What wrong with DSP usage?

[Inferman]

Hello,

I have a weird problem and I'd appreciate much if You could help me with it.

I have a simple project (see the picture one wave source+dest and 6 ASIO channels linked to 1632),
sample rate is 44100, get to the point - the simplest project for my home use ))

When I try to add even MultiFX (not even reverb or optimaster) it says DSP limit reached.
This has NEVER happened before!

I have two Pro cards linked with 5 STDM cables. I tested 2,3,4 and 5 STDM variants - the same result.

I assume the main problem is I went to Windows 7 x64 instead of Windows XP x32 but how can I solve it without changing Windows?
(*upd: I have also a new motherboad - asus p6z68 deluxe instead of msi p45 platinum)

Thanx for Your help.

[bosone]

did you do the basic optimization for your mobo?
find them in the tech section

to get some more details: start from a blank project (no module loaded) and load as many masterverb you can (the so called masterverb test).

[Inferman]

bosone, thanx.

You know, everything works fine.
I found another thing that leads to DSPs overflow.

I open this project just after the Win restart.
It works fine. I can add many reverbs, even heavy SC Ambience and Chorus-Delay.

But the "DSP limit" message appears just if I run my Cubase and make 6 bus there that linked with SC ASIO channels.
The DSP limits error appears immediately! (((

[Inferman]

I think I solve this problem.

I've just run Scope as Admin...

Upd: Nope ... It lived some longer but when I insert *lite weight* distortion DSP limit has reached again (((((

[dante]

Here under 'Windows 7' tab theres some more general hints.

http://www.hitfoundry.com/issue_11/tsg_mast.htm

But the only specific mention of PCI Overflow is under 'Fatal errors' where the fix was to add cooling to bring CPU temperature down, and clean the card contacts with a white pencil eraser.

If you find some other solution pls post it so I can update the guide.

[Inferman]

dante

You know, perhaps I have the same problem with cooling because I've noticed DSP limit reaches in random moment after project is loaded, so probably it connect with temperature somehow...

It's weird I've NEVER met this problem until I went to Win 7 x64...

Dante, could You tell me exactly what to do? I mean what card contact do You mean and I'm not very good in english, so I'm confused trying to understand what 'white pencil eraser' is

[Inferman]

Also I have hyperthreading ON in BIOS, I found message in "Unexpected DSP overload" by garyb: "...how about hyperthreading and more importantly, power stepping for the cpu?". So should I switch HT off? Should I do the same with power stepping?

[garyb]

yes!

neither power stepping nor hyperthreading actually make a realtime DAW perform better, in fact it's the opposite.

[astroman]

sure, HT is a fake anyway and powerstepping is poison for audio.

cheers, Tom

[Inferman]

Both HT and PS are off ))

[dante]

dante

You know, perhaps I have the same problem with cooling because I've noticed DSP limit reaches in random moment after project is loaded, so probably it connect with temperature somehow...

It's weird I've NEVER met this problem until I went to Win 7 x64...

Dante, could You tell me exactly what to do? I mean what card contact do You mean and I'm not very good in english, so I'm confused trying to understand what 'white pencil eraser' is

The card contacts are the gold edge connectors that connect into the PCI socket, which means you have to take the cards out of slot to clean them.

LCS AUDIO had the 'PCI Overflow' problem and Garyb various suggestions here :

http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29926

[Inferman]

Dante, thanx a lot for clarifying, I've got it right in first time, but ... frankly I wasn't sure this procedure is really possible to solve my problem with DSP usege

[Inferman]

bad bad world ...

I left my computer working for nite and what I saw when I woke up was "NO DSP PLACEMENT FOUND", and message about missing one of my Scope card ((((

I've read about this problem in Dante's useful troubleshooting guide and I 've figured out it could be dead card or bad STDM cable. My horrible feeling is I use these STDM cables for years without problem, so it could be one of my card goes down :`-(

Could it happen because of close distance between one of my Scope card and pretty hot videocard (GTX 570)?

[garyb]

yes, although dsps get pretty hot themselves. it's hard to say if it would've lived otherwise....

[astroman]

heat is always a suspect on strange errors...
but I wouldn't expect the 570 being a 'too hot' source, as it's acticely cooled, blowing out to the backside.
I've had that 'DSP placement error' a couple of times myself, but very rarely.
Looks like some hickup from energy management (idle mode to active), or s/tdm connection.
Either a reset via sample rate change or a reboot of the machine cured it.
At least it never persisted in any way.

cheers, Tom

[Inferman]

Hello everyone!

I don't even know what to think...
I turned computer off, removed first card (booster), and started with 1 Pro Card only with no STDM of course.
It loaded project correctly and let me add some plugins, but in 15-20 mins it showed DSP limit screen again!! (((

I believe this specific card is not dead, because if I don't use ASIO channels in project - it works well for hours.
And I think there are no problems with booster, because DSP limit screen appeared as usual (since now).

I've just changed my old WinXPx32 to Win7x64, could it be just some problems with x64 drivers (or maybe because of incorrect Cubase behaviour in Winx64) ?

[the19thbear]

Try reaper and ser if you have the same Problem

[Inferman]

Well, I found out the problem must be in motherboard priorities for other slots but the PCI.

In manual support page their advice is to increase PCI Latency Timer and try to remove other PCI cards (even use AGP graphic instead of PCI).

Well, I assume this is quite oldskool advice about AGP )) but how can I increase the motherboard's interest to PCI slots in nowdays?

I mean I have P8Z68 Deluxe card and certainly I have no AGP-slots, there are no any PCI options in BIOS and two PCI-slots I have on my board is filled by 2xPro SonicCore cards.

So how can I "overclock" my PCI bus for SC cards correct working?

BTW is Cores and RAM overclocking (manual or Auto) could affect somehow on PCI-bus frequency and as result on unstable work of PCI-cards?

[garyb]

BTW is Cores and RAM overclocking (manual or Auto) could affect somehow on PCI-bus frequency and as result on unstable work of PCI-cards?

could well be, depending on how things are clocked. if you have stock clockings, things are more likely to work.

[Inferman]

Ohh, I'm afraid I've found exactly the same topic here:

http://forums.planetz.com/viewtopic.php ... RQ#p279523

and I have the same problematic motherboard and CPU - asus on Z68 and Intel on 1155.

So it seems I have to change it to 1156 configuration or sell my boards and buy a Xite...

Thax to all!

"it's better to face the truth and suffer for a minute than to avoid it and suffer forever"
nice saying, nice saying indeed, garyb