[gkinberg]

Hi All,

Does anyone have a list of which computer processes should be stopped in Windows 8 Pro? I have a music server PC that has basically nothing on it but J.River Media center 17 and an external hard drive connected via USB. I use my TV as my monitor via an HDMI cable.  My computer connects to my Benchmark DAC1 USB via a usb cable that originates from the SOtM USB PCI card. I have never installed any drivers to operate the DAC or the SOtM card, the computer seems to recognize them so I’ve never bothered.

But I am getting clicking and popping from time to time and I’m assuming there is a Processes conflict. Hence my desire to disable any unnecessary processes.

In addition, I have read that it is best to turn off or disable any and all virus protection, firewalls etc… How does one keep their computer safe with all of the protection disabled? My computer is connected to my wireless router so that I can control it in a headless scenario so I’m concerned about turning off all of my protection and being vulnerable to internet malfeasance.   

Thanks, Garth

[AKLegal]

Try adjusting any playback buffers that you have in your playback software.  You probably need to increase the buffer size.

You do not need to turn off firewalls and such.  These programs use very little resources at idle.  If this is just a dedicated music server you can get away with windows firewall and virus protection.  If these programs are causing interrupts then you need a more powerful computer.

Post your system specs.

[Elizabeth]

Most computers have a table with processes on it, and a tab  to change the process from top priority to medium or bottom.
Change the media player to top priority, and all others to medium.
The other processes will still run, but not interfere with the media stream.

[ted_b]

Over on Computer Audiophile and also at the Jplay forum we've been discussing and working on optimization scripts for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 for some time now.  Start here with CAD's white paper:
http://www.computeraudiodesign.com/Windows%20Software%20Modifications%20V2_1.pdf

and then try his script.  It is undoable, too
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-software/windows-8-audio-optimization-script-16353/

AudioPhil's Windows Server 2012 AudioOptimizer goes even further, and is more tweekable, but is for WS 2012 GUI and core installs, and has now grown into a for-sale product.  I am an early adopter and alpha tester for the Optimzer.
http://www.highend-audiopc.com/optimizer.html

[adydula]

Jriver has a support forum at: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=72880.0;topicseen

I like many Jriver users have had issues with PCs and pops and clicks....

I did have an issue awhile back and it drove me nuts...but it was a simple adjustment:

"I had a similar issue with a HRT MSii+ dac and Jriver.

I am not using a USB hub as suggested.  I lowered the pre-buffering to 25ms and no pops or ticks."

Depending on the PC, the Dac, Drivers etc..100ms is the norm, and I have used down to 25ms to resolve the pops etc.

If this doesn't resolve it send the people at Jriver a note via their forum. They are really very responsive and knowledgeable.

I never resolved this type of an issue by turning off services or changing priorties in the OS.

Good Luck
Alex

[gkinberg]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. I will try to implement them today.

A little bit of background. I had my system up and running flawlessly on windows 7 premium, 4 Gb of RAM, 128 Gb solid state hard drive and connected directly from the computer usb to the Benchmark DAC1 USB. But I wanted to add the SOtM USB PCI card. Long story short, SOtM card wasn’t compatible with my motherboard so, New: Intel D2700DC Motherboard (dual-core 2.13 GHz intel atom processor); Winodows 8 Professional operating system.  This is when the clicks and pops began.

 Originally, I had set my screen saver to come on at 5 min. Moments before the screen saver was activated the clicking and popping and scratching would increase in frequency and would get even worse when the screen saver was activated. I have since turned off the screen saver and set the monitor to turn off after 5 min. This improved things considerably. This is why I believe that it is likely a process issue or conflict.

When I am listening to music but moving from menu to menu or album to album, I get pops at each mouse click.

There you go, my full disclosure. I will report back with my findings.

On the virus protection front, someone in another thread said that if one is not browsing the internet on a browsers, then you don't need to be concerned about people hacking or infecting your computer. Is that so?

Thanks again

[HighendAudioPC]

AudioPhil's Windows Server 2012 AudioOptimizer goes even further, and is more tweekable, but is for WS 2012 GUI and core installs, and has now grown into a for-sale product.  I am an early adopter and alpha tester for the Optimzer.
http://www.highend-audiopc.com/optimizer.html

Hi Ted

I am currently also working on support for Windows 8.1. this would be an interesting Option for Dual-PC Setups if one is not willing to buy two windows server 2012 licenses. I can imagine Win8.1 and the audiophile optimizer on a ControlPC, but rather not on the AudioPC. In a singlePC setup i highly recommend Server 2012.

Take care,
AudioPhil

[AKLegal]

On the virus protection front, someone in another thread said that if one is not browsing the internet on a browsers, then you don't need to be concerned about people hacking or infecting your computer. Is that so?

Thanks again

No, a thousand times No.  The ports on your computer, more likely than not, remain open whether or not you are using them.  You might be able to get away without virus protection (if you are not using it to access the internet) but you need some sort of firewall.  Most routers have decent firewall software built in but I would still back it up with a software solution.

[gkinberg]

Update:

I move the priority of J.River from normal priority to high priority. There is a priority designated “Real Time” if I remember correctly. I am assuming that real time is highest priority. Is it likely to cause an issue if I bump J.River Media center to Real time because there are several other processes that currently have equal priority of “High”.

In addition, I changed the buffer size from 500 ms (I assume the J.River default) to 100 ms as I’ve read that 100 ms is a “standard” size and a good default.

So making the two changes above has improved my issues but not fixed them. Of course, like a bad scientist, I changed two variables at once so I don’t know which one had the impact.

When I get a chance, I plan to go through my process list and match it up to the list that chris has at computer audiophile for windows 7 and stop the processes that he recommends. I think there are some nomenclature difference between window 7 and 8 so It may be hard to follow it to the letter of the law.

When I identify which processes I want to stop or disable, how can I make those changes “quasi” permanent so that they don’t come back on upon restart?

Thanks, Garth