Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
26 Posts
0
1028473
Studio 1737 DPC Latency
Hello! My Studio 1737 is showing the DPC Latency problems described as in this thread: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19245700/19411542.aspx
Symptoms include periodic crackle and popping sounds during audio playback. The problem is most severe with wireless broadband enabled and disabling it greatly helps but does not completely solve the problem.
Research on the web shows this is a fairly widespread problem known to affect Studio laptops, and that BIOS upgrades have resolved the problem for other computers including Dell's XPS line.
So I'm hoping this will be fixed soon. Has anyone been able to get information from Dell support about whether this will be fixed with a BIOS update for the 1737?
Cheers,
-Andy
jamboe
18 Posts
0
September 14th, 2009 11:00
I downloaded the debugging suite and then process hacker. I found the ACPI.sys service and tried to disable it, but it wont let me. It says something along the lines of "It can't be found" . Does anyone know what I am doing wrong?
Thanks
eckythump
21 Posts
0
September 14th, 2009 11:00
Sorry no, I just right click it in PH and choose "suspend", but the NI thread has a lot more info/experiences if your running into trouble:
http://www.native-instruments.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82401&page=20
eckythump
21 Posts
0
September 15th, 2009 00:00
Hi Jamboe/all
Realised the breif guide to suspending acpi.sys with system hacker I gave a few posts back was not quite right.
I've edited it to make it clearer and more correct!
DJ Quartz
58 Posts
0
September 15th, 2009 09:00
Hello Jamboe,
I tested SSL on my 1737 as well but with WinXP. I found that I had to run a latency of 4ms or lower for it to work correctly. What latency are you running at?
jamboe
18 Posts
0
September 15th, 2009 09:00
I used it last night and got it to work using process hacker. However, this did not fix latency issues with my setup.
The spiking did seem to stop (but not completely) and most of the bars using DPC checker were green with nothing running. As soon as I turn on serato and the CDJ's and begin playing music, ALL of the green bars turn yellow and the music has clicks and pops throughout and still a dropout once in a while.
As far as I can tell, my computer has been optimized completely (i.e. no unnecessary programs running, drivers shut down for unnecessary hardware, Vista optimized to its fullest, and the known workaround (acpi.sys suspension) performed) and it still cannot stream music properly.
Even manipulating the USB buffer size in Serato does nothing.
I'm beginning to think this is an insurmountable problem with these computers. I for one, am giving it up. Unfortunatley, I see these computers going for $600 on ebay now. How there are so many brand new studio laptops at this price on ebay is beyond me, because they were not there six months ago. So I have spent months with a giant headache, can't use this, can't return it even though it doesn't work, and I am out over $1000 dollars (if i choose to ebay it)
If anyone has the ability to send these back, do it now and don't be a chump. This isn't going to get fixed anytime soon. And they are becoming more and more worthless as talk of these issues spead from forum to forum. I believe this is the reason they are being unloaded on ebay at such a low price. It's also the reason why people have stuck with trying to find a fix, because most people can't afford to pay over $1000 for a computer and turn around and buy another one because they can't return it and it doesn't work
And to the Dell people, I know this is just one person's opinion, but I've been going at it for months now, this has been the most frustrating experience I have had on a computer to date. You should recall these computers. They don't work, do you understand that?
Septolus
5 Posts
0
September 15th, 2009 19:00
I totally agree with you and gave in as well. I am quite convinced it is just faulty hardware design. I do not believe it has something to do with built in firewire chipsets because the Vostro I got did not even have firewire. Nevertheless the 2200USD laptop was not able to stream audio without pops and crackles due to DPC spikes. Sorry, but that is downright ridiculous.
I think the only way to deal with that is to return your machines to Dell (if possible) and spread as far as possible the finding that many (maybe all?) current Dell laptops can't stream audio without artefacts and cpu dropouts, which makes them useless for any (serious) audio business.
Maybe then Dell will honestly try to do something about it. At the moment I suppose they can't do much much about it because it is hardware related. So guess they'll wait and see and hope for the next product cycle.
Anonymous
5 Practitioner
5 Practitioner
•
274.2K Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 09:00
Not all. My Latitude D620 runs DPC Latency checker with all green bars. I have this issue replicated and escalated for the following platforms:
Will keep you updated and post back what I find.
Stevehg
11 Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 10:00
Bill, My XPS M1330 runs the DPC latency checker with loadsa red bars and has never been able to play any kind of music (be it CD/MP3 etc) without pops and crackle's, luckily i'm not in the audio business!. There has just got to be a design or component link between all the faulty models........cheers Steve
Trent Curtis
56 Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 10:00
I don't think the Latitude Series is a problem, I have tried it on multiple D620s and D630s with no DPC Spikes. I believe the problem resides in all of the Studio models.
Good Luck finding a Studio 1555!
Trent
DJ Quartz
58 Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 10:00
Hello Bill,
Could you test this on the Studio 1555 series as well? I'm getting mixed answers over on the NI forum. Thanks
Anonymous
5 Practitioner
5 Practitioner
•
274.2K Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 11:00
I need to amend my previous post. I have the issue escalated on all laptop platforms that contain the word "Studio" in their name except for the St XPS 1640, which has ATI graphics only and appears not to be affected... and the XPS m1330 and m1530.
Anonymous
5 Practitioner
5 Practitioner
•
274.2K Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 13:00
Don't ask, but try this on the Vostro. Plug a USB memory key into any USB slot and see what happens to the latency. Just curious.
Septolus
5 Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 13:00
Not all. My Latitude D620 runs DPC Latency checker with all green bars. I have this issue replicated and escalated for the following platforms:
Will keep you updated and post back what I find.
[/quote]
Glad to hear it does not affect all platforms. But would you please have a look at the Vostro 1220 too? The one I had produced DPC latency spikes in the 4000µs range every 4th second. So I'd say it is not only "Studio", but "Vostro" as well. And there might be other Vostro users outside there ...
BTW: Despite from giving the user a hard time those cracks and dropouts could seriously damage audio hardware connected to those computers like amplifiers and loudspeakers, let alone the ears of the audience ...
Septolus
5 Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 14:00
Sorry, can't do that for I have returned the Vostro already.
If thats of any help: I ran DPC Checker from CD Drive and SSD with all USB controllers enabled or disabled. No difference at all, spikes every 4 seconds. Shure enough I deactivated WiFi and Bluetooth and Ethernet LAN too ... nothing. Tried Win7 Enterprise Final ... same result, regular spikes. After that I gave up.
Anonymous
5 Practitioner
5 Practitioner
•
274.2K Posts
0
September 16th, 2009 14:00
No worries. Any other DJ, musician types out there using a Vostro? Give it a shot. I remember a similar issue like a year ago on Vostro that was root caused down to something polling the USB controllers for mass storage devices...memory...fading....fast.