Audio Stutters and Buzzing Caused by DPC Latency

[Moops]

So, I downloaded LatencyMon as stated in threads concerning people with my same problem. The closest I got to finding someone with my same problem was when they were having problems with usb.sys or something or other, can't recall the exact filename. What makes my predicament tricky, or so I think, is that the problem is being caused by what seems to be a binary file within System32\drivers named DDDriver64Dcsa.sys and another was ACPI.sys, the former having the highest DPC routine execution time (501188) and the latter having the highest ISR routine execution time. (82.5)

From what I'm reading, I'm interpreting it that DDDriver64Dcsa.sys is the cause of my problems. I've disabled ACPI.sys and it has had no effect on the audio stutters. The good thing is that I know what to try next, the bad thing is that I don't know what to do with this other file. It is a binary file within some other package. Systemexplorer.net has it that "This file belongs to product Dell Diags Device Driver and was developed by company Dell Computer Corporation. This file has description DDDriver.sys." I'm a bit scared to just up and delete it, as I'm not entirely sure what it does.

 

[salfademas]

Amazing that I found this. Same exact issue. For about 3 days or so. DDDriver64Dcsa.sys seems to be the culprit but I am not sure how to proceed or exactly how to get rid of it.

 

[johnmoo]

Wow. Thread was started one hour ago and helped me solve my problem with audio stutter.

I just registered here because I had exactly the same problem.
What solved the problem for me was deactivating the driver in the Device Manager.
Alas I can't tell you what the device was named, since I already uninstalled all the "Dell Support ..."-Software.
What I can tell you is, the driver was in Device Manager->System Devices and it's name stared with "Dell ..."
Might even be "Dell Diags Device Driver", as in the first post. You could always just try deactivating this driver via the Device Manager and see if this solves the problem for you (it did for me).
One question: which devices are you guys using? Mine is an Alienware 13.
Good luck everyone!

 

[astgtciv]

Amazing, guys. Same problem, took same steps, first ran dpclat to see i have a driver latency problem, then Windows Performance Toolkit (as per How to Diagnose and Fix High DPC Latency Issues with WPA (Windows Vista/7/8) - Sysnative Forums - just remember to use "wpa" for viewing the perf results instead of "xperf". DDDriver64Dcsa was the culprit, disabled "Dell Diag Control Device" in Device Manager under "System Devices" as @johnmoo says, and boom! problem gone. Thank you all!!! Just registered to say thanx

I wonder what happened to the Dell Diag that it started to cause problems concurrently everywhere it exists...

@johnmoo regarding device I am on a really old Dell XPS 15 - I thought some hardware finally started to die off on me when the buzzing started...

 

[johnmoo]

Glad that I could be of help.

Yeah, it seems like this is a problem from the current version of the Dell Diag software. Must have started with an update.

For anyone reading this thread: I uninstalled all the "Dell ..."-software and my system is running perfectly.
The only Dell-software I still have installed is the audio-driver. Do not uninstall this (at least if you have an Alienware 13) or your sound won't work after hibernate or standby!

Cheers!

 

[Tcello]

Wow just a BIG thank you guys !
I experienced the same problem and it took me hours to find it, and step by step i managed to fix it but only because of you !
I am a music producer using ableton live software and from this morning i couldn't use it normally. I had many drop outs every minute and CPU was killing my work.

Now i just uninstalled that dell support and everything is running well !
So the only thing you have to do is uninstalling the dell support and you can keep the rest.
I am running a Dell XPS L502 X
So again thank you and I took the time to write here for that !

 

[Backlight]

I just ran into the same issue which brought me to this thread. I'm using a Sony DAC and am a bit of an audiophile so having any dropout is 100% unacceptable.

After running LatencyMon it also seemed to show that DDDriver64Dcsa.sys was the driver causing the DPC issues. First I disabled the driver as mentioned above, no improvement, then I deleted the driver file, still had the same issue. Running LatencyMon again it was another driver causing the same issue. Then based on salfademas's post I went looking to see what automatic updates were released three days ago (when the problem started for him/her). There were a number of Microsoft updates plus Dell updates in the same file on the 10th.

So decided to do a system restore to the last restore point which was 10/2/15. That fixed the issue! Now, the problem is, what S/W installed as part of that Microsoft upgrade caused the issue? If I just install the update again in its entirety I suspect I'll be right back where I started.

 

[IanEvs1979]

Same!

The latency issue started on my laptop about 3 days ago too, and it's taken me most of this evening to get to the bottom of it! I tried updating most of my drivers and disabling network and sound drivers, without success, but after a google search of latency (I had a similar problem when I first got the machine), I came across a webpage that suggested using Windows Performace Analyzer, followed by cmd and then xperf, which did take awhile. Eventually, the program showed that the driver that was causing the spikes was called 'dddriver64dcsa.sys'. I then did a quick google search of that driver, which brought me here, so I tried what you all suggested and disabled 'Dell Diag Control Device' and 'Dell System Analyzer Control Device', and all is well again. I can again listen to my vast music collection on iTunes without and dragging.

My laptop is the trusty XPS L502X.

 

[Backlight]

Seems the issue could be the recent Dell Support Assist install, try removing that.. I don't have it at the moment as I did a system restore but from what I see on the Dell Forum that has fixed the problem.

 

[gcnubian]

I could kiss you...

I have a studio session starting in 5 minutes.

Literally.

This post just SAVED MY LIFE.

I downloaded the Latency Program from a previous thread, and it basically just scared the crap out of me.

I went into the Device Manager, like it says here, disabled that piece of junk Dell Diag Control whatever-thingy, and BLAMMO.

Back to normal latency.

Guys, I thought I was going to have to nuke this studio session.

MANY many many many thanks.

I want to give you money. Forrealz. Thanks SO SO SO much!!!!

 

[salfademas]

Johnmoo, THANK YOU.

This worked perfectly, and I am back to normal.

Kudos and many thanks!

- Sal

 

[Vahce1903]

Guys,
thank you very much for this solution, in my computer it also works Last some hours was really difficult for me, but now I can back to work Thank you one more time!

Greetings from Łódź, Poland

 

[Kytten]

Wow. Thread was started one hour ago and helped me solve my problem with audio stutter.

I just registered here because I had exactly the same problem.
What solved the problem for me was deactivating the driver in the Device Manager.
Alas I can't tell you what the device was named, since I already uninstalled all the "Dell Support ..."-Software.
What I can tell you is, the driver was in Device Manager->System Devices and it's name stared with "Dell ..."
Might even be "Dell Diags Device Driver", as in the first post. You could always just try deactivating this driver via the Device Manager and see if this solves the problem for you (it did for me).
One question: which devices are you guys using? Mine is an Alienware 13.
Good luck everyone!

Made an account just to say thank you.


I've been dealing with this for a good 6 hours or so ... Tried every suggestion I could find, and then by chance found this thread.



You've made my night.

 

[Driver64]

THANK YOU! I've spent the past several nights trying to determine why all of sudden I was experiencing huge latency spikes, resulting in drop-outs and audio buzzing. I updated all my drivers, even my Bios, and tried disabling/enabling devices via the Device Manager, all to no avail. I downloaded LatencyMon and DPC Latency checker. LatencyMon pointed to DDDriver64csa.sys as the culprit, but I was unsure what to do about it until I found this forum. I fired up the Device Manager via the Control Panel and disabled "Dell Diag Control Device" under System Devices and it worked! I was about ready to pull my hair out.

BTW, I find it interesting a number of you experienced the same exact problem at this time. The latency issue started immediately after some recent Microsoft updates. I can't confirm if the updates were the culprit. But the timing is highly suspicious.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! May the digital gods bless you.

 

[Driver64]

Well, it looks like I spoke too soon. While disabling "Dell Diag Control Device" did indeed seem to solve the problem for a little bit, the problem started right back up again: drop-outs and audio buzzing. I'm at my wit's end with this crap.

 

[Vahce1903]

Same as above... After restart problem still exist nevermind if Dell Diag Control Device is active or not.

Let's check here:

Buzzing/stuttering during audio playback on xps 13 9333 - Laptop Audio Forum - Laptop - Dell Community

and here

DPC Latency Issues (I think) - Dell XPS 13 - (Presumably) found the offending driver. What now? : techsupport

In last update Dell add 2 programs "dell support assist" - you should remove both of them.

Greetings from Łódź, Poland

 

[akhety]

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

This has been so amazingly annoying and NOW IT'S FIXED.

Thank you. Thank you so so so much. I registered just to say thank you.

 

[Backlight]

Well, it looks like I spoke too soon. While disabling "Dell Diag Control Device" did indeed seem to solve the problem for a little bit. The problem started right back up again: drop-outs and audio buzzing. I'm at my wit's end with this crap.

I didn't work for me either. As mentioned in my previous post I had to do a system restore to before the last Microsoft patch. That did the trick. It was something in the last Microsoft patch (which includes Dell updates) that caused the issue. Let's hope the issue is fixed with the next patch release.

 

[Driver64]

Just an update. I uninstalled all Dell Support software, in addition to disabling "Dell Diag Control Device" under System Devices in the Device Manager. So far, I haven't experienced any drop-outs or audio buzzing. I'll keep you posted.

 

[MrTWX]

Just an update. I uninstalled all Dell Support software, in addition to disabling "Dell Diag Control Device" under System Devices in the Device Manager. So far, I haven't experienced any drop-outs or audio buzzing. I'll keep you posted.

I've read all the posts and I must agree with this method.
Totally solved the problem for me.