Solved Sudden performance stutters and buzzing audio

[Krelda]

This occurred today, Just after I had installed a copy of The Secret World, I was in a skype call and playing Dawn of war 2. I noticed the issue, but dismissed it as the computer was simply using too much CPU or something (I apologize, I am only just starting to get into the specifics with computers, sorta new). So I did the obvious, turn it off then on (via restart). Nothing changed, so I shrugged it off an played one game of League of Legends with minimal success not due to computer problems. I restarted after that with a manually scheduled Disk Check. Did it's thing for three hours, came back, messed around, still the stutter and buzzing. Did some fishing around on the net, did a sfc/scannow (don't know what that did), and uninstalled any background components to Norton and MacAfee if they weren't already gone, and updated my realtek codices.

One forum I read with similar symptoms suggested it was my motherboard going. I just want to be sure.

System stuff (it's also on my profile to the best of my abilities)
Computer: Dell XPS 15z
CPU: Intel Core i5 2401M
GFX: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family/ NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M
Motherboard: Dell 0XK6HV A00 (according to CPU-Z)
(I'd need help finding other stuff, but that's another forum issue :V)

P.S. Move this thread to a more appropriate area if it is necessary.

 

[Krelda]

This happens every minute or so (i did a test, they are about 1 minute thirty seconds apart) and the freeze buzzes last for about half a second.

 

[Catpawn]

Same Problem symptoms

I started experiencing the same problems this week. Every minute or so the computer "freezes" and the sound buzzes...stutters. I doubt we could be having the same hardware problems, though. Could be due to a Windows 7 update? Any suggestions for solutions?

 

[Catpawn]

Read this thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/361186-audio-stutters-buzzing-caused-dpc-latency.html.

Went to Device Manager - System Devices and Disabled Dell Diag Control Devices.

Fixed the problem

 

[Krelda]

Wow, here I thought it was some kinda hardware issue and it turned out to be a dummy driver? Well regardless, the issue has dissolved, so Thank you. I plan on coming here more often for my tech issues.

 

[brownox]

Stuttering and buzzing problem with video here as well.
Catpawn's recommendation to disable Dell Diag Control Devices in the Device Manager fixed the issue.
Thank you Catpawn.

 

[Krelda]

Paint me red and call me pissed, It started again. Disabled Dell Diag and the buzzing started again. was the fix presented in the forum post. Was okay for the next couple of days, and it started again the buzzing much deeper this time.

 

[Catpawn]

Agree with Krelda: It started again for me too! I tried to disable the other Dell driver, but no improvement this time. Hoping for some pros to find the root cause and solution.

 

[Krelda]

SO, I did some more reading in forums regarding this issue, and found that Dell sneaked some files into the last few updates, 'Dell Support Assistant' or something like that. What the posts said to do was to uninstall them, along with the drivers and presto! Your audio drag should be fixed. Something to do with a scan the support program does automatically. Hopefully this resolves the issue for good. Not gonna mark the thread as solved.