"Read-ahead optimization is set to Full (as Recommended on the Sonorus web site) Disable write-behind caching for all drives is checked". I quite often see postings from people who say they have 'tweaked' hard drives for Audio use. There are one or two settings that can usually be made in the mode pages, one is the usual enable write and read caching (read caching is always enabled by default and now-a-days so is write caching on most drives. There is also another interesting setting called RC which is read continuous. This is good for video / audio use but is 'dangerous' for anything which is vital such as databases etc. You can use a utility for most drives, but is not recommended for the faint hearted! Phil