New computer, new problems

[Claytonc]

Last night I switched out my old computer for a fancy new one. This one has Windows 7 (32 bit) and a shiny new Rosewill RC-304 2-port parallel PCI card. After switching it over and trying the axis’s I found that it is 'stuttering' a bit. Not completely stopping but just slowing down randomly in spots on all axis’s. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had this problem but from what I've read people are saying that there new parallel cards didn't put out a full 5 volts. The reason I went with this card is because I read here that this is a good one to use. Having 2 ports will either allow me to add more functionality to my machine or allow me to have my second machine connected to the same computer. Well, until this is worked out neither of those things are going to happen.

[HorridHenry]

If you have a brand new up to date computer? I'm suprised its PCI and not PCI express?

I also notice that card must be old tat as it doesn't go beyond windows XP for drivers? download the new drivers if any available for Windows7.

Might not be the problem but worth a try.

[Claytonc]

Well, the computer is new to me. Its actually about 5 years old,. quad core 6600, nvidia 8800 graphics card, 4gig ram. Nice system. Anyway, I tried a few different versions of the driver for the parallel card and nothing made a difference. I am running Mach in Windows xp sp3 compatibility mode as administrator.

It seems like when I first start it up it runs ok. the more I fiddle with it the worse it gets! Its starts a consistent 'bumping' on each axis as it moves.

I guess I will have to go threw the optimization process.... I saw one somewhere but it had you disabling almost everything! This is a fast computer and I want to be able to do many other things on it as well as run code for the cnc. My old P2 system was running the machine fine without any optimization...

[neilw20]

Start button,
type msconfig
services
and startup.
You would be surprised how MUCH crap is running in the background.
Run drivertest.exe (Mach3 utility) and eventually you might find where the CPU is going off in the weeds.

DMA access interrupts can hog cpu time from Mach3 driver.
In the bios you might be able to disable DMA activity.
IDE drive background activity often does DMA stuff.

Start button,
type power
the select power options.
Get rid of any power saving features.

Disable any ACPI stuff -- sleep mode - hibernate stuff -

Realtime operation... You wish...
Time

Attached pdf may explain some of Mach3 important requirements.

[ger21]

Disable C1E or EIST in the bios, if you have them in there.

[Claytonc]

Start button,
type msconfig
services
and startup.
You would be surprised how MUCH crap is running in the background.
Run drivertest.exe (Mach3 utility) and eventually you might find where the CPU is going off in the weeds.

DMA access interrupts can hog cpu time from Mach3 driver.
In the bios you might be able to disable DMA activity.
IDE drive background activity often does DMA stuff.

Start button,
type power
the select power options.
Get rid of any power saving features.

Disable any ACPI stuff -- sleep mode - hibernate stuff -

Realtime operation... You wish...
Time

Attached pdf may explain some of Mach3 important requirements.

I will disable any power saving features when I get home. The ACPI stuff, is that a BIOS thing or windows? And thanks for posting the Mach PDF file. I have a better understanding of Mach 3 now

Disable C1E or EIST in the bios, if you have them in there.

I will look for these settings as well when I get home. No idea what they are or what they do but I guess it doesn't matter as long as it fixes the problem right?

[Claytonc]

Start button,
type msconfig
services
and startup.
You would be surprised how MUCH crap is running in the background.
Run drivertest.exe (Mach3 utility) and eventually you might find where the CPU is going off in the weeds.

DMA access interrupts can hog cpu time from Mach3 driver.
In the bios you might be able to disable DMA activity.
IDE drive background activity often does DMA stuff.

Start button,
type power
the select power options.
Get rid of any power saving features.

Disable any ACPI stuff -- sleep mode - hibernate stuff -

Realtime operation... You wish...
Time

Attached pdf may explain some of Mach3 important requirements.

Disabled any and all power saving settings. Nothing makes any difference...

Its the strangest thing though... After a reboot and reload of Mach it will run fine for about 30 seconds to a minute and then start stuttering...

I'm really '' '' close to putting the old parallel card that was in the other machine... The idea behind the card thats in it is that it was suggested on this forum to be a "working" card. That and the fact that it has two ports which is nice.

Disable C1E or EIST in the bios, if you have them in there.

Ok, I disabled this first thing (C1E) and then tested but no difference.. after 30 to 60 seconds it starts stuttering...

[neilw20]

Make sure windows file indexing is OFF.
Start,
type index
select indexing options... shock horror.

[HorridHenry]

Is windows sharing the P card with another device? and is the port adress right in Mach3 for the card?

[HorridHenry]

Start,
type index

??

[neilw20]

If using win7 these instructions will work. XP probably not. Dunno where it is in XP. Sorry, I'm old and modern.

[HorridHenry]

Its...Start/Run and type Msconfig...I'd imagine its like that for windows 7?