Windows 7: Possible solution for DPC latency pops & crackles

Snookie · 16 Mar 2012

Well I am well and truly jiggered today and over the moon to boot! Have long been bothered by DPC latency pops and crackles during the playback of music on iTunes or Windows Media Player making it impossible to listen to. Thought it was a problem with my PC sound somewhere ... somehow ....

Following a series of power cuts, have protected ALL equipment connected to my PC with power surge devices to my utter joy music now plays without stuttering, pops, crackles etc ... pure magic!! ............

fireberd · 17 Mar 2012

Power protection before the PC should not have any affect on a problem such as latency. The "power cuts" (I assume "power failures") apparently caused some type of hardware recovery which is probably (guess) the reason.

Almost everyone that I know of on recording forums (for recording studios) uses UPS systems for their critical equipment including the PC and there are still latency issues.

Snookie · 18 Mar 2012

Fortunately my PC was not switched on or plugged through to the mains when the power cuts happened, so any form of hardware recovery due to the power loss is not the answer here.

I am no expert and cannot explain it. All that I can say is that since I added a surge protection to where all the power leads for devices connected to my PC connect I am able to play music without annoying pops, crackles and fizzes

whs · 18 Mar 2012

DPC latency problems are usually created by foul drivers. If the problem reoccurs, you can check it with this program - it will give you hints about the culprit. DPC Latency Checker

Duzzy · 18 Mar 2012

Not really relevant but I thought I'd just say that I get pops and crackles from my speaker system when someone turns on the kitchen light or someone uses certain power tools in the shed, it's really annoying.

whs · 18 Mar 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Duzzy

Not really relevant but I thought I'd just say that I get pops and crackles from my speaker system when someone turns on the kitchen light or someone uses certain power tools in the shed, it's really annoying.

That is a problem with cheap equipment that is not shielded. Top shelf tools would not do that.

Snookie · 18 Mar 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by whs

DPC latency problems are usually created by foul drivers. If the problem reoccurs, you can check it with this program - it will give you hints about the culprit. DPC Latency Checker

Thanks very much I'll make a note of that

Duzzy · 18 Mar 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by whs

Quote: Originally Posted by Duzzy

Not really relevant but I thought I'd just say that I get pops and crackles from my speaker system when someone turns on the kitchen light or someone uses certain power tools in the shed, it's really annoying.

That is a problem with cheap equipment that is not shielded. Top shelf tools would not do that.

I think it's got more to do with the 50+ year old wiring since it also happens when someone turns on the kitchen light or the ceiling fan in the lounge room and other things cause it. But they are cheap tools too.

Zahl · 21 Mar 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Duzzy

Not really relevant but I thought I'd just say that I get pops and crackles from my speaker system when someone turns on the kitchen light or someone uses certain power tools in the shed, it's really annoying.

Had the same issue at our home before we upgraded our electrical panel. Apparently a 100 amp setup is not enough to power a two family home and caused all kinds of issues like the one you described, including the lights dimming slightly when the fridges/AC's kicked on. Once we made the switch to a 200 amp panel all was well.
A cheaper solution to fix the issue is a battery backup unit, like an APC. That will eliminate all that, at least for whatever is plugged into it.
Also worth noting is that some older boards had a pci latency option in the bios and bumping it up a notch helped out but I have not seen that in ages.

Duzzy · 21 Mar 2012

Don't know about the 100/200 amp stuff, but let's just say were still running ceramic fuses using fuse wire, 1 Main and 4 others in a 3 bedroom house.

Also my speakers pop and crackle if their turned on they don't need any audio signal to do it, it does help when I forget to turn them off though.

We would get the house rewired but we're poor, well too poor to do that anyway.

Windows 7: Possible solution for DPC latency pops & crackles

Possible solution for DPC latency pops & crackles problems?