MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum [a luky upgrade!]

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:40 am

Eminardi, would you mind to run a few sequencer tracks in a loop through your UADs and check if it has an influence on the number of MVs you can load ?

cheers, Tom

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:39 am

On 2006-04-23 16:20, erminardi wrote:
6+6 DSP = 16 Masterverb
Limit DSP reached but no problem with PCI band overflow.

Hi, just to clarify. Did you get 15 Masterverbs & reach DSP limit on 16 or did you get 16 without a single pop-up message?

Thanks
Shroomz

erminardi · Post by **erminardi** » Tue Apr 25, 2006 7:10 am

On 2006-04-25 03:39, Shroomz wrote:
On 2006-04-23 16:20, erminardi wrote:
6+6 DSP = 16 Masterverb
Limit DSP reached but no problem with PCI band overflow.
Hi, just to clarify. Did you get 15 Masterverbs & reach DSP limit on 16 or did you get 16 without a single pop-up message?

Thanks
Shroomz

16 without popup and only a red line at the end of DPS meter. 17th says that DSP are not enought.

UAD cards requires a relative low usage of PCI band, no problems in XTC: 16 Masterverb plus a lot of UAD's reverbs & others EFX.
Below 8-10% CPU consumption at 7ms ULLI!!!

My BIOS ver 1.A 110405, also available 1.B official update or 1.C beta update (only for win2k qiet control problems). All works ok for me, then I remain with 1.A.

For everyone that love overclocking is also available the Dynamic Overclocking Tecnology, works safely but it raises heat & noises problem for audio users...

Today I will experiment with CPU/system downclock: I wish to see if the temperature goes down.
i.e. from 3.500 to 3.200 Mhz, the power is anyway enought for me

erminardi · Post by **erminardi** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:18 am

After a lot of experiments I have the definitive verdict: the Zalman 7700 Al-Cu heatsink is better than Arctic Cooler Freezer 64 pro because his radial dissipation that sink all the system around. The Video card temperature goes to 69°C instead 76°C.
All without any case exsaust air fan!!!
All the system goes down with temperature compared to the previus CPU heatsink Arctic Cooler Freezer 64 pro.

Results after 8-10 hours run:
- CPU temp: 50°C (it was 54°)
- System temp (MoBo): 47°C (it was 51°)
- GeForce GPU temp: 69°C (it was 76°, warning treshold is 145°C)

External enviroment temperature today: 28°C inside my studio.

Noise are very very low, I can record my guitar/voice in front of the desktop case at 50cm of distance!!!

Here the topic about the heat problem:

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... forum=1&15

erminardi · Post by **erminardi** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:17 am

[edit] The only thing is that the Freezer 64 pro (8cm fan) is a little quieter than Zalman, maybe because the large fan of Zalman (12cm!) makes a massive air movement (white noise typical of air flow).
Anyway we talk about low noise like -30db!!! [edit/]

It wasn't Zalman CPU heatsink, it was the active Northbridge fan!!! Too loud!!!
I've placed, in substitution, a passive heatsink from an old pentium 133Mhz.
With the removal of this "little tornado" I've gained a lot of dB.
Now my system is quiet like a VHS videorecorder

[ This Message was edited by: erminardi on 2006-05-04 04:10 ]

Stige · Post by **Stige** » Wed May 10, 2006 4:40 am

I have been reading this topic with interest.

Erminardi, could please kindly share more info, what kind of ASIO latencies you can use with your nf4 system? Do you get any pops & clicks? (I see you have tested 7ms, is it absolutely stable?)

It is reported that nf4 can't perform as well as nf3 does, meaning more CPU power and soundcard latency is needed to keep signal clean. Can you comment anything on this?

I'm in such situation now, that I need a new pc, especially more cpu power. I will be buying a nf4 mobo with dualcore cpu. I'm geting used to the thought that my CW cards and perhaps UAD-1 won't work anymore. However, if so, I have no other choice but find another audio solution then.

Thanks

[ This Message was edited by: Stige on 2006-05-10 05:42 ]

erminardi · Post by **erminardi** » Wed May 10, 2006 11:04 am

On 2006-05-10 05:40, Stige wrote:
I have been reading this topic with interest.

Erminardi, could please kindly share more info, what kind of ASIO latencies you can use with your nf4 system? Do you get any pops & clicks? (I see you have tested 7ms, is it absolutely stable?)

It is reported that nf4 can't perform as well as nf3 does, meaning more CPU power and soundcard latency is needed to keep signal clean. Can you comment anything on this?

I'm in such situation now, that I need a new pc, especially more cpu power. I will be buying a nf4 mobo with dualcore cpu. I'm geting used to the thought that my CW cards and perhaps UAD-1 won't work anymore. However, if so, I have no other choice but find another audio solution then.

Thanks

[ This Message was edited by: Stige on 2006-05-10 05:42 ]

Today I've tested hard my new system for just your request

1) CPU power benchmark: in cubase SX3: 24 different sine tracks (2 min. lenght in loop played for almost 15 min), all with EQ (4 band on), Dynamics (full dynamics setting), Reverb A, 7ms ASIO ULLI setting: 88% CPU power consumption. All without glitches (with the use of sine test tracks is easy to ear any sound drop out).
Note that more 12% of power is available but I prefer ever to remain below 90% in cubase.

2)Latency test (task manager, NOT cubase's performance VST monitor... too crap!):
3 ms -> 13% (stability ok) (*)
4 ms -> 8% (stability ok)
7 ms -> 5% (stability ok)
13 ms -> 4% (stability ok)
25 ms -> 2% (stability ok)

(*) with 3ms ULLI I've found, for 1 single test over 4, that my SCOPE project features a strange overall volume diminution and a high floor noise apparition. Solved with a machine reboot (on/off, not simple warm reset). I suspect that is maybe a heat defaiance and not a ULLI problem.
Note that I've played cubase in 3ms ULLI at 90% CPU usage for 4 x 15 min!!! The CPU temperature raised from normal 47° to 58-60°!!! That is an extreme test and not so real life situation.

If U read in Carillon official web page about test benchmark, U can understand that my system is very good related to CPU, effects, and latency tests.
http://www.carillonusa.com/clnweb/perfo ... country=US

All tested with native plugins... if U think that I can use in addition to my projects 12 creamware's DSP (synth & efx) and 2 UAD cards (efx), my system becomes a top class machine!

I hope that is exaustive for your doubt.
My conclusion is: why acquire an "old" Nforce3 system when the Nforce4 is, IMO, now mature???

Cheers

Stige · Post by **Stige** » Thu May 11, 2006 12:35 am

Thanks for testing.
Your results are very encouraging.
I suppose the real problems are when using scope and x2 cpu then.

erminardi · Post by **erminardi** » Thu May 11, 2006 1:03 am

On 2006-05-11 01:35, Stige wrote:
Thanks for testing.
Your results are very encouraging.
I suppose the real problems are when using scope and x2 cpu then.

My CPU is single core HT, but I think that x2 CPU don't gives problems (I've read around in forum).
Obviously U must choose a good (almost safe) brand/product as ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE.
Avoid for VIA chipsets and very low budget MoBo.
If U care for quiet system, pay attention to passive northbridge solution and Cool&Quiet Bios feature. If U have a lot of PCI look for full optionals (built in Firewire, Gigalan, audiocard, ecc.) MoBo with minimum 3 up to 4 free PCI slots.
Also look for a passive PCIe Videocard.
If U will upgrade an existant system pay attention to the PSU: minimum power reqirement is 350-400 watts because the new technology of whole components, tassative a good brand that can assure very stable voltage/power!!!
Remember that is better a branded 350watt than a cheap 500watt PSU...

Good luck and let us know for your upgrade experience

ps. If U are in good relation with your PC dealer, you could propose to him a "demo" period with your new components, in this way, if U find some problems with a single component, U can swap it without additive costs.
My dealer is one of my best friend, I've tryed with him 2 different CPU heatsink, 2 videocards, various fans (I've found a 13db 80x80 fan, very quiet!!!

) [cooler master ultra silent 8025]
I've exchanged, with my dealer, this experience for his future DAW system offer to the market

Stige · Post by **Stige** » Thu May 11, 2006 6:00 am

Yes, low noise is my goal. I'm planning to get:
- Asus A8N Sli Premium (passive chipset cooling)
- Asus 7600GS vga (passive heatsink)
- Seasonic S12 500W (quiet, got lots of praise)

A pc dealer would be my best friend too

, but unfortunately I don't have such chance. So, just have to try my luck.

I have been reading x2 experiences here in planetz, but all I have found are quite negative. Supposedly they work better when disabling the second core.

I'll add my story here, when things are progressing.

erminardi · Post by **erminardi** » Fri May 19, 2006 11:32 am

I've tested my system based to NF4 [see this tread: http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... t=0#144400 ]
with these benchmarks, Thonex & Fudd:[ http://www.adkproaudio.com/benchmarks.cfm ] and all seems to comply with the adkproaudio average result charts.
In Thonex test at 7ms all goes ok until the last track addition (some gliches appeared), howewer a good result. CPU usage 85%.
Fudd is a more heavy test: uses CPU around 90%-99% [task manager meter] another good result.

_________________
Scope 4.5 + 2xPulsar II + 1xLunaII + 1xPulsar1 + a lot of devices = Pure Joy

[ This Message was edited by: erminardi on 2006-05-19 12:32 ]