M17x stuttering--is this the DPC issue?

I've read through a few of the threads and the official Dell response that was linked to in them but I'm just not sure if this is what my issue is or not.

Goal of This Thread
A. confirm what my issue is if it is known so that I am aware of the proper search terms to use when Googling it and searching on the forums.

B. be made aware if there is a definitive fix for this issue at this time and if not where the best place is to monitor for a fix.

My Setup
I have a new m17x that I got several months ago as a replacement for my XPS 1730 after my story was featured on Consumerist. It is packing 4GB ram, dual 260m's and the quad core processor. I did a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium.

Description of the Issue
During the course of playing games, even ones that aren't graphically intense such as Savage 2 and BF:1942(!!!) which the machine can run as smooth as butter, every few minutes it does what I can only describe as an ultra rapid stuttering for about 1 second. During this short stutter, the video freezes, controls lock and the audio does a stutter effect on the last bit of sound that was played before the stutter occurred. The game then continues as normal for several more minutes until the next stutter. I want to reiterate that these stutters usually last no more than 1-1.5 seconds.

What the Heck is Causing This
Forgive me as I don't have the patience to read through an entire thread that is over 100+ pages long but it appears like this might be the DPC latency issue--would that be an accurate assessment? If so, what is the current state of a fix? I read somewhere that this is possibly due to faulty motherboards which would in essence require a replacement machine or having a tech come out and swap mobos for me (which my service plan should cover, especially if its a known issue).

Any guidance the hive mind can lend would be most appreciated and please let me know if you need additional specs or logs from anything.

 

run dpc latency checker and see

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

 

Possibly. Your display driver ver?

There is no need to run the DPC Latency Checker as we already know the results it will produce (intermittent red spikes and yellow spikes mixed in a green spike field).

DPC Latency issues are mainly presenting as audio popping/skipping/crackles while listening to music. The slow down you are reporting is associated with what most of us here on NBR have come to know as 'in-game stutter'. Simply put, you will see your FPS drop off intermittently and as a result, everything will slow down.

The main threads which you have already found are:

1. DPC Latency - http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=434691

2. Stutter - http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=410440

Relating to the DPC issue - Dell has stated they are working on a fix for this. The best place to monitor for a fix release will be the DPC Latency Thread as well as: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=458091 (which you already have been looking at).

The Stutter FPS Drop Off issue can typically be resolved by the following:

1. Using a driver which has proven to be functional with the HybridSLI setup in the M17x. Meaning, one which is a stable driver. IMO, this is 186.82. If you are interested in trying the 186.82, I detail the method I use to install it - here.
2. Ensure you have the most up to date SLI profiles installed (Also mentioned in my 186.82 install notes).
3. Disable Integrated Graphics & Hybrid Graphics in the BIOS - this will kill the 9400M G.

If you wish to discuss DPC Latency related issues, please post in the DPC Latency thread. Regarding specific FPS stuttering, it should be posted in the stutter thread.

Thanks.

 

Running 186.64 for the nvidia cards. Not sure how to check my SLI profile...

I don't notice this when playing music or anything, just when playing games. Does that mean it is JUST the stuttering issue and NOT the DPC or is it possibly a combination of both?

On the phone w/ Alienware tech now, they are most likely going to have me install a BIOS update amongst other things.

 

If you are not seeing an issue when listening to music, then I wouldn't worry about the DPC issue for now.

Concerning the BIOS udate, personally, I would stay away from BIOS A03 as a few of us have seen it produces a bit of a thermal change (higher temps).

Try my suggestion and follow the 186.82 process. The SLI profile update instructions are in the same post. If it doesn't work, then you can always go back to 186.64.

With disabling the Integrated Graphics & Hybrid Graphics in the BIOS you'll lose on the 9400 however what I do is if I know I will be on battery for an extended period of time, I just enable them and reboot. Once returning to AC, disable them. I know its not ideal, but it certainly has helped for me (and a few others).

Although I cannot directly link to it in this post due to forum rules, I do detail the whole stuttering and DPC issue on my blog. See signature link.

 

So here's an odd change of pace. I let the tech connect via the Alien Connect thingy and actually made her read this thread and your responses since it was up on the screen.

I was a bit nervous about her because she was initially the girl who was supposed to just transfer my call to the direct department but when they were busy and she couldn't get me through, suddenly she announced she was qualified to assist me even though she didn't have the right software on her machine (red flag red flag red flag).

In any event, she was actually able to discuss the issue somewhat intelligently and they are definitely aware of it and at least provide their techs some scripts to assist.

She had me download the BIOS and broadcom driver updates. I asked her about the known issues with the BIOS update causing temp increases and the Broadcom driver causing connectivity issues and she assured me that both of the versions currently available on the website had recently been updated to address those. I'm not sure how much I trust that but so far so good.

I gamed for a little bit last night and no stuttering so this would appear to have resolved my issue but I will be sure to post if it crops back up again.

The most bizarre thing is that I expected her resolution to only lead to more problems and not fix my issue after reading the responses here and it appears like it fixed everything just fine instead. Score one for Alienware I guess...

 

lol sexist.

 

It wasn't because she was a girl, it was because she initially told me her job was just to transfer me to the appropriate support department and then when she couldn't reach them suddenly she was qualified to assist me with my issue.

 

I used to have the same problem, except the stuttering was indefinate, in other words, it hardlocked me. I had my GFX and my motherboard replaced, and that has fixed the issue so far.