I have a ryzen 2600x, 16gb ram, gigabyte x470 aorus 5, if i load a project in cakewalk with a lot of plugins everthing start to become sluggish, i have some clicks and distortion in the sound even with the buffer in 1024 of my focusrite 2i4, also some plugins like superior drummer 3 are super slow to load

so if i upgrade to a ryzen 5600x it can improve anything? or it will be almost the same?

(i don't want to go to a better cpu because with this ryzen i don't need to change the mother and reinstall windows and everything)

 

Measure the resources usage first, before placing any orders

 

16gb RAM is about the bare minimum you want for audio work. Keep in mind that when you have insufficient memory, it will negatively effect cpu performance.

 

Most of the time you don't have to reinstall, just reactivate, because the copy protection is often linked to the CPU.

But you should configure your PC correctly. I would set your Focusrite to 512 and then to 256 samples.

Maybe a new graphics card will help you. I wouldn't rush into buying a new processor.

I've attached 2 links for you. If you want, you can post the results of LatencyMon here too.

LatencyMon 7.20
The LatencyMon software analyzes and identifies which device, which driver or which service is causing audio dropouts or malfunctions. Real-time audio suitability checker for Windows 10/8.1/8/7/2016/2012/2008 (x86 and x64)
Scroll Down to: System Monitoring Tools https://www.resplendence.com/downloads

Focusrite - Optimising your PC for Audio on Windows 10
https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207355205-Optimising-your-PC-for-Audio-on-Windows-10

 

I find 16 GB is sufficient as long as you don't use multiple Kontakt instances.
In short, I only have 16 GB, but I hardly use it except for video rendering.

 

Have you optimized background processes? That's crucial for Windows.

 

Agree, there's a chance some of the plugins are killing one of your cores or you have some crazy chain somewhere that is processed all on one core and etc.

Also would definitely consider 5700X instead for future updates, that would be theoretical upgrade over what you got with even lower TDP.

 

three kontakt 7 instances, addictive drums 2, korg triton, two instances of zenology 2, five buses, virtual mix rack in every track and bus and some other plugins like vintage warmer 2, fabfilter pro q, pulsar eq, two audio tracks with amplitube 5

screen is in spanish but you can get the picture hehe, cpu doesn't look at 100 but maybe is slow (?)

 

Try more detailed view for CPU, click on "Albrir el Monitor de recursos"

Also, check DPC while you are at it
https://www.resplendence.com/latencymon

 

What peeps said before me is all viable and correct. I will add that a 5xxx series cpu has better performance and much better latency overall.
5600X goes for about 110 euros, 5800X for 165. If you don't need more than 6 cores the 5600X is a bargain. And you should definitely go for 32gb ram no matter which cpu you choose.
Cheers.

 

5800x is kinda hard to keep cool. i have a 5700x but even the 5600x will be a huge improvement. thats a good and budget choice

 

Depending on the libraries being loaded, and settings, Superior Drummer 3 can use as much, or more; comparing to Kontakt.

Amplitube has been a comparatively resources heavy plugin for what it actually does since v1. 3 Kontakt instances can use lots of RAM and cpu resources, depending on the libraries. Zenology is also heavy for what it does, and so is the Triton. Multiple instances of VMR can even be heavy with a weak cpu and any analog-style modules loaded. Almost all "analog emulation" stuff can tax resources. The Roland Cloud plugins that you can "run optimized" in the preferences, can save lots of cpu. The drum machines are laughable with that option unchecked (which is default).

Also consider that when you are mixing and using synths only; there is basically no benefit to using a lower size RAM buffer.

Which audio driver are you using for your Focusrite? A poor driver could also contribute to these same conditions. Check this too.

 

Commenting because there is alot of useful info in here

 

Yes, CPU will change a lot in your case, but not 5600x. And a hard drive.

And for our purposes core count is as important as core clock. The more cores you have, the more channels and processing you'll be able to use. Which means you shouldn't pay attention to any gaming oriented CPUs. You need so called "productivity oriented" processors.

7950x would be a perfect choice, but if you're short on money at the moment or just build your PC once every 5-10 years, I would hold on on buying anything on AM5 as AM6 should be announced soon where AMD promised to resolve all RAM related issues for productive use, it'll also be much more energy efficient and so on. Long story short it doesn't make sense to commit to a relatively expensive PC at the moment.

I would suggest you to make a 12700k/kf build. It's probably the best CPU Intel has ever made. And it's very cheap right now. It supports ddr4 and ddr5(ddr4 is much cheaper, sometimes you can buy twice more GBs of ddr4 against ddr5; and you'll end up using 4 slots probably, which means ram speed is relatively irrelevant), motherboards are cheaper than for AM5, needs average PSU, can be cooled by an air-cooler. It is probably the cheapest mid-high mid grade build you can make today.

I know you didn't ask for it, but it would make more sense than throwing money on a very old CPU that wasn't meant to be used in professional work loads.

 

Last edited: Jan 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM

Not a chance. Where do you get your info from...
AMD has officially stated, Zen 6 will retain AM5 compatibility and that is due late 2026. AM6 will be probably launched alongside Zen 7 series much later, probably around late 2027 or 2028. But perhaps you consider this soon enough ? hehehe...
https://www.igorslab.de/en/amds-zen...onfirmed-market-launch-planned-for-late-2026/
https://www.techpowerup.com/328673/...ket-am5-for-desktops-2026-27-product-launches

You probably should re-think what you say here. Because with ~110 euros the 5600X costs and no other changes he will get about 50% better single thread and 80% better multi-threaded cpu performance. The guy's looking for a meaningful upgrade, not a new pc lol.
Btw, sorry but proposing a new pc with a 12700K which is going for ~250 eu. atm, is kinda ridiculous. Since the guy has already an ok mobo and could get a 12c. 5900X for 220eu. (and again with no changes to the rest of his hardware) and outperform the 12700K by a good 15%. Btw, calling a 4 year old cpu like the Ryzen 5xxx series "very old" is also kinda silly. And whatever is this about "professional workloads", doesn't apply to the OP. If it did, he wouldn't have went for a 2600X in the first place.
Cheers

 

Indeed, a new CPU is all he may need. Usually the newest stuff costs the most but in relative term is not worth it if you compare price to performance. I often buy second hand stuff and stuff ike processors hardly ever dies. I recently bought a 5950x cause I read a LOT of people were praising it that its especially good for music production.

I just had some struggles with windows installation on this machine though, as I somehow did on the previous one. Do others here run win10 enterprise IOT version?

 

Not saying this is your case, but "should I buy this better thing to fix my issue" while the issue is user-enabled is something I have seen more and more in this site. Just recently there was someone complaining about this while running incredibly wasteful plugins. You can get the 9950X3D, and it will not fix your issue if you want Acustica in every channel. There's simply no magic for wasteful code. Either way, a 5600X is a decent low-cost investment that won't require any new hardware based on what you have, but don't expect magic to happen. Things will get better, but you will run into the same thing again and again if you are being sloppy with your sessions.

 

In addition to what taskforce recommended, I would try Reaper as a daw with ECHOLOT theme.

 

In my experience, upgrading the cpu will undoubtely shield better performance. Also, while you are at it, go for 32gb of Ram (5000 mhz). You will see results clearly.

 

Why would they? There is almost no upside to use it for audio production.

Spoiler

ChatGPT said:
ChatGPT
Using Windows 10 Enterprise IoT for audio production is generally not ideal. While it offers long-term stability and security, it is designed for embedded systems and specialized use cases like industrial equipment, kiosks, and medical devices—not creative tasks like audio production. Here's why:

Pros of Windows 10 Enterprise IoT for Audio Production:

1. Stability:
   
   • The Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) minimizes updates, meaning fewer disruptions during projects.
   • Reduced bloat can result in a more lightweight OS, freeing up system resources.
2. Customizability:
   
   • The OS can be stripped down to run only the essential components, reducing potential background processes that interfere with real-time audio performance.
3. Security:
   
   • Enterprise-level security can protect sensitive files and projects.

Cons of Windows 10 Enterprise IoT for Audio Production:

1. Missing Features:
   
   • IoT and LTSC versions lack many features needed for creative work, such as the Microsoft Store, which might be required for certain apps or plugins.
   • Some audio-related tools may depend on consumer-focused features not included in IoT builds.
2. Software Compatibility:
   
   • Many digital audio workstations (DAWs) and plugins expect a standard Windows environment. Specialized IoT optimizations could cause compatibility issues.
   • Updates for DAWs, drivers, and audio plugins may rely on features disabled or unsupported in IoT versions.
3. Drivers and Hardware Support:
   
   • Audio production often requires low-latency drivers like ASIO. While these drivers work on Windows 10, IoT builds might not offer the same level of driver support or compatibility for high-performance audio interfaces.
4. Overkill for Audio Work:
   
   • The features of Windows 10 Enterprise IoT are designed for industrial use cases, which are unrelated to the needs of a music producer.
5. Limited Ecosystem:
   
   • Limited feature set may exclude some modern utilities that enhance music production workflows.

Recommendation for Audio Production
For audio production, Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise (non-IoT) is a better choice:

• Windows 10 Pro: Offers great performance and compatibility for most audio setups with less technical complexity.
• Windows 10 Enterprise (standard): Offers additional security and customizability if you manage sensitive projects or need centralized IT control.

Optimizing Windows for Audio Production
Regardless of the OS version, you can optimize Windows for audio production by:

1. Disabling unnecessary background processes.
2. Adjusting power settings for maximum performance.
3. Installing low-latency drivers like ASIO.
4. Disabling updates during sessions to avoid interruptions.

If you're working with DAWs like Ableton, FL Studio, or Logic Pro and professional plugins, you should prioritize compatibility and latency optimization over the niche benefits of IoT versions.