I dont know if I am doing here something wrong in terms of XP
tweaking , but I'd like to share some surprising results I got when
using Os3 under XP.
I've been wanting to get rid of 98SE ever since I've seen that OS.
flaky is the word
. When Os3 was released, first thing I did was install XP and do all my serious stuff on it.
During that period I noticed a couple of things that at first I didnt
pay too much attention to, but eventualy got me thinking.
first off:
1. Under XP, Pulsar OS3 runs considerably slower. I am especialy
talking about loading/unloading projects, that GUI itself in
particular is way more sluggish that it is already in 98SE.
XP in particular seems slower than its previous OS, win2k as well,
and compared to 98, its way slower in all ways. especialy in screen
redraws, and also DSP rendering.
2. Now to the biggest problem: There is a big problem with PCI
overflows under XP . It seems as though the PCI itself is strained
alot more under XP . To test: I've tried to load 5 masterverbs under
XP. Just by launching nuendo prior to even sending signals, or scsi
HD access, a PCI overflow message would appear. it would also appear
by just accessing the windows desktop and minimizing pulsar OS
(though not related to screen redraws). I could not load one single
timeworks reverb on a 50% full DSP project without a PCI error. My
system never ever had any PCI problems.
I saved the project, booted to Win98SE, and all my assumptions were
right: I could load more than 10 masterverbs without a single error.
I stopped testing for more reverbs but I am sure it could go way
beyond 10. I am talking about the same project, under 98SE. TW reverb
had no problem and could load 7.
I have tried to tweak the hell out of the XP OS. I disabled USB, ran
latest Matrox G450 drivers, and tried to disable its bus mastering
and /or graphic accelration. I have disabled the midi interface,
disabled in bios all ports (com/parallel), also topped PCI lattency
timer to max. I also disabled all unneeded services, reduced SCSI
througput . tried both XP under ACPI and standard PC mode. nothing
helped to the point where the problem was solved.
Unless I am doing something wrong here in terms of PCI tweaking under
XP, I can conclude at least to my findings that OS3 under XP still
has a big problem in that term.
my hardware:
Asus p3bf (BX, latest bios 1.06), intel Piii700, x2 pulsar 2's,
midiman ISA interface, adaptec 2940UW - running 2 audio drives,
Matrox g450 32mb (latest XP final official drivers). 512mb ram.
Steinberg Nuendo 1.53 RC1 under XP.
current conclusion: sticking to win98. BIG TIME.
David Bendayan.