Random SampleRate Dropouts

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sun May 19, 2002 4:12 pm

I'm running WinXPpro on a dual P3 1GHz machine. Recently, I started to experience random (from about every 3-15secs) Sample Rate dropouts. Like in 'SFP is slaving but misses SampleRate input', but SFP is SampleRate Master.

CPU1 has been running hot for a while (65-75°C), but it did the same before the proiblem started. I think the CPU gives bad temp info, is that possible? I put a bigger fan on it and it runs hotter. Hm. Can't see any logic in that.

The ULLI doesn't matter to SampleRate Unlock. I get it w any ULLI setting. I have ADAT and SPDIF connections, but the connected machines are turned off. If they're on, the samplers do sync to Pulsar, except when there's a SampleRate Unlock.

Could it be my cards are running hot? I'll try and open the case for now, see that if it makes any difference. Cos I ain't got no clue what's happening, it never happened before.

I've been told P3's are o'heat protected. How does that work? What about thermal throttling? It's set to 75% in the BIOS, I can't disable it. Is the protection hardwired into P3 or do I leave Warning temperatures on? I disabled shutdown temp, and I set Warning Temp at 70°C. Is this when the Thermal Throttling starts?

Thanks for reading and giving your opinion,

at0mic.

orbita · Post by **orbita** » Sun May 19, 2002 4:48 pm

70degrees is really too hot.
i found my main windows pc kept crashing recently and i discovered the cpu (amd xp1700) was at 70degrees. I checked and found out that it should be running at 50degrees. (the motherboard supports cpu overheat protection but it was actually windows that was stopping with a bluescreen message that claimed it was trying to prevent damage).

So I opened the case with the intention of reseating the heatsink + fan to discover the fan had stopped! Dogdy wiring on it meant it was cutting out after a while.

Get your cpu temp down to 50ish degrees and see if that improves it. It could simply be that becuase it is running hot it is causing software errors. But its not nessecarily hot enough to warrant turning itself off. You may also have your windows setup configured not to complain or turn itself of if it detects errors (which is the default behaviour).

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sun May 19, 2002 4:54 pm

Cheers for your reply!

AMD and P3 have different operating temp ranges, P3 1GHz should be fine under 70°C I think. (although it IS hot!)
http://www.cpuscorecard.com/cpuprices/ip3.htm
I think the 70°C is an indication problem, is that possible? Should I clean the 'heat glue' and put some fresh one?
I'll try to make the 70°C secundary CPU, the cool one primary. Don't know what caused the heat, it appeared after I'd had it in the bow for a couple of months. I installed it w original headsink etc.

I've put an extra cooler on the DSP cards, it seems to keep SampleRate now. Hope it stays.

To be reported further,

at0mic.

[ This Message was edited by: at0mic on 2002-05-19 17:55 ]

[ This Message was edited by: at0mic on 2002-05-19 17:59 ]

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Sun May 19, 2002 5:09 pm

Dunno what to think now, SiSoft Sandra gives following CPU temps:
CPU1 @ 48°C
CPU2 @ 35°C

Cool enough...

I think the fan on the DPS cards keeps them cool enough now, I'm gonna try to close the case again...

[edit] I need more fans in the tower. Definately. Gonna get a whole new bunch of silent ones. It'll need 4 fans:
-2x CPU, 6cm,
-new 8cm one in power supply
-8cm case fan blowing on PCI cards

[ This Message was edited by: at0mic on 2002-05-19 20:37 ]

orbita · Post by **orbita** » Mon May 20, 2002 2:26 am

If you do reseat your heatsinks, use Artic Silver. Its like thermal grease but better. Its costs about £5 but one tube will last for ages.

I find these pabst fans work very nice (except for the one with the dodgy cable)

They shift about 20cfm of air, which is enough to keep your cpu around 50degrees and only make 12dba of noise, which is half the noise of most "quiet" fans.

Ive not bothered trying to cool my cards yet but i dont think i could fit a fan in to do that anyway, so hopefully wont need to.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Mon May 20, 2002 9:15 am

Check your cables...

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon May 20, 2002 11:17 am

Check the cables for sync problem or bad contacts in fan circuit? The fans are running, although I can hear them pitching up and down.

I hope 300W psu is enough for 3 Pulsar cards, 2 HD's, 2 cdrom's, LAN and Matrox G450me...
Cheers.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Mon May 20, 2002 11:30 am

hope 300W psu is enough

For dual procesors and 3 Pulsars? Only a really high quality 300W is up to the task probably...

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon May 20, 2002 11:36 am

So I get a new psu? 350/400W?

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Mon May 20, 2002 11:41 am

New PS? I couldn't say; I don't know what you currently have (brand/model).

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon May 20, 2002 12:00 pm

Current: Elite DR-300ATX

Their current homesite needs updating: http://www.elite-hardware.com/

FlatEric · Post by **FlatEric** » Mon May 20, 2002 2:02 pm

If you're going to upgrade your PS unit, I definitely recommend an Enermax one and I would say go for a minimum of 350W - if not just for solving this problem, the latest ones have an adjustable control so you can make them quieter while recording.

Before I built my system a couple of months ago I spent hours reading up on both PlanetZ and on RME-Audio because a lot of people seem to rely on their specs. This is the spec they build dual P3 machines on RME-Audio.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Mon May 20, 2002 2:12 pm

And I've heard a couple people (RME Hammerfall users) swear at that RME dual page saying it was one of the least stable machines they'd used (it uses a VIA chipset, hmmm)

FlatEric · Post by **FlatEric** » Mon May 20, 2002 2:26 pm

Ooops! Sorry... I was...ermm... pointing you in that direction more because of the power supply stuff... didn't know they had that kind of rep.