GaryB: Some general tips for setting up your computer to work with Scope hardware.

As in the letter that came with v5.1, in the  BIOS (you may have already done this) disable any of these things or anything that is obviously the same but slightly differently named:

  • Intel EIST

  • Intel C State

  • C1E Support

  • Overspeed Protection

  • Hyperthreading

  • Execute Bit Support

  • Set Limit CPUID MaxVal to 3 (maybe not so important)

  • Intel Virtual Tech

  • Intel VT-d Tech

AMD processors also have speed stepping called 'power now' or 'cool n quiet' or something similar, which MUST be disabled.

Go to: Start\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Information\Conflicts/Sharing and tell me what (if anything) is sharing an IRQ with Scope hardware.

In Windows 7:

  • Go to Start\Control Panel\Power Options then click on 'Change Power Settings' and make sure that sleep is set to 'never'. 

  • Click on 'Change Advanced Settings' then open 'PCI Express' and turn off 'Link State Power Management' (especially good for XITEs).  I like to set the minimum and maximum level for the CPU at 100%.
  • Confirm the above changes.

The reason for the bios changes and the power changes is to insure the the CPU is always 100% on.  Real-time audio does not have time for the power to the CPU to ramp up, as Windows believes the software requires.

For the PCI cards, I would go to the device manager and disable the 'reset board if idle' option. 

  • In Windows XP it's in the Start\Control Panel\System\Hardware tab. 
  • In Windows 7 go to  Start/Right click on computer and choose 'properties'
  • Click on the device manager and find the Scope hardware and choose 'properties'. 
  • Uncheck 'reset board if idle'.

That way if you leave the computer unattended for an hour or two, Windows won't decide to cut power and make you have to restart Scope and reload DSPs.

There are actually a number of ways to get to these settings.  If you already have a way you like, use it.  Now a tip to get rid of some of the fancy graphics:

  • You can click on the 'Advanced' tab in Windows XP or Advanced System Settings and then the 'Advanced' tab in Windows 7. 
  • Push the performance 'Settings' button and choose 'Adjust for Best Performance'. 

This will give you plain Windows 98-type windows, but it will save a TON of overhead that the fancy Windows graphics waste.

 

GaryB September 2012