• Registered: 2011-09-15
  • Posts: 42

Topic: FireFace UFX Latency Buffer

I'm using a Fireface UFX with the USB connection to my PC, which has just been given a new Z490 motherboard, an i9 processor and 64Gig ram.

Previously, the PC had an i7 processor and 24Gig ram and the Buffer Size (Latency) was set to 256 samples.

I was expecting to be able to lower the buffer size with the installation of the new board, i9 and the Ram but I can not reliably get it below 256 samples without getting clicks, pops and dropouts in Nuendo-10.

Is this a limitation of the Fireface UFX and its USB-2 output, or is there something that can be done to enable lower buffer sizes?  (perhaps a driver update).

I am currently using driver version 1.168 and firmware revision 360.

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2020-11-12 09:42:56)

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,869

Re: FireFace UFX Latency Buffer

Depends on BIOS settings, drivers and how well the chipset handles USB.
See also my blog articles about my PC and BIOS fine tuning, etc.
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … mponenten/
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … -X10SRi-F/

With a good combination of BIOS settings, CPU, mainboard and drivers you can achieve this kind of performance:
https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … cks-de-en/

With tools like latencymon you can check whether a driver is blocking your CPU for too long.

Mandatory is to disable energy saving in the BIOS entirely.
Use the energy profile "High Performance".

If Desktop PC: disable CPU core parking using the Bitsum Tool parkcontrol. With that tool you can fine tune the Windows energy profiles in terms of clock speed and whether CPU cores shall be parked.

It can help to optimize for background performance, see my other blog article: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … es-or-not/

I "tamed" Win10 with O&O Win10 Shutup.

Avoid unnecessary add-on tools for your mainboard that might slow down the system like: bios / driver updaters, fan control, etc. They are not always well written and can slow down the system.

I made the experience, that with Windows 10 20H2 I do not require anymore special drivers for mainboard and chipset, everything is being installed along with the windows installation.

Do not install certain programs/services that kill CPU performance.
Do not use silly registry cleaner that mess up the system.

Use a good backup recovery tool like Macrium Reflect.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,738

Re: FireFace UFX Latency Buffer

Both your old and new PC should be able to run at the lowest buffer, if set up correctly and the hardware does not have build in flaws (like bios). I have a 10yr old q9560 4 core machine with 8gb of ram and even I can. Of course there is a limit to what you can do at such a low latency, more so on mine then on a PC with your specs.
If I want to run many Diva synths I will have to up the latency for example. In general I can finish a project at 128.
The most obvious thing to try out is to disable all energy saving options of the cpu in the bios. On some motherboards disabling hyper threading cures it, although with a slight theoretical loss of performance.
If you need more assistance you need to post your exact hardware.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632