[linux-audio-user] Shaving CPU cycles

[Ken Restivo]

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I've run into an 80% DSP problem on my machine.

This poor little PC doesn't have enough CPU power to run all the softsynths and LADSPA plugins I tend to use. When JACK gets to 80% DSP usage, all hell breaks loose. If I up the latency, then my CPU usage goes down, but the system is unplayable (too much latency).

So. What kinds of things would be best to try to squeeze some life out of this underpowered 1.66Ghz Core Duo? I have a list, but I'm not sure which would be the first, second, third order improvements and I'd like to try to conserve time, especially if the end result will end up being that I have to sell this PC and get a new one anyway. Do I have the priorities right?

1) Try jackdmp instead of jackd
2) Try DRM or some kind of accelerated graphics for Xorg
3) Blindly chase "latest and greatest" versions of things like kernel 2.4.20, latest jackd, svn freebob, etc.
4) Try messing around with PCI bus latency

I'll try as many of those as you-all think might be worth pursuing, before moving on to hardware solutions:

5) Replace the CPU on this box with a 2.16Ghz Core Duo.
6) Get rid of the machine completely and get a new PC with 2Ghz+ Intel or AMD dual CPU, and PCI audio card not firewire.


- -ken
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