Problems with audio latency, worse than old laptop

[cazanc]

Hello!

I have bought a new laptop, an Asus Gaming 17.3" ROG GL752VW, FHD, Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ (6M Cache, up to 3.50 GHz), 16GB Ram, SSD, 1TB 7200RPM, GeForce GTX 960M 4GB.
All my drivers are up-to-date and my win 10 is updated.
The audio latency is horrible, compared to an old HP Core2Duo. I have disabled almost all devices watching dpclatency checker and still no result.
Can someone please help me ? I can't even play Guitar Rig without pops and drops...

I am attaching a dpc latency printscreen and the report from latencymon.

Thank you!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system appears to be suitable for handling real-time audio and other tasks without dropouts.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:04:18 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name: SPEEDY
OS version: Windows 8 , 6.2, build: 9200 (x64)
Hardware: GL752VW, ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz
Logical processors: 8
Processor groups: 1
RAM: 16279 MB total


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 907.456432
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 8.193262

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 865.974967
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 1.640697


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 408.830247
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: HDAudBus.sys - High Definition Audio Bus Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.030021
Driver with highest ISR total time: HDAudBus.sys - High Definition Audio Bus Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.041944

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 153237
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 9
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): 805.590278
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: ndis.sys - Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS), Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.037828
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: rspLLL64.sys - Resplendence Latency Monitoring and Auxiliary Kernel Library, Resplendence Software Projects Sp.

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.169595

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 1231551
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 317
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: firefox.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 5144
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 1861
Highest hard pagefault resolution time (µs): 348855.305170
Total time spent in hard pagefaults (%): 0.171015
Number of processes hit: 28


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 15.476859
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 408.830247
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.837794
CPU 0 ISR count: 140312
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 690.270062
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 2.621895
CPU 0 DPC count: 962389
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 11.661424
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 142.121142
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.017112
CPU 1 ISR count: 5957
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 353.411265
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.097861
CPU 1 DPC count: 28265
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 7.308673
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 315.911265
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.002255
CPU 2 ISR count: 1157
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 785.758488
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.165510
CPU 2 DPC count: 58531
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 15.328579
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 58.363426
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.003542
CPU 3 ISR count: 2133
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 449.736111
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0.151101
CPU 3 DPC count: 40926
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 8.566358
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs): 38.616512
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s): 0.001433
CPU 4 ISR count: 1173
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs): 354.962963
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 0.147926
CPU 4 DPC count: 49019
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 14.564574
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs): 55.348765
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s): 0.001947
CPU 5 ISR count: 1118
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs): 702.196759
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0.112368
CPU 5 DPC count: 32435
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s): 8.584141
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs): 5.317130
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000337
CPU 6 ISR count: 361
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs): 805.590278
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s): 0.158668
CPU 6 DPC count: 52658
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s): 14.285361
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs): 49.002315
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s): 0.001346
CPU 7 ISR count: 1035
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs): 359.931327
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s): 0.045325
CPU 7 DPC count: 7645
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hi cazanc ... and welcome to the forums .....


Just a quick note here, since it's very late here on the West Coast (California) ...

Your process latencies look OK, apparently the hard pagefaults are what is killing the audio quality. That generally means you want to see what processes are involved in those spikes.

Your Latency Monitor charts that sort results by latencies can also be made to sort results by hard pagefaults (it should be in their instructions somewhere as to how).... Try a run with the pagefaults as the focus -- and see who shows up as the resource hogs.

It seems odd that a system with 16GB of the latest memory, a video card with 4GB of memory, an SSD, and an i7 should have much trouble with its pagefile usage. You could try a few little things ... try a set range for virtual memory, limit background system tasks from running during Guitar Rig sessions [especially indexing (Search & Superfetch), updates, file-sharing (especially for potentially unused file sharing thrashing about for no good reason ... like Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service)], .... and perhaps, if the SSD is big enough, move Guitar Rig onto the SSD and see if things improve.

I'll check back sometime during the day tomorrow to see how you're doing.

 

[cazanc]

Thank you for the fast reply.
I've set the virtual memory limit higher, disabled updates, wmp network sharing service. All software programs are on the ssd, an samsung evo 850 m2 sata III.
Here are the requested reports attached. I really don't know what to do more to solve this issue

Thank you so much!

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hi again

Quick note tonight (have a few things to finish by morning!) ...

Thanks for providing the latest files.
1) You can uninstall Thesycon's DPC Latency Checker, it hasn't been updated for Windows 10 yet... (in fact, it never got updated for Windows 8 either)..
......(But Respendence's Latency Monitor is OK - Latency Monitor has been Windows 10 compatible since version 6.50 or newer - since about late July 2015)
2) I really like Avast (it's my antivirus of choice for years ...) but for troubleshooting purposes, you could try temporarily removing it, and let the less-thorough Windows Defender offer somewhat basic protection for a while. Just as a test.
3) Interesting that one of your highest hard pagefault counts came from the Windows 10 Management console. I'll have to check on that. If you had a Management console utility running, test again with it not running (& also with DPC Latency Checker removed).

I'll take a more detailed look if I get time tomorrow.... after I wrap up these projects.....

Cheers

 

[cazanc]

Hi!

Tried all of that and still no difference. I see ndis.sys and, i8042prt.sys as main culprits...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system seems to be having difficulty handling real-time audio and other tasks. You may experience drop outs, clicks or pops due to buffer underruns. One or more DPC routines that belong to a driver running in your system appear to be executing for too long. At least one detected problem appears to be network related. In case you are using a WLAN adapter, try disabling it to get better results. 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 0:01:40 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name: ...
OS version: Windows 8 , 6.2, build: 9200 (x64)
Hardware: GL752VW, ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz
Logical processors: 8
Processor groups: 1
RAM: 16279 MB total


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 674.370104
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 5.900693

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 647.900979
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 0.993076


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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): 138.073302
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: i8042prt.sys - i8042 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.001044
Driver with highest ISR total time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.001929

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 5348
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): 1711.286265
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: ndis.sys - Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS), Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.021310
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.112617

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 355153
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 177
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 1
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: explorer.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 46
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 23
Highest hard pagefault resolution time (µs): 14900.290895
Total time spent in hard pagefaults (%): 0.006832
Number of processes hit: 4


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.039869
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 138.073302
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.015398
CPU 0 ISR count: 5340
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1711.286265
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 0.573262
CPU 0 DPC count: 278368
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 3.54630
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 17.802469
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000040
CPU 1 ISR count: 8
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 353.777006
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.014987
CPU 1 DPC count: 3675
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 1.805994
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): 475.386574
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.07260
CPU 2 DPC count: 18163
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.578654
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): 187.854167
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0.006664
CPU 3 DPC count: 1233
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 2.468787
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): 358.856481
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 0.079654
CPU 4 DPC count: 19072
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.719099
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): 381.788580
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0.064772
CPU 5 DPC count: 13696
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s): 1.688562
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): 388.552469
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s): 0.083384
CPU 6 DPC count: 20320
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.548166
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): 135.550154
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s): 0.005760
CPU 7 DPC count: 804
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hi again

Were you able to move Guitar Rig onto the SSD?

The folks at Native Instruments recommend updating the firmware for whatever device you are using as an interface for your instrument (such as their Komplete series audio interfaces), along with the USB/USB 3.0 drivers for your PC (and of course for the audio chip in your laptiop).

Windows 10 Compatibility News
Native Instruments has conducted compatibility tests with Windows 10 that have shown current NI products to work without any specific issues under this operating system. To ensure full compatibility, please install the latest software updates for all of your NI products.
Important Note: If you connect Native Instruments hardware to a USB 3.0 port, make sure to install the latest drivers. Also install the latest firmware for your hardware with the corresponding Device Updater.

Here is their page for drivers specific to their products:
Downloads : Drivers & Other Files | Support
Here is their how-to for updating firmware:
How to Update the Firmware of your NI Audio Interface or Controller | Knowledge Base | Support

You mention latency issues, do you have a recent graph that shows high latencies? Your earlier graph only pointed to high hard pagefaults.

If you'd like, you can collect & send a bit more system info using our SysNative info-gathering app, then zip its results and post them here. The app was designed to help with BSOD analysis, but can also prove helpful for audio/video misbehavior. Here's the link to instructions for that:
https://www.sysnative.com/forums/bs...ng-instructions-windows-10-8-1-8-7-vista.html
_______________

You mention Ndis as a possible source of the trouble (lots of conversations about this on the Net) ... but you also mention that you've disabled a lot of devices during your testing. If you are seeing high latencies with your network devices disabled, it doesn't seem likely that Ndis could be the source of the trouble.

The audio issues in Windows 10 have gotten a lot of attention, but as of yet, no single solution works for everyone. The most successful solutions, in fact, were those involving returning to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 (something that you might not have the option to do, since your PC came with Windows 10).... There is, however, such a thing as "downgrade rights"... If your Windows 10 is the "Pro" version, you might have downgrade rights to Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 7 Pro. The easiest way to check if you have downgrade rights - if you have a retail-purchased computer, is call the support line from that store or manufacturer. Here's the "downgrade rights" basic info from Microsoft:
Understanding downgrade rights

I'll check back to see how you're doing....

 

[OldGrayGary]

Figured I should add this in here, since you happen to have an Nvidia card: a new driver was released today - AnandTech has an article about it, in case you want to give it a try:
NVIDIA Releases 368.39 WHQL Game Ready Driver, Adds GTX 17 Support


[.... the "GTX 17" should read GTX 1070 .... it's just a glitch in the shortcut's abbreviation]

 

[cazanc]

Hi!
Thank you for the info. All my software are on the SSD. I have checked and everything is up-to-date, and i mean windows, software, guitar rig, graphics driver (installed yesterday) etc. There are no new firmware updates for guitar rig kontrol as i can see.
I have win7 on the old computer and it seems to work ok. The old computer came with Vista and was horrible at audio latency. After downgrading to xp or win7 that problem was solved. Unfortunately downgrading to win 7 for the new laptop is not a solution for me
I will try that software you mentioned and I will get back to you with the results.
Once again, thank you so much for your support! Have a great day and keep in touch.
Cezar

 

[OldGrayGary]

I'll stay tuned ... thanks for the update!

 

[cazanc]

Here is the perfmon report. Does it help ? Thanks!

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hi again


Sorry for my recent delays in answering (been doing some good repair business!) ....

Performance Monitor
I looked over the Performance Monitor output, seems pretty good overall.

Nvidia GeForce Driver Tweaks
Any performance change with the new Nvidia driver? If not, you could try some of the tweaks that various users have tried - a guide I see referred to every now and then is over at TweakGuides ---
TweakGuides.com - Nvidia GeForce Tweak Guide

One example that I imagine the guide will mention is that you don't need to install all of the GeForce Experience modules (there are quite a few of them) or the Network Streaming service (if you aren't playing your games online, you can toggle that service on/off as necessary).

High Hard Pagefaults
And - here are some steps I've been mentioning for limiting hard pagefaults, since they were the worst offenders in some of your graphs:
To help lower high hard pagefaults, it can help to:
1) Limit startup processes that you don't need
2) Limit Windows-Updates file-sharing (in Settings > Updates and security > Windows Update > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered > turn off "updates from more than one place" - that will limit unnecessary background network activity)
3) Limit the amount of "telemetry" (data sent to Microsoft ... choose the "Basic" option in Settings > Privacy > Feedback & Diagnostics ... and you can try "Never" as your "Feedback Frequency" while testing your latency issues)
4) Limit any Notifications that you don't need or want (Settings > System > Notifications & actions
5) Turn off "Live" tiles on your Start Menu (to limit unnecessary background updating of any information you don't want or need)
6) Uninstall any Windows "Universal" apps that you don't want or need (Settings > System > Apps & features -- click the app you wish to uninstall) ... and for those that you don't want, but can't uninstall (some of the built-in apps) - you can still keep them from starting unwanted services (in Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services) or startup modules (in Task Manager > Startup tab)

Antivirus Firewalls
Some users find that certain modules of their antivirus program can have a rough affect on their audio quality. For some, it is especially noticeable when using the third-party firewall. You can try reverting to using just the Windows firewall, or to turn off a feature in the third-party firewall that blocks port scans (since most routers/modems/gateways have built-in port scanning blocking, it doesn't necessarily lower your defenses, since your hardware provides the service).

I noticed that you have Avast as your Antivirus (so do I, actually) ... If you have the "Avast Internet Security" version, it includes a firewall - so why not take a look and see if it has that port-scanning blocking feature available to toggle on/off (I would expect it to). I use the free version of Avast, which doesn't include the firewall, so I make do with the Windows 10 firewall.

Windows Updates
And .... there was another round of Windows Updates released today (Tuesday June 14, 2016)... I didn't notice any fixes specific to our issues, but the overall stability might improve things bit by bit.

Let's hope things start working a bit better ...

 

[OldGrayGary]

P.S. ..... I always forget something.

Here's another Nvidia Drivers tweak guide, that concentrates on the various background modules, what they do, and how to only use the ones you need:
Disable NVIDIA Streamer Service and other NVIDIA processes - gHacks Tech News

 

[cazanc]

Hi! I tried everything you suggested: limit startup processes, disable update sharing, send nothing to microsoft, get rif of unnecesarry notifications and live tiles, disabled free avast antivirus and did windows update. Apparently it's the same as before.
I don't know what to do... I was so happy that my work will be easier on a new laptop and now i'm stuck with this...
Do you know some special software (even paid) that could detect the problem and solve this issue ?
Thank you again for your amazing support!

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hi again

There is an item I forgot to have you check (another few fellow-sufferers of audio glitches helped to remind me of it...) -- can you look in on your USB devices, and see if you have the ASMedia USB 3.1 in the list? Quite some time ago, some audio glitch sufferers found that uninstalling that driver (and using a generic instead) ... game them a little bit better experience. The ASMedia USB 3.1 shows up in a lot of Asus and Asrock motherboards.

Let us know how that goes.

And - you could contact your laptop vendor about your downgrade rights, they might have a way for you accomplish that under the terms of purchase for your current Windows 10.

I'll be out and about doing repairs most of tomorrow, but I'll try to check back in around midnight....

 

[cazanc]

I don't have that in the list, it's just Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 1.0 (Microsoft).

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hmm... too bad it wasn't the ASMedia one, replacing it helped some systems.

If the highest producer of hard pagefaults is ndis.sys ... you could try a round of trying different versions of your network drivers. But if you've tested things with your network devices temporarily disabled, & still have audio pops in Guitar Rig --- it's obviously not going to help to change network drivers. At one point, your browsers were showing as high hard pagefault sources, so testing with them off should exonerate them as well.

Tricky all around. I wish there was a program that could quickly solve the audio problems in Windows 10. I'd recommend the heck out of it! If I find one, by golly, it will show up here.

I mentioned some fairly new tools from Microsoft in another thread here at SysNative, but they are targeted for audio/video/media engineers & producers. The toolset is call the "Media eXperience Analyzer". Pretty technical stuff (certainly made my head spin a bit when I gave it a go for a while). I suppose it wouldn't hurt if you just want to see what it's about:
Download Media eXperience Analyzer from Official Microsoft Download Center
DefragTools #149 - Media eXperience Analyzer part 1 | Defrag Tools | Channel 9
Defrag Tools #15 - Media eXperience Analyzer part 2: Video Playback Power Saving | Defrag Tools | Channel 9
Defrag Tools #151 - Media eXperience Analyzer part 3: Audio Glitch Analysis | Defrag Tools | Channel 9

.... and there are several more tutorial videos: you can find them fairly easily with your favorite search engine.
____________________

Maybe you could call the Native Instruments folks: perhaps an actual human being would know a trick to get the audio happier in Windows 10. Or at least they might be able to recommend some workaround.

I'd be happy to hear of any solution!

 

[cazanc]

I will try whatever I can and let you know how it went.
Thank you!