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Vst/Cpu Heavy Advice
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View this Thread in Original format
| UXC |
Here is my situation, il try to include all neccesary details in the initial post as to insure smooth answers lol
I am currently running a Dual Core Intel 6400 @2.13Ghz with 4 Gigabites of 800Hz Ram (p5b-e motherboard) and a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS on Windows 7 64bit with everything in tip top up to date shape.
Here is the scenario:
In order to clip my Cubase ASIO meter I must do something like this (this isn't necessarily how I always work, just as an example):
Open project at 96k
2 instance of nexus (can be interchanged with instances of reactor or some other cpu heavy vst, a couple midi chords each per second)
5 - 10 instances of various Oxford and/or Wave plugs
Some drums, wav (not too many as to warrant a problem)
Possible upgrades:
Soundcard Audigy 2 Zs <- seeing as how i'm a virtual kind of guy not exactly sure if my soundcard has anything to do with it (please correct me, and yes I know i need to upgrade because of mediocre D/A)
CPU <- I know this is a huge choke, I'm looking to grab a quad or six core (obv with new motherboard and ram)
Price range dictates I must choose something around these guys:
Intel Core i5 750 Quad Core @ 2.66Ghz
or something from the AMD end of things
AMD Phenom II 1055T Six Core Processor @ 2.8Ghz
(I know there is something up with Intel i5 and not having a front end bus, can anyone clarify if this will help me over more GHZ?) I want to be able to freely open double if not triple the amount of CPU heavy Vsts, is an upgrade like this going to be enough or do I really have to look for some big boy CPUs. Also, will upgrading the sound card also help? does the sound card at least dictate midi latency?
(and yes I signed up recently, shortly after all this talk about cpus on the board. I figured since im needing to upgrade asap I would ask)
Thanks in advance, Hope my post wasn't too long.
Edit: Oh not sure if I should add this or not but I have my buffer settings set to something like 50ms when doing all this, which is pretty ty. |
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| Andy28 |
| quote: | Originally posted by UXC
Here is the scenario:
In order to clip my Cubase ASIO meter I must do something like this (this isn't necessarily how I always work, just as an example):
Open project at 96k
2 instance of nexus (can be interchanged with instances of reactor or some other cpu heavy vst, a couple midi chords each per second)
5 - 10 instances of various Oxford and/or Wave plugs
Some drums, wav (not too many as to warrant a problem) |
something aint right.. Iv got a slighty slower amd duel core, 2gb ram running on xp, same sound card.. my daw is Ableton and i can easly handle twice what you have stated. (or am i miss understanding something?) Nexus should be pretty easy on cpu, its just plays samples.
| quote: | | Oh not sure if I should add this or not but I have my buffer settings set to something like 50ms when doing all this, which is pretty ty. |
Look for videos on youtube how to set this up properly with your sound card to get it right, not sure about cubase but in live you can simulate cpu usage to calibrate this properly and max as much as your card can handle |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by UXC
Soundcard Audigy 2 Zs <- seeing as how i'm a virtual kind of guy not exactly sure if my soundcard has anything to do with it (please correct me, and yes I know i need to upgrade because of mediocre D/A)
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Here's your problem. Soundblasters, apart from being converters, have poorly written software when it comes to drivers meaning they don't let you get the most from your processor. They are gaming cards not audio.
Upgrade that and I promise you you'll see better system eficiency. |
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| Andy28 |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
Here's your problem. Soundblasters, apart from being converters, have poorly written software when it comes to drivers meaning they don't let you get the most from your processor. They are gaming cards not audio.
Upgrade that and I promise you you'll see better system eficiency. |
Iv always known this, just never had the spare cash to upgrade.. There is 3rd party drivers (cant remember the name) you can get, ment to be so much better but neva tried them. |
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| UXC |
Actually If I set nexus to high quality I can clip my ASIO meter with a single instance.. and a couple of plugins, weird but I always thought the cpu was super .
I will look into the sound card setup momentarily, maybe I should just go grab one of those Emu 0202 or similar usb 2.0 sound card to see if there is a difference and troubleshoot that way.
Thanks for the help so far. |
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| Andy28 |
| Iv always got nexus set to high lol.. That shouldnt happen like even with a card.. If you've got the cash, just upgrade man! |
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| UXC |
| quote: | | Originally posted by Andy28 If you've got the cash |
I need to upgrade the CPU anyways, but if I upgrade my card and that helps my Vst performance i'l then go with a socket 775 cpu upgrade like the Intel quad 8400 or something.
Ok i'm off to grab an external card for testing and I will report!
cheers. |
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| Coyke |
Why you are running 96k?
I'm into getting a quad core soon and more RAM but now I can easily handle up to 30 instances of my main synth without any problems. Just need to set the buffer a little higher when I'm mixing and also freeze / bounce some stuff to have more performance for processing. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by UXC
Actually If I set nexus to high quality I can clip my ASIO meter with a single instance.. and a couple of plugins, weird but I always thought the cpu was super .
I will look into the sound card setup momentarily, maybe I should just go grab one of those Emu 0202 or similar usb 2.0 sound card to see if there is a difference and troubleshoot that way.
Thanks for the help so far. |
Stay the away from EMU....really not much of a step up from the soundblaster.
Buy an Echo Audiofire 4 or Focusrite Saffire Pro if you're on a budget.
I'm telling you that's your bottleneck. There's no reason why you really need to upgrade your system or CPU just yet. Get a good soundcard with proper drivers and you'll see the difference. |
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| owien |
| quote: | Originally posted by Coyke
Why you are running 96k?
I'm into getting a quad core soon and more RAM but now I can easily handle up to 30 instances of my main synth without any problems. Just need to set the buffer a little higher when I'm mixing and also freeze / bounce some stuff to have more performance for processing. |
aye creative are for saving cpu just change pci latincy settings you can get a tool for this it will help big time i will try and upload it for you.
and unless you own a top end pc pratice thinking ahead people just slap one plugin after the next and wonder why there pc dies |
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| owien |
| also nexus can wipeout your pc in no time due to the patches select low qualty this will help on cpu |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by owien
aye creative are for saving cpu just change pci latincy settings you can get a tool for this it will help big time i will try and upload it for you.
and unless you own a top end pc pratice thinking ahead people just slap one plugin after the next and wonder why there pc dies |
Or you could just buy a soundcard worth more than 25p and use those hours of your life for something more productive. |
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