DSD+ Fastlane: I/Q Data loss with Unintelligable Audio or Extra Loading and Overheated CPU, No Happy Medium?

[adamfancher]

So I'm running an 8 core processor (I believe 3.8GHz clock) with 16GB of RAM. I run DSD+ in single radio mode to monitor my local P25 Phase II system.

I've been experiencing a lot of crashes due to the CPU overheating, so I tried disabling Extra CPU loading. And while it dramatically decreases the CPU temperature (30 degrees from 65-70) it also causes I/Q data loss left and right and the transmissions aren't intelligable.

Looking for any ideas on getting around this. One theory I had was perhaps if I ran a dual radio setup I'd reduce my overhead, although I would think that would decrease the load on the SDR rather than my PC.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hazrat8990]

Is the fan working? Have you opened it up to see if there's a bunch of dust and fuzz plugging up cooling fins? I suggest cleaning everything really good and apply some new thermal paste to the processor.

 

[adamfancher]

Been there done that....removing dust and applying new thermal paste is something I do rather frequently as I run 24/7. I've already set the fans to all run at the highest setting. The PC seems to be able to run everything else at a reasonable temperature (30-40 degrees) but DSD+ extra CPU loading really heats it up.

 

[cg]

It may be time for a new machine.
I run 4 instances of DSDPlus along with some other programs 24/7 and had not had any issues. This was on a intel i5 that was a reman computer. Then some sudden shutdowns and I decided to upgrade. I found a reman i7-8700, put a solid state 500GB drive and 64 GB ram in it and it is running very well.
I have never had good luck with AMD chips and DSDPlus, go with the Intel brand for the processer.

chris

 

[ScanRite]

So I'm running an 8 core processor (I believe 3.8GHz clock) with 16GB of RAM. I run DSD+ in single radio mode to monitor my local P25 Phase II system.

I've been experiencing a lot of crashes due to the CPU overheating, so I tried disabling Extra CPU loading. And while it dramatically decreases the CPU temperature (30 degrees from 65-70) it also causes I/Q data loss left and right and the transmissions aren't intelligable.

Looking for any ideas on getting around this. One theory I had was perhaps if I ran a dual radio setup I'd reduce my overhead, although I would think that would decrease the load on the SDR rather than my PC.

Thanks in advance.

Are you overclocking by chance? If so, you might be pushing the CPU past what it can handle.

 

[dave3825]

Check your bios options and see if there is anything related to fan speed and or temp settings that can be adjusted in your favor. One of my PC is starting to run hot and I suspect dust build up. Looking for my paste as we speak.

 

[DaveNF2G]

My 4- and 12-core i7s run between 90 and 130C without problems.

 

[Forts]

65/70 shouldn't really be causing any issues at all. I'm thinking the same as the others.... it sounds like there is a thermal issue here somewhere. But to answer your question, no... there really isn't a happy medium. I use SDRTrunk for streaming audio as it's pretty easy on the resources, and DSDPlus just for logging and observing for the most part (with the extra cpu loading turned off).

 

[adamfancher]

Are you overclocking by chance? If so, you might be pushing the CPU past what it can handle.

I am not

 

[adamfancher]

Check your bios options and see if there is anything related to fan speed and or temp settings that can be adjusted in your favor. One of my PC is starting to run hot and I suspect dust build up. Looking for my paste as we speak.

Yeah I went in and sent the fan mode to turbo....which helped for sure but ultimately did not resolve the issue

 

[adamfancher]

65/70 shouldn't really be causing any issues at all. I'm thinking the same as the others.... it sounds like there is a thermal issue here somewhere. But to answer your question, no... there really isn't a happy medium. I use SDRTrunk for streaming audio as it's pretty easy on the resources, and DSDPlus just for logging and observing for the most part (with the extra cpu loading turned off).

Yeah I think I need some better cooling for my CPU. I found this thread on my particular CPU: Help with cpu FX-8350 overheating

I'm going to get a better heat sink and fan.

 

[adamfancher]

My 4- and 12-core i7s run between 90 and 130C without problems.

Hmmm...mine shuts down automatically at around 85 I believe

 

[adamfancher]

Here's what I went with: https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/coolers/cpu-air-coolers/masterair-ma624-stealth/

Should have it before the weekend, will post with results. Also ordered some Arctic MX-4 paste as I was just using run of the mill thermal paste before.

 

[slicerwizard]

So I'm running an 8 core processor (I believe 3.8GHz clock) with 16GB of RAM. I run DSD+ in single radio mode to monitor my local P25 Phase II system.

DSD+ doesn't need a 4 GHz clock. My i9 / 6 core -based laptop can run at ~4.3 GHz, but I typically dial it down to 1 or 2 GHz. Keeps the heat generation way down, as FMP24 has to turn on the CPU loading to eliminate I/Q dropouts on this machine as well. If I was in your shoes (which I guess I am), I'd just select a power plan that limits the CPU clock to ~25% of its max speed, at least when not running programs/games that actually need a high clock speed. My laptop has a speed/performance selection button right next to the power/sleep button, so it's really easy to switch between power profiles. For most users, the functionality would be accessed via the power/battery icon on the taskbar.

 

[adamfancher]

DSD+ doesn't need a 4 GHz clock. My i9 / 6 core -based laptop can run at ~4.3 GHz, but I typically dial it down to 1 or 2 GHz. Keeps the heat generation way down, as FMP24 has to turn on the CPU loading to eliminate I/Q dropouts on this machine as well. If I was in your shoes (which I guess I am), I'd just select a power plan that limits the CPU clock to ~25% of its max speed, at least when not running programs/games that actually need a high clock speed. My laptop has a speed/performance selection button right next to the power/sleep button, so it's really easy to switch between power profiles. For most users, the functionality would be accessed via the power/battery icon on the taskbar.

Hmm...I'm familiar with overclocking (something I've always likened to getting blood out of a stone) but never considered underclocking. Seems like a viable option, if the new cooler doesn't quite cut it that'll be my next step.

Thanks!

 

[adamfancher]

Well I'll be a son of a gun....set my power plan max CPU usage to 80% and my audio is crystal clear with the existing fan and heat sink, running cool as a cucumber at around 30C. Thanks again!

 

[KMG54]

I run all my SDR stuff on surplus used Lenovo tiny's. All I5 5600's upgrade to 16 gigs of memory, and M.2 drives. I can get the PC's with that processor and 8 gis of ram and a ssd for about 130, bucks. A cheap M.2 and another 8 gigs of ram for a hundred bucks. So a great SDR machine machine for 230 bucks, they never choke. And I can have 10 to 20 firefox windows open at the same time.

 

[adamfancher]

I run all my SDR stuff on surplus used Lenovo tiny's. All I5 5600's upgrade to 16 gigs of memory, and M.2 drives. I can get the PC's with that processor and 8 gis of ram and a ssd for about 130, bucks. A cheap M.2 and another 8 gigs of ram for a hundred bucks. So a great SDR machine machine for 230 bucks, they never choke. And I can have 10 to 20 firefox windows open at the same time.

Hmmm....this seems like a viable option for a mobile rig. I was thinking of doing OP25 on a Raspberry Pi but this seems like the path of least resistance.

Do you take any of them on the road?

 

[adamfancher]

Well I'll be a son of a gun....set my power plan max CPU usage to 80% and my audio is crystal clear with the existing fan and heat sink, running cool as a cucumber at around 30C. Thanks again!

So I ended up at 95% utilization. By reducing my max usage by just 5% to 3.8Ghz I'm able to run DSD+ full throttle at a reasonable temperature (~50C). I guess the cooler that was just delivered will be suspenders to go with my belt