JC Audiophile optimization on win7, 2012, and R2.

[jesuscheung]

XA has updated Windows7 DAW 1.1. i have just installed it. previous version 1.0 was giving me a lot of earaches. this version is absolutely beautiful. my optimized R2 is far from that level of SQ. all players lekt, MQn, XA sound wondering.

this OS is weird. takes time to 'burn-in'. think it is because VS2013 installs .net that runs '.NET optimization services" in the background for hours until it finishes on my i7. this is OS is so easy to tweak, just do whatever he says on his blog, SQ will increase. just don't do his Aero optimization and don't install any graphic driver.

i have my own tweaks to apply on this 7, but i am afraid i would ruin the sound. need to ghost it.

Where could I download his DAW 1.1? Thanks.

P.S. I can not install VS2013 on my 2012 server as it wants IE10 to be in system.

download is on his blog.... google foobar XA.

his 7 isn't impressive with MQn. after i installed graphic driver, i started to have digital sound. try to test XA on his 7 WITHOUT the graphic driver or LAN driver at first. see if you hear what i hear. i hear correct SQ + analog sound.

you need GUI mode in server to install VS2013
in powershell, type:
add-windowsfeature server-gui-shell

[minionas]

download is on his blog.... google foobar XA.

his 7 isn't impressive with MQn. after i installed graphic driver, i started to have digital sound. try to test XA on his 7 WITHOUT the graphic driver or LAN driver at first. see if you hear what i hear. i hear correct SQ + analog sound.

you need GUI mode in server to install VS2013
in powershell, type:
add-windowsfeature server-gui-shell

googled it already, thanks! it's for my buddy to test, as he has w7:) i myself have 2012 :) so i'll try to convert to gui and then to install vs2013, like you've advised :)

[minionas]

you need GUI mode in server to install VS2013
in powershell, type:
add-windowsfeature server-gui-shell

Could you please advise how to alter timer resolution in W2012 server? Is there some .exe for startup? Or some strings should be inputed into cmd line?

[jesuscheung]

you need GUI mode in server to install VS2013
in powershell, type:
add-windowsfeature server-gui-shell

Could you please advise how to alter timer resolution in W2012 server? Is there some .exe for startup? Or some strings should be inputed into cmd line?

1. download "Set Timer Resolution". set to 0.5ms. DON'T CLOSE the application.
2. open foobar. automatically sets to 1ms. DON'T CLOSE the foobar.
3. use NtSetTimerResolution for coding.

you need correct clockrate to go with it. otherwise, the effect is minimum/unknown. could be bad for MQn.

[jesuscheung]

----TWEAK NUMBER 10----
1. open "Device Manager"
2. go to "System devices"
3. "View" -> "Show hidden devices"

4. disable the followings:

Composite Bus Enumerator
High Definition Audio Bus (this should be your HDMI audio)
High precision event timer
DON'T DISABLE Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SMBus Host Controller
Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device
Intel(R) Management Engine Interface
Microsoft System Management BIOS Driver
Microsoft Virtual Drive Enumerator
Motherboard resources (all of them)
Numeric data processor
Programmable interrupt controller
Remote Desktop Device Redirector Bus
System board (all of them)
System timer
UMBus Root Bus Enumerator

a. R2 has introduced a few more useless drivers. above are taken from my R1 setup.
b. if you have unused PCIe slots, you can disable them as well. be careful!
c. if you have disabled more "System devices" drivers, post them here!

d why disable "High precision event timer" and "System timer"?
-because all you need is the "System CMOS/real time clock". unless otherwise stated by your player!
-"High precision event timer" is the worst clock for audio and gaming. only use it when you are advised to.

[jesuscheung]

---TWEAK NUMBER 11---
BIOS
HUGE IMPACT ON SQ.

1. ignore the screenshots about my CPU and RAM settings. THEY ARE OUTDATED.

MY ACTUAL BEST CPU/RAM SETTINGS:
for overclocking
CPU=4.0Ghz at 1.15v
RAM=2000Mhz at 1.54v

for downclocking:
CPU=1.6Ghz at 0.865v
RAM=800Mhz at 1.5v

2. i might have missed a few screenshots.
3. i uploaded the images to blogspot. if you cannot see them, then just go to jesuscheung.blogspot.com.



use manual voltages for CPU and RAM and iGPU. offset mode has more voltage fluctuation. bad for SQ.



-load liine calibration is also interesting. best SQ should come from "ultra high" or "extreme". "extreme" needs a different CPU voltage. "extreme" is less musical i think.
-CPU voltage frequency known as VRM has interesting impact on SQ. auto should be 300. try 400, it sounds very different. try 200, it sounds very different. i like auto.
-power phase control is better on more expensive Asus boards. if you buy that kind of board, use it! SQ should improve.
UPDATED (FINAL): now i use t.probe + power phase control=auto=ultra high. cure the dryless, adds a layer of richness.


-bad clock. bad SQ. don't believe me? google this. 9 out of 10 is bad. only use this clock when you are advised.



-fix you CPU frequency. don't let it go up and down.
-turn off all the power management non sense. we need stable voltage for stable SQ.


CANCELLED TURNING OFF THERMAL MONITOR
-turn off all monitoring. thermal monitor is for extreme overclocking. disable useless security like execute disabled bit.


CANCELLED THIS SCREENSHOT. FALSE-CLEAN. FALSE-AIR
-audio is much cleaner after all these craps are disabled.



CANCELLED THIS SCREENSHOT. FALSE-CLEAN. FALSE-AIR








new tweaks:
-DON'T USE quick boot.
-set 0 seconds in post-boot.
-disable un-used USB ports.
-CPU fan speed set to lowest. OR JUST TURN IT OFF IF POSSIBLE.

every single setting in bios has micro-change in SQ. take care!

[minionas]

1. download "Set Timer Resolution". set to 0.5ms. DON'T CLOSE the application.
2. open foobar. automatically sets to 1ms. DON'T CLOSE the foobar.
3. use NtSetTimerResolution for coding.

you need correct clockrate to go with it. otherwise, the effect is minimum/unknown. could be bad for MQn.

Thanks, i'll research this!

[jesuscheung]

added some explanations to bios TWEAK NUMBER 11

[tony]

Just a comment as there tweaks are all on the back burner for me for the moment. That asus board seems a lot more tuneable than the intel board I have. Is that the case?

[jesuscheung]

Just a comment as there tweaks are all on the back burner for me for the moment. That asus board seems a lot more tuneable than the intel board I have. Is that the case?

what can't you do with a intel board?