Topic: DPC latency checker

[brstma]

http://www.thesycon.de/eng/latency_check.shtml

I tried this after reading about it in SOS. It checks system latency to help diagnose hardware issues that can cause audio problems.  I was getting 150 - 200 microseconds and started disabling devices; I disabled a USB mass storage device and now I'm at 8-12 microseconds 

Here's the article:
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun08/articles/pcnotes_0608.htm

[metemi]

Thanks for this, will try it later.  Microseconds? Don't you mean Milliseconds?

1 second (s) = 1,000 milliseconds (103 ms) and 1 millisecond (ms) = 0.001 second (s)
1 millisecond (ms) = 1000 microseconds (µs) and 1 second (s) = 1,000,000 microseconds (106 µs)
1 microsecond (µs) = 0.000001 second (10-6 s) = 0.001 millisecond (10-3 ms)

[brstma]

It's microseconds.  It's actually measuring the interrupt latency for hardware devices.  The article shows many issues discovered from people posting the results on the SOS forums.  Many people had major audio issues that were caused by one device or another.  It seems that Vista is very bad on some systems, giving latencies of 1000 - 3000 microseconds with no change after disabling devices;  installing XP on the same systems brought it to normal.  I think some systems that claim to be Vista ready really are not.

Here's the thread with all the reports and feedback  http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=588140&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

They've found many problems:  wireless mice and keyboards,  certain systems that are no good for music,  Network polling -  too many to list

[metemi]

It seems that Vista is very bad on some systems, giving latencies of 1000 - 3000 microseconds with no change after disabling devices;  installing XP on the same systems brought it to normal.  I think some systems that claim to be Vista ready really are not.

I'm glad I got XP on my new egg 

[ZeHoS]

I think some systems that claim to be Vista ready really are not.

Indeed, there has been a phase of false advertising. (But it was mostly for laptops, IIRC.) And audio wasn't even the main concern.   But these days, it shouldn't be so bad any more...

[defect9]

IMO, the best line from the article:

"Processing of streaming data in real-time is a very challenging task for Windows based applications and device drivers. This is because by design Windows is not a real-time operating system. There is no guarantee that certain (periodic) actions can be executed in a timely manner."

and yet, somehow people want real time everything with their bloated systems.

I think some systems that claim to be Vista ready really are not.

Indeed, there has been a phase of false advertising. (But it was mostly for laptops, IIRC.) And audio wasn't even the main concern.   But these days, it shouldn't be so bad any more...

the other day a friend handed me their laptop (and a small wad of money) and basically asked me to make it not so slow and to add some spyware cause they think that's the problem.  Turns out after both spyware and virus checking their system was clean (sadly cleaner than mine).  after defragging the HD it got a little faster.  the real problem?  Centrino M processor, 512mb ram, Vista.

which leads me to this page: http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/OSguides.htm

He's got system services configurations recommendations so you can set your computer up to be faster loading on startup because you have less crap loaded when windows starts up (like turning your instant messengers and all non-vital services to Manual instead of automatic).  I figure between this page, the latency checker, and your standard audio tweaks pages, nobody should have issues with their audio or gaming computers if they follow everything.  *Side note: It still didnt make Vista a powerhouse on an underpowered laptop, but it did help*

-J

[Barnezy]

I hear that Vista is XP with a facelift, which uses twice the memory to run.
Any truth to this.

[defect9]

I hear that Vista is XP with a facelift, which uses twice the memory to run.
Any truth to this.

While it does keep some of the XP elements, and may use some of XP as a base, it's definitely a new program.  And it has lots of sheep friendly things added to it, which non-sheep can disable with a little time investment.  After you get it all smoothed out, it's my understanding that its not a bad OS, with some redeeming qualities about it. 

Then again, you should also not attempt to run it on a laptop with a Centrino M processor and 512MB of ram unless you like waiting.  Even XP isn't so happy on that kind of system.

Sadly, Vista 32 (or 64, for that matter) still uses more Ram than XP, but that's the case with each new OS, isn't it

[brstma]

The article implicates Dell notebooks as being the most problematic. The fan in some are temp controlled and cause audio glitches, there's a 3rd party app to help: i8kfan.  Two models were confirmed to have trouble by Dell with no fix: Precision M6300 and Latitude D630. 

[brstma]

Here's the article: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun08/articles/pcnotes_0608.htm

[RhythmScript]

The real worst of it is the Windows Vista / Windows 7 DWM process (desktop window manager); that is, the Aero Glass. It's AWFUL about the interrupts.

Disabling this for both Vista and 7 solved 90% of my problems. Solved the other 10% by deactivating my wireless card when recording.