Audio crackling on a brand-new Windows 10 laptop

[bluestemos]

Ok so I got my hands on a new laptop yesterday and I've had some annoying issues with it. The sound crackles occasionally, through both headphones and the laptop's speakers.

Note:
- This is a brand-new laptop with a fresh install of Windows 10. The only programs installed are Latencymon and Google Chrome.

What I've tried:
- Fresh Windows install
- sfc /scannow, nothing out of the ordinary
- Changed the MSISupported value of all the drivers that could be linked to 1
- Set Windows' startup mode to Normal through "msconfig" (was Selective)
- Checked the BIOS for CPU throttling settings and the like, but found nothing
- Updated all drivers and Windows
- Tweaked Windows' power-saving plans for maximum performance
- I tried xilolee's steps in the first reply to this thread: System interrupts, Latency, HDaudbus.sys

Additional information:

• System Manufacturer: Lenovo
• Laptop or Desktop: Laptop
• Exact model number (if laptop, check label on bottom): 81SX (Lenovo Legion Y540-15IRH)
• OS ? (Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista): Windows 10
• x86 (32bit) or x64 (64bit)?: 64-bit
• Service pack?: Version 1903, build 18362.535 (not sure if this is correct)
• What was original installed OS on system?: Windows 10
• Is the OS an OEM version (came pre-installed on system) or full retail version (YOU purchased it from retailer)?: Pre-installed, but I've done a fresh reinstall through Windows' "Fresh Start"
• Age of system? (hardware): 1 day
• Age of OS installation?: 1 day
• CPU: Intel i7-9750H CPU @ 2.60GHz, 6 core
• RAM (brand, model, which slots are you using?): 16Gb
• Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 2060, 6Gb
• What security software are you using? (Firewall, antivirus, antimalware, antispyware, and so forth): Windows Firewall, Windows Defender
• Are you using proxy, vpn, ipfilters or similar software?: No
• Are you using Disk Image tools? (like daemon tools, alcohol 52% or 120%, virtual CloneDrive, roxio software): No
• Are you currently under/overclocking? Are there overclocking software installed on your system?: No

Latencymon results:

Spoiler: Latencymon Results

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CONCLUSION
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Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or pops. One or more DPC routines that belong to a driver running in your system appear to be executing for too long. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:30:39 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
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Computer name: LAPTOP-5TKKJA4L
OS version: Windows 10 , 10.0, version 1903, build: 18362 (x64)
Hardware: 81SX, LENOVO, LNVNB161216
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H CPU @ 2.60GHz
Logical processors: 12
Processor groups: 1
RAM: 16303 MB total


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
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Reported CPU speed: 2592 MHz

Note: reported execution times may be calculated based on a fixed reported CPU speed. Disable variable speed settings like Intel Speed Step and AMD Cool N Quiet in the BIOS setup for more accurate results.

WARNING: the CPU speed that was measured is only a fraction of the CPU speed reported. Your CPUs may be throttled back due to variable speed settings and thermal issues. It is suggested that you run a utility which reports your actual CPU frequency and temperature.



_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEASURED INTERRUPT TO USER PROCESS LATENCIES
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The interrupt to process latency reflects the measured interval that a usermode process needed to respond to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution. This includes the scheduling and execution of a DPC routine, the signaling of an event and the waking up of a usermode thread from an idle wait state in response to that event.

Highest measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 6059,70
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 7,454463

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 5985,0
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 3,254741


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED ISRs
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Interrupt service routines are routines installed by the OS and device drivers that execute in response to a hardware interrupt signal.

Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 339,327160
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Suorituksenaikainen ydintilaohjainkehys, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0,000337
Driver with highest ISR total time: Wdf01000.sys - Suorituksenaikainen ydintilaohjainkehys, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0,000337

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 24467
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 1
ISR count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED DPCs
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DPC routines are part of the interrupt servicing dispatch mechanism and disable the possibility for a process to utilize the CPU while it is interrupted until the DPC has finished execution.

Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 5692,844907
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: dxgkrnl.sys - DirectX Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0,045211
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: nvlddmkm.sys - NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 431.65 , NVIDIA Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0,101772

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 5122369
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 583
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 6
DPC count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS
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Hard pagefaults are events that get triggered by making use of virtual memory that is not resident in RAM but backed by a memory mapped file on disk. The process of resolving the hard pagefault requires reading in the memory from disk while the process is interrupted and blocked from execution.

NOTE: some processes were hit by hard pagefaults. If these were programs producing audio, they are likely to interrupt the audio stream resulting in dropouts, clicks and pops. Check the Processes tab to see which programs were hit.

Process with highest pagefault count: explorer.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 1741
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 272
Number of processes hit: 35


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
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CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 106,735719
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 132,835648
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0,072259
CPU 0 ISR count: 23651
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 5692,844907
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 21,979741
CPU 0 DPC count: 5040655
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 125,230504
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 339,327160
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0,001999
CPU 1 ISR count: 799
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 374,935957
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0,044634
CPU 1 DPC count: 2267
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 96,042457
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 2,385031
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0,000034
CPU 2 ISR count: 18
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 362,959877
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0,058648
CPU 2 DPC count: 4979
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 96,653181
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 3 ISR count: 0
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 376,700617
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0,009186
CPU 3 DPC count: 1368
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 77,062399
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 4 ISR count: 0
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs): 574,172068
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 0,114029
CPU 4 DPC count: 12961
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 77,557419
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 5 ISR count: 0
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs): 223,486111
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0,009082
CPU 5 DPC count: 1642
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s): 59,068533
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 6 ISR count: 0
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs): 333,962963
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s): 0,033561
CPU 6 DPC count: 4096
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s): 59,031311
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 7 ISR count: 0
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs): 197,427469
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s): 0,005433
CPU 7 DPC count: 999
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 8 Interrupt cycle time (s): 195,361951
CPU 8 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 8 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 8 ISR count: 0
CPU 8 DPC highest execution time (µs): 432,074074
CPU 8 DPC total execution time (s): 0,012048
CPU 8 DPC count: 2289
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 9 Interrupt cycle time (s): 71,870803
CPU 9 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 9 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 9 ISR count: 0
CPU 9 DPC highest execution time (µs): 288,244599
CPU 9 DPC total execution time (s): 0,137676
CPU 9 DPC count: 44298
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 10 Interrupt cycle time (s): 141,143277
CPU 10 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 10 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 10 ISR count: 0
CPU 10 DPC highest execution time (µs): 350,446759
CPU 10 DPC total execution time (s): 0,040546
CPU 10 DPC count: 4711
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 11 Interrupt cycle time (s): 102,854167
CPU 11 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 11 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 11 ISR count: 0
CPU 11 DPC highest execution time (µs): 344,434414
CPU 11 DPC total execution time (s): 0,017215
CPU 11 DPC count: 2695
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I've also zipped and attached the files mentioned in the posting instructions. Here's the link to the Speccy snapshot: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/UwpQYskIhVq2eVOTPWPKnAS

Thanks in advance!

 

[britechguy]

Do you have the option to return it for either refund or replacement?

You have already done way more that I would with a brand new, straight out of the box, machine that's not working correctly.

I'll also ask, was it doing this "straight out of the box"? Lenovo and many other manufacturers have custom tweaks done to their various drivers, and these are preferred over what Microsoft may have in The Great Microsoft Driver Library in the Cloud. If it was not doing it initially, and you have not downloaded the driver from the Lenovo support page for your specific model, I'd do that and see if it fixes the issue. I also believe Lenovo has a utility that constantly monitors for driver updates for your specific machine from them. If so, I'd download and install that and see if it finds any other drivers that may need to be updated.

 

[bluestemos]

Do you have the option to return it for either refund or replacement?

I have 50 days to return it if I wish, but since I got the laptop at a nice discount I'd be getting brilliant bang for my buck, if I could just fix this one issue. The unit I got is also the last one they had, so I'm not sure if they can get me a new, identical one. I'll try to see if the problem can be fixed in the coming weeks -- if not, I'll return it.

I'll also ask, was it doing this "straight out of the box"?

I'm not 100% sure, I didn't really test out the audio much before doing the fresh install. The reason for the wipe was to get rid of the bloatware that came pre-installed among other things. I only noticed the crackling after the wipe.

If it was not doing it initially, and you have not downloaded the driver from the Lenovo support page for your specific model, I'd do that and see if it fixes the issue. I also believe Lenovo has a utility that constantly monitors for driver updates for your specific machine from them.

Yeah, Lenovo has an app called "Lenovo Vantage", which I've used to download all the available drivers.

One thing I forgot to mention is that the audio crackling seems to be at its worst when I'm actively using WiFi. Watching a YouTube video for example would result in almost constant pops and crackles, and opening the list of WiFi networks in the Windows taskbar often results in a short burst of static. Disconnecting from all WiFi networks or disabling the network adapter in the device manager seems to completely eliminate the crackling. Obviously disabling the Realtek sound devices gets rid of the crackling as well.

And on a side note; I have a small USB headphone-DAC that I can use with the laptop and it works beautifully without crackles, but it uses its own driver and bypasses the Realtek audio. I can use the DAC at home but on the go I won't have access to it, so really it's just a temporary fix.

 

[Ja-Nett]

I´ve got the exact same issue with my pc. Its not a lenovo though. Its related to ndis.sys which creates extreme lag spikes. I dont have the solution. Ive been working on it for weeks using surely nearly a million hours on it. Reinstalling wont ever fix it and updating stuff wont either. I had the same problem on my previous pc. I think its deeply rooted in the Windows system. i tried replacing ndis.sys but then windows blue screened after the next restart. (funny cause it clearly did not need the file while it was running) and i had to fresh reinstall everything for the actually more than 8th time.
Now the thing is ndis.sys is only running if your internet is being used, deaktivating the network device /wireless card will prevent it from ever running and the system runs flawless. There are countless others with the bug but microsoft gives a shit. Try searching ndis.sys stutter.. might find something i didnt find. I dont know what to do now. anyone got a solution, please let me know. Had this problem for an eternity now.

 

[Vezovi]

Solution found by Phobius. He posted it on lenovos forum. Try this:

This evening I started to notice desync in Edge too. It was really going on to my nerves, so I have decided to try some more driver updates. I updated diferent drivers manualy in Device Manager (right click and then "Update driver"). However, that didn't solve the issue.



Then, I opened the "Storage controllers" section in Device Manager and there where two devices: "Standard NVM express controller" and "Microsoft storage spaces controller". I then right clicked on "Standard NVM express controller" and then "Update driver" , "Browse my computer for driver software" and "Let mi pick from list...". I then browsed into folder of the Intel IRST driver (c:\Drivers\Intel IRST Driver\Source\), and selected the first file. That was the Intel IRST driver downloaded from Lenovo support page for our laptop. After selecting that file there was "Intel Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller" to select and install instead of "Standard NVM express controller". There will be message that it might not be compatible or something similiar, but just go with it. I then restarted laptop, and everything was working! No latency in LatencyMon, no delay in Chrome or Edge, even Latency Checker shows no more red bars!