@Rajiv: as Nikhil mentioned, menu items 6, 7 and 8 are selectable only when we have higher amount of RAM. For example, if one has 16 GB, it can be logically apportioned as 4+4+4+4.
For Dual Core processor with 4 GB of memory, try using on right side menu the x8 upsampling option and Enable Stardust Mode. The Stardust button toggles thrice for Disable, Enable Stardust, and Enable x2 Stardust. I have similar config as yours' and it can't handle x2 Stardust.
On playback screen, select x4 upsampling (assuming your DAC can handle upto 192 kHz) ---> Basic ---> Red x4. The next level is Brown. My PC can't handle Brown. I'm suggesting x4 upsampling as I personally like the sound. YMMV, of course. Some users prefer plain old 44/16. Once you select Red x4, the Self Sound Optimizer will automatically select 3 flavours of optimisation. You can click on Self Sound Optimizer button and the area below this button will get populated with more flavours. You can select some more, if you want. The number of flavours selected will be displayed by a text as number of lines. Next to the text display, there is another text display showing number of threads. Click on the Thread button below and select the highest number of threads supported by your processor. Mine is Dual Core without hyper threading, so I can select only two threads. By doing this, you're utilising both threads of the processor. Some dual core processors like i3 are capable of two threads per core, so you will be able to use four threads. People who use higher processors like i5 which have four cores hyperthreading will be able to use 8 threads. I7 users with six cores should be able to select 12 threads, etc. Besides the sheer number of threads, the program is also optimized for double sided RAMs. I'm not sure if this is the same thing as dual channel RAM. One can even get four channel RAMs, but I'm not aware if it's any help to have more than two channels for this player. Further, the player can also take advantage of processor features like multi media extension (mmx+). There are many sub selections within this mmx+ menu. Newer processors will also be able to take advantage of other media related processor optimizations within the same mmx+ menu. Mine can't go beyond mmx+ level 3 (it can't handle "mistake" menu).
Since you're using sound card, you can also try using the analog output of your sound card, thus avoiding DAC in the chain. I have to use mine that way because my DAC upsamples all external inputs to 192. So I end up having two upsampling, and it's no good for the sound. Also, I believe the analog outputs of sound cards are sorely underrated, as I discovered to my pleasant surprise after many years of ownership.
Then there is the BHE menu and Kitty menu. Try LV3 on both.
Ignore PCM menu for now, unless you have DSD/DXD files you want to play.
Just above Kitty menu, there is a button that toggles thrice for CL, SP and a third option I can't recall. Try all and choose the flavour you like.
Try playing with the above settings. Hopefully your processor shouldn't throw up it's hands
Happy listening.
