Jim Roseberry

Ultra low latency performance of NuSonar (I like that name ) is significantly better that prior versions.

As I've mentioned... Out of many machines, I've replaced two 13900k CPUs. I've not had to replace any other 13th or 14th Gen CPUs. I'd like to see that number at zero... but it's nowhere close to what some hyperbolic YouTube videos would have you believe.

The issue with 13th and 14th Gen CPUs is *grossly* exaggerated. If you know how to configure the machine, you're not going to destroy the CPU. If you don't know how to configure the machine, get help from someone who does. Ryzen 9xxx series has just been released. The 9950x offers performance identical to the 14900k... at lower TDP. It's a great performer.

The issue with the 13900k and 14900k CPUs has been grossly exaggerated. Out of scores of machines, I've had to replace two 13900k CPUs. I've not had to replace any 13700k or 13600k CPUs. I've not had to replace any 14th Gen CPUs. The AMD Ryzen 9950x is the CPU that's on-par with the 14900k. Scores over 40k with Cinebench R23. TDP is lower than the 14900k. That's the significant advantage. Still needs large top-tier AIO cooling. Under stress-test type loads (100% load across all cores), it does run cooler/quieter than the 14900k. Both the 9950x and 14900k run quiet when working with audio. One down side to the 9950x: It's $150 more than the 14900k... and a commensurate high-end motherboard is about $50 more than the Z790 equivalent. One issue with the Ryzen 9xxx CPUs. The currently iLok Licence Manager is incompatible (Pace service will not stay running). They have a hot-fix available. I've tested it... and it works. If you end up with a Ryzen 9xxx based machine and use iLok, let me know... and I'll forward the hot-fix. I've been running the 9950x for a couple weeks. Aside from the issue with iLok (now resolved), it's running great. Thunderbolt works flawlessly.

Been in touch with folks from iLok/Pace. They have a hot-fix that addresses the issue. If anyone else experiences this issue, let me know... and I'll forward a link to the fix.

One BIG downer (until it's addressed). If you use an iLok, the "Pace License Services" currently won't run. The service tries to start... stops... tries to start... stops (in repeated loop). Can't open the iLok License Manager... or use any software/plugins protected by iLok. I've submitted a support ticket making them aware of the issue. I'm sure they'll get it squared away. Just a question of how long. It's not AMDs fault/issue... but compatibility quirks are (slightly) more common vs Intel. Wish it were something a bit more niche'. I've got a ton of software/plugin licenses on my iLok.

9950x is a great higher-end workstation CPU. Unlike the Threadripper series, ultra low latency audio performance is fantastic and TDP is far lower.

I've been testing the 9950x. Performance is nearly identical to the 14900k (but at lower TDP). Ultra low latency audio performance is also nearly identical to the 14900k. I can play The Grandeur at 96k using a 48-sample ASIO buffer size (0.9ms playback latency)... and audio is completely clean. (Even when stepping on the sustain pedal and glissing up/down the keyboard like mad... then releasing the sustain pedal) The 9950x needs large top-notch AIO cooler. I'm using a 420mm. Under stress-test loads (all cores maxed at 100%), it runs cooler/quieter than the 14900k. Working with audio, both the 9950x and 14900k run quiet. I'm running a higher-end Asus X670E motherboard (Five internal 4TB M.2 SSDs, Thunderbolt-4, etc). This build is about $200 more than the comparable 14900k build. Thunderbolt is working great.

Probably not what you want to hear, but if you're at all serious about recording/mixing, you really should use a dedicated audio interface that has a proper ASIO driver. You'll achieve significantly lower round-trip latency... and the driver will be much more robust. If you want the DAW to be rock-solid, this is the solution.

Have no idea... but it's easy to test. Copy/duplicate an audio track Assign a plugin to the first track (make sure it's enabled... but not set to actually process/change the audio) Invert the phase of the second track. If the sum doesn't null, there's no PDC.

I've built scores of machines using 13th and 14th Gen CPUs. If you know how to configure them... they're certainly not a problem. Especially if you're talking about the i9 13900k or 14900k, they're not what I'd call a "novice-build". If you just set everything to "Auto" and set memory to XMP Profile 1/2, you're going to have a machine that thermal-throttles under heavy loads... and will most likely be unstable (especially if using faster DDR5). Proper BIOS configuration will prevent thermal-throttling, instability, and potentially damaging the CPU.

In today's economic climate, I doubt you'll see much support for "fringe" development. DAW applications appeal to a miniscule segment of the overall computer user base. Of that miniscule segment of potential users, how many Sonar users will be running ARM processors? You're talking a tiny segment... of that original tiny segment of potential users. Cakewalk Sonar is a complex application, I seriously doubt they'll take the RISC.

For all fans other than the GPU (RTX video card), I prefer using the motherboard... as it offers more precise control. Regarding the GPU, I prefer to use video cards that have a 0dB fan mode (silent when working with audio). In a 0dB fan mode, the fans don't spin at all (absolute silence).

You don't want more cores at the expense of significant clock-speed. That's why Xeon processors are typically not great choices for a DAW. In a perfect scenario, you want highest possible clock-speed... AND maximum number of cores. If it's a choice between fewer cores at much higher clock-speed (vs more cores at much lower clock-speed), go with the higher clock-speed.

I don't think it says much of anything that a post on Gearsluts (now Gearspace) didn't generate a lot of responses. In 35 years, I've never gone to that forum to discuss DAW applications. I've been on audio "forums" since they were Newsgroups on CompuServe.