It wasn't really saving a few dollars that caused it ... I had just thought that for a DAW you don't need fancy gamer-style 3D graphics, so why put a high end card in? just to generate heat? i reckon my logic wasn't spot on ... but with every PC based DAW being unique, it is hard to know upfront if everything will work fine or not ...

Anyway, as recommended by gustabo, the 5450 was a 30 EUR fix to the problem ...

FreeFlyBertl


Anyway, as recommended by gustabo, the 5450 was a 30 EUR fix to the problem ...

I'd like to give credit where credit is due.
Thank Scott at ADK and Jim at Studiocat, they're the ones who recommended the 5450 to me.
I was merely passing on their wisdom.

Hi,on my laptop-dell xps L502x,everytime I start the computer,I MUST right click on the desktop to get to Nvidea Control Panel,and revert the options to factory install or some such gibberish or I get insane DPC spikes,like 87,000 or something,but once I do that,I get 140,168,never over 200.

If I disable wiFi and the USB 3.0 controller,I get it as low as 20us!,but since I need the USB 3.0 for my external USB3.0 WD HDD,and underside fan,thats a bit impractical,but yeah EVERYTIME I start up I must reinitialize the Nvidea stock settings[even though I have NOT changed,or modified anything!] or spikes to the moon.

This is why I use an ATI card for my desktop,but every interaction is different so,you can't just blanket bag[diss] one brand over another,but the card on my dell[gt540m]certainly has a bag of tricks that plays havoc here!
Good Luck!
Bob

Just curious if any of you guys using the ATI HD 5450 card are using duel monitors.  It shows to have one DVI and one HDMI.  Does this card support two monitors?

You can get this card at NewEgg for $20 after a $15 rebate.

My problem is...I rely on my high dollar Nvidia card for video editing since I do video edit on the same machine as my DAW.

@ Ted.  Yes I use Dual Monitors on HD5450.  It has 3 outputs.  VGA, DVI, HDMI on the card itself.  No probs at all.

Another HD5450user here. I have a pair of them on a Windows 7 x64 machine. One running two monitors the other a single one.

I've also fallen foul of the Nvidia PowerMizer thing on my laptop. Disabling it has stopped dpc spikes here. Still can't run my ZED-R16 at all though, but I suspect that is the firewire port.

Also running dual monitors on the AT HD series. Mine is pre-5450, 4xxxx but no problems at all!

@FastBiker:    How do 2 Graphics cards work in windows?
Curious how you have them setup and how you select which displays what.  Especially in SONAR.

moffdnb


@FastBiker:    How do 2 Graphics cards work in windows?
Curious how you have them setup and how you select which displays what.  Especially in SONAR.

Long story short........

I had two different make cards working in XP, couldn't get them to work together in Windows 7 so I bought the two cards when I upgraded my system.

They just work, once "extend desktop to this monitor" has been selected. As for monitors, I have two 22" widescreens side by side and another 'regular' 22" above my keyboards. Like this....



It's probably possible to set up just about any view you want using the views either stretched across or floated on to the monitors. In the  pic above I have the CV in the multidock stretched across the main two and the PRV floated on the monitor above my keyboards.

The great thing about set up with X2 is as well as screensets, is that full screen mode is remembered on a per screenset basis. So not only can you set up any view you want but youcan set up ten views that you want and then switch instantly between them as required. I honestly think screensets are the greatest feature introduced so far..........

Anyway I digress, the CV/Track view in the pic above looks like this when screen captured. It shows over 35 full width console strips as well as the full control bar if that is important.



Finally I also use third party software DisplayFusionPro for even greater control. There's a free/trial version and the full version is cheap and well worth the money. It allows quick window movement and also window/monitor mirroring allowing a duplicate of a window to be placed on another monitor. Very helpful in the above scenario where I sometimes want to work using the keyboard monitor.

Although X1/X2 make multi monitors less of a necessity and more of a luxury they can still be used to great effect.

HTH

Very nice indeed mate.  Hmmm some pondering to do.  Thanks ;>
 
p.s. Wouldn't it be cool if CW brought back colours (& in CV too).  Make life much easier.