M17x and DPC Latency

Sorry, but thats a bad arguement. Pretty much everyone that has posted in this thread are having almost identical problems. Put together all that money spent on these laptops, it is quite a lot of money and very big deal.

Concidering the money Dell earn on these gadgets, I would expect some of that money was used to pay people to have it quality tested. Right now I feel like having bought a Ferarri with a broken engine, embarassing. Every car gets a flat now and again, but this wont do.

Dont get me wrong, you have given people lots of help and support and must have spent quite some time on this forum solving other peoples problems. I give you lots kudos for that.

But if I had come by this thread before I decided to go alien, Id buy a Sager or Clevo instead

 

from what i have seen in here i dont have serious stuttering issues but you are absolutely right. i would expect that dell has more than 70% profit from the price of an M17X.

what matters is how many people in here really complained to dell about this and what is really annoying (to the least) is the drivers support. still new os though but they should hurry up.

 

I have been reading this thread for a while now, I am having the exact same issue. I called dell about it and the guy said it was because my cpu was downclocked. Mind you this was after being on hold for 1 hour and 12 minutes!!!! he told me he cannot help me because I bought windows 7 pro instead of home and they wont support it because the software did not come with my laptop. What a joke they use an easy out because they don't want to deal with the problem.

My workplace bought this laptop I did not even get it for gaming, I only got the 2X260's. I use it for developement and I wanted a quad core processor and a large display. Problem is it stutters all of the time it drives me absolutely nuts, like almost everyone else here I cannot even listen to a simple MP3 without it crackling and pausing. I tried hooking up a firewire interface to record soem music one day after work and that was a definate no go even after getting a firewire express card.

Anyway, this laptop is on its way back to dell very quickly if this issue does not get resolved. (I would say I will buy a HP because im mad but I can't bring myself to it, will have to look at a studio)

 

^ I totally agree , I would've bought a Sager if i knew such problems existed..

Toobad i fell for it

 

I get no in game stuttering. only media such as movies and iTunes, which i find odd. i play all current games with settings maxed and dont have any issues. i use the newer dell win7 nvidia drivers.

 

the same as me. it only stutters for 1 sec every 10 minutes when playing games. music stuttering is much worse especially when hearing shoutcast radio. However if play from hdd and i dont do something else at the same time most of the times i dont have any stuttering.

 

Exactly. The issue isn't as prevalent in games because the issue which is causing the stuttering/cracking/popping/slight freezes/whatever you want to call it, isn't happening. That issue is the constant change in the video card core clock speeds when their isn't a load on it. Changes from 200 to 383 to 583, etc, are what's causing the spikes and stutters. This doesn't happen a lot in games because the cards tend to stay at full speed since they're being used more. I've post about this all in one and provided updates to what I've done here.

Aedaric

 

can anyone confirm that dell is still working on a fix ?

 

That's my big one. I am not going to keep the laptop unless I can get a confirmation from Dell or AW or something saying they are working on the issue.

 

So, I am running my laptop and desktop side by side right now, I had just started the download for the new Windows Defender Definition and I believe it finished downloading and started to install it, right at that moment I believe is when my Internet Explorer (the app I was right then using) froze, gave me the not responding issue, and my latency spiked to 46k. This is solely on the 9400 as I believe my system started in the "I have no wall plug" mode, so it was fine in that respect because it gave me a chance to check out the DPC latency on the integrated card, that said, I am still in my high performance power setting because it is in fact plugged in, just a moment after the BIOS screen passed. After the definition installed IE started working again.

Aedaric

 

Yes, they are. See post #10 of this thread.

Note to moderator: The linked thread above should probably be merged with this one.

 

Never! That's my seperate thread and doesn't directly have the same goals as this one.

= )

 

So the ATI cards don't get stuttering issues because they don't cause huge DPC latency spikes, but still get the 4000u red bars. So we can say that the 4000u red bars, whilst not desirable, are not a real problem. It's the Nvidia Cards downclocking that are the main problem behind the stuttering. So does anyone have a fix to stop Both Nvidia cards from downclocking? (the powermizer hack only works for one card). That would at least fix the problem for people with two cards temporarily, until Dell or Nvidia can get a graphics or chipset driver out.

Anyone know of any Graphics overclocking software that has signed drivers for windows 7? Nvidia performance tools still allows the cards to downclock, and EVGA Precision doesn't set the clocks correctly.

 

a very good point and i think that those spikes every 1 sec maybe due to the gpus clock speeds changing ? i think that this can be fixed with a bios update or gpus bios update. and i dont want to use third party apps to fix this (powermizer because no one know its a effect on a hardware level).

something i noticed now is that after disabling windows defender (following Bat boy' s guide) and enabling hybrid sli i almost dont get any stuttering at all.

again this maybe be due to the fact that the 9400m is in use when no playing games so the clock speeds remain low? just an observation

an other observation is that after i run a benchmark test like 3dmark06 the stuttering issues again almost dissapear and again this maybe that gpus are in full load at least for a while.

one friend yesterday posted that contacted dell about stuttering and they told him its due to the downclock of the cpu. cpu or gpu? anyway it seems that this stuttering is strongly related to the clock speeds, cpu or gpu i wish i knew.

but here comes the question. those overclocks and downclocks dont happen on desktops or other laptops as well? they dont have those issues ? or we just dont know it?

it is fact that M17X has the most power demanding notebook gpus to date (dont forget they are based on the 9800gtx of desktops!) and downclock is needed for many reasons relating to reduction of heat and generally protection. desktops dont need this as the heating system of their gpus is more than effective and their bios is different. what is really happening with the clevo with the gtx280?

what i finally believe that would solve the problem is a new bios where downclocking of the gpus (and/or cpu maybe) will be done gradually enough and not so fast that it may cause those stuttering issues because i believe this really influences the whole system a bad way.

 

If im not mistaken. Powermizer is a laptop feature, not available on desktop cards.

 

Yep, that is correct. NVIDIA's PowerMizer tech brief can be found HERE and the main PowerMizer tech page @ NVIDIA is HERE.

Also, its important to keep in mind this is not an NVIDIA only issue.

Studio 1537 DPC Latency Hell - 256 MB ATI Mobility RADEON HD 3450

 

Has anyone run xperf/xperfview (from Windows 7 SDK) yet to try to determine the exact process(es) causing the latency issues?

 

Most of your questions in your post Sager I have reviewed and attempted. Yes, the 16+ spikes which cause the stuttering, whether it is in game for some users, or outside of the game, also, Xperf has been run already before and this is what the user posted:

 

Ok, last dumb question, I promise (at least until the next dumb one)...

Have you tried disabling acpi.sys? Any changes in the DPC latency output? Reference: http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82401 especially posts # 5 - 11. Again, this is for a different class of Dell notebooks, but it seems applicable cross-class.

 

Hey guys, we're on Engadget:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/alienware-m17x-owners-complaining-of-skipping-stuttering-audio

Perhaps we'll find a fix now that it's in the mainstream of public awareness.

 

Awesome! Go Go Engadget!

 

i don't have any stuttering issues when i play games but i never play music on my laptop i guess is the same why all this people with the same problem?

 

Very cool. I have a C2D and no issues, but I'm always up for a fix

 

Finally!!!! Now it's time for Dellienware to take this issue seriously!!!

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/alienware-m17x-owners-complaining-of-skipping-stuttering-audio

 

Not the first time we've been on Engadget. Back when the M15x was failing MISERABLY in every way possible we had a post or two on there iirc.

Hi all

 

I know, I had a 1st gen m15x.

 

I tried to disable it, but sadly I can't even do that. Whenever I try to suspend threads within system I get "Unable to access thread: The system cannot find the file specified". I wonder if anyone knows why It's saying that.

 

Solution is simple. If it is powered by Nvidia, users need to disable nvidia powermizer using this utility and bam!! all audio stutterings will be things of the past. This may decrease battery life.
use the link to download http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/24469-powermizer-switch-1-2/

 

This ONLY works if you have one card. It does NOT work if you have SLI, because it only disables powermizer on one card.

 

heres a thread relating to the ACPI.sys issue which appears to be causing the -4000u bars every one or two seconds.
http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171079

Here's a thread relating to the powermizer DCP latency issue. It's not just the M17x...
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=64673

Apparently, the NVIDIA driver is directly responsible for the lag spikes. Maybe we're actually waiting on NVIDIA to solve the audio issues...

Another thread on how to diagnose DCP latency issues and audio stutter:
http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=30896

 

LOL The direct link is to my post. I didn't think actually sending anything in would get a response, wow that was fast!


Hopefully it will get fixed a bit quicker then.

 

I do find the posts afterwards rather amusing though, so many uneducated people who individuals who don't truly appreciate what you can do with a system if you know what you're looking for...

 

Nice!

I will try to contact gizmodo next, I suggest everyone to do the same. Thanks for posting that thread on dell's forum btw.

 

I found this thread thanks to the Engadget feed. Unfortunately, it was hours after I had already ordered an M17x. I'll be calling them tomorrow to cancel the order and I'll be sure to mention why.

It's a shame, I thought this was everything I wanted, and now I'm back to square one until they fix it.

 

I was surprised to see that they actually followed up on my tip. Let's see if Giz and Ars does the same. I submitted to all 3 sites at the same time.

 

Well done and kudos to Augur (+Rep), and fingers crossed Rotsu. The greater the visibility, the more this will deter new purchasers until Dell/Alienware at least acknowledge the issue and give us a viable solution (if indeed there is one!).

Cheers

Trelawney

 

is there any way that we can set up a register of how many people have this problem. I wondered if a joint email from all those effected might work.

is there a pole done for pecentage of m17x owners with problems?

 

I also enjoyed the user comments after the article, aparently we are all stupid rich retards for buying alienware lol

 

If Dell just sorts out this DPC Latency issue through a BIOS update we'll have a very strong machine on our hands.

As it is now its strong but only for gaming. It has the components to be great for digital media production as well, but this stutter needs to be fixed!

24 hours later still no update from Dell regarding this so so far.. no effect.

 

Guys lets all go submit tops to Gizmodo right here
http://gizmodo.com/tag/tips/

go!!

 

I called Dell up to cancel my order today, and they said since the order was already in production, it cannot be cancelled. The hilarious part is that they wouldn't let me cancel it yesterday because I hadn't received an order number yet. The laptop is not even scheduled to arrive until Dec. 10th! Now I'm out $2600 until I can return it when it arrives.

 

If you paid using a credit card, call the credit card company and dispute the charges. Hit Dell in the pockets, where it hurts...

 

After i contacted dell, they changed my pc for another new one. Dell delivered me today the new laptop... same issue...

Do you know guys if i can get my money back!? I buyed it on July 2k9.

 

My DPC latency is about like the others posted. I have yet to have cracking or dropouts (streaming YouTube)

 

And now, there's this tasty tidbit, hot off the press!

 

Woo hoo! An official acknowledgment!

 

Good to see that they are responding to the outcries, although I'm not quite convinced this issue will be resolved in a timely manner. Since I can't dispute the charges on my Visa until they post, I'll be forced to wait a few days. Maybe there will be some encouraging developments and information which will convince me to keep the laptop.

EDIT: I was also wondering why nobody on the M17x comment section of the site has brought up this thread or issue? I bought the laptop because everyone seemed to enjoy their laptop. Maybe it would be a good idea to warn others by posting your reviews there? I don't have my laptop yet, so I don't think I can create an account.

 

I have a latency issue, but other than the readout of the DPC checker, it has a 0% effect on my use/enjoyment of the machine....

Through speakers, headphones, and HDMI the sound was great

 

Agreed. No issues on my end either. Audio (be it game, movie playback, mp3 playback) all sound great.

The DPC Latency Checker will register the same for me as others are seeing, but so far (knock on wood) - no impact.

 

Isn't this an oxymoron?
It will never be useful for audio recording, since it has a Ricoh firewire chip.
Some discussion regarding the equally low JMicron firewire chipset is here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=400025

Here is some input from a Dell representative:
<<My name is Richard; I am the Dell/Alienware laptop liaison for the Dell Community forums. For those of you who are experiencing audio issues which have been suggested to be related to DPC latency; I wanted to provide you an update.

At this time we believe that DPC latency is not directly responsible for the following reported symptoms.

- Audio stutters, clicks, pops, and drops
- Frame drops while watching videos
- Audio/Video desync during video playback
>>
from
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?p=3107491#post3107491

No wonder Alienware is certain, they just discovered the DPC Latency checker.