Firewire issue affecting all the Dell Core Duo notebooks

Windows Task Manager. This is once I have run my batch file disabling all of the services, and turning off my firewall, anti-virus, the extra mouse features, and dell quickset. The machine is also pretty tweaked out as it is.

 

I really don't know what is causing the pops. Maybe it's your patch, or you're doing something wrong with Asio4all.

Do you feel like re-installing your OS? That might help.

 

After about the 1,000,000th install of XP, I'm installed out. Maybe I'll uninstall Asio4all and reinstall it. You really get no clicks or pops at 64 samples? Wow, I'd kill for that, heck even 128 samples would do me fine.

 

Sorry for late reply, check this out;
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=70443

 

I've had the same firewire sound interface problem with my Inspiron 6400. (Core duo 2 ghz, 1 gig ram, radeon x1300). First i tried a Presonus Firebox and i had bad skipping problems and bad sound during recording also. I exchanged the interface for a Saffire LE sound interface which sounds much better but still have skipping problems during software playback. I tried all the buffer tweaking possibilities and also disabled windows animations.

Now i'm just wondering what to do because i bought the laptop to record and play music.

Should I wait for a new bios update ar new Ricoh firewire interface driver?
Should I change the x1300 video card for the g-force ?

 

Actually I don't think that any of those solve the problem. It looks like a chipset issue (Intel's), and it seems that they are working on it. But is it fixable? I simply don't know.

If you want to keep your laptop, try either a USB interface instead, or (if you don't use external sources) try Asio4all.

I still don't know why dudesdudets doesn't have any problems and why Bird123 has problems even with Asio4all, but you can at least give it a shot!

By the way, if you guys call Dell and just tell them that you have the same problem, might speed the things up a bit. So far I think I'm the only one who's bugged Dell on this issue.

 

I can't say this for sure but changing the GPU might be the solution.
Ati GPUs both Desktop and mobility versions had bad history with DAWs/FW interfaces.
I can't say for sure what is the actual cure but I can say for sure that if the hardware on your computer is exactly the same as mine you won't have any problem.

 

http://www.thomann.de/gb/edirol_ua_101.htmi can't say and i don't think we have the same things inside our laptops dudesdudets as you live in the us and your dell is called e1505 and our europe one is inspiron 6400, i know it should be the same thing but sometimes us and europe models differ...sometimes they use different parts, chipsets. and about asio4all it still has cracks and pops, it sometimes has not got any for a long time but just when you think it's fine...pop...crack!

the alternative for firewire interfaces is an Edirol UA-101, check it out...i have never tried it but tests in sound on sound say that it's pretty good and goes head to head with the firewire ones! but then i don't know if it has the same amount of asio power as firewire cards...you know when you load up VSTs, i have noticed that cpu load in cubase sx3 varies when i'm using different firewire sound cards! we'll just see, if they don't fix this in the next couple of months i might have to change to Edirol as I got my laptop at a bargain europe price, not us...coz in the us you can get things so cheeeeaaaap !!!

cheers,
i'm waiting for your replies!

check out the edirol ua-101

 

now another question is if we buy an express card firewire adaptor with texas instruments chipset will we be sure that it will work in our slot...i remember i have read some posts earlier here that someone bought it and it didn't work! i'm totally confused...

 

You can be sure that it won't work.

 

hi,

I am just desperately trying to make up my mind which notebook I will buy. now I was **** close to ordering a dell inspiron 6400 when I found this thread. I am going to also be using the note book for audio, although I don’t know yet which audio interface I will be using/buying.
I read through most of the posts, but still I have to ask to be sure – does all of this mean I will not be able to use this notebook for audio when I hook up the interface at the firewire port?
I did find out that those intel chipsets you are talking about are in quite a few other notebooks as well – does that mean there will be trouble as well?
I want a notebook for office use and also for audio recording (multitrack) and possible live effect processing, still I cant afford to buy a mac – I need to stay in the ballpark of about 1200€ max – any suggestions on what to buy?

greetz from austria and thanks, dr.pheel

 

If you want a firewire interface, don't get a dell laptop. If you can live with USB, then dell is okay.

 

Is this affecting the core 2 duo notebooks as well? I have an m1210 that I was trying to use with a mackie onyx 1620 and was experiencing a ton of problems. The interface would all of a sudden stop recording audio, freezes, blue screens even. However this was with a sort of mucked up windows install, I haven't really investigated the problem too heavily or with a proper, minimal windows install.

 

The topic says it all! Not only it is affecting all Dell core duo's, but it 'seems' that it is basically a core duo issue, not just Dell's.

 

Last night, I shopped for an Inspiron 1705 and almost purchased it. At the last minute I did not complete the transaction and decided to wait a few more days to do more research. Now from reading this post, seems like DELL and FIREWIRE are at war!
I was planning to get a Dell Laptop and MOTU Ultralite.
Any recomendations on another laptop that will work well for recording with the Ultralite? Apple is a bit out of my price reach though.....

Thanks in advance.

 

It's not known yet whether other brands are affected or not. If you are planning on purchasing a Core Duo laptop for using with a firewire sound card, I would recommend that you find a way to test them before buying, or buy, test and if won't work, return.

So far it seems like it's Intel's fault, so maybe you could try an AMD laptop. The new Turion X2 is quite comparable to the Core Duo processors.

 

havent read the entire thread, but are you guys sure this is not an issues with windows xp sp2 firewire drivers?

see solution here http://www.rme-audio.com/english/techinfo/fw800sp2.htm (this affects all firewire devices being forced to 100mb, not just RME).

There is a windows patch, but ive heard this doesnt work all the time, its best to do it the manual way.

 

Thanks for the info. I tried that long time ago and didn't help. It's not the firewire driver issue because my sound card works on Inspirons 5150 and 630 with sp2.

 

I found this on the MOTU website. I am sure you have tried this....but just in case...

" Due to issues with its FireWire implementation, we recommend that users with FireWire interfaces do not install Service Pack 2 for Windows XP at this time (October 13, 2004).

If you have already installed Service Pack 2 and are experiencing difficulties using your FireWire interface(s), you can remove Service Pack 2 as follows:

* Go to the Add/Remove Programs control panel.
* Locate Service Pack 2 and remove it.
"

 

Ick, just found this thread after finally taking delivery of my new firewire interface (Saffire Pro) and running into problems. Got the laptop months ago with the express purpose of using it for audio but as the saffire was delayed I've only now discovered the problem.

Do you have a case number or anything I can quote at them? might make things much quicker if I can get them to read up on your case instead of going through the usual check the firewire cable routine.

Also you've mentioned you were tempted to return the unit - Do you know what Dells policy on this is? If i can get a refund I'm inclined just to go for it, but as i bought this back in april i'm not sure if it will be that easy.
They've sold me a defective product and it was defective when they sent it so presumably i'm covered by the consumer goods act or whatever despite the fact i've not realised for months.. I don't know. Arrgh.

Oh did you ever try the docking station idea?

 

No, didn't try the docking station idea, because I don't have one!

I think there is a good chance that they let you return the laptop, but what you're gonna do after that? I was this close to [ ] returning my laptop almost everyday in the first three months, but then I decided to keep the laptop and use a USB interface instead. You can return your sound card, can't you? As I said before it's not known yet whether it is Dell's fault or Intel's. If it is Intel's you're gonna have the same problem with all the Core Duo's out there. Take your sound card to a computer store and test it with other Core Duo's (esp. Lenovo) and Turion X2 based laptops. See if it works with them. Then think about returning your laptop.

Also, if you don't use external audio sources give Asio4all a shot. It might solve the problem completely for you.

There is another option of returning your laptop and getting a desktop instead with a discount as the compensation.

Anyways, here is the case number: Dell Support Services: Incident # 1462977

Good luck

 

Thanks for the reply and the case number, I'll give dell a call as soon as i've got some time to burn and i'm in a calm frame of mind - One last thing, what country are you based in? I'm in the UK and not sure how clever dell support is and if they can all see each others cases, it might help if i could tell them who they need to call.

There aren't any USB soundcards with the features i need so returning it isn't much of an option. I might just get a macbook if I can get a refund as they're a very similar spec (aside from the smaller screen) and not that much more expensive. Actually they're so similar that i imagine this must be dell rather then the chipset.

Will try asio4all but if i wind up losing the saffirecontrol functions then that's not workable as i'll have no way of turning on phantom power.
Need to be mobile and already have a desktop I'm happy with (works wonderfully with the saffire incidentally)

Don't think it's relevent if it is dell or intels fault as it's the retailer thats responsible in the case of a faulty product, which is dell in this case.

Thanks again for the reply, it is nice to see others in the same boat, in a sick sort of way

 

Canada, but the agent who is in charge of the issue is in US (and this has caused us lots and lots and lots of problems because he can't send anything to Canada).

I don't know if I can give you the name of the agent or not, he's been ill for the whole time of this issue and have had two surgeries so far. I don't want him to get stormed by the comlaints regarding the firewire problem.

Asio4all works with the built in sigma tel sound card. I haven't received my sound card from Dell yet! to test but it's unlikely to work with your firewire sound card.

What features are you looking for that didn't find in USB devices?

Let me know how it goes.

 

Thanks, filled in their little e-form rather then calling today as i'm not going to have time for a lengthly phone call until next week, and i thought if i gave them all the info now they might know what i'm talking about when i do ring. That's my hope at any rate. Generally takes them a fair bit of time to respond to support emails so now I wait and try to forget about it for the weekend..

8 mic pres plus 2x ADAT io are both things that are essential to me which aren't in any USB devices i've seen. Actually they're not in any other currently shipping device i've seen full stop - the new presonus firestudio would do when/if it finally arrives but that's firewire too, and costs more.

I wouldn't have thought i'd need the name of the agent, from what you've said I'm sure he's already doing what he can and so as long as they link our cases there shouldn't be any need for me to ever talk to him. I certainly don't want to cause him any hassle if he's ill.

 

After toiling over this for a couple of weeks, and after going back and forth about USB2 or selling the laptop and building a desktop, I think I'm going to build a desktop and get another inspiron later when the issue is resolved, or if it's never resolved, another brand.

Ah, this is killing me, because I bought this laptop for making music while I'm not at home, and it looks like I'm going to have to do just that, be at home, to make music.

Sucks....thanks Dell, or Intel, or Ricoh, or whoever the hell is responsible for this!

 

did anyone have any experience with the edirol ua-101? usb2 audio interface that came out in sound on sound to have the same performance as the ones on firewire!...this might be the soundcard to make us happy for the moment, but you don't know untill you try!

 

Since it's a USB device it will most likely work.

 

I sure wish I'd read this thread in late August when I ordered my E1505... I've spent 12 hours online with Tech Support (four hours with three different laptops, two were replacements...) They still deny that there is an issue at all. They had me downloading drivers, reseating drives, reseating my modem, running diagnostics (which all said everything was hunky-dory)... I reinstalled my OS... still having the same issues. If I didn't love everything else so much, I'd heave it back without a second glance, but I really really like everything BUT the sound. When I open up the laptop, half the time even the Windows Media XP tone stutters.

HOWEVER... I have heard from other core-duo users. My brother-in-law has an IBM Core Duo with much the same configuration as I have, and his sound does the same thing - and I was at a computer store the other day and their prime Core 2 Duo laptop was on a stand playing music... and was doing the same thing. The sales guys didn't even notice it until I pointed it out. The computer repair guys hadn't noticed it until I pointed it out. ( That was on an HP....) The issue is identical (you know... you recognize it instantly when you've spent hours... days... weeks... months trying to fix it) and apparently it is not limited to Dell.

I'm still about ready to return the thing for a full refund. I've never even used it yet. Just worked on trying to resolve the issue before downloading anything else onto it. I'm a music freak, and issues like this just raise my hackles. Who needs that? I want to love my laptop. Especially for that price! If I knew there was a fix, I'd keep it. If I knew they'd recall them if need be, to fix the issue, I'd keep it... because I love everything else about it. But I don't know if I have that security of resolution or not. I'm still debating on returning it. I need to decide by this week, though.

 

Sorry to hear that you're experiencing the problem too. Just out of curiosity, what sound card do use?

 

Sound card... all I have listed is Integrated High Definition Audio, Inspiron ... whatever came bottom-of-the-line with the laptop at the time. I didn't get an upgrade on that, so I don't know the details either. (I did notice that they've changed their E1505s already, now including the Soundblaster Audigy in the system as the only option now.)

The first thing that tech support told me to do (each time my new replacement laptop arrived with the same problem) was download an audio driver (R122161) but, of course, that didn't work... any of the three times I did it...

 

That's weird, because the problem we are discussing here is about using firewire sound cards with the notebooks. If you're having problems with the built-in sound card, it is a completely different issue.

 

Okay I'm not a computer geek at all, and I may have inadvertently committed a breach of netiquette and posted on the wrong thread making illogical connections in my head about what I read. My sincerest apologies (and I'm terribly embarrassed at my own naivete.) Dell tech support couldn't figure out what the issue was with my laptop and the symptoms sound identical to the problems I've read right here... I'm blushing. Sorry again for the interruption ... <ducking out quickly>

 

Sam, interesting thread. Do you know it the Apple Intel laptops are having the same issue? Curious if Apples OSX drivers has same issue.

 

I don't know, but it would be great if some one could test a firewire sound card on a Mac Intel.

 

Hi
I saw this tread last thursday approx 10 mins after i handed my hard earned cash 1100 quid for a xps m1710 and was a bit worried as i have already bought a focusrite saffire firewire sound module.

The laptop turned up yesterday and was gutted as it only has a 4 pin firewire port so i went to maplins and bought a 4 pin to 6 pin adaptor (£6)and hey presto it works a dream all the other 2 pins are for(so im told) are if you was to power the firewire device on the end which i dont as the sapphire is externally powerd.I dont seem to be getting any snap crackle or any pops yet spent about 3 hours on cubase sx3 but havnt really pushed the unit to its limits yet.will let you no the weekend.

maybe a fix has been made to new laptops or sumthing i dont no just thought i would share with you

 

3 hours in SX?! Mine doesn't work even for 1 minute in Nuendo 3. Good for you, but I'm confused. Why some work and some don't?

 

Sam, I have been searching the web for problems with Intel macs and M-Audio Firewire Audiophile cards. Other than news release about M-Audio releasing new Mac drivers for it’s complete line, I have found no negative reports to date.

Maybe this is a Dell problem not Intel’s? I would search the mac M-audio forums to gather ammo for a possible unknown Dell problem.

On another topic, I wish Dell would just fix the lousy Sigmatel drivers, as in PC audio and other issues.

 

HI
I'd like to buy an inspiron, do you think all those issues would occur if used with a pcmcia card like E-mu ?
Thank you !

 

If it is a new laptop it will probably have an ExpressCard slot which won't work with that card.

 

Hi Peter,

The new Inspiron do not have pcmia slots - only the new ExpressCard which not much is out there at this time.

"The latest extension of the PCMCIA standard is called ExpressCard. This standard is being built on the latest USB 2.0 and PCI Express buses. The aim is to increase speed and reduce size, cost, and complexity. One of the ways it does this is to eliminate the PCMCIA Host Controller in favor of using the USB or PCI Express controller directly."

 

Which USB interface are you using and how is it working out?

 

Thanks Sync and Hydra
And if I buy the new e-mu 0404 USB2 do yo think it would work fine on a dell laptop ? Another question : are there the same issues on new dell desktops equipped with intel core 2 duos ?

 

- I haven't got a USB device yet, but I'm positive that it will work with no problem.

- E-mu 0404 should work.

- This is a notebook-only issue, lucky us!

 

So many people are always saying to avoid USB interfaces. I'm sure it will work, but I'm concerned about how well it will work.

 

Hay guys . very interesting stuff here
I want to buy a laptop to use with firepod
can you write down laptops that
you know that will work with it via board firewire
and that has PCMCIA?

I want to buy a core 2 duo t7200 2GHz with 2gb ddr2 667 and
100gb 7200rpm harddrive
stores around here recomend clevo m550n which is surprising
cause it has a 945gm intel based board which I don't think is Texas instruments or even 1394a and it has expresscard

so is there a pcmcia (cause what I understand from here is that is a better
choise for the firepod) based laptop that also has a board that has a good firewire port (ie firewire400 texas instruments 1394a) and that could be built
with the configuration I wrote ( core2 duo ...

Thanks

 

I think people avoid USB1, but it seems USB2 is as fine as firewire is it ?

 

hi,

I had found this thread shortly before I wanted to buy an inspiron 6400 - so I didn't - well, I went searchin and endet up getting a toshiba sattelite a100
(core 2 duo - 945 chipsets as well...)
well - I had agreed on the store to be able to test it for three days, aware of a possible firewire - audiocard issue.
I tried 2 m-audio cards and a motu - all of them had the same problems - so I returned the thing.

it really seems to be an intel problem - as I tried various audio softwares as well - so is the only option now to wait until intel fixes this issue, or will the drivers of the soundcards have to fix that?

can anybody suggest a notebook that will work for firewire audio?

thanks philipp

 

I hang out on a recording forum where there is a strong bias against all versions of USB interfaces. Yesterday I found an article that makes me feel better about using USB:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov04/articles/pcmusician.htm

The E-Mu looks like a very nice piece of hardware. E-Mu had some driver issues in the past but I can't find much about this unit. I suspect some people are shying away from E-Mu since they are now owned by Creative.

 

Philipp,

You and Sam may be on to something with the 945 chip sets. I, IMHO, would call the MOTU people, explain what you found, and ask them which laptops they have certified their hardware with. I'm locked down with "webnosense" but I'm sure there are hardware forums as well.

 

I have not bought a laptop yet- waiting for more information. Since I plan to get a MOTU ultralite, I have been writing to MOTU tech support for advise. Here are some of their answers to my questions:

Me: I did hear about the DELL laptop issues with Firewire, so I have
postponed buying it. Do you have any recommendations for another laptop brand that will work well with the MOTU? Any other information is also helpful.

Motu: In our experience the Inspiron is a unique situation. And the
Inspiron does work if you use a PCMCIA card. I advise checking with the developer of your recording software for best computer specs. The only thing the UltraLite requires is a compatible Firewire port.

Me: I am trying to avoid buying a PCMCIA card for now....
Motu: PCMCIA cards are inexpensive and reliable.

Motu from previous email:
The Dell Inspiron series has problems with it's built-in Firewire
port. If you get the Inspiron you will need to use a PCMCIA Firewire
adapter card. Tested card brands include ADS and Keyspan.