Rick Ranum
How about my ram setup again. There are 3 sticks of 2gb and 3 sticks of 4gb totalling 18gb. Could this effect the performance of a project in sonar?
"""!!YES!!"""" Never mix and match memory sticks for high performance, especially on a computer running memory and bandwidth intensive applications like SONAR!
Also that is a LOT of memory sticks, each one eats up about 1.5 volts = 9 volts just for memory alone so I hope you have a good size 400+ watts power supply to insure all components get the juice they need and when they need it. And that too could very well be the source of your problems. You should always MAX out the capacity of the memory slots before adding more sticks. Not only is that the shortest signal path, it uses the least amount of energy.
Maximum efficiency for 16 gigs of memory would be 2 x 8 gigs sticks = 3 volt draw
And ALWAYS use high quality, high performance tested memory by trusted vendors.
If your motherboard is meant to run in duel or multiple channels, all memory sticks must be the exact speed and timing specs supported by your motherboard. If not you are you losing half the memory bandwidth, you motherboard has almost certainly defaulted by to the slowest memory speed the mobo supports. So if you have PC 1600 memory sticks installed and your mobo defaults to the minimum PC 1333 your configuration isn't efficient for maximum performance.
All Memory sticks must be equal values and correct speed for duel channel operation and they must not be installed right next to each other.
Your CPU's memory controllers and multipliers are designed to work in groups of "4", so when choosing how much memory to install, always make sure the total amount can be divided or multiplied evenly by 4 for maximum speed and efficiency.
For instance, for an 8 gig duel channel configuration, "pair" one 4 gig stick into slot "A" and the other into slot "C". For a 16 gig config. install another pair of 4 gig stick into slot "B" and the other into slot "D". DO NOT pair memory sticks right next to each other.
This information should be detailed in you mobo's documentation.
A really good way to test for this issue is to pull all memory sticks out and pair two 4 gig sticks, preferably made by the same manufacture) insuring exact speed and timing specs supported by your motherboard.
Boot into BIOS and make sure duel channel is enabled, and your memory is running at correct speed.
Some mobo's automatically detect and change these configurations some don't.
8 gigs of memory is sufficient to run SONAR providing you don't have too many memory intensive plugins like VSTi samplers running.
Setting the buffers on the 18i20 Gen 2 @ 128 should give you very smooth and stable operation with an effective latency @ 2.7 ms with SONAR set at 24 bit 48k/HZ.
And if my guess is correct (which is all any of us can do without actually being there), your clicks and pops shall be gone and your computer will run smoother and maybe even a tad faster on the 8 gigs than it does on 18 gigs for every day use.
But of course "16" gigs is better sweet spot for hungry apps like DAW's when running at full speed and spec..