Advice needed

[wimck]

Hello all!

I'm using XXhighend for a while now and think I can handle a lot to make it work ok.
But...the latest versions I did' t get to work proper so I'm using 09-z3 again.
But once in a while I have a little gap. Found out that my CPU was just orking on 2200Mhz although it has to be able to work on 2800Mhz.
So I changed bios settings and it seem more stable now. But stil I have gaps sometimes, even in unattended mode.

Made me think of getting a faster CPU.
My system at this moment is a Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H with a Athlon II X2 240e, 3 Gb RAM and still Windows XP. The machine is used only for XXhighend.
My idea is to change the CPU, add some more RAM and install W7.

The CPU is was thinking of is the AMD Phenom II X4 955 or even the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
Is it a smart move to put these CPU's on the " old " MB?
Please give me advices what to do to get rid of the gaps!

[PeterSt]

Hi Wim,

Only about the gaps from my side :

Can you get rid of them by lowering the Split File Size ?
And do you use Mixed Contiguous Memory Mode ?
Does setting Processor Core Appointment Scheme-3 help ?

And do you have a fast disk connection ? (like internal SATAII)

Peter

[wimck]

Hi Peter,

I have tried SFS from 12 to 200
And do you mean if I used Mixed Contiguous Mode when using 09-z5?  It's not in 09-z3, isn' t it?
In 09-z5 I did indeed

My setting at this moment are:
device: KS:HIFACE Kernel Streaming >>#wave
Engine: #4 engine
KS Mode: Special
Processor Core Appointment Scheme : 3
SFS: 50


and, yes I have SATAII connections to the harddisks!  But is that important with unattended play?

[PeterSt]

If you have gaps ... yes. Something is not fast enough in your system. It shouldn't be the cpu ...

Assuming 16/44.1 is the input - what is your output sample rate ?

If you start TaskManager and bring the cpu graph forward, can you recognize that the gaps occur at the peaks occuring ? And if not precisely on the peaks, when ?

[wimck]

After playing several albums gappless a gap occurs in the middle of a track of 12 min and the CPU graph of the taskmanager shows a peak of just 50%.
SFS: 12, unattended play
So that makes clear it isn't the CPU!

[wimck]

oh, 16/44.1 is the in and output sample rate

[PeterSt]

So that makes clear it isn't the CPU!

Oh ?

1. How many cpu graphs do you see in there ?

2. How long does this last aproximately ?

[wimck]

Only one graph shown....you mean there are two cores?
So the "!"  had to be "?"  It's not easy for a dummie 

While playing music I had the taskmanager open and when a gap occured I had a look what happens on the graph!

Is it possible to log what happens with the CPU (cores)?

[PeterSt]

Yes, I think you have two cores - and active.

In XP you can choose in TaskManager whether the individual cores are shown, or whether they are shown summed. You will have it summed. I think you can set that under View somewhere.

Once you see the both cores, you will see that one is going to 100%. But, this is normal ! Fact is : the faster the cpu, the shorter this takes. That's why the question "how long does it last". When too long - things will not have been prepared in time, and you'll have a gap.

Logging is possible, but not for a "normal person" like you. It's not necessary either because looking at it in real time will tell (me, through your eyes) enough.

Peter

[wimck]

today I had several gaps in one album at the beginning of the long tracks and one occured at a track of normal tength (6 min)
With every gap almost the same view on the taskmanager.

Thanks so far Peter!

[PeterSt]

Hi Wim,

No, I don't think this is the CPU. But what then ?
HiFace related ?

Maybe using Adaptive Mode changes things ?

Anyway, I now have the feeling it may be about slow disk I/O. No real reason, but if it's not the cpu it should be that. Posting the XX, X3 and X3PB log files from a session will probably tell a lot (switch on logging at the bottom of the Settings Area, and obtain the log files from the TemporaryData folder under your XX folder).

At posting the log files (as attachment please), try to tell what exactly happened throught the session concerned. I'll have some pointers then.

Thanks a lot,
Peter

[wimck]

Hi Peter,

The adaptive mode has given me a couple of evenings without one gap!

But...reading a lot more last days and your message about the slow disk I/0 made me think about my setup.
I have OS, XXHighend and the albums on one "slow" (5400 rpm) spinning disk which is splitted in a C: and D: partition.
I now understand this isn't the right way to get gappless play, one disk has to do all the work.

So next step is a new (faster) disk for OS/XXHighend.

But what to buy?  a fast spinning disk or a SSD?

With the information I found last day's I prefer a SSD.
Found out there's a new vertex3 disk which has a max data transfer of about 500 Mb/s read and write.
My today's system can't use this all but it's a future proof buy.

[PeterSt]

If you prefer an SSD I would first put the OS on that.
Next I'd put XX on it (you can also do this without the OS being on there).
Then I'd set "Always Copy to XX Drive" (Settings).

Then you will be playing from the SSD always.


But good you made progress !