ACPI Or Standard PC Mode. Please Help My Brain Is Melting!!!

Astral Fridge Magnet · Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:44 am

Hello again all,

As some of you may know, I have recently bought a new machine. Basically it consists of an ASUS P4P 800 Deluxe board, in a Thermaltake case, 2 Western Digital hard drives (80GB and 200GB),3 Pulsar cards and I am running it on XP. Since I have got this system, I haven't been able to get it going. To my knowledge my project is set up correctly and all my settings are fine. But I have no MIDI signal or Audio going through. The only thing that respond are my soft synths in Logic. At least I can make some music there.
I got a call from support at Creamware (very kind of them to go through the trouble) and they suggested that it could be an issue with ACPI so I should try Standard PC Mode. I rang the shop that built my PC and they said that modern computers don't run in Standard PC mode any more. They used to a couple of years ago. Nowadays it is all ACPI. Yet I have read recent threads on this forum that involves this issue. So will changing to Standard PC Mode help my problem? Also, the shop connected my hard disks to a primary RAID Controller saying it was "better", but I would prefer they did it to a primary IDE connector. Anyway, GaryB (respected Pulsar Guru) said that RAID eats up resources. So what is best?

You can probably gather from all the posts I have made in the past that I don't know much about technicalities. My only defense is I am a musician not a technician. There is too much to learn and I don't have the time. I want to make music not tweak PCs and set-ups. I am slowly going insane here and as I said in my subject header, my brain is melting!!! My stress level has now moved on to the stage where I am reduced to a maniacal laugh at my situation. Please help. I have 3 Pulsar cards, one super powered PC and the only use for it I can think of now is as an expensive footrest.

One final point. Before getting this "super steroid powered" PC I was running Pulsar on my Dell 450 with games, all sorts of software installed and never had any serious problems apart from the occassional PCI capacity reached problem.

Thanks in advance for your response(s).

[ This Message was edited by: Weirdo The Weird on 2003-08-28 10:47 ]

[ This Message was edited by: Weirdo The Weird on 2003-08-28 11:31 ]

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:49 pm

hi Weirdo,

I completely understand your trouble, but by all means: take a breath !

The main things that drives PC setups down the drain is getting nervous and demanding too much too fast. That kind of technology is quite sensitive to psyche vibrations. believe it or not. I'm servicing that stuff for about 20 years and have some experiences in that direction

You've already noticed the difference to your previous system. Look at the new one like at a racing car. Those are much more demanding than the vehicle for your dayly moves as well.

A raid is complete nonsense for what you're planning to do. The audio data streams you're gonna write to disk will fit perfectly with the regular IDE/ATA connection.
The typical multi-user server setup with disk arrays and huge caches is rather different from an audio recorder (the details are probably of no big interest).
For additional safety just add a removable drive later (for backup purpose).
You should deactivate the raid completely in bios and the windows driver/service - otherwise it may be able to steal a lot of cycles in the background.

If CW suspects ACPI as a possible cause for trouble, you should install in standard mode (you've probably read the how-to already).
Though there may be mobos running better in ACPI mode, the statement 'since a couple of years...' is definetely wrong.
PC sellers have their very own special way of judging systems - usually not the best way regarding DAW features, which seems rather exotic for them.
It may help to split the setup process into 2 parts. First SFP alone with no sequencer and if that is running on it's own Logic as second step. Like I said above: don't try it all at once, your possibilities to make a false step quadruples

Just some comfort, hopefully, someone else can take over for the XP stuff...

cheers, tom

arela · Post by **arela** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 5:18 pm

Hi,
I would prefere a softer footrest

I got a simular setup; ASUS P4PE, and it runs in ACPI mode.
I had to run ACPI because i use S-ATA disc, and i suppose yours have to run ACPI because of the RAID drivers.
On ASUS P4PE PCI slot 1 and 5 share IRQ, so my cards are in this slots.
--Maybe you should try out with just 1 card!
--RAID should not be a problem either.
(but RAID could decrease number of audio-tracks if your RAID controller uses the PCI-bus = eat resources)
...i did run Powersampler on P2 450 myself, and i can promise you "better days to come".

I hope someone can locate/fix this problem.
Agree with astroman, if you can, install without RAID

[ This Message was edited by: arela on 2003-08-28 18:22 ]

Astral Fridge Magnet · Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:36 pm

A relevant link to the above problem.

http://www.rme-audio.de/english/faq/10entrye.htm

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 8:23 am

gosh ! that simple ?
this OS is a pile of sh*t and it's makers should be held responsible for any economical damages it causes

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:01 am

Hmm... some neat information on these RME pages

http://www.rme-audio.de/english/faq/alarm.htm

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:03 pm

Hello Werdo...

After Garyb gave me the advice of going into ACPI, telling me that he was using it without problems and that atOmic was too using it, I went to lots and lots of reading and understood it is far much better today, with XP, to go ACPI. There is no reason for you to go to PC mode cos your motherboard it works extremely well in ACPI, why should you go back?

Just my appreciation: I would reinstall everything, from zero, then would start installing things again, but following the steps shown in the forum, cos there are a few topics related that tells you what to do, I don't think you'll have problems if you take care of the way you install everyting and the order in which you do it.

I agree with everybody, not RAID is needed for us.

Weirdo, I know it sounds demanding, but I again, strongly recomend you to get your hans on your system. My very best advice is LEARN for yourself what to do. Do not just trust words, there are very many different configurations, very many different hardwares, very many different combinations for anybody to tell you with absolute perfection what to do. Look... I´ve leaned to build PCs and it was hard to get into it at first, now I'm so happy I know what to do, were things are and why... I have saved myself lots of money already, cos I've done lots of changes to my present machine, and did everything by myself. I don't think it's so hard, it just takes perceverance and some time, but it pays you back so well... that it worths every effort you can do to learn it! Trully! Now I'm building my wifes PC, and well, here I am, relaxed cos I know a little more and so I can handdle the different situations, a few questions in the forum, some perceverance, and I'll get a graphyc machine up and running in no time... Please, consider this idea, if you get deep into it, you will not regret.

My last thought: I would definetely go ACPI, I would get read of the RAID stuff, and would for it, reinstall everything, I would check hardware compatibility and would know, through reviews and questions, if everything is properly installed, then I would move on...

Please, do not feel bad, you have a tremendous system, I whish I could afford to have what you have, so... take it easy and go slowly into it... My machine is much smoller than yours, and it's running excepcionaly fast, absolutely stable cos NEVER a program hangs, or closes itself, or anything like that, I'm very happy with it and its in ACPI mode.

Good luck man, and you know, anything we can do, just tell and will try to help.

arela · Post by **arela** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:47 pm

Solutions is often simple, but locating problems can be a nightmare

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 5:45 pm

On 2003-08-29 14:47, arela wrote:
Solutions is often simple, but locating problems can be a nightmare

Yes, totally right, this is what happend to me several times, that is why the Z forum is becoming every day more important to users, cos it is an incredible source for solving problems quickly.

Astral Fridge Magnet · Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:46 pm

Yes, this forum is great and full of many very helpful people. An invaluable source of information!!! Long may it live!!

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 10:18 pm

So Werdo, where are you now? Is everything alrright? Tell us something please...

I told you to try doing things by yourself, but I didn't mean I don't want to collaborate with your system, all on the contrary, I would love to help!

Cammon man, get your batteries up and let´s fix it!

Astral Fridge Magnet · Wed Sep 03, 2003 5:23 pm

Hello again,

Nestor, I am a little bit closer but still I have serious problems. At the moment my PC is in Standard PC Mode rather than ACPI. I have made some very slight progress but nowhere near enough. I now have an audio signal going through but no MIDI. There seems to be a midi signal going through (at least the light flashes in the synths), but no sound!! I have noticed that there also seems to be a delay/latency from when I hit a note and the response time of the flash on the synths. My Ulli settings are set at 7ms.
Please help I am going nuts!!! I will reformat and go back to ACPI mode to see if anything changes. All suggestions to this problem will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 7:31 pm

I'm so sorry you are going through this... I know it is hard, I've been in similar situations. Nevertheless, with a little of pacience, you'll solve the problem.

I think you need to go step by step, without running. I completely agree with you on reformating and starting from Zero, it is always the best solution when things are no longer under control.

I need some time to do this, but I'm going to post you what I've followed myself, and I'm up an running with a second PC, the one of my wife, without problems following the very same installation structure. I'm rather surprised you have problems with such a good selection of components.

Please, understand this will take a few days before you get there... but you need to take it easy.

Tell us how many PCI slots you have, which are being used, were did you installed what, how many slots for RAM you have and were did you place your sticks.

Verify that all fans are running properly, use the ASUS probe to chek for temperatures in case there is something bezare going on.

List all your hardware carefully here, so we check ALL posible issues on incompatibility.

Chek for all aspects of installation of hardware, see if all cables are properly installed, if all the components are properly fixed into their places, no false contacts etc.

Do all posible cheks at the hardware level, then we go to the software.

Please, take it easy and be pacient

Post by **garyb** » Wed Sep 03, 2003 8:12 pm

of course,the midi device that's supposed to make sound has it's audio output connected?...also if you're using sx,you aren't using "emulated" midi drivers are you?

Astral Fridge Magnet · Thu Sep 04, 2003 4:48 am

Yes GaryB, the midi device does have it's audio output connected, but as I said it is also a question of response time which I am judging by how the lights flash on the device I happen to be using. I use Logic, not Cubase (for the time being). I also have Cubase installed and I do remember seeing "emulated" midi drivers. So how do i get around that one?

Post by **garyb** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 12:18 pm

i use logic and the performance is excellent.if you've got problems the install is corrupt or there are settings on your compurter that aren't right.logic recognozes the midi drivers automatically,there is a flip screen on the track details window on your left to select drivers,you are probably using a mobo driver from the builtin sound(does your mobo have built in mpu?).also if the signal travel through logic,the track must be record enabled for the signal to pass thru logic.

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2003-09-04 13:24 ]

Astral Fridge Magnet · Thu Sep 04, 2003 5:58 pm

Hi again GaryB,

I am afraid that I am not using the onboard soundcard. It is disabled. Actually I now have a problem with Logis=c too. It now tells me That it cant't find the XS key. It gets worse as each day passes. I do realise that a track has to be record enabled for audio to pass through. But my problem that MIDI doesn't respond in Pulsar remains. I have made the right connections. I am positive about that! At first all I load up is Pulsar and there is no MIDI, but at least audio is going through.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Thu Sep 04, 2003 7:07 pm

Where do you live Weirdo? Perhaps, if you have some Z people near you, they could help you. Just pay somebody the tickets to your place, and fix it toguether... I think this could be a very good alternative. What do you think?

(Unfortunately, I can't right down the entire thing right now, so I think somebody comming to your home would be great)

Post by **garyb** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 2:53 am

yeah,something in the computer is messed up and logic is a likely culprit(can't find xskey)...could be mobo related as well...i'd start over fresh.(see tips and tricks)

Astral Fridge Magnet · Fri Sep 05, 2003 9:06 am

Hi again,

Well I put out a cry for help to people living in Holland or my area a while ago but no one has responded.
One new thing I noticed could have something to do with my problem. not all my USB ports seem to be responding. I placed my USB key from Logic in and there was no "found new hardware" message. I pulled it out and put it in another port and this time it responded with the "found new hardware" message. Because my MIDI interface is connected via USB that could explain why my Pulsar hasn't responded with MIDI. So what is the solution. Is there a fault with the motherboard? I need all 4 USB ports, which is what the ASUS board has. It seems that not all four are working.

Again thanks in advance for your responses.