One difference between Console and Track view that may have seen changes in X3 is the handling of the Now time Cursor. I forget the name of the Windows graphics functionality that it depends on, but if you have certain Aero features turned off it could have an effect.  I think several changes have been made over time to eliminate the "disappearing cursor syndrome", and that could account for a difference between X2 and X3, though I wouldn't expect it to have such a dramatic effect on CPU load. One recommendation related to that was that you set "Adjust for best appearance" (instead of "Let Windows choose") on the Visual Effects tab in Performance Options; you might try that or experiment with other options if that's already what you have set.
 
Does CPU Conservation Mode (Pause key) make a big difference in X3 on your system? 

Desktop Window Management is the Windows feature that is used.

Ah, yes. I remember the name from the times that it crashed on my system; turned out I had a bad RAM module.

Hi,
 
Well I have 2 nvidia pcie cards with two video outputs each one. Ther are not expensive, its a Nvidia geforce 7300LE and a Nvidia geforce 210. Windows recognizes both cards and I can plug 4 screens.
 
Never had a problem with this configuration... and I have another video output available if I want to use it.
 
Im gonna check the drivers and do what Brundlefly wrote, lets see if I can resolve this issue :)
 
Many thanks for your answers!

Iobit just released a free driver updater recently (the official name is "Iobit Driver Booster") and it can be found at this link. This is a handy utility to update drivers in your system efficiently.
http://www.iobit.com/driver-booster.php

I solved it!!
 
FreeFlyBertl, you were totally right and I didnt try what you said...my mistake
 
 I solved it just uncheking the option "Always stream audio through FX". I thought that was to do with the tail effects after pressing stop when the project is playing...but it just consumes cpu on blank tracks with effects and I normally have a lot, just in case I would need them later.
 
So...I just unchecked it (it came checked by default) and now my cpu readings are the same as in sonar X2!
 
But when trying to solve it. I played with my Nvidia setings etc and I suddenly discovered that when I have the track view expanded across the 3 screens, it consumes a 30% more CPU!.
 
If I shrink the Sonar window to fill just one screen, letting the other 2 screen empy (just the desktop background photo) then I win a 30% cpu power. This happens in X2 and X3
 
I will try to search more info on this...I use 2 nvidia cards for multimonitoring, perhaps with just one card with 3 video outputs would be better?
 
Im trying to find silent ones (fanless)...but cant find them
 
Thanks for your help!
 
Daniel
 
 

Hi Daniel
 
I'm glad I could help. I've made the same observations as regards CPU consumption when trying to understand that new "Always stream audio through FX" option.
 
I turned it off as it felt strange to have so much "number crunching power" being wasted when not playing back anything ... sort of feels like I'm wasting resources and hence risking instabilities when doing heavy edits (e.g. melodynize an entire vocal track)
 
Yet I fail to fully understand the implications of turning it off, but maybe somebody can educate me further on this topic?
 
As regards the graphic card driver I'm faced with a similar dilemma: I haven't had many issues with X2a but still get some instabilities with X3c. Now I found a new graphic card driver, yet the old one worked fine with X2a ... will updating the graphic card driver (ATI HD 5450) be beneficial or just add another variable to the vast number of unknowns that may cause these occasional crashes?
 
I reckon I just consult the wisdom of the cowd in another thread ..
 
Cheers
Rob