Looking for optimal BIOS, Windows, etc... settings to run X1 Production Suite...
So here's the situation. I built my own system specifically to run X1 Production Suite. I've been having a few issues with keeping X1 running smoothly so I want to take some time to set the system up properly to optimize performance. X1 is intended to be the focal point of the system so it doesn't matter if certain settings will interfere with anything else that doesn't pertain to music production. I've seen many users here refer to stuff like disabling various hardware like USB 3.0, network adapters, Firewire, etc... within the BIOS and tweaking things within Windows like DPC latency, disabling sounds, whatever. So essentially I'd like to know if there is a definitive list or lists detailing all of the standard system tweaks one would make to avoid crashes, dropouts, conflicts and anything else that might impede workflow. I was gonna try to sort this out with CW tech support but figured maybe I would try here first. I am not a computer tech but am comfortable enough with PCs to change settings like these... although I may need to be pointed to where to find certain settings they aren't obvious. I may enable Win7 God Mode on the system just to make finding stuff within Windows a little easier but for now I'll just be going through the control panel.
I should point out, and some of you have probably seen my other threads about this, that I think my breakout box/soundcard may be causing some of my current issues (but even if swapping out the boxes fixes things I still want to optimize the system). It is an Echo Layla 3G PCI interface which I now know might not be getting run properly through the legacy PCI slots on my new ASUS motherboard. I had been looking at the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6 but some users mentioned people were having a hard time with that box and Sonar. After a couple of days trying to figure out if it was gonna work I found this thread...
http://forum.cakewalk.com..aspx?&m=2326631&mpage=1 Lots of horror stories but at the end the Focusrite guys showed up and said they were aware of the problems and had fixed them with their current driver release. So it is quite likely I'll be buying the 18i6 at the end of this month. I'd still like to see if after tweaking my system I can get the Layla working a little better. Just wanted point that out right off the bat so no one bothers wasting their time on the PCI issue. I think I've got that sorted out now thanks to the advice I've received here.
So here are my system details...
OS: Windows 7 Pro 64 bit OEM full install (it was installed using all default settings)
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 Specs here...
http://ca.asus.com/Mother...t_1155/P8Z68V_PROGEN3/ CPU: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 95W Quad-Core Intel HD Graphics 3000
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
HDD C (programs): Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500413AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"
HDD: E (write/storage): Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5"
DVD: PLEXTOR Internal DVD Super Multi 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model PX-L890SA LightScribe Support
PSU: COOLER MASTER Silent Pro M700 RS-700-AMBA-D3 700W ATX12V V2.3 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
If it matters I have a low end Gigabyte graphics card installed as well.
Gear...
i/o: Echo Layla 3G (and will likely be upgrading to the Focusrite Scarlett 18i6)
MIDI: Korg padKontrol mostly for drum parts and perhaps console control surface. Eventually I will also be using an old Yamaha DX-7 via MIDI cables as a keyboard controller (if I can get it to work)
Monitors: 2 Mackie MR5MK2 through outputs 1/2 on the Layla or the main outs on the Scarlett. Sennheiser headphones which will be connected to the headphone jack of either box.
Hopefully that's enough info on the hardware specs.
All necessary hardware drivers are installed and up to date. Currently I have the EPU and TPU features on the ASUS enabled. These settings are supposedly to protect from overheating while overclocking the CPU. I am not overclocking though nor do I intend to unless it becomes absolutely necessary. The hardrives are hooked up to the regular SATA ports on the MOBO, not the Marvell SATA ports but I do have the Marvell drivers installed. Hopefully that won't cause a conflict. I currently have the ASUS BIOS Utility Suite II installed for hardware monitoring which can record real time events but I'm not sure how good that particular software is. Overall the system seems to be working fine.
I installed and registered Sonar X1 Production Suite build 425 and all of it's elements using the default installation. I updated it to X1d just the other day. All drivers for the Layla and padKontrol are installed and up to date. I followed all directions for all of these installations to the letter and made all settings recommended in all the manuals.
So that's all pertinent info I can think of. Sorry for the epic post but I wanted to be thorough. Again I am looking to get this system optimized to get the most out of X1. The system should be more than powerful enough so I want to check every single avenue possible methodically to eliminate these dropouts and stop engine issues.
Any and all help, advice, links, etc... are appreciated. I do have this all typed up for Cake tech support as well but I'm trying here first to see what you guys say. Hopefully I can nail this down and stop bugging you guys with my hardware woes and start bugging you about actual recording techniques. ;-)
Thanks in advance.