Optimization for DP 5.11 Powerbook G4

[cpain1002]

I recently purchased DP 5.1 for use on my 17" PowerBook G4 1.67GHz.
Immediately after booting it up and recording my drum set on 8 tracks through my Firepod I began to notice that DP was popping excessively and freezing periodically during playback with only 8 tracks and 1 or 2 plugins running. Prior to using DP I was running Logic Express 7.2 and it never overloaded until I would get to maybe 25 tracks or so with at least 1 plugin running on each. Seeing how DP seems to be much more powerful than Logic Express, I expect it to eat up a little more CPU than Logic Express. I just think this unbearable popping and slow performance that I am experiencing after getting up to 7 or 8 tracks is due to something that I am not doing. After about a week or so of reading about problems other people are having, nothing that was suggested to others seems to be working.

I tried different settings for buffer, max work %, host buffer multiplier, work priority, etc. and have made a little improvement, but nothing seems to be fixing my problem completely.

I would like to think that I should be able to run this program comfortably on this machine as it is well above the minimum system requirements provided by MOTU.

Here's my setup:
17" Powerbook G4 1.67GHz
1.5GB Ram
Running OS X version 10.4.8
DP 5.11 update
PreSonus Firepod

If someone has used DP 5 on a PowerBook G4 and has found a configuration for buffer, max work %, host buffer multiplier, work priority, etc. that works well for them, I would appreciate it a lot. I am getting really stressed out trying to get this program to work well.

Thanks,
Chris

[cuttime]

I get great results on my PB1.67. Max out your RAM with the highest quality you can. I'm afraid that you will need an external HD though. Don't expect too much with the internal drive, but good results can be had without the plugs. I have used both Firewire and USB drives with exceptional results, and looking through today's paper ads, I think you can get one for a song (or less, maybe just the ability to brave a mall crowd).

The optimization tips in these forums are great, but after 5.11 I find I have been able to ignore a lot of them and recklessly run apps on top of one another without CPU spikes.

[cpain1002]

I actually should have noted that I do also have a 300GB external USB 2.0 hard drive that I write all of my DP projects to, so that is something else to consider. I am using a 7,200 RPM HD to record to.

[cyborg haines]

What happens if you do the same leaving the firepod away,
using the internal audio?
Did you repaired permissions?
If Logic and other software runs smoothly on this very same computer,
the problem seems more related to DP.
Maybe a reinstall is a solution.