Latency problem/ pops and cracks

[Zeellee]

Hi, i've spent the last months looking for a solution to this problem. Basically i get a lot of annoying audio pops and cracks whenever there's something playing on my computer. I've run dpc latency checker and LatencyMon and they display a latency of 1100 us. Ive also run the windows performance analyzer, i'll leave the results of everything at the end. I tried upgrading every driver and bios. I tried disconnecting every usb device. I tried changing options in the bios(the only one that made a slight difference was disabling c-state but it only reduced the latency of 100 ue, without removing the pops). There seems to be a lot other people suffering from this problem on the web, and on this website also but i didnt managed to find a solution that worked for me. I would prefer not to re install windows (also for a lot of people this seems to not be a solution). If there is something else i need to provide in order to get to the bottom of this problem feel free to ask me.


-Pc Specs

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
CPU
Intel Core i5 6500 @ 3.20GHz 39 °C
Skylake 14nm Technology
RAM
8,00GB Dual-Channel Unknown @ 1063MHz (14-14-14-32)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. B150M-A (LGA1151) 38 °C
Graphics
ASUS VX239 (1920x1080@60Hz)
4095MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (MSI) 56 °C
Storage
931GB Seagate ST1000DM003-1SB10C (SATA) 34 °C
232GB Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB (SSD) 36 °C
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50
Audio
Focusrite USB Audio



-LatencyMon results
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system appears to be suitable for handling real-time audio and other tasks without dropouts.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:01:35 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.




_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name: DESKTOP-NPHOROJ
OS version: Windows 10 , 10.0, build: 17134 (x64)
Hardware: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC., B150M-A
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6500 CPU @ 3.20GHz
Logical processors: 4
Processor groups: 1
RAM: 8119 MB total




_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reported CPU speed: 3192 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
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 533,172676
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 5,157127


Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 528,360648
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 1,762277




_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED ISRs
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 165,808271
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: dxgkrnl.sys - DirectX Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Corporation


Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0,222274
Driver with highest ISR total time: dxgkrnl.sys - DirectX Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Corporation


Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0,276549


ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 113692
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 0
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
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 722,398810
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: nvlddmkm.sys - NVIDIA Windows Kernel Mode Driver, Version 398.82 , NVIDIA Corporation


Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0,463286
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Runtime framework driver modalità kernel, Microsoft Corporation


Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0,848597


DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 413905
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 94
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0




_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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: chrome.exe


Total number of hard pagefaults 74
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 34
Number of processes hit: 9




_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 6,495393
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 145,471491
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0,908283
CPU 0 ISR count: 101092
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 722,398810
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 2,912683
CPU 0 DPC count: 391751
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 1,875139
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 165,808271
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0,142605
CPU 1 ISR count: 12600
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 504,043546
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0,163699
CPU 1 DPC count: 12391
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 1,273107
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0,0
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0,0
CPU 2 ISR count: 0
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 191,421679
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0,009379
CPU 2 DPC count: 1656
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 1,853791
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): 332,777569
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0,138908
CPU 3 DPC count: 8201
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________


- in the Attachments i'll leave the results of the windows performance analyzer.

 

[Zeellee]

Anyone? I'll leave a better trace screenshot, also ill answer the questions in the instruction thread.

• System Manufacturer? --
• Laptop or Desktop? Desktop
• Exact model number (if laptop, check label on bottom) --
• OS ? (Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista) Windows 10 Home
• x86 (32bit) or x64 (64bit)? 64Bit
• Service pack? --
• What was original installed OS on system? Windows 7
• Is the OS an OEM version (came pre-installed on system) or full retail version (YOU purchased it from retailer)? i dont remember
• Age of system? (hardware) 3 years
• Age of OS installation? last time i reinstalled windows 10 was one year ago
• Have you re-installed the OS? yes
• CPU Intel Core i5 6500
• RAM (brand, EXACT model, what slots are you using?) Kingston HyperX Fury DDR4 2x4gb
• Video Card Nvidia gtx 960 4gb
• MotherBoard - (if NOT a laptop) ASUS B-150MA
• Power Supply - brand & wattage (if laptop, skip this one) Aerocool VX750 750W
• Is driver verifier enabled or disabled? disabled
• What security software are you using? (Firewall, antivirus, antimalware, antispyware, and so forth) avast
• 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

 

[xilolee]

Hi Zeellee. :welcome:

Please read the sticky/pinned topic: POSTING INSTRUCTIONS for DPC/ISR latency, stuttering, cracks/pops (in this same windows 10 forum).

 

[Zeellee]

I've read it. What i need to do?

 

[Zeellee]

Hello?

 

[axe0]

Hi Zeellee,

Please follow steps B through G in the posting instructions.

 

[Zeellee]

Hi axe0, thanks for the reply.

Here are the files:
1.zip - Google Drive

 

[axe0]

Please update the NVIDIA display drivers to version 399.07 and install the SATA/chipset drivers from ASUS. Note that the SATA/chipset drivers from ASUS might be a downgrade, but please try it.

 

[Zeellee]

I already have the nvidia drivers 399.07 (at least according to the nvidia geforce experience software). I am not sure about the SATA/chipset drivers: as you can see from the screenshots i only have one device and on the asus site there are multiple drivers. Which one should i download?

 

[xilolee]

Does the problem happen when you are playing audio on the web? Or does this happen also when you are not connected?
Are you using Avast internet security or Avast free? It seems windows firewall is enabled, therefore you should use either Avast firewall or windows firewall.
Did you try a (completely) clean startup (i.e., also without loading Avast)?
Did you try to reproduce the problem in safe mode?
Did you try to completely uninstall Avast, for a test?

 

[axe0]

Chipset won't be in the device manager, it's a part of the motherboard that controls the flow of the data that is to be processed. Install only the SATA drivers from ASUS.

 

[Zeellee]

Does the problem happen when you are playing audio on the web? Or does this happen also when you are not connected?
Are you using Avast internet security or Avast free? It seems windows firewall is enabled, therefore you should use either Avast firewall or windows firewall.
Did you try a (completely) clean startup (i.e., also without loading Avast)?
Did you try to reproduce the problem in safe mode?
Did you try to completely uninstall Avast, for a test?

It happens when i'm connected and when i'm not.
I uninstalled avast and nothing has changed.
I have not been able to reproduce the problem in safe mode as i can't have sounds.

Chipset won't be in the device manager, it's a part of the motherboard that controls the flow of the data that is to be processed. Install only the SATA drivers from ASUS.

Unfortunately the asus website won't let me download the driver, i will try again tomorrow.
p.s. i need to install the SATA drivers (Version 15.2.1.1028) showed in the screenshot attached to my previous post, right?

 

[axe0]

Yes, install version 15.2.1.1028 of the SATA drivers.

 

[xilolee]

And:

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller: Win10 Auto Installation Program 10.028 2018/8/23 (click)

Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs: Vista, Windows7, Windows8, Windows8.1, Windows10 Driver (32/64bits) Driver only (Executable file) R2.82 2017/7/26 (click)

Check in your BIOS settings whether AHCI is set instead of IDE (maybe intel rapid storage technology should be on? in the ez mode).

 

[Zeellee]

And:

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller: Win10 Auto Installation Program 10.028 2018/8/23 (click)

Realtek High Definition Audio Codecs: Vista, Windows7, Windows8, Windows8.1, Windows10 Driver (32/64bits) Driver only (Executable file) R2.82 2017/7/26 (click)

Check in your BIOS settings whether AHCI is set instead of IDE (maybe intel rapid storage technology should be on? in the ez mode).

I installed the first one, nothing changed. The audio codecs are impossible to download as the download speed from the realtek site is way too slow, it says it would take 17 hours.

I checked and i don't have an "intel rapid storage technology" in the bios.

Yes, install version 15.2.1.1028 of the SATA drivers.

I downloaded the files, but now i have two folders, "install" and "driver" each one with multiple exe files. Which one should i run? I'll leave a picture.

 

[axe0]

Use the first file you find that's similar to 'setup.exe'.

 

[Zeellee]

Ok, i installed the Intel rapid storage software and the drivers, but the latency is still here. Should i make another trace?

 

[xilolee]

Check (only check!) the advanced menu, pch storage configuration, sata mode selection: it could be ide, ahci, raid.

 

[Zeellee]

i did not find it, i took some screenshot of the bios.

 

[xilolee]

Try to search that option between menus.