XXHighEnd

I'am using windows 8 with xxhighend , as I understand, a lower CPU speed will improve the Q of music, I want to know if through a virtual machine I can reduce the speed of the CPU without really tampering with the comp processing speed.
I can then use the comp for xxhighend through the virtual machine & use it as a media server for the movies at normal CPU speed.

Hi there Shreekant,

So, first post and right away a not so easy to answer one. But let's try ...

First off I don't think that any virtual machine can "assign" a lower cpu speed. Processor cores yes but not a dereviate of processor speed as such. Also, really "slowing down" or something is also not in order. Only at high loads of the system as a whole, your virtual machine can be set to have low priority so to speak but it works through other means. And remember, this is still this one physical machine producing the sound and that one runs at the (set) speed as is.
Anyway, this will never do what you're after.

Another thing is that no way you can obtain good sound through a virtual machine. That is, if we relate it to how XXHighEnd works and what ot does or tries to do to SQ; A virtual machine would imply the opposite of that all.
Related is that all has to be emulated and say that all has to be processed twice. This means for example that when you now can play with an SFS of 2 without hurdles, that will then be 4. This is very generally spoken, but it works something like that. So all your limits will be different and never for the better.

I will try to say some more about it in a next post.
Regards,
Peter

But how to solve this ...

First off, to my own experience, no HTPC for movies needs the high speed these days. This is related to the HD material which actually doesn't need any processing apart from decoding (the H264 etc.). Notice the difference with close to 10 years ago just prior to the HD era and when upscaling was needed (from low res DVD material). Now *that* needed cpu cycles.
I myself see this as all being very OK because my HTPC is always on without real attention, and when we play movies all tasks open remain just that and really nothing special is applied to make it fast enough. The processor is a 2.9GHz and whether hyperthreaded (which makes it a 1.45GHz) or not also doesn't make a single difference. Or all IOW : The time I have seen my last "stutter" must have been 6 years ago. Really.

Supposed you set the BIOS so that it runs at 1200MHz (not sure how easy that can be dione for your MoBo) ...
Now whether XXHighEnd can make that 430MHz like with the XXHighEnd PC (ASRock) is not important, because even if it can, it can do that in MinOS only. This implies it will *not* happen when in Normal OS. This in itself means that all it needs is a reboot into Normal OS when a movie is to be played (and no BIOS changes are needed).
Notice that I did it myself for those same mentioned 6 years because my HTPC was the audio PC, and "HTPC" needs WASAPI which I have shut off in MinOS Mode (with you the same if all is right because of your NOS1).

Maybe it is a bit vague, but what I'm suggesting is that your movies will play all right at 1200MHz and which is the same base for audio playback. It does need a reboot (Normal OS - MinOS back and forth) but this really is no problem (takes 30-45 seconds).

Problem solved ?
Peter


PS: I myself am thinking about making the XXHighEnd PC the HTPC, but now with Windows 8.1.  Why ? because W8.1 can upsample the audio to 352.8/384 which is good for our NOS1 (W8/W7 can upsample to 192 only).

Peter ,thanks for the input, I understand the complexity of the virtual machine. I have called my IT engineers to make it and experiment, at worst it will have to be removed, i presume it won't harm the system. I will keep you informed.
I will also insall windows 8.1, can I upsample the audio to 352.8/384, will the NOS have support it is my question.

Shreekant,

Do NOT install W8.1 for the audio, ok ? So only for the HTPC (dual boot).


Of course. Notice though that it needs movie playback software that uses WDM/WASAPI in Shared Mode (not Exclusive Mode) or otherwise the automatic upsampling does not work. But this is the same today (for W7 or W8 or even Vista).

Regards,
Peter

In case I cannot run the virtual machine, then should I install 8.1?

Careful Shreekant; W8.1 would be a special boot partition for your HTPC. XXHighEnd would just be used from the Windows 8 or Windows 7 partition (whatever you have currently or like for the better).

So answer :
If you see the virtue of being able to upsample to 384 because W8.1 can do that ... Yes (for the HTPC boot only).
Notice that I see this virtue but I didn't bother yet. This can also be read as : I have no problems with the sound of movies when upsampled to 192 only.

Peter

Dear Peter,
The intel mobo does not allow any changes to the CPU speed. I therefore let the system as it was. I did not experiment the virtual machine as per your observation so now whenever you are ready to apply the windows 8.1 with higher sampling rate I will make the changes.
The quality of music is wonderful however once in a while the comp. freezes but as soon as it moves to the next track it becomes alright.
Shreekant

Hi Shreekant,

Possibly I will not be able to make it perfectly clear, but W8.1 has nothing to do with me or XXHighEnd.
Does this message help you ?

Or maybe this helps :
Do NOT use XXHighEnd under Windows 8.1.

:)
Peter