsair/SK Hynix CMK32GX5M2B5600C36 8GB DIMM DDR5 2C 2Rx8 PC5-44800U DDR5-5600 XMP (40-40-40-77 12-117-72-24) PMIC
Memory Module : Corsair/SK Hynix CMK32GX5M2B5600C36 8GB DIMM DDR5 2C 2Rx8 PC5-44800U DDR5-5600 XMP (40-40-40-77 12-117-72-24) PMIC

Video System
Monitor/Panel : AOC International 27G1G4
(1920x1080, 27.2")
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (1408S 11C SM5.2 1.53GHz/1.86GHz, 1.5MB L2, 5.9GB 8GHz 192-bit, PCIe 3.0 x16)

Graphics Processor
CUDA : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (1408S 22C SM7.5 1.53GHz/1.86GHz, 1.5MB L2, 6GB 8GHz/8GHz 192-bit)
OpenCL : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (1408S 22C SM3.0 1.53GHz/1.86GHz, 1.5MB L2, 6GB 8GHz/8GHz 192-bit)
OpenCL : Intel(R) UHD Graphics 770 (256S 32C SM3.0 1.5GHz, 1.9MB L2, 12.8GB DDR5 5.6GHz 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)
D3D 11 : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (1408S 11C SM11.5 1.53GHz/1.86GHz, 1.5MB L2, 5.9GB 8GHz/8GHz 192-bit)
OpenGL : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660/PCIe/SSE2 (1408S 11C SM4.60 1.53GHz/1.86GHz, 1.5MB L2, 6GB 8GHz/8GHz 192-bit)

Storage Devices
Disk : Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 (500.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)
Disk : WDC WD10EZEX-08WN4A0 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Disk : MSFT XVDD (10.5MB)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk : 499MB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 (500.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)
Hard Disk (C:) : 465GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 (500.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)
Terrible bite (T:) : 931GB (NTFS, 4kB) @ WDC WD10EZEX-08WN4A0 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Hard Disk : 5MB (NTFS, 4kB, Read-Only) @ MSFT XVDD (10.5MB)
Hard Disk : 95MB (FAT32, 1kB) @ Crucial CT500MX500SSD1 (500.1GB, SATA600, 2.5", SSD, SED)

Storage System
Storage Pool : Primordial (1.36TB)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller : MSI Intel(R) LPC Controller/eSPI Controller - 7A04
Audio Device : MSI High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Device : Gigabyte TU116 High Definition Audio Controller
Audio Codec : nVidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX
Disk Controller : Intel Intel(R) Shared SRAM - 7A27
Disk Controller : MSI Standard SATA AHCI Controller
Disk Controller : ASMedia Asmedia 106x SATA Controller
USB Controller : MSI Intel(R) USB 3.20 eXtensible Host Controller - 1.20 (Microsoft)
USB Controller : Gigabyte TU116 USB 3.1 Host Controller
SMBus/i2c Controller : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft Software Printer Driver (300x300, Colour)
Printer : Send to Microsoft OneNote 16 Driver (1200x1200, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 (600x600, Colour)
Printer : Microsoft Print To PDF (600x600, Colour)
Fax : Microsoft Shared Fax Driver (200x200)
Printer : Canon G4010 series (Colour)
Printer : Microsoft IPP Class Driver (600x600)

Scanners & Cameras
Scanner : Microsoft G4010 series _A54750000000 (Scanner, USB)
Scanner : Microsoft Brother HL-L2395DW series [3c2af4da7bd4] (Scanner, USB)

Biometrics
Voice : Analog NUI Voice Virtual Sensor (Voice)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Intel(R) Ethernet Controller (3) I225-V (Ethernet, 1Gbps)
Network Adapter : TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter V9 (Ethernet) DISABLED
Network Adapter : Fortinet Virtual Ethernet Adapter (NDIS 6.30) (Ethernet) DISABLED
Network Adapter : Fortinet SSL VPN Virtual Ethernet Adapter (Ethernet) DISABLED
Wireless Adapter : Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6E AX211 160MHz

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 10 Personal 10.0.19045
Platform Compliance : x64

[The Weed]

Old thread but there might be something that helps.

[Darryl Ramm]

Is this PC using OneDrive? The user home directory is on OneDrive. If so turn that off/get rid of that garbage.

Get rid of all other background/login apps that are not needed, maybe try creating a new admin user account and testign from that.

Make sure any antivirus software is fully disabled.

---

Besides the networking thing one thing I'd be suspecting here is memory leaks esp. from plugins including memory leaks. But just moving all .aaxplugin files out of their plugin folder (and I'd trash prefs as well) and test with that which it sounds like you may have already done. Look in task manager/Resource Monitor and see what Free memory and hard faults/sec are doing.

[Schottlandru]

I used to have issues with WiFi driver versions, might want to check for updates?
However with both WiFi and Ethernet, it might be that OneDrive thing.

Also, I can recommend looking into LatencyMon to analyze what is causing the hiccups.

[shakti]

Thanks everyone.
Onedrive was not being used, but I uninstalled it anyway, so not that. Latencymon showed some unacceptable latencies occurring which was eye opening on my son's default admin account. Haven't traced them down yet, but that was very useful. Most importantly, creating a new admin account and running from there shows no latency issues with Latencymon and no problems running protools! So, we are starting to get somewhere... Still not out of the woods, but it's progress!

Many thanks again as we continue to diagnose.

[Darryl Ramm]

Is the problem account trying to mount a file server or cloud storage at login? Even a storage box not present? Trying to connect to a domain server? Look for startup programs or even craplets doing stuff. I have seen misconfigured backup software cause horrific problems like this. And I am always paranoid about graphics drivers/utilities/craplets. Also look in the Windows event viewer for errors/issues around when this happens… esp. it spewing network errors.

[albee1952]

Some observations:
1-You describe it as a 32GB system, but the Sandra shows 16GB??? If two sticks of RAM are not recognized by Sandra, maybe there is an issue with RAM(I would start by pulling and reseating all 4 sticks, assuming you actually have 4 sticks).
2-Was this an "off the shelf" PC that came with a factory install of Windows? If so, it likely has a ton of bloatware and maybe something(or several things) are using to internet to track searches or worse(uninstall everything you don't need).
3-Does it make any difference if you run a session from the C: drive? If it does, then maybe the spinner is hinting at a future failure?
4-I would go thru everything in Device Manager and make sure you have the latest drivers for everything, and review the usual Windows system tweaks(especially disabling Power Management on all USB ports/hubs)

[junkgear]

You also have a few virtual network adapters for your security VPN. If that is something new, then it may be causing your problems.

[shakti]

Originally Posted by Schottlandru

I used to have issues with WiFi driver versions, might want to check for updates?
However with both WiFi and Ethernet, it might be that OneDrive thing.

Also, I can recommend looking into LatencyMon to analyze what is causing the hiccups.

Please excuse this somewhat lazy/dumb question, but is there a guide to understanding how to use LatencyMon to actually uncover the latency? We've got some high latency being measured, but it's not clear exactly what it is still. Tried looking at the stats tab, but was still hard to figure out what was causing the problem.

Thanks,
Doug