HQPlayer Desktop thread

[Jeffrey_Robbins]

@jussi_laako

I don’t recommend … AO with HQPlayer, because [it] disable[s] services that make parts of HQPlayer not work or malfunction.

@jussi_laako, I assume “AO” means Audiophile Optimizer? I’ve used it for a long time with my CAPS Twenty server running WS2019 and AO. My only issue is that I run out of steam with my Okto dac8pro DAC for native DSD64 playback (or upscaling to DSD128) of native 5.1 DSD64 MCH files if I use anything above DSD5v2 for a shaper in HQP. I use poly-sinc-ext2 for a filter and IIR2 wide. Convolution filters are in the pipeline matrix at 24/352.8. CPU bumps into the 40%+ usage range and that’s when I get dropouts. GPU never gets much past 22% usage. Roon itself uses a lot of CPU nowadays.

If I switched to Windows 11 on the same server with no AO, do you think my CPU/GPU usage would go down just a bit such that I could use ASDM7EC-light for the 5.1 DSD MCH files, which is otherwise my standard filter for other file configurations? JCR

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

@Jeffrey_Robbins

I assume “AO” means Audiophile Optimizer? I’ve used it for a long time with my CAPS Twenty server running WS2019 and AO.

Yes… One challenge with Windows Server editions is that they don’t include all needed services and components in the default install, since they are designed for running file, email and database servers. Not for gaming, video or audio tasks like Windows desktop editions. Lack of those components makes some performance related actions of HQPlayer fail and thus result in reduced performance and potential drop-outs in audio. I have not made those fatal, so the playback is not refused, but it can have negative effect on performance (also depending on how close to the machine limits you are).

@Jeffrey_Robbins

If I switched to Windows 11 on the same server with no AO, do you think my CPU/GPU usage would go down just a bit such that I could use ASDM7EC-light for the 5.1 DSD MCH files, which is otherwise my standard filter for other file configurations?

I don’t know, since I don’t have identical setup to try. So you would just need to try. You can make one registry hack though, and enable Ultimate Performance mode there. Which is normally available only on Windows 11 Pro for Workstations. But I recommend to get started with just normal High Performance mode. And if you don’t do gaming, install latest Nvidia Studio drivers, if you are using CUDA. Other than that, there’s no need to do any tuning.

But also here, one option is to try with a light Linux installation and see if it makes a difference. It is possible to make it dual-boot with Windows. So you can have both installed and choose at the boot time which one you’d like to use.

@Jeffrey_Robbins

Roon itself uses a lot of CPU nowadays.

One reason I prefer to run it on a separate NUC. Just Roon Server, on headless Debian 12 install. So no GUI on that machine, no monitors or such connected.

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

@Jeffrey_Robbins

@jussi_laako

But also here, one option is to try with a light Linux installation and see if it makes a difference. It is possible to make it dual-boot with Windows. So you can have both installed and choose at the boot time which one you’d like to use.

@Jeffrey_Robbins

Roon itself uses a lot of CPU nowadays.

One reason I prefer to run it on a separate NUC. Just Roon Server, on headless Debian 12 install. So no GUI on that machine, no monitors or such connected.

The latest Roon update proved exactly this too me. Now, my modulator and filter does not work without stuttering. I may work if the PC does not suddenly get the usual ideas as Windows do, so it is a matter of minutes or some hour. I need once again have to update the CPU, just as you said, Jussi in an early reply. Anyone having a spare I9-14900K?

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

Question,

nVidia let me choose between game ready och studio driver. Is there any difference for HQP operation?

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

Not really, but if you don’t do gaming, I would recommend to get the Studio Driver. It is more stable and is updated less frequently. Game Ready Driver is for gaming and updated very regularly (at least weekly or so) to keep up with specific optimizations for various game titles. Studio driver is mainly focused for work/professional use, Photoshop, CAD, etc and updated roughly monthly or so.

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

New question

I have seen so many fantastic graphical views how peoples pc works and the load level of the cores, memory, etc.

I don’t know anything about this. Today I tried by opening ASUS performance meter, to get some idea how things are. It showed the GPU and CPU working. It sampled slow, I mean really
s l o w … Zzzzzzz

So I started to think about this, how to actually get proofs of undersized hardware. I ran some different filters and looked at this performance meter, til I got sour and turned to Windows propriatery and yes, that was a far better meter. But, I don’t see any reason why playing back music with Roon, through HQP, same machine, using a decent I9-12900K on an ASUS MB in OC tuning level 2. In all the diagrams I found instead that the cores had very little to do and some even was in idle. Now I get it, I don’t understand this, how to really determine the state of the PC that really matters.

Is there anyone who can explain why the modulator ASDM7EC Super and filter IIR2 can’t play on a I9-12900K? It is said that this filter is almost no exercise for the GPU’s nor the RAM, just the CPU? I have ordered a I9-14900K, installs perhaps this weekend, it should terminate any of these problems, but at the same time why is it a problem. No diagram show extensive load.

I also chose other filters like Sinc-L. It took half my life until started to play AND HERE the nVidia software, slow as it is, showed bursts on the GPU’s up at 100%, momentarily. CPU, then? Just a walk in the park … Now I had the new pre-owned graphic card, ROG-STRIX-RTX3080-GAMING-10G with almost double the amount of CUDA-cores compared to the previous 3060Ti, set in silent mode, lowering the performance slightly, but there was not any signs of the graphics not doing the thing.

Having summerized this, Is there anyone who could guide me to greater knowledge how to really spot the problem/s? I know that all people in the computer business need to survive too, but the cost this autumn has been over the top with licenses, graphics, new CPU coming and hopefully the so far very good air cooler will manage the CPU, because reading the comments, they say that it is brilliant CPU but impossible too cool. Well nothing is, but I read in the fact that it draws some current. At the same time as the graphic card, I got power supply 850 watt Gold to replace my 750 watt Gold. I really hope I won’t have to upgrade this PSU too. There are few other things than MB, CPU, RAM (2pcs), M2 PCIE gen4 HDD and GPU.

Are there some freewares out there that can display all these parameters, CPU, RAM and GPU load and PSU voltage with warning if insufficient? I really would like to understand this better. People in my 'hood, turn to me more and more how to build and operate a playback system like this including the NAA, because they know far less than I (beleive it or not). I want to give good advice and recommend sufficient hardware, without having to over-do it (cost).

Thanks in advance.

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

Windows Resource Monitor is pretty decent, when you switch it to show individual logical cores instead of total load.

But for Nvidia load, it is better to open up command prompt and do “nvidia-smi -l 5” for example (scale the window so that the ASCII art fits properly, otherwise it is a mess).

Note that when you end up with settings that don’t run properly without drop-outs, the load figures are not representative.

Please note that IIR/IIR2 filters are not GPU offloaded.

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

I have taken some pics from Windows monitor to see and what is striking is that some cores are truly loaded, and some seems to be walking in the parking feeding pidgeons?

The conditions is as follows, I tried to making the E.cores work specifically with the filter, not the DSP. It seems to work, have not before, though.

But overall I see no “over-load” there are plenty of headroom in cores and threads also if a stutter occurs. Does not the CPU core management delegate better? I notice that the CPU is working cuz the fan is almost taking of from the desktop. Perhaps an alternative drone?

Any one that explain how it looks like some guys working like hell and others doing nothing? It reminds me about some of my employments … If this is how AI will work, we don’t have to worry …

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

@Stefan_Jorma

Any one that explain how it looks like some guys working like hell and others doing nothing?

Yes, it is normal. Not all tasks can be parallelized. The ones that can, are usually offloaded to the GPU, or E-cores, since that’s where GPUs are strong and E-cores most useful.

Mostly I’m seeing unexpected amount of variation, are those cases experiencing drop-outs? Or the test time is shorter than the graph’s time length? Usually the graphs should be reasonably flat / constant load.

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

I had to take three snapshots to get all cores over my screen. But yes, the cores do not seem to be levelled in loads, but going up and down like this.

Edit, the music I am playing is causing almost up to 10.000 apodizing actions per track. So it need to work, alright.

[Eminent_One]

hyelo

i post

14900k 3090 ddr5 8000

dc off
smooth playback with psg hireslp and amsdm7ec 512+fs @ 1024x44.1

dc on
stutter playback every 10-13 sec. with psg hireslp and amsdm7ec 512+fs @ 1024x44.1

[erekola]

14900KS, 4090 and 48GB 8000Mt/s - hires-mp 96k super 512+ dc on

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

@Eminent_One @erekola

Hi guys, pls explain what is DC on and off? I guess the question is stupid, but while writing this I could not figure it out.

btw it is just one filter type, IIR2, Jussi refer to non-GPU off-load. It is just straining the CPU to stutter, non-RAM or -GPU dependent. This means that any other filter I have tried so far, works. My nVidia 3080 works miracles, and still in silent mode for other GPU off-loaded filter. I will never go for more than DSD256 anyway.

[Stefano_Antonelli]

@Stefan_Jorma

pls explain what is DC on and off?

It should be Dac Correction

[Eminent_One]

holew

v nice

is that same settings as mine?
my 0 and 8 core is max out when yours is below
i wonder if this is help with ks or 4090 or both

[erekola]

512×48, but I can test 1024 tomorrow

[erekola]

Same settings as you and dc on. No dropouts before I came here to write. But it’s not quite at full power when I don’t need it myself. But I can check again tomorrow at a better time. Only 57×P and 44×E

[jussi_laako (Jussi Laako (Signalyst))]

I would guess the 4090 is quite high loaded in this case!

[Stefan_Jorma (Stefan Andersson_Olofsson)]

Thanks to all of you taken part and returning good advice. I know purchased what seems to be the final CPU for the socket 1700, I9-14900K. I should have listened a couple of months ago, when given the advice on choosing the best CPU based on core by core performance, but the pricing of the 12900K was just to tempting at that time. Now it feels the PC is exploding in my face for every command I send. The respons is instant both visually as well as the sound from the fans … cooling fans … even if I consider myself being a fan too now. I hope I will not have to replace parts or build new PC in so many years from now, the RME stays (@DSD256), I think for good. There are so many other things in a rig that need attention and proves over and over be equally rewarding as replacing the DAC.

[Rugby (aka Daniel or Big Dan)]

@Stefan_Jorma

Is there anyone who can explain why the modulator ASDM7EC Super and filter IIR2 can’t play on a I9-12900K?

Something else in your system. I am running a 9770k CPU with a 3080. I just tested out ASDM7EC super using IIR2, playing a 24/192 source upsampling to DSD 256 to my RME DAC. No issues at all. I had to enable adaptive rate though to get that combination working, something I don’t normally run since I don’t like converting between rate families.