Audio playback from any app skips and lags

[Funkydrummer]

Alright, here goes. I just bought a new laptop with windows 7 home 64 bit and I am having horrid issues with the audio. Playback from any app skips and lags constantly and monitoring in DAW apps is to choppy too be practical.

I've been doing some reading and I've update all the driver, removed things from startup, and have been using the DPC latency checker. What the checker shows is spikes that are off the top of the scale that line up with teh audio glitches.

So I have two questions....

1) Any other suggestions?
2) This is a brand new computer. Would everyone who bought this make and model be having the same issues?

 

[whs]

When you have DPC latency red spikes, you very likely have a shoddy driver somewhere. Check all your drivers (not just audio). Maybe you can find the culprit. Any yellow flags in Device Manager?

Would everyone who bought this make and model be having the same issues?

You did not say what make/model it is.

 

[Aphelion]

Alright, here goes. I just bought a new laptop with windows 7 home 64 bit and I am having horrid issues with the audio. Playback from any app skips and lags constantly and monitoring in DAW apps is to choppy too be practical.

I've been doing some reading and I've update all the driver, removed things from startup, and have been using the DPC latency checker. What the checker shows is spikes that are off the top of the scale that line up with teh audio glitches.

So I have two questions....

1) Any other suggestions?
2) This is a brand new computer. Would everyone who bought this make and model be having the same issues?

If you have nVidia graphics in the machine, make sure powermizer is not running in the background.

Also, go to Control Panel/Power Options, select...Change Plan Settings, then select Change Advanced Power Setting.

Scroll down to CPU, make sure it's set to min 100% max 100% when running on external power.

Ap

 

[YakSipper]

It is definitely from cpu throttling, most likely in the bios or like has already been suggested. Disable the throttling as a test. On Asus, it's called Cool N Quiet.

 

[Funkydrummer]

@ whs, all drivers are up to date and there are no flags in device manager. Its a Gateway 5909h.

@ Aphelion, its ati graphics. No change after changing the power settings.

@ YakSipper, nope, its a gateway. Went into the bios and saw no option for this. I'm no expert, would you mind explaining cpu throttling?

THX

Also, I don't know what this means but if I run the latency checker and the task manager at the same time an entry 'NT kernel & System' spikes to the top of the task manager cpu list at the same time that the latency is happening. Latency spikes every 60 secs for a period of 4 or 5 cycles.

 

[Aphelion]

Also, I don't know what this means but if I run the latency checker and the task manager at the same time an entry 'NT kernel & System' spikes to the top of the task manager cpu list at the same time that the latency is happening. Latency spikes every 60 secs for a period of 4 or 5 cycles.

Ok, that's usually a device driver causing the problem. Get into Device manager and disable your network adapter, look for a change, if no change, move on to your wireless adapter...etc. You may have to reboot to see a difference.

Likely suspects are either a device driver or background process (or service) eating up CPU cycles. (often graphics cards run axillary programs that cause problems, likewise, virus programs often run a background scanner that also can eat up CPU)

Below is process explorer, a handy way to dig a bit deeper, this may point you to the problem.

Process Explorer

keep us posted.

Ap

 

[Funkydrummer]

Ok, looks like its my wireless adaptor is the offender. Disabled and reboot and the audio problems are solved. The wireless is an atheros ar5b93 but I can't find and updates for it.

Am I missing something here? It seems that if the wireless is enabled it causes latency spikes that mess up the audio. How am I supposed to have audio and wireless at the same time.

Would all Gateway nv59's with these components have this issue>?

 

[Aphelion]

Ok, looks like its my wireless adaptor is the offender. Disabled and reboot and the audio problems are solved. The wireless is an atheros ar5b93 but I can't find and updates for it.

Am I missing something here? It seems that if the wireless is enabled it causes latency spikes that mess up the audio. How am I supposed to have audio and wireless at the same time.

Would all Gateway nv59's with these components have this issue>?

I would think so, or at least a good portion of them. Gateway should be contacted.. also, check wth Microsoft for updated drivers. Try an "update drivers" for the wireless device from it's device manager panel.

Dave Garibaldi / Steve Gadd funky? Or more elemental

Ap

 

[CommonTater]

Ok, looks like its my wireless adaptor is the offender. Disabled and reboot and the audio problems are solved. The wireless is an atheros ar5b93 but I can't find and updates for it.

Am I missing something here? It seems that if the wireless is enabled it causes latency spikes that mess up the audio. How am I supposed to have audio and wireless at the same time.

Would all Gateway nv59's with these components have this issue>?

The atheros wireless is actually a software NIC, not a hardware one. That is... it uses the CPU to decode network signals. It sounds like you're running into a timing issue between your soundard (also a software device) and the Wireless... Both are contending for CPU time at critical moments... It's a driver issue, but I have no idea how you would solve it.

 

[Aphelion]

Ok, looks like its my wireless adaptor is the offender. Disabled and reboot and the audio problems are solved. The wireless is an atheros ar5b93 but I can't find and updates for it.

Am I missing something here? It seems that if the wireless is enabled it causes latency spikes that mess up the audio. How am I supposed to have audio and wireless at the same time.

Would all Gateway nv59's with these components have this issue>?

Does this happen when you're running off the power adapter as well as battery?

Even though these are the latest drivers from Gateway, it doesn't mean they're the latest drivers available.

Here's the latest driver for your Realtek audio hardware (Gateway listing).

Realtek Audio Driver Version 6.0.1.5969


I see two drivers listed for your Atheros wi-fi.

Vista:
Atheros AR5B93 Wireless Network Driver v7.7.0.231

Win7:

Atheros Wireless Network Driver Version 8.0.0.259

Ap

 

[Aphelion]

Ok, looks like its my wireless adaptor is the offender. Disabled and reboot and the audio problems are solved. The wireless is an atheros ar5b93 but I can't find and updates for it.

If you're comfortable with the the procedure... this can also be something a BIOS update can fix.

My first action would be to contact Gateway.

Ap