M17x DPC Latency

Hello Bill, I don't know if you had the time to check the whole thread, but, you will see that there are people who support that the problem is due to the hardware and people (including me) that support that this issue is software related. Could you make it clear for us? Software related or Hardware related?

I am glad it worked for you Aristotelh, but I already described you 3 pages back (post #1627) how to go with this procedure in order to conclude that this is a motherboard issue. If you don't mind, describe all the drivers and their versions installed, the extra software that runs on you laptop and the steps you follow to reproduce those red spikes that cause stuttering.

 

I believe that's our baby, but I won't officially say so until either the lead engineer I just asked to confirm same replies, or until John's blog post goes live.

If that turns out to the one, that is one of the points I cannot specifically answer. There are some personnel at one of our suppliers, who shall remain nameless, and at Dell, who shall also remain nameless, who prohibit me from getting into that at this time. I may, in fact, be able to say more, but until I have time to read all the emails from today on the topic, I will have to plead the 5th. John is all tied in on the latest and will be able to speak more comprehensively to it on the blog. The post is about to go live any minute now.
Keep asking questions, though. I'm willing to speak to the details that I know for sure I can elaborate on.

 

Bill, I have a quick question... don't want to be rude or anything here. I understand that this is a pretty widespread issue, and there are many users itching for the fix, and are angry it took so long for Dell to admit, troubleshoot, and resolve.

My question is this: We (the M17x-R1 owners) have been suffering from this issue for a while, and due to lack of response, have resorted to trying to resolve this issue ourselves. What's being done to compensate for our time, trouble and lack of support? (besides anger management courses )

 

That is correct. It works way better than the broadcom based Dell Wireless 1510 card on the M17x connection-wise, but it doesn't solve any audio/video stuttering/DPC Latency issues.

 

The original problem was BIOS, WLAN driver and mass storage controller driver. The latter being the one that took us the longest to figure out.

Also I can confirm that "Alienware OS Customiztion 2.0" is the fix. Just make sure you are running A03, latest Dell posted WLAN drivers, and run that file. Then see what you get in DPC Latency Checker. One Shrutebuck for the first screenie.

 

Bill, I know this question will come up sooner or later so:

Q: This fix is targeted at Windows 7 only (the notes for "Alienware OS Customiztion 2.0" state Windows 7 only)? If so, will a fix be implemented for those who have chosen to remain on Vista?

Thanks.

 

You likely still get spikes because you have not installed the Alienware Alienware OS Customiztion 2.0 script yet.

Sorry, but I am not the one to discuss compensation with. I have no control over it.You would need to take that up with customer care or tech support.

 

I am going to have to get back with you on that one. I will ask and post back.

 

So it is software related. Good to know.

I don't experience any kind of stuttering with my current configuration, so no need for me to update any drivers or install the Alienware OS Customization 2.0.

Thank you for the reply. I hope your answer helped others as well.

 

Are you running RAID, by any chance?

Never got my lunch. I'm dying here. Back in a few.

 

Correct. I'll try it and get back to you. Fingers crossed that this will finally fix all of the DPC Latency related stuttering issues.

 

No I don't run on RAID. I have a single SSD Intel X25-E, I use the legacy mode under BIOS, under windows I use microsoft's ahci drivers. The only drivers I have installed are those of the chipset (Dell recommended), ATIs (9.12 hotfix), and wifi(Dell recommended).

 

So after doing the fix I still get 50000 plus spikes.

 

Trying to install the 'fix' but I got the message "failed to uninstall driver"

???

 

Same here....

EDIT: notes to add, tried running as "Run as Administrator". Same results, failed...

 

I hope this kills the last few red spikes

 

Well, that file apparently just uninstalls the Nvidia Storage driver (hence the file name is RemoveNvstor64.exe). You probably didn't have it installed in the first place.

 

Ok this fix includes the fixes for the wlan and Bios? because its obvious its for the storage controller only.. it just removes the nvidia storage controller driver. something we have done before by ourselves before months.

If this is the final fix then i will be the first to say that red spikes still exist under those occasions:

1) switching between windows when they are in fullscreeen.

http://i45.tinypic.com/t7bvpj.jpg



2)scrolling pdf files pages when in fullscreen presentation:

http://i49.tinypic.com/dg7bes.jpg


3) pressing touch buttons except the music controlling ones
http://i50.tinypic.com/rcq1kw.jpg

 

Do they cause stuttering? Or they are just a couple of red lines in the screen?

I did what you state as steps to reproduce the stuttering, opened the firefox in fullscreen mode, open a 30 Mb PDF file in presentation mode and nothing for me, not even a single spike above 1000.

 

same here not a fix come on dell get your stuff together before you get our hopes up.

 

Going to she how the in game stutter is report back later.

 

I tried running the script on my M17x and got the following error:

"Your system does not meet the specifications required to run this utility."

What's going on? Maybe it's because I had the Nvidia storage driver uninstalled already and am using the default Windows 7 driver from Microsoft (which didn't help stuttering issues at all, by the way)? Or is it because I'm running RAID?

Anyhow, the "fix" doesn't seem to work. I hope that the script/driver remover isn't the big fix we've been waiting for. I really wish I didn't buy this system. It cost me an arm and a leg and I can't use it. My old M1710 runs most things better than it.

Maybe Dell should start thinking about cutting the losses and officially start exchanging M17x systems with M17x R-2 systems that feature a proper chipset (Intel) and ATi videocards now.

 

Too bad, but not too surprising. Was suspecting that Nvidia will not write a 'special' driver for the R1 machines.
A script to help those unable to untick the storage controller from a custom nForce driver install, is that all?
C'mon....

 

Yeah it didn't help for me.....

No more "failed to uninstall" message, and after restarting here is my DPC results with only firefox and DPC checker open:



Still getting consistent spikes >60,000...
Audio stuttering still present...

 

Their fix was to simply remove the NVidia storage driver and reset it to the Microsoft driver?

Bloody hell... how much evidence does the community have to give to Dell to highlight the freaken down/up clocking issue on the 2x0M?!!!!

Most of us had already reverted to the bloody Microsoft storage drivers. Fix the chipset/GPUs for sake.

 

only spikes above 60000 μs do as we know. we dont have to discuss it again. Even if they cause stuttering or not this fix didnt fix anything for me. I hope it works for stutter causing red spikes of other people.

EDIT: but i can see negative replies have started already. it didnt fix anything. Removing nvidia storage controller driver would never be a fix. except some freezes that some people could see. I never did. whatever lets see more replies just not to say its only me.

And my post #1668 is a short guide to cause red spikes to all peoples M17Xs R1 with ATIs or not. I am a magician.. lool

 

Try opening different sites with lots of flash and scroll them. You should see some 5-6k spikes. If you are unlucky, sometimes you can even see the 30k+ ones, but rarely.

 

Haven't seen anyone report that is does yet.... my above post shows I'm still getting stutter-causing spikes of about 65000

 

still get stuttering in game and fps drops to single digits. Looks like another epic fail dell and NVidia.

 

Those spikes are exactly when the powermizer downclocks the GPUs right? check it with the GPU-Z to confirm that.

 

I rebooted my machine after the script failed, ran it again, and this time it succeeded, however, I too am still seeing spikes (after the forced reboot). I'm done, I want an R2. Calling tech support now.

 

Yeah that used to reproduce spikes on the Nvidias, the best site I could do that was this forum

right now this is what I get
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8334/latency.png

 

Yup, every time the clocks change I get a nice big red spike.

Sometimes about 50000, sometimes about 20000 and mostly about 60-65000.

EDIT - After watching some more, it's not EVERY time the clocks change, just most. And I'm also seeing spikes of about 10000 every 60 seconds or so w/o a clock change, but those aren't enough to cause stuttering.

 

i guess they dont have something else just trying to gain our attention. 2 months for a nvidia controller driver remover fix. thanks for the script! now it takes us 20 sec less to do it manually. lool.


we all understand you have lost your mind.

oh! its the same as before the fix. lool. have you done what i say on my guide to reproduce some red stuff there?? i remind you post 1668.

but the nvidia storage controller is the reason. again lool. i would be ashamed to post this as a fix and even more call it -baby-.

 

it was the intel 5300AGN card 1/2 hieght

 

So let's summarize it:
The 'fix' is a simple script forcing the correct storage controller driver installation?
If that's so, there will be blood (...polishing the blade...)

So, the GPUs don't matter and yet nothing changed for both sides:
Nvidia cards 280/260s still have the same 60k+ spikes.

ATI cards 4870s still have the 5-6K ones.

At the very least Dell should replace the Nvidia GPUs with ATIs as there is a CLEARLY VISIBLE and AUDIBLE difference!
But I think that at this stage the only thing that's acceptable is the complete R1->R2 shift for all affected with max R2 spec and NEBULA RED (...to remember this bloody Hell...)edition!

 

Well no change my end gpu's upclocking /Downclocking spiking like it was before .

 

damn dpc checker looks worse than before. I am glad I called the BBB today.

 

I frankly do not know what to say here. This gotta be an evil dream... Giving us hope and then still no result...

 

I did exactly what you mentioned on your post, except from the last one that you edited and added later.

On the last one you simply pressed the eject button from the touch strip a couple of times repeatedly...

 

If your still having issues here is the link to let John know

he has created a new topic

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...dpc-latency-for-alienware-m17x-customers.aspx

 

I would love Bill to come back on here and explain this useless update.

 

I am just happy that changing to ATIs stopped audio stuttering for me. I dont expect anything any more than be fooled by the -experts- .

Sad for people with more deficient nvidia chipsets.

I hope they are paid enough for this presentation..

 

Well I tried restarting a second time when I realized that there was a device driver installation icon in my taskbar and something required a restart, so I got hopeful. But no. No change whatsoever.

I just think it's wierd that whenever they post an update they sound so confident in it when it doesn't really help anyone...

 

so you say that scrolling pdf file pages with icons on fullscreen doesnt cause any red spike?

and i pressed eject button once. the other red spikes are even from switching windows or i dont know.


The John-B final post ( http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...dpc-latency-for-alienware-m17x-customers.aspx ) seemsto be:

1st icon: A02 Bios and during idle
2nd icon (after the fix) : A03 bios and during idle. i could reach better results..

recording latency during gaming with nvidias or after exiting games or playing music with visualizations with nvidia? No thats a weird reason for spikes.



one question there are three wlan devices on the M17X and how to know which one i have? AW1397 WLAN or AW1510 WLAN, or AW1520 WLAN?

 

C'mon Bro! I remember you saying there was no lag on Compiz back with SLI enabled, and yet there was a lag and Compiz didn't work at all with extra effects ON (like snow, rain, etc). I could easily show you the spikes of up to 16k on your machine right now.
There are certain combinations of actions producing those spikes (I get them during my normal work, no eject buttons pressed), and some of them creating hard lock-ups.
It's not funny at all. I mean you could be extra careful and partially avoid the stress on the chipset, but that's not the way this machine should work.

 

The AW1510 was the default I think when you got yours. Do you remember changing the option?

 

Just resizing Mozilla from full screen to minimized produces 60000k spikes every time.

 

I posted I was going to eat. I'm back.

Definitely going to take your feedback to the engineers. Please bear with me, but I will stick with this thread until Dell provides a fix.

I totally get the frustration and anger. I don't mind a bit. I'd be angry too. Go ahead and hit me. I will spend the weekend reading every post on this thread and compiling every bit of information that applies to the issue description and root cause.

 

I understand Aikimox what you say, but as you can see we all have different setups (including software). That's why our results may vary.

I am really abusive with this laptop and more than anyone I would like an R2, don't get me wrong. I just state the facts (my facts at least).

About the compiz, I never had problems with either Nvidia or ATIs