[*Unresolved* Issue] Alienware M18x: GTX 580M SLI DPC Latency Problems

next time I will order with AMD even if Have to make my own drivers.aah hahaha.

 

Okay forgive me if I seem ignorant but I am really unfamiliar with what this issue causes exactly, I understand that we get a very high latency but what does it effect? So far I have been gaming, watching movies, doing what I usually do on a computer ever since I got my m18x and haven't noticed any issues. Where would DPC latency show itself as an issue?

 

High latency is not only annoying (sound and video stuttering/studdering during audio/video playback, gaming, etc) but also makes it impossible to do any sensitive audio/video recording and similar work on the system.

 

I did notice some stutter during gameplay but that was before I applied the throttle fix, ever since then I have yet to notice any stuttering. This is what my DPC is like according to DPC latency Checker.



There was a large spike in the beginning where it went a little above the yellow mark but did not turn red.

Again like I said I am very unfamiliar with this issue and I am not sure if what I am seeing on this graph is good or bad. I ran the thing while watching a youtube video in 720p.

Edit: wow just after I posted this I am seeing constant spikes, seems very random XD either way I am glad I don't notice the issue its causing otherwise, constant stuttering in game play seems very annoying.

 

What drivers are you using?

 

yeah it is really annoying!.

 

The latest beta drivers from nvidia.

 

The reason you didn't see high latency was because you were running youtube. If you use this machine for Cuda/SLI enabled video & audio editing/reproduction(Fruit loops, Badaboom & DVDFab) you will definitely experience the M18x's high latency problem during playback. I've noticed it in BF3 & Crysis 2.

 

aha I see...well then here is to hoping nvidia fixes them before 2013 lol

 

I don't think so, NV has this problem Sinse the M17xR1 with the 280M.

 

Yep, and the worst part there's not much Dell can do. If we wish to be able to use the latest drivers, Nvidia has to fix the issue in the core.

 

Well here is a question, the original dell drivers, were they modified by dell in any way? If thats the case could the modification itself have removed the DPC latency? And if thats the case then why don't dell modify the latest driver set?

 

Dunno why exactly Dell drivers are latency free but you wouldn't expect Dell to mod every new driver release on a monthly basis, would you?

 

Obviously , but seeing as how the first gen m11x drivers were something we can only get from dell (to keep on using the switchable graphics feature), they did give us an updated set after 4-6 months iirc. So why is it so much so ask for them to do the same for the m18x? Updating every set is nonesense, but updating on a major release sounds good. Maybe when the current set is actually out of beta? Again thats assuming it was dell's modifications that got rid of the DPC latency, which I highly doubt is the actual case.

 

Dell did not modify their recommended NVIDIA drivers to achieve low DPC latency. The Dell recommended driver (269.03) is a standard NVIDIA release. NVIDIA broke their drivers after that, LOL.

As a general rule, Dell merely validates drivers released by AMD and NVIDIA when those drivers work properly with Dell hardware. If they perform up to Dell's expectations, they become a Dell recommended driver. If they drivers do not pass the validation process, then Dell's recommended driver becomes outdated in terms of being optimized for game performance. Basically, we have NVIDIA (or AMD) to thank for producing poor quality drivers when Dell's recommended driver is too old to perform well on current games. It's a good thing that Dell is not willing to put their stamp of approval on drivers that introduce problems like DPC latency on their systems, even when the reference drivers are optimized to work with current game releases that the Dell recommended driver is not.

 

I see, makes sense. Thanks for the clarification Mr. fox.

 

No problemo, bro. I have no doubt that Dell could do a better job on drivers if they had the resources to devote to picking up the pieces for AMD and NVIDIA.

 

Well, what I think that is happening. is nv think that for the prices they selling the 580M in SLi, we can have some headache and it is fine.

 

Well, I did a clean install and totally stripped out everything prior to 295.51. In addition to using DriverSweeper and CCleaner, I manually deleted some leftover registry keys, manually deleted all NVIDIA folders and files on my HDD, and manually installed Standard VGA drivers before I installed 295.51 on a squeaky-clean slate. I think DPC latency actually improved slightly on my M18x rather than making it worse. With the new Verde 295.51 beta it takes about 35 seconds to see a spike in latency, whereas before the latency problem appears nearly instantaneously with the other drivers. Running video in the background still kills the DPC latency, but it remains a problem at idle. See below...

With no video running in background...

Spoiler

With video running in background...

Spoiler

 

Yeas I totally agree on that fox.

 

I think we have to get used to this problem. Lol

 

I refuse complacency.

 

but it look like we don't have a choce, just saying...

 

I can assure you that Dell is still investigating this. Don't give up. It took a while to get the OSD/Aero bug fixed, as well as the AMD thermal issues and NVIDIA throttling addressed. This problem is an NVIDIA problem, but Dell wants it fixed. I think we will see resolution to the DPC latency, but it make take time for Dell to get NVIDIA off of dead center. Hopefully, their influence will motivate them to correct it.

 

If this were more widespread, it might be more likely to get fixed... Does anyone know if desktop nvidia users are experiencing latency issues with the newer nvidia drivers? We should reach out and get the support from everyone we can.

 

I have a ALX with 580 SLI that does not have a latency problem.

 

see this, Update on DPC Latency for Alienware M17x Customers - Direct2Dell - Direct2Dell - Dell Community

this is a funy one.


Inferno199

19 Feb 2010 5:28 PM


Oh dear another "fix" that doesnt work. Cant wait for another one.

 

I need some perspective here...

Is it really asking too much for my 4,000 dollar laptop to not have any issues?

Obviously we've asked this question before...

M17x R1 (exchanged for R2 after having too many recurring issues).
M17x R2 (exchanged for M18x after having too many recurring issues).

I don't see why we should have to work so tirelessly to force these companies to fix their defective hardware (and in this case, nvidia, to fix their defective software). Ever since I got into the business of owning a gaming laptop, it's been a long, grueling and enduring process of trying to get things to just. work.

Okay I'm done. I promise not to post stuff like this anymore. There's just no other outlet for me to express my petty first world problems.

 

Why do you think most of us here still own consoles?

I totally agree though, but it's always been that way, and will always be that way.

The only way to avoid problems is to have one specific hardware configuration which is designed to work with a game 100%, like a console.

Its the same reason why Android will always be more buggy than iOS, regardless of how much better it is. Android has to work on hundreds of different hardware configurations, iOS on a handful.

 

Hey guys, just got my system in a week ago today and I just tested for DPC latency and it's saying I have it as well. I only ran the test at idle didn't try using any other program in the background.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yea unfortunately every m18x with dual 580s have it unless your using dells ancient drivers. I'm sure there working with Nvidia on this though so its just a matter of time before it gets fixed.

 

Nvidia hasn't released official drivers for almost four months, does anyone have any information as to why that might be the case?

 

Maybe holding off the first official release for Kepler?

 

I am in the market for the M18x and I intend to use it as both a gaming and digital audio workstation (Cubase and Ableton Live) platform when I travel. I can't have this DPC latency problem with highly sensitive, ASIO-driven audio hardware. Are we sure the 6990M Crossfire configuration does not experience this latency issue? It's really unfortunate given the higher performance of the 580M SLI machine, but DPC latency is king in my world.

By the way, the touch screen Dell in my signature is for sale if anyone is interested.

 

the 6990MCF configs don't have latency problems. I can confirm both for the 6990s and 6970s.

 

Thanks for the feedback, now it's a question of if I can wait long enough for Nvidia to fix this or if I should just order with the 6990s.

 

Last time when we had latency problems with Nvidia cards in the M17xR1 it took Nvidia almost a year and still not sure if it got fixed. I'd rather wait 2 months for the 79x0M

 

Do you have hard evidence of a new AMD mobile chip coming in 2 months or is that speculation based on regular release intervals/Internet rumors?

 

It's been confirmed by most manufacturers including Dell. Also Dell confirmed that the M18xR2 will have the 79x0Ms.

 

Excellent, that's the plan then. Thanks again!

 

yes man that's my plan too, hehe can't wait.

 

I hope this issue can be fixed dell/nvidia I can't even listen to my dub/DnB tunes without random pops out of the speakers. My only option currently is to listen to music on iPad2/iPhone. Using my nForce USB Dac headphone amp the bars all spike in the red! And the pops and dropouts are worse.

 

Does this issue mean that if you run somthing that runs the gpus hard then you can play music with out the speakers poping will go away?

I only ask as i'm think of getting an m18x from the dell uk outlet for £1750 and it has 2x 580m and i7 2860m in it with 16gb ram

 

This issue is always present with nvidia cards running any drivers apart from the old dell nvidia drivers. Hopefully dell/nvidia can fix the issue. I am currently talking with my dell rep in regards to this issue. They have said there are numerous things causing this issue including motherboard, killer-n 1103 wireless card, nvidia GPUs. They said that it's only affecting some batches of m18x?? Mine is terrible with audio dropouts and pops all the time.

 

according to this thread the latancy is happening with all m18x with 580m's but some people have said that the latancy goes away if you run a gpu entesive task so what i was asking is can you have a 3d program open and then play some music an see if they audio pops disapear or do they still happen

 

Just to be sure to understand. Audio pops only when doing audio/video editing or does it also pops when just listening to music ?

I've ordered a M18x with GTX 580M SLI, but I am now thinking about cancelling my order because of this problem.

 

I really need this fixed ASAP. Next week I will be getting my PS Vita and will need to use DVDFab for Bluray to MP4 conversion and mkv to mp4. I also want to use badaboom which currently has problems with the M18x's latency.

 

couldn't agree more as i use DVDFab etc for ipad2!

 

totally agree on that brother sky.

 

Nobody to answer my question ?