Is my PC too slow??? 1 instance of Pharlight at 70% Ryzen 5 2600X

I'm so lost, I've done so much troubleshooting to try to figure this out, but still any time I try to use Kontakt (in particular Pharlight) the CPU is at 70%. In task manager I'm at about 25% with it running. I opened the resource monitor & core 10 was at about 100%, so I went in to the BIOS to see if disabling virtualization would help (which it did show in the resource monitor an even CPU load across all cores after), but the problem remained. My Kontakt library was installed on a plain old 7200rpm HDD, so I reinstalled both Kontakt & Pharlight to my SSD. I disabled the multithreading in option in Kontakt. I've tried multiple daws installed on the HDD and the SSD. I've also done what many on youtube have recommended for the power options in Windows 10. Also it doesn't matter which audio device I use asio/windows audio, but if I put the buffer down to 256 it's unusable. I've also done a test with Arturia's DX7 vst, if I load about 9 of those that's when it starts to lag out. Is that normal???

I'm not sure if a random core is picked when you load up your daw or it picks one in particular, but I'm assuming at this point it's the processor.
I have 16GB of RAM single channel, using about 5GB when everything is loaded up. Windows 10 Pro, ASUS B-350M. OS drive is M.2 Samsung Evo 960. At this point I'll be building a new PC or buying a Macbook with an M1. If you guys have any suggestions/settings that I can check to make sure everything is optimized I'd greatly appreciate it so I don't have to spend $2000 on a new PC haha !

 

What audio interface do you use with what buffer settings?


Uwe

 

CPU tells OS which cores perform best. So, the load usualy starts at the same core(s).

Pharlight (and other ....Light series plugins) are extremely CPU hungry, many people experience problems.

Concerning new PC. I´ve just built small factor PC. ASRock DeskMini X300 (15x15x8 cm), Ryzen 7 5700G (8C/16T able to run sustainably over 4GHz with full CPU load, 65W APU), 2x32 GB RAM, 2x1TB NVME SSD. The computing power is comparable to M1 Mini - a bit more in most tests. It cost me a bit over 1 000 EUR.
https://www.asrock.com/nettop/AMD/DeskMini X300 Series/index.asp

It has 6 USB (if one buys 2 USB expansion pack) and it is possible to attach 3 monitors. But no firewire and it would be troublesome to add one, if possible at all. And it has two positions for 2.5" HDD/SSD. (but only up to 9mm thick)

If you want, I may test, how many instances of PharLite it handles.

EDIT.
My setup is a bit faster than strongest 10 core M1 (in PassMark), but it is about 10% slower in singlethread.

 

Firewire is dead anyways.

 

Yes, but one may have HW using it and not wanting to ditch it..... That is why I mention it....

 

FW to USB/TB converters do exist, as far as I know.

 

TB yes, USB no, as far as I know.
I have found just one USB converter and users reported that it does not work. And cannot by principle....
But if you know about any, it would be handy for me.

 

Maybe these will help:

https://www.musictoob.com/firewire-to-a-usb-3-0/

https://www.amazon.com/firewire-usb-adapter/s?k=firewire+to+usb+adapter

Note that I have no experience with these adapters.

 

Thanks, I still doubt it wholy works. USB and firewire work on different busses. Maybe I´ll give it a try, anyway.

 

I do know that Amazon has a return policy. I have had to use it a couple of times and I've never had a problem.

 

I also have strong doubts, particularly for use with FW soundcards. I mean it was critical to have the cards with the TI chipset for things to work, now this small $10 adapter is gonna sort things out. Please let me know how it goes

 

If I try, I will report. I am in EU, not US, so just sending back and customs might cost order more than the item.... I found on page of some producer of audio interface that USB is impossible for their FW interfaces....

 

Maybe possible with USB 3? But have you read some valuations?

Uwe

 

The only I have read recently, were that it does not work and also that it cannot work by principle. I haven't found any note, so far, that it works....
My guess is, that they sell it knowing it does not work and rely on the fact that most people will not return it and ask money back..... Too hassle just for 7-10 USD..... I may be wrong.....

For me it is not vital. My new PC does not have FW and maybe I could expand it to FW, but would loose Wifi and one NVME slot for disc..... But would be sort of nice to have as FW audio interfaces are sold for pleasant prices.... (And it just adds my suspirion USB to FW would work.... People sell it because do not have FW anymore....)