High Sub System Latency Causing Audio Issues

[Kanoe]

Hi All,

I have an issue with my PC at the moment that high latency is causing audio crackling, popping and slow down just when sitting on desktop and having nothing open. (PC Specs to the left.)

I will outline the characteristics of the issue below:

- The issue only appears after a shut down (for windows 8 this is basically a hibernate like state to enable faster loading the next time you turn the PC on)

- If I then restart the computer the issue goes away until I perform a shut down and use the PC again

- After a restart the CPU usage of the system just on desktop is almost nothing and no GPU usage.

- After a shut down the CPU usage of the system has a couple of cores using 20 - 30% or thereabouts and GPU usage ticks up and down a few percent regularly

- MP3 playback, games and even system sounds are affected by the audio issue

- Running latency mon when the system is having issues reveals high latency being introduced by dxgkrnl.sys

- Have run anti virus, anti malware, reg cleaner, have latest drivers for everything (but not latest mobo bios, thats another story and 10 hours of my life I won't get back!).

The issue only started recently and I'm inclined to point the finger of blame at the AMD Omega driver as I have had some issues since installing it (things like no being able to use vsync any more as it introduces massive latency).

I will start with re-installing the gfx drivers again tonight (first Omega again then earlier version) but other ideas are welcome.

[kalniel]

Yup graphics. That's the direct X kernel, which should not normally be causing high latency - either the driver install was bad (did you cleanly remove all old drivers?) or you may have a hardware issue that's causing/being reported as driver issues. Try disabling ULPS for the graphics card via Sapphire Trixx or other AMD tweaking tool.

Check what other processes cause spikes though - latency mon might report that as single biggest spike, but most DPC is caused by network card/audio drivers which may be more consistently causing latency.

[satrow]

Certainly looking like something was introduced/affected by the Omega drivers/CCC.

Performance Analyzer is the recommended tool to dig out the details, I get a mental block when trying to read the output though. Method is listed under Step II here.

[Kanoe]

Managed to replace the gfx driver last night. Used the AMD driver removal tool first and then installed it. Will need to test some more as still getting latency after a shut down but its not causing audio issues at the moment. If it starts to do so then I will do back to 14.9 or 14.7.