Problem:
I have problems with clicks/pops when I compose with cubase. I’m unsure if it is hardware or software related. The problems come regardless of whether there are larger or smaller templates. I have debugged by disabling some plugins to see if it helps. The problem is so bad that it is difficult to keep the motivation up to write in cubase. The problem has been there since I bought the PC/Laptop, but the supplier denies that it could be hardware related. It does not matter much if I run lighter audio-only projects or heavier MIDI/hybrid projects projects. Relevant info below
Is there anything more than this I can try or should I think about buying a new PC?
Info about software and hardware:
Laptop stats
64 gb ram
Intel i7 2.59 GHz (6 cores / 12 threads)
Nvidia 2070 GPU + built-in.
2 x 2 TB m.2 nvme
Up-to date bios
Audio interface - SSL 2+
Cubase installation
Buffer setting is at least 512, but I still have problems
Tried both cubase 11 and cubase 12
Task manager
CPU and RAM never exceed 50%
Troubleshooting with latencymon:
I tried formatting the entire C-drive and ran latencymon to check if the PC had some audio processing problems after the reinstall. Even right after I formatted the drive (and before I installed other drivers, applications), it showed problems with audio processing.
I have already tried:
Power
optimized power plan. Have tried both high performance (optimized after research online. no sleep mode etc.) and steinberg power scheme.
Up-to-date BIOS
Cubase
Changed buffer in cubase
Experimented with asio guard settings
Played through projects with audio tracks only and not heavy MIDI-templates. The problem gets worse when I run heavier projects, but the problem is still there if I run lighter projects with few midi tracks or with few audio traks.
Tried both ssl 2+ driver and built in driver
Purged all instances of Kontact
Disabling tracks I don’t use
Troubleshooting plugins to see if some make the problems worse
The audio processing meter is working actively even when I am not playing . Peak sometimes goes up to 25% in audio only projects without me doing anything.
Has reverb on bus, and not many instances
Making sure that the sample rate in cubase and in the pc sound prefereces matches (48k)
Paused onedrive / dropbox when I use cubase
Closed other apps
Turned off wifi
I’ve not installed 3rd party mouse / keyboard driver after reading on steinberg’s troubleshooting website that it can cause some problemts
Tried to get help from tech support where I bought the PC, but they said that it’s software related.
GPU settings
I don’t have the nvidia game ready application installed. I have the standard nvidia driver.
Tried to enable built-in gpu while using cubase
Tried to enable nvidia gpu while using cubase
Installed and tested reaper instead of cubase. It didn’t help
Other information that might be relevant:
I had an identical laptop before I got this one. I got a new laptop about a year ago because the other one had a battery that expanded. Got exactly the same model on warranty. Both have had this problems.
The laptop isn’t particularly warm