Delta 1010 users: No-pop on this setup

[MBP2112]

Howyadoin,

Just thought I'd pass along some system specs that are very promising, and contrast them with my previous DAW PC.

Old system:
AMD AthlonXP 1800+, over clocked to ~2000+, MSI K7N420 Pro (original nForce chipset), 1GB DDR2700, 2 WD JB series drives, Innovatek water-cooling system, Delta 1010 (of course), don't have the driver S/W rev that was on this system. Before the watercooling setup was installed, this system had fans out the wazoo to keep cool, it was a noisy little bugger and ran as hot as 72 deg.C when tracking in a room with an ambient of 32 deg.C.


New system:
Intel 2.4GHz Northwood, which has been successfully overclocked to 3.0GHz, but run at stock speed for this report. I've generated a report via SiSoft Sandra that I'll post at the end of this message showing some of the hardware and configuration details. Sandra is a phenomenal tool for evaluating systems. It would be interesting to see these same details from other successful systems and from those not so successful, to begin to develop an profile for a "best-of-breed" setup for the Delta 1010.

System is built in a rack-mount case with P/S and front-of-case fan, backplane slot case covers removed to help ventilation, 5.25 covers removed for ventilation. This case is going inside a rack mount along with the Delta breakout box, a patchbay, a compressor/limiter and a headphone amp, so I want air to be able to flow through the case to a single 6" fan in the back of the rack, turning slowly to reduce fan noise.

CPU temps without the case mounted in the rack unit are running about 60 deg.C at 3.0GHz, about 56 deg.C at stock speed.

BTW Delta driver on the new system is as follows:

File Name: delta.sys
Library Version: 5.03.00.900

This is the newest beta driver, Delta_29x12_WDM_Beta_Driver.


I've done some preliminary testing on the new system, and the audio quality is excellent, none of the pops and clicks that I'd encountered occasionally on the previous rig. Using a mono -10 unbalanced tape deck input, the noise floor was ~-90dB at 24-bit/96KHz. Electrical conditions here in Muppet Labs are fairly crappy for grounds, and considering the P/S for the Delta and the PC are plugged into outlets on opposite walls, there's no hum to speak of. So far, so good!

Here's an excerpt of the Sandra report:

***** Start of Report *****
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<<< General >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Done By: MBP
Done On: Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Done At: 11:49:01 PM

<<< System Summary >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

< System >

< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
Speed: 2.41GHz
Performance Rating: PR2647 (estimated)
Type: Standard
L2 On-board Cache: 512kB ECC Synchronous ATC

< Mainboard >
Bus(es): AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Support: No
System BIOS: Award Software, Inc. ASUS P4PE ACPI BIOS
Revision 1002
Mainboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4PE
Chipset: ASUSTeK Computer Inc 82845PE Brookdale Host-
Hub Interface Bridge (B0-step)
Front Side Bus Speed: 4x 134MHz (536MHz data rate)
Total Memory: 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed: 2x 168MHz (336MHz data rate)

< Video System >
Monitor/Panel: Samsung SyncMaster 955DF(T)
Adapter: RAGE 128 PRO AGP 4X TMDS (Microsoft
Corporation)

< Physical Storage Devices >
Hard Disk: WDC WD1000JB-00CRA1
Hard Disk: WDC WD400JB-00ENA0
CD-ROM/DVD: ASUS CRW-5224A

< Logical Storage Devices >
System (C: 37.3GB (34.7GB, 93% Free) (NTFS)
Data (D: 93.2GB (83.4GB, 90% Free) (NTFS)
New (E: 488MB (0MB, 0% Free) (CDFS)


< MultiMedia Device(s) >
Device: Standard Game Port
Device: M-Audio Delta 1010
Device: SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

< Operating System(s) >
Windows System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version
5.01.2600 Service Pack 1

< Network Adapter(s) >
Network Drivers Enabled: Yes
Adapter: ASUSTeK/Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated
Controller

<<< Mainboard Information >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

< Mainboard >
Manufacturer: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
MP Support: No
Model: P4PE
Version: REV 1.xx
Serial Number: xxxxxxxxxxx
System BIOS: 10/28/2002-I845PE/ICH4/IT8708-P4PE


< Chipset >
Model: ASUSTeK Computer Inc 82845PE Brookdale Host-
Hub Interface Bridge (B0-step)
Bus(es): AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
Front Side Bus Speed: 4x 134MHz (536MHz data rate)
Maximum FSB Speed / Max Memory:4x 133MHz / 2x 166MHz
IO Queue Depth: 8 request(s)


< Logical/Chipset Memory Banks >
Bank 0: 256MB DDR-SDRAM 8-1-1-1R 6-1-1-1W 2.5-3-3CL
Bank 1: 256MB DDR-SDRAM 8-1-1-1R 6-1-1-1W 2.5-3-3CL
Speed: 2x 168MHz (336MHz data rate)
Multiplier: 1.25x
Refresh Rate: 15.60µs
Power Save Mode: No
Fixed Hole Present: No

< Memory Module(s) >
Memory Module 1: Nanya NT5DS16M8AT-6K 512MB 16x(32Mx8) DDR-
SDRAM PC2700U-2533-700 (CL2.5 upto 167MHz)
(CL2 upto 133MHz)

< PCI Bus(es) >
Version: 2.20
Number of Bridges: 2
PCI Bus 0: PCI (1x PCIClk)
PCI Bus 2: PCI (1x PCIClk)


<<< CPU & BIOS Information >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<< System BIOS >>
< General Information >
Manufacturer: Award Software, Inc.
Version: ASUS P4PE ACPI BIOS Revision 1002
Date: 10/28/2002
Plug & Play Version: 1.00
SMBIOS/DMI Version: 2.30
(EE)PROM Size: 512kB (4Mbit)


<< Processor 1 >>
< Processor >
Model: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
Co-Processor (FPU): Built-in
Speed: 2.40GHz
Performance Rating: PR2644 (estimated)
Type: Standard
Package: FC µPGA478
Rated Speed/FSB: 2400MHz / 4x 133MHz
Multiplier: 18x
Generation: 7 (7x86)
Name: P4N (Northwood) Pentium 4 1.6-3.4G 1.5-1.6V
Revision/Stepping: 2 / 7 (9)
Stepping Mask: C1
Core Voltage Rating: 1.550V

< Host Interface(s) >
Front Side Bus Speed: 4x 134MHz (536MHz data rate)



<< IC Ensemble Inc M Audio Delta-1010 >>
< Device Information >
Device Type: Audio Multimedia Device
Device ID: bus 2, device B, function 0
Windows Device Name: M-Audio Delta 1010
OEM Device Name: IC Ensemble Inc ICE1712 Envy24 Multichannel
Audio Controller
OEM Hardware ID: FUN_0, VEN_1412, DEV_1712, REV_02
Device Name: IC Ensemble Inc M Audio Delta-1010
Product ID: VEN_1412, DEV_D630
Revision: A / 3 (2)

< Power Management Features >
Version: 1.00
Supports Clock Slow-down: Yes
Supports D1 PM State: No
Supports D2 PM State: Yes
Supports PME#: No
Supports PME Clock: No

< Device Capabilities >
Latency Timer: 32 clk
I/O port resources: Yes
Memory resources: No
Bus Master Capable: Yes
Special Cycle Recognition: No
Memory Write & Invalidate: No
VGA Palette Snoop: No
Parity Error Response: No
Address/Data Stepping: No
System Error Line: No
Fast back-to-back Transactions:No
Detects Parity Errors: No
Supports System Error Line: No
Supports Parity Line: No
User Defined Format: No
66MHz Bus Support: No
New Capability List: Yes
Device Select Timing: Medium
Multi-Function Device: No
Header: 00
Interface: 00

< Hardware Resources >
I/O Range: 0000A800
I/O Range: 0000A400
I/O Range: 0000A000
I/O Range: 00009800
Irq. No.: 23
INT Pin: A#
Dynamic Management: Yes

<<< Video System Information >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<< Video Adapter >>
<< Primary Display Driver (display) >>
< Video Adapter >
Model: RAGE 128 PRO AGP 4X TMDS (Microsoft
Corporation)
Chipset: Rage128 PRO (AGP 4X)
RAMDAC: Internal DAC (350Mhz)
Video BIOS: BK3.0.2 VR001.001.003.003.000.026 pft3b1^a.
VGA Compatible: No
Total Memory: 32MB (32MB Video)
Texture Memory: 32MB


<<< Sound Card Information >>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<< Wave Input Devices (Recording) >>
<< M-Audio Delta 1010 Multichannel >>
< General Information >
Device Name: M-Audio Delta 1010 Multichannel
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Version: 5.10
Product ID: 101 / 1

< Specific Wave Information >
Maximum Standard Sampling Bits:16-bit
Maximum Standard Sampling Rate:44.1kHz
Channels: 65535

(Additional devices 1/2, 3/4, etc. removed for clarity.)

<< Wave Output Devices (Playback) >>
<< M-Audio Delta 1010 Multichannel >>
< General Information >
Device Name: M-Audio Delta 1010 Multichannel
Manufacturer: Microsoft
Version: 5.10
Product ID: 100 / 1

< Specific Wave Information >
Maximum Standard Sampling Bits:16-bit
Maximum Standard Sampling Rate:44.1kHz
Channels: 65535

(Additional devices 1/2, 3/4, etc. removed for clarity.)

If anyone has any tuning suggestions based on this information please let me know, I'll be happy to guinea-pig 'em for you.

Good luck,

-Mark P.

 

[drstawl]

60 deg C. seems a tad warm, friend. Good Luck!

 

[MBP2112]

Sorry, I should have noted that the 60 deg.C level was while tracking in Sound Forge (100% CPU utilization) for about 25 minutes. The idle temp is between 37-40 deg.C, which isn't too bad for an aircooled 25% overclock with the stock Intel heatsink/fan.

If it gets to be a problem in the warmer weather, I'll probably transfer the watercooling system over to the new rig, although I'll have to get a new waterblock in that case. The Intel fan is a lot quieter than the stock AMD fan, so there's less incentive to watercool the Intel. The Innovatek system is nice, but having to top up the reservoir when the case is mounted in the rack is going to be a real pain.

-Mark P.

 

[therage!]

Sounds like a nice system.,

What do you think was causing pops and clicks in your old system?

No pops/clicks with my 1.2 ghz athlon using a Via chipset. Only problem I have is I cannot run 2 memory sticks. My next system will not be AMD. I like their CPU's but do not like the 3rd party chipset business. I've burned way too many hours in trouble shooting to get where I'm at and I'm (me personally) convinced to go with Intel next build. Unless AMD starts controlling theiir chipset market like Intel does.

Happy recording!

 

[MBP2112]

Howyadoin,

I'm not 100% sure what the cause of the pop/click issue was on the old system. It could have been the older M-Audio drivers, the nForce chipset, Win2K, etc. If you want my suspicions, I suspect that some chipsets play tricks with the PCI bus to give more bandwidth to the AGP and IDE controller busses. This is a total WAG on my part, and I'm probably wrong as hell, but just a thought.

I've been an AMD user since the K6-2, and while I like the price/performance of the AthlonXP, there are things that drove me into the arms of the Dark Side.

One of the biggest annoyances is heatsink/fans - Why the hell can't the XP retail package come with a fan that doesn't require you to risk gouging your motherboard to connect that dopey retaining clip to the socket with a freaking screwdriver? When you've got to spend an additional $200 for watercooling to cool your CPU in a fashion that doesn't cause the case to hover from the lift generated by all the fans, are you really saving money?

Intel's stock HSF is chimp-simple to mount, and doesn't require exotic compounds like Arctic Silver 3 to get decent cooling. It's a larger diameter fan, which can turn slower and quieter than the propeller on the Athlon.

CPU/chipset integration is another point for Intel. Aside from hobby audio engineering, I build digital video recording systems for surveillance applications. This is a very demanding application for a Windows based system, since it needs to run flawlessly for months on end. The Intel 845PE chipset is as solid as anything I've seen since the BX chipset from the Pentium II days. Combine the P4 with the 845PE, add Win2K w/SP3 or WinXP, tune the OS to get rid of the Playskool GUI and unneeded services, and you've got an absolute tank.

Price/performance isn't that big a factor anymore, either. My local compu-crack dealer sells the P4 Northwood 2.4 533Mhz FSB for $189, vs. $129 for an AthlonXP 2400+. Thirty percent is nothing to sneeze at, but once upon a time the AMD discount was a lot higher. Now that Intel has kicked Rambust to the curb, they're an even more solid choice IMHO.

-Mark P.