RAM and computer performance

hey
 Working on a big project,40 + tracks,loads of plugins,and my computer has developed a nervous stutter when I hit playback :( I bought some RAM at a carboot sale but now I'm worried that if I put it into my computer maybe it will have a virus on it ??? Had a big crash a couple of months ago and lost about 4 years worth of work,so I'm really weary now about messing with my system lol. Is it possible RAM chips can have viruses on them ?
I'm using an M-audio card with a latency of 128ms.If I increase this will it make the computer run smoother ? Also I have Enable Write & Read caching unchecked in my Cakewalk audio preferences - not sure what this implies...would it help if these were checked ? My computer specs are as follows
Intel Pentium,CPU 3.40 Ghz,3.41 Ghz,2.00 GB of RAM. Is this a reasonable setup for a DAW ??
MANY THANKS FOR ANY TIPS !!!!!!!!
Kev
 

mattplaysguitar


Pentium what? Pentiums have been out since the 90's. If it's an old pentium then that's your weakness. RAM doesn't store information when it is turned off so it won't have a virus. But it's gonna be different to your existing ram so the faster ram will only work as fast as the slower ram. Using different ram is not recommended, it can be unstable. That could be not enough or plenty of ram, depending on if you use a lot of samples or not. I only use drums and piano samplers at the same time with 2GB of ram and I never have a problem. But if you use more than that you could run into probs.

ctrl+alt+del with a project running and check your ram usage and cpu usage to see what your weakness is.

Hi !
  I checked the specs again and this is the full description I found -  'Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.40GHz ' I bought it about 5 years ago from a music specialist shop (turnkey) in London. I did as you suggested and yep the problem I think is with the CPU usage and not the RAM.Today the CPU maxed on 50 %,but yesterday when it was stuttering the CPU meter on Sonar's transport icon was constantly going into the red - and it sounded really bad lol. I'm not computer savvy at all so please bear with me on this !! Is there a way I can configure my sytem so its no longer going draining all the CPU ? I'm working around it at the minute by bouncing tracks down,which is fine,but time consuming - I'd like to find a better solution if possible.Thanks again for your insights.
Kev
 

I've come across overclocking but never really read into it - yeah I will check it out thanks ! I do have the internet up and running on it (antivirus software too obviously for that reason) but these are the only other things I use it for.I've got a spare computer so maybe I'll try hooking that up to the internet instead and see if its makes a differance ! Enjoy your weekend
Kev

I don't tend to use a lot of softsynths - these always put the CPU in the red so I'm careful to bounce these down one at a time when I'm using them.I think its more the plug ins - particulary the reverb and multi-tap delays. I think from what you two have said the problem is that I don't have enough CPU - maybe a new computer would be the best bet,or keep some of the components of the existing one and just replace the necessary parts.Big job I guess !! I've got no idea about which other programs I can kill.I disable MSN for example,and this defo makes a differance,but the others I don't tend to touch cos maybe they will make my computer even more unstable lol.THanks for the pointers,I think building a new computer with some help from my tech-savvy mates will be the best way forward :)
Kev

kev11111111111111


I'm using an M-audio card with a latency of 128ms.If I increase this will it make the computer run smoother ?

Yes.
M-Audio reports the latency (ASIO?) setting as buffer size(or samples?), rather than ms. So the 128 you see is actually a latency of around 5ms, if I'm not too far off. This is good for recording, but puts a huge load on your CPU when you start to apply heavy hitter effects like reverbs, etc.
Low latency is not an issue once you are done recording.
Hold off on using those effects while you are recording, then, as you move into editing and adding effects, increase that latency setting to a much higher value. Try 2056 or greater. This gives the CPU more room to breathe, and will dramatically reduce your CPU usage.
I'm running a much slower 2.4Ghz P4, and am able to run several active synths and effects at a higher latency.
If you start hearing clicks and pops as you introduce effects, it's time to bump the latency up.
As mentioned, it's a good idea to freeze synths that you are not working on.
Don't make the CPU process anything it doesn't have to.
hth

RobertB

kev11111111111111


I'm using an M-audio card with a latency of 128ms.If I increase this will it make the computer run smoother ?

Yes.
M-Audio reports the latency (ASIO?) setting as buffer size(or samples?), rather than ms. So the 128 you see is actually a latency of around 5ms, if I'm not too far off. This is good for recording, but puts a huge load on your CPU when you start to apply heavy hitter effects like reverbs, etc.
Low latency is not an issue once you are done recording.
Hold off on using those effects while you are recording, then, as you move into editing and adding effects, increase that latency setting to a much higher value. Try 2056 or greater. This gives the CPU more room to breathe, and will dramatically reduce your CPU usage.
I'm running a much slower 2.4Ghz P4, and am able to run several active synths and effects at a higher latency.
If you start hearing clicks and pops as you introduce effects, it's time to bump the latency up.
As mentioned, it's a good idea to freeze synths that you are not working on.
Don't make the CPU process anything it doesn't have to.
hth

ah so its not latency but buffer size ?! What you're saying makes really good sense.I'm gong to try increase the buffer size today on this project (all the tracking has been done already ) so hopefully I might see a differance.Thanks for your insight,I've got a good feeling this might just do the trick !
Kev