How to maximise audio performance in XP? 2

[Thregwort]

I'm running 1.1 Celeron/382MBram/40+20HDD-720/XP on a newish shop-bought HP Pavilion. To play mp3s or wav files I use MediaPlayer8. Playback is generally good with the odd hiccup, using standard Windows drivers on cheapy SB 4.1 digital card. The cheapy SB card was purchased because it included a spdif out and wav editor/recorder software. In order for the wav recorder/edit suite to work, you HAVE to install the SB (Creative) drivers, at which point audio performance is noticably degraded with random hiccups in music playback.
Can any forum contributors suggest what might be the most audio-friendly prioritising tweaks I could perform in order for XP to realise that I am, above all, serious about wanting to hear my music without interruptions, and any Windows housekeeping can wait??

 

[paparazi]

When you want continued playback without interuption you may need to turn off everything that could interfere with that signal, typical problem programs might be Chatlines (MSN etc), screen savers, internet connecting ISP's, energy saving modes clicking in, virus software that may be operating.
It might be a good idea to dissable as many programs running in the background as possible.
without knowing you could have as many as 20 applications running unseen, some of these can be disabled in the startup menue.
The fewer programs running, the less likely the audio signal will be interupted and the more system resources will be available for the audio.
Martin
Replying helps further our knowledge, without comment leaves us wondering.

 

[gargouille]

Here's a link to understanding what's running and what you don't need/want:

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

That's a hard one to get past...but may include trying different PCI slots to see if it helps.

 

[Thregwort]

Thanks guys,

Black Viper full of knowledge as usual. However, even he did not mention a tweak in XP: right click the running app in Task Manager and you get the choice of prioritising it from normal>above normal>right up to realtime...coool.
But my problem was not connected with internet streaming but with audio playback in general. Turned out to be an ongoing tussle between SB Creative drivers and XP native drivers. I sort of got a compromise by installing all the SB Creative apps (wav edit, wav record) that I wanted, then uninstalled just the SB drivers. Next boot-up, XP installs its own drivers and everything works without hiccup. The only downside is that without the SB drivers, you don't get SPDIF digital output or direct wav record from cd (you use stereo mix), but I guess I'm going to have to live with that. Until Creative come up with a driver update. On a card this cheap, I shan't be holding my breath.

Thanks again,
Thregwort UK

 

[gargouille]

Very creative work around. You show yourself to be a true professional!
As we both know, there are lots of issues with Creative's drivers...hopefully they'll take the path of ATI and others in improving them.

 

[Thregwort]

Thanks for incoming, gargouille,

I've gone the Creative advised route and
e-mailed their response team with details
of what clearly is a bug - XP/SB drivers wise.
Their auto responder gives me hope (that's some hope,
not life-depends-on-it hope) of the promised human
answer within 24 hours (!) Right, let's see w'happen.
Will keep posting up to date info for general benefit.

Thregwort UK