Audio Stuttering & DPC Latency Spikes

Hi,

Since I bought this notebook, I have noticed slight audio stuttering within games, webpage streaming, and mp3 playback. The games I noticed it most in were: Galactic Civilizations II, Battlefield II, and Civilizations IV. Now, here is the catch; it seems to ONLY occur with music playback in these games. In GC2, when you end your turn, the music seems to stutter a bit there (high CPU usage?). In mp3 playback with iTunes (or another mp3 player, even VLC player). Battlefield 2 has stuttering when loading the game, when the music is playing.

Video driver issues? I doubt it. I have tried the stock drivers that came with the computer (176 something), nVidia's drivers, LaptopVideo2Go's drivers, and DOX's drivers. I am running the computer in RAID0 and SLI. When the audio stutters, there is no noticeable image stuttering.

However, recently I have been directed to a program called DPC Latency Checker. I ran it in when listening to mp3's with iTunes. I am using version 2.21 of the Realtek drivers for the onboard audio. Windows sounds have been disabled. I have included an image of the DPC Latency Checker. It shows double spikes together. Usually it is only one spike at a time, but for some reason it is two today. I am not downloading or running anything other than Windows Firewall and Avira AntiVir (I just downloaded Avira today, so it is not the culprit). Also, sometimes there are no spikes. Other times I can induce them by moving around windows within the Desktop (Firefox, or just folders). Other times it just keeps doing it.

I have tried to stop it by forcing full performance mode. I have disable a lot of Windows services to try and stop it, which has lowered the usual DPC latency (green portions). I have disabled LAN, Wireless, and more. I have tried Microsoft's RATTV3, but do not know how to real the logged results. I have performed full virus/spyware/malware scans with AVIRA, ESET (before), SUPERantiSpyware, AdAware, MalwareBytes and more.

The second picture I added is without audio playback and is at low CPU usage, with minor downloading.

Any help would be appreciated. Since I have began gaming more, it has become more apparent, especially in GC2. Thanks.

 

I have a very different laptop (see my signature), but me and several users with the E6400 solved the very same problem by installing the latest Intel Matrix Storage Manager from Intel (version 8.8). I'm not sure whether that laptop uses it, but if it does, it is worth a shot.

 

I think I have version 8.5 installed, so I will try their newest version. I thought I would add this to anyone who reads this, but the latest drivers (185.xx) that I have tested seem to cause flickering in the screen (not the black flickers, but more of a constant yet minimal change of brightness) for a few seconds when coming out of a game or 3D application like 3D Mark 2006. It also occurs between 3D Mark 06 tests when the screen changes.

 

I have a feeling that what you might be seeing are symptoms from certain transactions taking place between the different cores on your Q9550. Basically, because the Intel quad cores are not true quad-cores, but rather two dual-core dies glued together (basically), the cores on the first die cannot communicate directly with the cores on the second die. Instead, cross-die communication takes place across the FSB. When that happens, the FSB is not available for other things, like audio or graphics, and if there is a particularly large transaction going on between the dies, that may result in noticeable stuttering in things like streaming audio.

 

Yep, Intel Matrix Storage Manager installs the iaStor.sys driver used on AHCI and RAID modes.

Due to the use of the 82801 Sata RAID Controller inside the southbridge, and not a dedicated chip like Promise and SiliconImage ones, the data split in RAID 0 is not entirelly processed by the soutbride and some CPU cycles are used.

So it´s normal some CPU use oscillations... a better RAID driver could improve the resource usage, making less use oscillations and less lag/latencies.

 

That is an interesting find! Is that the only apparent source of stuttering, or will some systems still stutter even without the Matrix Storage Manager being installed?

 

Hi Shyster1

In this case, the RAID could cause a rise in the CPU usage, and therefore higher latencies.

And because it's not a constant use situation, there are spickes on the cycles used by the southbridge build in RAID device. Those spickes can cause that audio stuttering, being the onboard sound CPU dependent.

Without the Intel's Matrix Storage Manager, and on Legacy IDE mode, only the ATA/IDE Controller is used, so there is no relevant CPU cycles usage(unless of course the Hardware Interrupts).

 

I am pretty sure I had the 8.5 version installed. However, it could have only been on my Vista x64 install, and also on a previous XP install that I am recalling.

A weird thing I am noticing with these new drivers is that I cannot seem to break 14200-ish on 3DMark06 with XP x86. My previous result was over 15000 with the 177.98 drivers, which I am considering returning too. One thing I find weird is that whenever I attach a monitor (with these newer drivers), externally, I have to use Fn+F7 (and I cannot seem to dual-view). However, on reverting to my notebook only (not using the the HDTV as an external monitor), Fn+F7 makes both screens go black. I can still use my notebook (if doesn't crash), but I have to do so with a completely black screen. Could it be because I am connecting DVI from the D901c to an HDMI slot?

Either way, I don't know if I will ever be able to avoid these audio stutters. I just find it odd that so many people have this notebook, and I cannot find one mention of this issue/occurrence on here. I will update if I notice anymore stuttering in games or while listening to mp3's. Some days, there is near to no stuttering, other days there are a lot.

 

You'll have to go back quite a ways to find the threads that dealt with the stuttering that some owners got, but they are there.

 

I just did some NBR and google searches for D901c (and variations; 9262, etc.) and audio (or stutters, DPC, latency) and I didn't find anything. However, I believe you and I have not had a single stutter since. Either way, I think installing those drivers has helped. I have not played any games yet, but it seems to be an improvement.

I now need to find what drivers will work best with gaming and dual view / external monitors. It seems the newest drivers are much slower. It is the SM2.0 and CPU portions of the 3DMark06 tests that are hammered in the newest tests. Either way, the cards still perform amazing in a gaming environment. Perhaps it is time for a format.

Thanks again HerrKaputt, Shyster1, and Audigy.