Ableton Forum

I'm finding constant CPU spikes every few seconds running Live 7 on my laptop - each spike adds on about 30-40% to CPU usage.

I've tried this with a simple set with almost nothing playing, and no VST plugins - same effect.

I've set processor priority to "background processes" and turned off on-access virus checking.

I am still using onboard sound with ASIO4All (until i decide which audio interface to buy) - could that be the issue?

The same sets don't cause this issue on my older Pentium D930 desktop.

Does anyone else experience similar on a similar system? I see there are OSX issues with this too.

Thanks
Richard

====== SPEC =======

Live 7.0.3 (also happening with 7.0.1)
Xp Pro Sp2
Core 2 Duo 2GHz
2GB 667 RAM
7200rpm HD

I have been having this same problem with my desktop. It is set up with a Core2Duo and I'm using a PreSonus Firepod, not a cheesy audio interface. I still get audio gaps (clicks and pops) every 10-20 secs when playing MIDI files (this is with no MIDI devices connected.) I am using 256 samples for a buffer which is HUGE for a Firepod. Ive used the program dpclat.exe to check my system latency and it is very very good (usually about 10 microseconds). The only thing I am left with is that something is very odd with MIDI and Live's implimentation of it. I'd really like to get to the bottom of this as it is very irritating and sounds like s%$t.

Turn off speedstepping in your BIOS, and have your power scheme set to always on; that'll help.

I'm wondering about C2D/C2Qs and audio apps in general; there's a lot of reports about CPU spikes with audio apps. I know they definitely can suffer from denormal issues: download Tobybears' P-Bugger and see for yourself...

ew

ewistrand wrote:Turn off speedstepping in your BIOS, and have your power scheme set to always on; that'll help.

I'm wondering about C2D/C2Qs and audio apps in general; there's a lot of reports about CPU spikes with audio apps. I know they definitely can suffer from denormal issues: download Tobybears' P-Bugger and see for yourself...

ew

Thanks ... I take it SpeedStepping is the Intel mobile technology that alters processor speed to conserve battery life?

Yep...

ew

ewistrand wrote:Turn off speedstepping in your BIOS, and have your power scheme set to always on; that'll help.

I'm wondering about C2D/C2Qs and audio apps in general; there's a lot of reports about CPU spikes with audio apps. I know they definitely can suffer from denormal issues: download Tobybears' P-Bugger and see for yourself...

ew

Excellent thanks.

The problem was solved by using just the second of your suggestions - power to "Always On" has steadied the CPU usage at the level I was expecting.

However, I didn't need to turn off Speedstepping, although it did solve the problem in a kind of a way. Problem was that (in my BIOS anyway) that disabling Speedstepping locks the processor into its LOWEST speed step, so the CPU usage was steady, but at about 90%, whereas with Speedstepping on, and Power to "ALways ON" it settled at 30-40% which is what it should have been.

Thanks.
Richard