DCMG

For anyone watching this thread, an update: No issues with returning the DELL. New system (similar specs) with fresh OS install. A few high latency readings early on, but as I tweaked OS a bit, installed my own antivirus, usual things discussed above...all is well. Good readings on LM, and more importantly CW running well with no issues. Looks like the decision to bail on the DELL and make a clean start was correct. Hope this thread helps someone!! Cheers to all who chimed in and tried to troubleshhoot!

Do you mind me asking what motherboard you used with that CPU? Planning a similar build

I don't really mind the DIY route but the stress of deciding what components will play well together is what I've grown weary of. I'd love to have someone build the board/CPU/Ram and case and then let me do the rest, but that's not a business model that makes sense for anyone However...I've noticed Jim also does consultations, and that would be worth its weight gold. The experience needed to choose the best combination of parts/brands/specs is a skillset worth paying for. I think I just talked myself into that! 😄

Interesting. Yeah, that's partly the reason I'm deciding to bail. Chances are this isn't the last time I would run into some proprietary Dell detail that would limit options. I think for anyone with limitless patience and/or mainstream needs, the units are nice. The initial experience of firing it up and getting it set up for general use was really easy. For their target audience, they do a good job.

I never got dropouts, but substantial crackles were common. Not inspiring for clients as they sit and listen to what we're working on My install list is not small, but it's only stuff I really use. Not a bunch of cracked plugins from 2005, all reasonably current and paid for. I'm guessing that something installed didn't play with Dell-influenced OS or the Dell hardware. That's the stuff I have to use, so if the Dell isn't playing nice it has to go. My main stuff is CW, Studio Pro, Omni/Trilian/Keyscape, some FabFilter stuff, Boz, TRacks and Battery. Pretty lean, and that grouping has worked well on the last 4 system iterations I've had, so something in the Dell install just didn't play well. No reason to fight with it. By tonight my previous system will be back to being fully useable until I can decide how to approach this upgrade. I'd love to find a custom builder that would just do a MB/CPU/Memory/Case with testing and then let me do the rest. Again, appreciate all the input on this one!!

I think you're right. Had I known, I wouldn't have spent 2 weeks installing/configuring/authorizing all my programs and plugins on that stock Dell OS. Should have just wiped it at the outset. Should have asked around a bit more before pulling the trigger. So I'm in my return window. I have to do a fresh OS + all audio installs again *either way*. So you have to ask yourself if it's better to double down on the DELL system and do it there...or just build a new one as you've always done ( with good results). When I weigh it, the latter is a better use of time. I was going to delete this thread, but it may be helpful to others who weigh the option of DIY v off the shelf, so I'll leave it for now. Really do appreciate all the input on kicking this around.

Interesting. I guess I thought that as long as they had a solid MB/CPU/Ram at the core, I could tweak anything on the margins and have a great machine. As the two other helpful members suggested on the Dell forums, a clean install of Windows might bypass all that stuff. "might" is a gamble. Dell seems to have their footprints on not only the W11 install but bios and MB. Still within return window so I've opted for doing so and DIY or having someone else do the basic build. Gives me a chance to re-eval CPU as well. This on had 13th Gen Intel i7-13700K. I hear people getting similar results with the i5 as well. Time to start researching again where the sweet spot is on CPU choice. Any input appreciated!! Thanks again to everyone who chimed in. Great community here.

Thanks Jim- Does seem to be a stripped down BIOS compared to others I've seen over the years. Little or no CPU/RAM performance parameters. You can disable onboard audio in bios, yet still see an associated service active on the system. Some of the Dell System apps are zombies that keep coming back BTW, I compiled 8 LatMon tests and found it was 98% of the time these guys: ISRs: Wdf01000.sys DPCs: ntoskrnl.exe with occasional ndis.sys Page Faults: msmpeng.exe It was a shortcut to think I could go "off the shelf" and pare back to a lean system, but I think I may have to cut my losses.

I'll close this thread down shortly since we're chasing this down on the DELL forum.

1 month old Dell XPS 8960 Desktop ( i7 13th Gen CPU, SSD's) Been a "build your own" guy for 20yrs, decided to throw caution to the wind and see if I could tame a Dell off the shelf. Looking like a mistake. Often but random glitches in CW, LM test are bombing out within 20seconds ( mostly showing Wdf01000.sys , ntoskrnl.exe and msmpeng.exe as main offenders). I've done the usual stuff: removed all the Dell Assist stuff, Windows bloat, very lean startup, Defender disabled for now, USB ports and all power settings on full, disabled Bluetooth, Wifi, On board Realtek, tried disabling Speedstep and similar settings. Before I call Dell and get the standard set of responses, any ideas I might be missing? Apollo USB was fine with other system, but tried a reinstall for fun. No change. Disabled ethernet as well. Slightly better, but still not good. Prime95 for 7 hrs. No failure. I'm stumped.

No. CW/Bandlab support sent me the same standalone installer I was using. Same error code. A few days ago they decided to get back with me to suggest the novel idea that some earlier plugins needed SONAR to be installed to work. Of course I knew that was the case with many but was under the impression that CL wasn't one of those. CA2A installed fine without SONAR present. They suggested maybe I should install SONAR as tho that was an idea that had never occurred to me 😄. It was not a very solid exchange with the ole tech support. I had already installed Bandlab, had it all customized and stability tested....wasn't inclined to then go back and do a SONAR install along side and risk the solid performance I had going with my fresh Bandlab install. I opted to pass on that idea and find another plugin to use on track level, non master bus limiting and abandon CL. Too bad. I liked it and it was present in hundreds of past projects 😏

So CA2A installed fine via Control Center. Concrete Limiter throws this error. Same if I just use an standalone installer. Still requiring SONAR? Will contact support and update....

Helpful, thanks ( good thread referenced, too... thanks). Wasn't sure if "best practice" had changed in the last few years, but sounds like it's generally the same.

3 years on my current OS and feeling it's time to wipe clean and re-install. The only items a really use from SONAR days: Concrete Limiter & CA-2A Can I just install those and not have to do the whole "SONAR" install? I thought those 2 may have been standalone, if so I could skip the SONAR install. Thanks in advance!