Yup X3E and please confirm what FireWire interface you are using :)

Also check Startekh's tip about updating chipset drivers assuming you have extreme edition motherboard, and when you do that you might as well check for any motherboard BIOS updates as well.

Thanks...

Wookiee
What is the chip set maker of your firewire card?

As stated the OHCI test (linked to by Focusrite) gave these results.
 
Vendor : (1106) VIA Technologies
Chipset: (3403) VT6315/VT6330   Revision: 01  
 
I had assumed that was the chipset maker.  It's not a card, it's on-board. Other than that, from the Device Manager, "IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers" lists only one, "VIA 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller". At this point that is all the data I have other than the Microsoft Driver number. Sorry I wasn't adequately clear.
 
Bob
 
 

scook
Update to X3e

OK, I have done that, but I can't test it because whenever I try to run MixControl it closes shortly after opening and leaves a little window that says, "NO HARDWARE CONNECTED".  I assume the relationship is temporal, not causal. I will move the unit so I can use the shorter cable. I'm putting off StarTekh's tip to last because I've only done that once before, years ago, and it was high stress.
 
 
And I do thank you.

Using a shorter cable did not help. (The cable that came with the Saffire could not be used. I had only glanced at it as I had one already in place. But I had a short one on hand and used that.) In preparing to (read up on how to) flash the bios I came across the  Motherboard designation, "Rampage III Formula" in the boot app. So the next step is the flashy-flashy thing. It's supposedly "EZ", I'll let you all know.
 
Again thanks.  I don't think I could do this without the help given here. It would certainly feel hopeless. 

I updated the bios, (amazingly easy) but still got the NO HARDWARE window; then uninstalled and reinstalled the MixControl and set it to factory defaults.  Problems seem to be solved.  My deep gratitude to all.
 
Bob
 
P.S.
I gave StarTech the credit for the answer but the tips from scook and CakeAlexS were essential as well.
Again my  thanks.

I spoke too soon.  Can't record for more than 30 sec. without dropout. 
 
Current:
SONAR X3 Producer (X3e build 352) - x64
ASUS Rampage III Formula Bios version 0903
 
I've put the project files on an SSD and when recording I show a disk load ranging from .08 to .12
 
I've twiddled buffers and latency till I don't know which end is up. 
Out of ideas.  Send it back and try RME?

LatencyMon may offer some clue

+1 Scook.
 
Well you are handling everything in the right order...
You might also want to try renaming your AUD.INI file in Sonar (google for details) to see if it makes a difference.
 
Also please let us know what you have set in mixcontrol under Settings-> Firewire driver latency and ASIO buffer size, and tell us how you have set up buffers in Sonar.
 
Also check this (it probably won't do any hard to do a VST reset, and then a rescan).
And if you haven't run Windows update recently, it's time you did it, and check the optional updates. It may improve stability.
 
Ta.

Some background process?  Some antivirus software interferes with Sonar - some folks change settings in antivirus to exclude Sonar paths/pieces, and some temporarily suspend antivirus when running Sonar.  Also, possible problems from Wi-Fi adapters, if present.  (If W-Fi adapter is present, try turning it off or going into Windows Device Manager and disabling it, just prior to launching Sonar, and enabling it after completing the Sonar session).
 
Bob Bone
 

Selected  “Show hidden files, ...”
Found the AUD.INI for SONAR 8
Uninstalled SONAR 8
Still looking for the AUD.INI associated with SONAR X3 ????
Ran the VST Plugin scan : No help.
 
On the MixControl under “Settings...”
Firewire Driver Latency : Medium
ASIO Buffer Size : 512
 
SONAR X3, Edit, Preferences, Sync and Caching
     File System
          FALSE : Enable Read Caching                 FALSE : Enable Write Caching
          Playback I/O Buffer Size (KB)  : 256       Record I/O Buffer Size (KB) 256