How far can you push your processors..native pro tools users

[iownrocknroll]

How far can you push your processors before you start running into errors?

I am running a quad core intel, I can push my machine to about 35% RTAS and disk useage to 4-5% before I start getting HW buffer erros.

 

[Steenamaroo]

i would guess there's something wrong over there!

i am currently playing back a session with 70% (consistent) cpu usage(rtas)
and 30% disk use. i have no elastic audio use at present..


my system is a
q9550 overclocked to 3.4(maybe that's the difference)
8gb ddr2@1000mhz
wd raptop 10,000 audio drive
dual 8800gt 512mb pcie gfx


my PT settings are

HW buffer size 32 samples.
RTAS Processors 2 (this is the key.....4 will cripple performance somehow)
cpu usage limit 95%

ignore errors checked

minimize latency not checked

dae playback buffer level 2
cache size normal



hope that helps.

 

[iownrocknroll]

Which operating system are you running?

 

[Steenamaroo]

i'd rather not say,but....but it has performed the same under XP in the past

 

[iownrocknroll]

I wonder what could be causing the problem.
I'll try and get a detailed report of my machine tonight.

 

[Steenamaroo]

ok cool..

definitely check if rtas processing is set to 2 cpus or 4

if i set mine to 4 the performance it awful!

 

[pezking]

Using odd numbers of processors works best, so I've heard. No idea why.

Why don't you wanna say the OS?

And if you're mixing down, which I'm assuming you are with RTAS usage that high, why are you using such a low hardware buffer? Just because you can?

 

[Steenamaroo]

at this stage, i'm mixing down, but i keep it down to 32ms so there's pretty much no latency for overdubs that the band might want to do / redo..which is sweet..


idk, i could be waaay off here but when i got my quadcore, it wouldn't playback sessions that my e6600 breezed through,

process of elimination showed that it was the 4 core setting that caused the problem.


i figured setting two cores for rtas, leaves two for running protools itself, and the os and whatever else u have going..

she never misses a beat now.. and sure, if i do ever get an error, i can just up to 128 or 256 ms for mixing