Extremely Boring Stuff (no, not one of my musical creations...)

[synkrotron 578]

I have been trying a few things with my CLEVO laptop today... Getting on for ten hours of faffing around.

I tried plugging my OCTA-CAPTURE units into a different USB port but that didn't yield any improvements.

I used LatencyMon and a hardware monitor utility a number of times today. And each time, a slightly different result, varying from, "your PC is Crap," to "what are you worrying about."

Here's the last LatencyMon stats report:-

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system appears to be suitable for handling real-time audio and other tasks without dropouts. 
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for  0:10:44  (h:mm:ss) on all processors.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name:                                        MUSIC
OS version:                                           Windows 10 , 10.0, build: 17134 (x64)
Hardware:                                             P15xEMx, CLEVO                            
CPU:                                                  GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3820QM CPU @ 2.70GHz
Logical processors:                                   8
Processor groups:                                     1
RAM:                                                  16280 MB total

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reported CPU speed:                                   2694 MHz

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 DPC LATENCIES
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The interrupt to DPC latency reflects the measured interval in which a DPC could execute in response to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution.

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs):       911.907944
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs):       14.388774

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 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):              201.021901
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time:       USBPORT.SYS - USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%):          0.032606
Driver with highest ISR total time:                   USBPORT.SYS - USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%)                          0.043807

ISR count (execution time <250 µs):                   764019
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):              911.515961
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time:       USBPORT.SYS - USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%):          0.940592
Driver with highest DPC total execution time:         USBPORT.SYS - USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%)                          2.153383

DPC count (execution time <250 µs):                   4228955
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs):                0
DPC count (execution time 500-999 µs):                60047
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:                 dllhost.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults                       5
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process:          2
Number of processes hit:                              4

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       155.056404
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs):                201.021901
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s):                   2.240861
CPU 0 ISR count:                                      760401
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs):                911.515961
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s):                   110.243173
CPU 0 DPC count:                                      4025487
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       29.352408
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs):                28.566815
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.000491
CPU 1 ISR count:                                      338
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs):                254.365256
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.193402
CPU 1 DPC count:                                      27301
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       16.744755
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs):                101.984781
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.006978
CPU 2 ISR count:                                      2044
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs):                257.556793
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.192298
CPU 2 DPC count:                                      85076
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       22.718981
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs):                38.102450
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.005497
CPU 3 ISR count:                                      804
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs):                207.529324
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.013133
CPU 3 DPC count:                                      5276
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       15.224276
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs):                114.303638
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.003161
CPU 4 ISR count:                                      432
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs):                196.432071
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.202355
CPU 4 DPC count:                                      101838
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       21.795608
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0.0
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.0
CPU 5 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs):                140.878990
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.008488
CPU 5 DPC count:                                      3173
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       14.327490
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0.0
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.0
CPU 6 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs):                187.095768
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.083292
CPU 6 DPC count:                                      37686
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       20.502024
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0.0
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s):                   0.0
CPU 7 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs):                110.209354
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s):                   0.008919
CPU 7 DPC count:                                      3165
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

And here are the screen dumps:-

Like I said, extremely boring stuff, and I don't have a clue what it all means. If any one does know what all that means, and you have got this far, please reply below.

I'm going back to setting up my project template in CbB now...

 

cheers

andy 

Edited February 6, 2019 by synkrotron

[paulo 2,227]

The 2019 award for the most honest thread title goes to.........

[paulo 2,227]

Being serious though, this thread would probably get a better response rate if it were posted in the computers/hardware section.

[paulo 2,227]

Oh wait...................

[InstrEd 2,188]

I'm hoping the Bakers will add computer/hardware section to the new shiny forum/discussion/hangout place.

[craigb 3,312]

I prefer his more ambient works... 😀

[synkrotron 578]

7 hours ago, paulo said:

computers/hardware section.

Yeah, that would be nice

[Jim Roseberry 587]

FWIW, That DPC Latency is unfortunately on the very high side.

Working at low-latency isn't going to happen without glitches.

Even working at mid latency settings is going to be tough when DPC Latency is upwards of 1000uSec.

Peak DPC Latency for a Clevo shell laptop should be ~200uSec.

 

[synkrotron 578]

Hiya @Jim Roseberry 

Thanks for taking a peek and commenting, much appreciated.

I guess that until I update my pc I'm going to have to put up with those glitches. And even then, such is the way with computers, there are no guarantees, is seems.

I powered up about half an hour ago.

I opened task manager and stopped as many background processes as I could. And then I ran LatencyMon again. Here is the main page after just six minutes of running. And, to be honest, until a massive spike, DPC was running at around the 200uS mark:-

And here is the Drivers page:-

As far as I could tell there was no real activity spikes showing up in Task Manager.

 

So I'm at a loss.

I have to admit that I also use my laptop for occasional gaming, which may attract derision from some I am sure.

I use a Logitech keyboard and mouse when in my studio, so tasks are usually running for those, although for the above test I had shut them down.

Fortunately, just a hobbyist, so I can put up with those glitches I guess.

Thanks again for your time Jim

cheers

andy

[craigb 3,312]

Pro-Cakewalk Tip:  Save your money up and have Jim create a kick-ass DAW for you Andy!  😉

[synkrotron 578]

3 hours ago, craigb said:

Pro-Cakewalk Tip:  Save your money up and have Jim create a kick-ass DAW for you Andy!  😉

Well, sounds like a great idea, but when I mentioned to SWMBO yesterday that I was spec'ing up a new pooter she weren't happy.

So getting a Studio Cat would probably even more out of the question 

[paulo 2,227]

7 minutes ago, synkrotron said:

Well, sounds like a great idea, but when I mentioned to SWMBO yesterday that I was spec'ing up a new pooter she weren't happy.

So getting a Studio Cat would probably even more out of the question 

You told her?

Rookie error.

Forgiveness is always easier to obtain than permission.😉

[synkrotron 578]

45 minutes ago, paulo said:

You told her?

Rookie error.

Forgiveness is always easier to obtain than permission.😉

Haha! Yeah, I always forget that one

Mind you, obtaining forgiveness is still virtually impossible... I am often reminded of my "unreasonable spending habits."

 

So, I should just get this thing and explain that all it means is that we will be in the soup kitchen a couple of months earlier than expected...

[paulo 2,227]

1 hour ago, synkrotron said:

Mind you, obtaining forgiveness is still virtually impossible... I am often reminded of my "unreasonable spending habits."

I'm sure there are some quite unnecessary cushions that you can draw her attention to....

[synkrotron 578]

8 minutes ago, paulo said:

I'm sure there are some quite unnecessary cushions that you can draw her attention to....

Aye!

I'm on dodgy ground there though... I've probably blown about five grand on the modular for starters haha. You can get a lot of cushions for five grand!