Re: [LAU] performance problems after kernel/microcode update ?

On September 13, 2018 1:13:12 PM HST, Tim <termtech@rogers.com> wrote:
>
>
> On 09/13/2018 05:26 PM, Niklas Reppel wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > i recently updated my Arch linux system, to to the following
> version:
> >
> > Linux 4.18.6-arch1-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT
> >
> > Afterwards, i noticed that something has changed regarding the
> realtime
> > permissions
> > and that i had to install a new package called
> 'realtime-priviliges',
> > which i never needed before,
> > and subsequently add my main user to the 'realtime' group.
> >
> > In that wake, i updated the processor microcode, which i didn't use
> at
> > all before (there always was some
> > error message during bootup, but nothing else).
> >
> > After being able to start JACK in realtime again, i felt that there
> was
> > a significant loss of performance.
> > Things that didn't cause any dropouts before now start to crackle
> and
> > gristle (as a sidenote, i mostly
> > use SuperCollider to make sound).
> >
> > Also, and this puzzled me especially, there were dropouts, but no
> XRuns
> > ... normally, when i push the
> > system to the limits, i get XRuns, that'd be expected. But now, it's
>
> > dropouts without, and they start way
> > earlier.
> >
> > My machine has an Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4600U CPU @ 2.10GHz Processor
> if
> > that info is of user for anyone ...
> >
> > Anybody else noticed something like that recently ?
> >
> > Best,
> > nik
> >
>
> Hello, I always reply when I hear of crackles, pops, and dropouts
> because it took me several months to figure out my problem with that.
> Maybe it will help.
>
> Here is the latest time I replied, a month ago, please scroll down:
>
> http://linux-audio.4202.n7.nabble.com/M-Audio-Fast-Track-Pro-unreliable-distorted-recording-td89125i20.html#a106829
>
> Long story short: Try running with only one processor core active.
>
> It completely cured my problem, and another user's as well.
> In my case the device is a PCI M-Audio delta1010, and in the
> other user's case it was a similar ice1712-based card.
> However in the above Fast-Track-Pro case, that's USB and we
> don't yet know if the trick solved that user's problem...
>
> Be patient: If the number of CPU cores is the cause it may take
> several minutes for the crackling to appear since I believe what
> happens is that some low-level 'counters/pointers' which should
> always be in sync slowly approach and 'pass' each other, and that's
> when the noise occurs.
>
> In my case the very same symptom occurred in Windows.
> That proved beyond doubt that it was a hardware issue.
>
> Hope that helps.
> Tim.

While I, on the other hand, use all cores (real and hyperthread) on my i7 with no crackles or distorted recordings and such at all. Same for the 4 real cores on my AMD desktop system.

In my opinion, most PC motherboards weren't designed with any audio thought beyond including an on-board audio chip.

--
David W. Jones
gnome@hawaii.rr.com
authenticity, honesty, community
http://dancingtreefrog.com
Sent from my Android device with F/LOSS K-9 Mail.
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