Things are getting even weirder.

Now that I disabled more services that are not needed and fiddled with the nVidia settings (and then set it back to what it was before) I get audible USB noise in my OctaCapture direct monitoring i.e. I have some sort of a constant high freq hum and when I move windows around it changes and gets louder ... I'm sure that wasn't there 2 days ago ...

FreeFlyBertl > the hum sounds like an oldschool ground loop, no?

Just an hour ago I changed from my NVIDIA Geforce 7300 to a ATI 5450 and resolved another issue with WAVES Plugin GUIs (jerky parameter controls).


It seems ATI is the way to go for DAWS according to SOS.  Cool ;>

FreeFlyBertl

I'm still a little disappointed that I can't go below ASIO setting 4 (96 samples ~ 12ms latency), but I reckon that Roland interfaces aren't stable enough at low buffers for extended periods (works for 2 mins, but eventually stops). Anyway, with all those routing options for direct monitoring on the Octa-Capture I don't really have to go that low ...

I have to apologize and get something straight here: I forgot to change one important settings!
 
I'm using a VS-700 and a Octa-Capture synced via VS EXPAND; since it worked quite nicely with the Octa-Capture 1.51 drivers and my new DAW provides a lot of CPU power, it did work OK despite my inability to set the synchronisation in the VS-700 to DIGITAL 1 (which it has to be according to the manual).
 
Now that I'm using the correct sync mode these interfaces really ROCK!!! I can record at ASIO buffer sizes of 48 samples without drop outs or glitches for 10+ minutes!!
 

 

Tried loads of driver versions.  Uninstalled etc.

It wasn't really saving a few dollars that caused it ... I had just thought that for a DAW you don't need fancy gamer-style 3D graphics, so why put a high end card in? just to generate heat? i reckon my logic wasn't spot on ... but with every PC based DAW being unique, it is hard to know upfront if everything will work fine or not ...

Anyway, as recommended by gustabo, the 5450 was a 30 EUR fix to the problem ...

Hi,on my laptop-dell xps L502x,everytime I start the computer,I MUST right click on the desktop to get to Nvidea Control Panel,and revert the options to factory install or some such gibberish or I get insane DPC spikes,like 87,000 or something,but once I do that,I get 140,168,never over 200.

If I disable wiFi and the USB 3.0 controller,I get it as low as 20us!,but since I need the USB 3.0 for my external USB3.0 WD HDD,and underside fan,thats a bit impractical,but yeah EVERYTIME I start up I must reinitialize the Nvidea stock settings[even though I have NOT changed,or modified anything!] or spikes to the moon.

This is why I use an ATI card for my desktop,but every interaction is different so,you can't just blanket bag[diss] one brand over another,but the card on my dell[gt540m]certainly has a bag of tricks that plays havoc here!
Good Luck!
Bob

@ Ted.  Yes I use Dual Monitors on HD5450.  It has 3 outputs.  VGA, DVI, HDMI on the card itself.  No probs at all.

Also running dual monitors on the AT HD series. Mine is pre-5450, 4xxxx but no problems at all!

moffdnb


@FastBiker:    How do 2 Graphics cards work in windows?
Curious how you have them setup and how you select which displays what.  Especially in SONAR.

Long story short........

I had two different make cards working in XP, couldn't get them to work together in Windows 7 so I bought the two cards when I upgraded my system.

They just work, once "extend desktop to this monitor" has been selected. As for monitors, I have two 22" widescreens side by side and another 'regular' 22" above my keyboards. Like this....



It's probably possible to set up just about any view you want using the views either stretched across or floated on to the monitors. In the  pic above I have the CV in the multidock stretched across the main two and the PRV floated on the monitor above my keyboards.

The great thing about set up with X2 is as well as screensets, is that full screen mode is remembered on a per screenset basis. So not only can you set up any view you want but youcan set up ten views that you want and then switch instantly between them as required. I honestly think screensets are the greatest feature introduced so far..........

Anyway I digress, the CV/Track view in the pic above looks like this when screen captured. It shows over 35 full width console strips as well as the full control bar if that is important.



Finally I also use third party software DisplayFusionPro for even greater control. There's a free/trial version and the full version is cheap and well worth the money. It allows quick window movement and also window/monitor mirroring allowing a duplicate of a window to be placed on another monitor. Very helpful in the above scenario where I sometimes want to work using the keyboard monitor.

Although X1/X2 make multi monitors less of a necessity and more of a luxury they can still be used to great effect.

HTH

Yeah customisation would be nice, although it's not something I do much myself, I can see why it's frustrating for those that do.