Dell Precision m4400 - latency problem - already read all proposed solutions

Hi there,
I received the Dell Precision m4400 on last friday.

I did not know about the latency problem that I read on these forums AFTER the horrible fact that I'm going to explain.
In fact, I was watching an avi file, in Windows Vista (the preinstalled OS), when sometimes the play stops (as the computer is under much load) and then resume the play... TERRIBLE!





So I look up on Google and I came up with the solutions exposed. With the DPC latency checker I estimated the latency of the system, it was always beyond 8000us.
After some research, I installed Intel Matrix Storage Manager v8.5, and the delay is much less (see figure).
I tried:
- setting AHCI in BIOS
- disabling E-SATA, USB, DVD, WIFI, LAN, etc. in BIOS
- changing Intel Matrix Storage versions... 8.5 OK 8.6 KO 8.7 KO 8.8 OK
- installing all Dell Precision M4400 support drivers

I can't even have a delay better than that pictured in figure.
So I'm here to ask you what should I do with this computer. Is the delay acceptable?
I spent 1900 EUR for this computer, and this kind of performance is not acceptable...

Thank you from a desperate Dell customer.

 

Are you planning to do real-time audio capture? That's usually where people see the latency affect their work.

I have similar results as you. Try the following: take your favourite CD and put it playing on Windows Media Player (or Winamp, or your favourite player). If the whole CD plays and you didn't hear any audio skipping, like when you are listening to a CD in a car on a bumpy road, it's fine.

Sure, the latency is higher than expected. But if it doesn't affect your use of the laptop, so what?

 

I am not going to do rt audio capture, however (like I said in the first post) this latency doesn't permit to watch videos: in fact, sometimes, the playback stops as the computer is under heavy load... and then resume.
I think that this problem is a problem of drivers, especially with Windows Vista...
I don't know if the same problem occur also with XP or Ubuntu.
Opinions are welcome.

Thank you.

 

OK, if the problem affects your usage, then it is worth a look (sorry, I read the first post in a hurry).

I would suggest Intel's Matrix Storage Manager 8.8, but apparently you already tried that. Have you tried disabling the media bay in the BIOS? Many users (including myself) report even lower latency that way.

 

I tried with disabling media bay, however I still get mostly yellow bars, sometimes red bars and green bars...
This computer is a very SHAME!

 

You should call Dell and ask that they fix it. Dell support is very good, at least here in Finland.

If they can't fix it you can always return it.

 

Hey, it seems nvidia driver auto downclocked your GPU when idle.
(Called PowerMizer)
You can check it by GPU-Z.

And here's my solution:
1. open Regedit
2. Search "PerfLevelSrc" in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE"
3. Change PerfLevelSrc data from "3333" to "3322"
4. Reboot your laptop, and see what happens!

Of course you can save out that reg file for instant switch.

P.s. This only do change when the AC apapter is linked. The PowerMizer still working if you use the battery!!

Hope this helps!

 

Hi mbolo

To answer the pm...i got both XP and Vista installed and have all stock Dell drivers installed excpet for the 8.8 Intel Matrix Storage Manager which is newer then the version from Dell.
I don't have any of the Dell Control Point software installed, maybe that makes a difference. I did a clean install of both XP and Vista and installed all the drivers in the order given on the Dell site.
I did have a latency issue but it never really caused any audio skipping, the latency issue was fixed with the 8.8 IMSM app.

again, hope you can get it fixed and otherwise i would ask Dell for a replacement or return it.

 

@LPTP-LVR: pardon me if I'm going to bother you with another question (last, I promise).
Which is the order of install of the drivers? I cannot find any order in Dell support page.

Thank you

 

It's not the driver issue, trust me. simply do what i said.

or you can download this
http://www.box.net/shared/v7jpoateoq
This is a Powermizer switcher.

Using old driver may solve because it does not support powermizer...