Microstuttering and sound popping


  1. GhostShip666
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10 x64
       New #1

    Microstuttering and sound popping


    Since installing the latest feature update for Win 10, I've had an issue with frequent microstuttering. The fps drop is basically imperceptible, I need to be running an FPS counter to notice it. But the sound issue is egregious. I'm used to some microstuttering running games on laptops, depending on the game. Usually it'll occur when loading a new asset. But here, it's not just games and it impacts the sound. It can happen minutes or seconds apart, feels quite random. It does not seem to be bound to anything going on that I can see on the task manager - it can happen with very low disc, memory and CPU usage. And it can happen when I'm just watching video on VLC. So I have no idea what to do about it, any suggestions?

    Nvidia GeForce 940M
    Intel i3 4000M
    Windows 10
    8GB RAM
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 42,984
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Hi, similar questions have been asked after upgrading to build 1803- which I guess is the feature update you're referring to, so you might wish to refer to them.

    Stutter is a difficult issue to resolve. Basics:
    a. Check your resource usage when stutter occurs (CPU, DISK) - which you say you've done.
    b. Check your hardware is capable of the task demanded.
    c. Run Resplendence's LatencyMon (free).

    You can then research 'stutter' and 'LatencyMon' on this forum to find related posts.

    Bearing in mind that you get a new set of drivers with a build upgrade, it is possible you need to use an OLDER driver.
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  4. GhostShip666
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Stopped it right after the first noticeable sound pop.


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    CONCLUSION
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    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 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 0:13:43 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    SYSTEM INFORMATION
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    Computer name: DESKTOP-0RK4DVT
    OS version: Windows 10 , 10.0, build: 17134 (x64)
    Hardware: W65_67SB , Notebook
    CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-4000M CPU @ 2.40GHz
    Logical processors: 4
    Processor groups: 1
    RAM: 8076 MB total


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    CPU SPEED
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    Reported CPU speed: 2394 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 DPC LATENCIES
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    The interrupt to DPC latency reflects the measured interval in which a DPC could execute in response to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution.

    Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 9073.503633
    Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 5.177959


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    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): 77.548872
    Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

    Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.004063
    Driver with highest ISR total time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

    Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.004063

    ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 41054
    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): 630.212197
    Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: ndis.sys - Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS), Microsoft Corporation

    Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.033794
    Driver with highest DPC total execution time: dxgkrnl.sys - DirectX Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Corporation

    Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.110292

    DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 854203
    DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
    DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 51
    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: fraps.exe

    Total number of hard pagefaults 437
    Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 133
    Number of processes hit: 14


    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    PER CPU DATA
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 13.511998
    CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 77.548872
    CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.113834
    CPU 0 ISR count: 32090
    CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 629.416876
    CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 3.405739
    CPU 0 DPC count: 835836
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.848698
    CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 22.489557
    CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.015301
    CPU 1 ISR count: 6465
    CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 619.787803
    CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.040681
    CPU 1 DPC count: 4175
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.876617
    CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 12.573099
    CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.001113
    CPU 2 ISR count: 701
    CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 195.335004
    CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.093632
    CPU 2 DPC count: 6653
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
    CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 3.366508
    CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 23.635756
    CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.003506
    CPU 3 ISR count: 1798
    CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 630.212197
    CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0.091114
    CPU 3 DPC count: 7590
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 42,984
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    I'm afraid you will need to do the research and experimentation. I don't think there's anyone here who's an expert on this.

    I said above:
    You can then research 'stutter' and 'LatencyMon' on this forum to find related posts.
    and above it says:
    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.
    In general (and not specific to Win 10, perhaps out of date..): searching for 'resolve dpc latency problems' offers
    https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare...atency-issues/
    How to Diagnose and Fix High DPC Latency Issues with WPA (Windows Vista/7/8)

    Log inspection:
    High DPC latency Windows 10, unable to fix - Super User

    Solve Latency Problems |
    - disable drivers to see effect on latency
    If you measure occasional high peaks you won't be able to run your audio interface at such a low latency, and should disable individual devices one at a time in Device Manager to find out which one is causing the problem.
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  7. GhostShip666
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Funny thing happened today, after a system reboot the computer just wouldn't recognize my Ethernet cable. I could connect through wi-fi but the Ethernet adapter had just stopped working. I checked the driver and it was from 2015, so I downloaded the most recent one. That fixed the issue and I'm pretty sure all the sound glitching too. So I guess it was a matter of an outdated driver, but why it just stopped working today I have no idea. I wasn't messing around with the adapter at all besides using it normally. Oh well, problem solved.
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  8. dalchina
    Posts : 42,984
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #6

    Glad you were able to fix it. Diagnosis is awkward and time consuming, although I would guess the idea posted of disabling drivers (that you reasonably could) to find the one responsible could have helped there.

    Odd that MS did not provide a later driver, but it happens. Beware of MS replacing your later driver (not certain how likely that is these days).
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  9. GhostShip666
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10 x64
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Will do, thanks.
      My Computer
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