XP Tweak Necessity

[mark4man]

Setting the Processor Scheduling in WinXP to "Background", as opposed to "Programs"...

Does this really improve audio performance; & is it advisable?

Thanks,

mark4man

 

[TimOBrien]

Before you go blowing anything up, test it yourself.

The first thing I did when I built my new DAW was to load up 35 24-bit/44.1kHz stereo files and hit "play". When the CPU meter settled between 8-10%useage, I threw up my hands and said, "I ain't tweaking nothin'!!" Even with a mess of plug-ins my songs don't make it rise above 25-30%.

Don't break nothin that don't need fixin!

 

[LooneyTunez]

From what I understand, the labels of "Programs" and "Background" are kind of misleading. When set to "Background" all programs and activity are shared equally with the processor(s). When set to "Programs" more priority is given to whichever program has focus at the time. Now, you may think the latter is a good option (since focus is on the audio program your working with), but things like plugins and your drivers (WDM and ASIO) run in the "Background". Typically, you don't want the processor to give prority to your program's interface (because that's a menial task when compared to what your drivers and plugins are doing).

FYI, when you tell XP to "Adjust for best performance", it chooses "Background".

 

[mark4man]

Tim...!

Tell me about your DAW...I've been hearing 2 schools of thought on this one, "leave it alone"; & "tweak."

If your system is similar to mine, I'm inclined to leave it alone:

Dell Dimension 8250
CPU - P4 2.53GHz
512 MB PC1066 RDRAM
60GB Primary HD / Single Volume (OS, Apps, Files/Folders, etc.)
80GB Secondary HD / Single Volume (Audio Data only)
LynxTWO
SONAR XL 2.2
WaveLab 4.0g

Thanks,

mark4man

 

[mark4man]

LooneyTunez,

Thanks...good point.

mark4man

 

[Porter]

For what it is worth, I have two installations of XP on my computer... one 'optimised' and the other not. I very rearely use the optimised one... however down the track i can see that I probably will. I used http://www.musicxp.net to optimise it.

I'm playing back 12 tracks and recording up to 4 at a time with no problems... whilst running web browsers in the back and everthing, no problems... in a couple of months time I'm hopefully having a band come over to my house to record and I know I will use the optimised copy of XP I've got, just to get that extra CPU power.

All I'm trying to say is that sometime I think the optimised is a little over the top, however there may be sometimes when you need it. Recording 2 tracks at a time probably won't need it, but in saying that, if it was optimised the audio programs would run just that little bit better.

Porter

 

[mark4man]

Porter...

These are my only changes, thus far:

Removed Windows Components:

X Fax Services
X Indexing Service
X Management & Monitoring Tools
D MSN Explorer
X Other Network File & Print Services
X Terminal Server
D Windows Messenger (2)

X = Not activated w/ XP reinstall
D = Removed manually
-------------------------------------------------

Disabled Registry Components:

Notification Area [Systray] Balloon Tips
-------------------------------------------------

Executed XP Tweaks:

Disabled Fast User Switching
Switched Off Power Schemes
Switched Off Hibernation
Activated DMA on Hard Discs/CD ROMS
Disabled Automatic Updates
Disabled Remote Assistance
Disabled Hide Inactive Icons
Disabled Automatic Desktop Cleanup Wizard
Disabled XP Built-In CD Burner
Stopped Messenger Service [Pop-Up’s]
-------------------------------------------------

Disabled Services:

None.
-------------------------------------------------

That's it...so far, nothing else. I want only to balance optimum performance with system stability.

I do like LooneyTunez advice on Processor Scheduling, tho.

Thanks,

mark4man

 

[LooneyTunez]

Here's a really good guide for optimizing XP for DAW's. Covers a lot of what mark4man has already done, plus quite a few other things. Check it out.

http://www.opusaudioprojects.net/WinXp.htm