Sonar X1 + Maudio Profire 610 + Windows 8 Pro = Computer lock up/freeze

Is anyone experiencing this issue? X1 starts up but when I engage the Input Echo button so I can get my guitar signal my system completely freezes. Freezes to the point that the system is a brick. Totally unresponsive. I have to manually hold the power button down to shut it off. 

I'm testing Windows 8. I'm using an Maudio Profire 610, internal firewire with TI chipset, sonar X1. Everything works fine on Windows 7 set up. I've heard some user not having an issue with the Profire although there really isn't an official W8 driver. 

My system is fairly new and it's working fine on the W7 OS so I know that my system isn't an issue. Anyone else have this issue? Anyone know how to resolve this issue? Thanks