Frame & Audio stutter in games

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 02:00

Been happening for last few months now and only just recently have I tried to get to the cause of the problem. Basically any game I play, no matter the harddrive it's installed on seems to be giving me problems. I have a quick frame skip and usually audio skips out. They usually go hand in hand in terms of both taking place at the same time. Sometimes that isn't the case and I just have some slight frame stutter without any audio hitches. Its very random and happens may be once every 2-5 minutes but sometimes I can go for 5-10 minutes without any hiccups. It's very jarring and frustrating.

I've ran a couple of programs to try and pin point the issue and one of them is LatencyMon, which gave me this error message:

Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or pops. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates.

And a screenshot to go with it here:

Finally a large report output:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or pops. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:07:57 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name: DAY-PC
OS version: Windows 7 Service Pack 1, 6.1, build: 7601 (x64)
Hardware: H55M-S2H, Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
CPU: GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU 760 @ 2.80GHz
Logical processors: 4
Processor groups: 1
RAM: 8155 MB total

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reported CPU speed: 2799.0 MHz
Measured CPU speed: 3250.0 MHz (approx.)

Note: reported execution times may be calculated based on a fixed reported CPU speed. Disable variable speed settings like Intel Speed Step and AMD Cool N Quiet in the BIOS setup for more accurate results.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
MEASURED INTERRUPT TO USER PROCESS LATENCIES
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The interrupt to process latency reflects the measured interval that a usermode process needed to respond to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution. This includes the scheduling and execution of a DPC routine, the signaling of an event and the waking up of a usermode thread from an idle wait state in response to that event.

Highest measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 16685.714286
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 8.026717

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 248.685714
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 3.977138

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED ISRs
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Interrupt service routines are routines installed by the OS and device drivers that execute in response to a hardware interrupt signal.

Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 109.329046
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: USBPORT.SYS - USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.020076
Driver with highest ISR total time: hal.dll - Hardware Abstraction Layer DLL, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.038129

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 532637
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED DPCs
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
DPC routines are part of the interrupt servicing dispatch mechanism and disable the possibility for a process to utilize the CPU while it is interrupted until the DPC has finished execution.

Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 266.873526
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: cmudaxp.sys - C-Media Audio WDM Driver, C-Media Inc

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.540508
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: cmudaxp.sys - C-Media Audio WDM Driver, C-Media Inc

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 1.033510

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 4219438
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs): 2
DPC count (execution time 1000-1999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 2000-3999 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hard pagefaults are events that get triggered by making use of virtual memory that is not resident in RAM but backed by a memory mapped file on disk. The process of resolving the hard pagefault requires reading in the memory from disk while the process is interrupted and blocked from execution.

NOTE: some processes were hit by hard pagefaults. If these were programs producing audio, they are likely to interrupt the audio stream resulting in dropouts, clicks and pops. Check the Processes tab to see which programs were hit.

Process with highest pagefault count: msmpeng.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 192
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 107
Highest hard pagefault resolution time (µs): 98393.684530
Total time spent in hard pagefaults (%): 0.074638
Number of processes hit: 15

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 25.178736
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 102.674169
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.383563
CPU 0 ISR count: 477134
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 266.873526
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 13.572865
CPU 0 DPC count: 3420130
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 4.900799
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 109.329046
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.030509
CPU 1 ISR count: 4724
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 240.712755
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.379208
CPU 1 DPC count: 44421
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 8.666147
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 88.395498
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.208942
CPU 2 ISR count: 32722
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 167.045016
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 2.137049
CPU 2 DPC count: 214940
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 14.988652
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 102.006431
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.105468
CPU 3 ISR count: 18057
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 261.600214
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 3.656869
CPU 3 DPC count: 539949
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I'm hoping it's more of a software issue which I why I chose to put the thread in here over the hardware section

. It suggests a BIOS update but my motherboard is from 2010 and my CPU isn't overclocked or underclocked. My soundcard is Xonar DG and hasn't had any new driver support in years from what I gather and hasn't seemed to cause me any trouble in the past but I wouldn't completely disregard anything at the moment. I've also used afterburner with HWINFO for on screen feedback and my graphics card is running under normal temperatures.

I'd love any replies you guys can give me. I've probably missed something glaringly obvious.

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 11:48

shankly1985 said:
What's your full system specs? and do you have SSD's caching with Intel Rapid?

Updated all your system drivers from manufacture site?

Also if you want you can try drivers from here for your sound card.

This guy updates the drivers much faster than ASUS..
http://maxedtech.com/asus-xonar-unified-drivers/

I don't have any SSD's, I've got 4 mechnical hard drives. I haven't formatted my PC in about 2 years or so. So I would say I haven't installed any of my basic hardware drivers since around then. Seems weird for it to creep up in recent times without me tweaking with something. I'll check these drivers out and get back to you

My system specs:

Windows 7 x64
MSI 280x
8GB RAm
i5 760
Gigabyte H55M-S2H

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 13:00

Just installed the 1.72 driver from that page. Still getting the same error though when I boot up a game:

May be it's not the soundcard then? Just updated my graphics drivers as well. Also want to point out I've ran that test on 3 different hard drives now so I think I've ruled out that as the issue although I should really have saved up some money to buy a 250gb SSD by now. Anyone know if this program is reliable and accurate or alternatives out there?

Another test after using new sound drivers playing Fifa 15:

May be I should unplug my soundcard and play a game without sound and see if I get anymore stutters.

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 16:23

shankly1985 said:
What is atapi?
Atapi.sys is a Windows driver. A driver is a small software program that allows your computer to communicate with hardware or connected devices. This means that a driver has direct access to the internals of the operating system, hardware etc.

Your sound card driver isn't the issue here, latencymon is reading over 1ms on atapi.sys

So I would look into your hard drives, how do we have these setup? And are you using latest sata drivers for your motherboard..

Ye I've looked into that file a little. Just a side note I disabled the ATI HD audio drive in device manager and that may have solved the audio stuttering after playing for 20 minutes without any sound drops (but could have been lucky session). In terms of the program response though I'm still getting the atapi.sys issue appearing. Aren't the SATA drivers bundled inside the motherboard drives themselves?

My drives themselves aren't in any weird setup. I have 4 drives and an external. 7 partitions in total.

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 16:56

shankly1985 said:
So these driver not in a Raid? and are they also in Sata mode set in the BIOS when you first install Windows?

Ye definitely not in RAID. You mean IDE/AHCI mode?

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 17:01

shankly1985 said:
Thats correct yeah sorry.

http://imgur.com/P5dTuES,70A9cuN,DW15M6V#1

Ye all using SATA connectors. 1 DVD drive, 4 hard drives

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 17:11

shankly1985 said:
Here another link, with images bit better than Microsoft link.

http://winaero.com/blog/switch-from-ide-to-achi-after-installing-windows-7-or-windows-8/

What sort of percentages are we talking here in terms of it not booting again?

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 17:20

shankly1985 said:
I honestly couldn't tell you.. But tbh you should be running achi mode its the better.. And if its a worry then maybe backup and reinstall windows.

I have a backup partition anyway but I think i'll try it and and risk it. Wish me luck!

medley · 28 Dec 2014 at 19:22

shankly1985 said:
I hope it went ok??

Haha well it didn't go to plan

Formatted and back working though. Using AHCI but havent had chance to test it yet (still installing drivers etc). Think I might just buy a SSD anyway but I was holding off cause I wasn't sure if my power supply can handle 5 hardrives at once. It's 650 w and I'm only using a single GPU. I've used one of those estimation guides and it checks out okay but I'm not sure

medley · 29 Dec 2014 at 12:39

Ye problem still occurs. Seems to occur more with online gaming now that I think of it which I find strange. Reset my router just as a precaution but still get the little frame skip/audio stutter

I ran that program on my brothers PC and ran ARMA 3 at the same time. He basically gets the same feedback from the program as me. Although one of his processes (think it was atasys) said 24ms! The second one down was ndis.sys I believe at 1.5ms (pretty much same as mine). However he has a SSD so I'm not sure how reliable or how much to read into the results. Only played for 10 minutes and didn't really see any stutter at least.

These are my results anyway:

medley · 29 Dec 2014 at 12:59

shankly1985 said:
Ok so the hard drive sata atapi.sys as now stopped showing an issue. One showing here is your Network driver, seeing you just installed Windows again double check you have the latest driver for network installed..

I've downloaded and installed every update and all the latest motherboard drivers. Would it come under those?

Is there a graph monitor that records ongoing bandwidth information similar to this program? May be see if there's a jump in ping or packetloss or something. I've used the afterburner with Hwinfo monitor but that only records incoming and outgoing bandwidth

medley · 29 Dec 2014 at 13:52

shankly1985 said:
Latest Network driver you can download from Realtek direct..
http://www.realtek.com.tw/Downloads...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

Windows 7 ver 7.090

If you right click that one in Device manager is it from Microsoft? or is it version older than what Realtek is showing?

Just installed from that page you gave me. Here is the device manager:

medley · 29 Dec 2014 at 14:04

Ok so just tried a 10 minute online game of FIFA and not one bit of skipping! Fingers crossed youve helped me fix it mate

May be the offline skipping might have been the IDE mode and the online skipping was down to the outdated windows 7 NIC drivers. I just assumed windows updates and motherboard drivers sorted out the latest drivers but I was wrong.

Gonna play couple more games online and report back in bit

medley · 8 Jan 2015 at 13:23

shankly1985 said:
Is it working better?

Sorry, only just seen this response! Ye been fine last couple weeks. I think that update in drivers was the culprit it seems. I'd been using the solo motherboard driver for about 2 years or so and only really noticed the issue in the last few months it seems. Strange one but fingers crossed it's permanent fix!