Latency - possible fix

guys,

I have a theory on the possible cause of the latency issues on the E and M series Dell's and a potential solution.

I usualy don't post on theory. I'd rather prove the solution beforehand and just post the tutorial, but unfortunately I'm in the middle of huge deployment and my spare time is extremely slim for now.

If there's a few of you who are willing to run some group testing I can guide you on what we need to do.

It just involves some test benchmarks before, a (possible) fix, followed by test benchmarks to establish if this actually resolves the issue.

Some important criteria;

- OS is Vista x86 or x64

- Have a very good understanding of Windows, particularly how to backup and restore your system (if needed). In other words an advanced user.
I'm going to need to count on your honesty on this one. I won't have much time to get you out of a mess if you land into one.

Would be good to have a good cross section of systems ranging from E64/6500's and M's both with onboard and discreet GPUs.

This might be a dead-end, but we won't know until we try.

If interested please sound off with the following info;

Model :
CPU:
Ram installed:
Hard drive:
SATA mode and IMSM driver version:
GPU: model and driver version
WiFi: model and driver version
NIC: model and driver version
OS: x86 or x64

Update -1 Mar 31-2009
Prelim latency tests using DPCLatencyChcker.exe to establish baseline.

- Download DPCLatencyChecker. It's a single executable so there's no install, just unzip to the desktop or a temp folder and run.

Test 1
- Restart your system and observe the hard drive activity light. Among several disk operations during first login after a restart, Vista will initiate prefetch and superfetch optmizations, but will also will be creating a silent restore point and shadow copy. Wait for this procedure to complete. The hard drive activity light should now be off.

1a. Run DPC latency by double clicking the program. Stretch the window to show to a 60s timespan. Take a screenshot of just the DPC application window once 60s reached and save it as 'Test-1a'. Exit DPC.

1b. Click Windows Start menu. Search for 'System Configuration' and select the program. Choose the Startup tab and select Disable all and restart the system. Reboot should be considerable faster. Allow the time needed for all startup hd operatations to complete as in 1a. The hd activity light to should be off. Start DPC, stretch the window to a 60s chart and take a screenshot at 60s. Save it as Test-1b.

Go back to the Startup tab in System Configuration and select 'Enable all'. Unselect any boxes you previously might have disabled and restart.

Post both screenshots to your initial equipment config post (edit the post).
Having them uploaded to a web host and posting the pic links will allow others to see them more easily than having to open attachments each time.

 

Model : E6400
CPU: p8600
Ram installed: 4gb 800mhz
Hard drive: wd 120gb bevt
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: IRRI / Intel(R) ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E SATA RAID Controller / 8.8.0.1009
GPU: Mobile Intel(R) 45 Express Chipset Family (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM 1.1) / 8.15.10.1662
WiFi: Intel(R) WiFi Link 5100 AGN / 12.4.0.20
NIC: Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection / 10.0.2.1
OS: x86

 

Model : e6400
CPU: p9500
Ram installed: 4gb 800 mhz
Hard drive: 128 gb Samsung SSD
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: IRRT / Intel(R) ICH8M-E/ICH9M-E SATA RAID Controller / 8.8.0.1009
GPU: NVIDIA Quadro 160M / 179.64
WiFi: Dell 1510 / 4.170.77.3
NIC: Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection / 9.52.20.0
OS: Vista x64

Edit: I took the screenshot as soon as the first bar reached the end of the window, and I cant say much has changed... If it helps, I ran the utility for about 5 minutes and noticed that i get spikes at right around 60 second intervals

Edit 2: I just re-ran with my system in AHCI mode instead of IRRT and got basically the same results.

 

Model : E6400
CPU: P8600
Ram installed: 4GB
Hard drive: WD5000BEVT
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: AHCI + IMSM 8.8.0.1009
GPU: model and driver version Intel 4500MHD + 6.14.10.5029
WiFi: model and driver version Intel 5100 + 12.0.0.82
NIC: model and driver version Intel 82567 + 9.50.14.2
OS: x86 or x64 XP 32

John

 

Model : M4400
CPU: T9600
Ram installed: 4GB
Hard drive: 250GB Serial ATA (7200RPM) Hard Drive (Free fall sensor)
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: ATA / Intel(R) ICH9M/M-E 2 port Serial ATA Storage Controller 1 and 2 / 8.6.1.1001
GPU: NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M 7.15.11.7653
WiFi: Intel Wifi Link 5100 AGN 12.2.0.11
NIC: Intel(R) 82567LM Gigabit Network Connection / 9.50.14.2
OS: Vista x64

 

Model : DELL E6400
CPU: Intel Core Duo P8400
Ram installed: 4GB
Hard drive: Samsung 256 SSD + Intel X25-M 80G
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: ACHI mode, IMSM 8.80.1009
GPU: NVS 160, Driver: 1.5.850.00
WiFi: DELL Wireless 1397 WLAN mini-card, driver: 4.170.77.3
NIC: Intel 82567LM, driver: 10.0.2.0
OS: Windows 7 x86

Screen shot:

 

Model : E6400
CPU: T9600 (in process of upgrading to X9100)
Ram installed: 4GB
Hard drive: WD1600BEKT
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: AHCI - IMSM 8.8.0.1009
GPU: model and driver version Nvidia Quadro NVS 160M - 182.50 (laptopvideo2go)
WiFi: model and driver version Intel 5100 - 12.0.0.82
NIC: model and driver version Intel 82567 - 10.0.2.1
OS: Vista Business x86

Unfortunately, I don't have my system running (awaiting the X9100), but I'll post results to all of your tests as soon as I can. It just so happens that I had the driver versions written down for something else...

 

Model : E6500
CPU: P8600
Ram installed: 4.00 GB
Hard drive: WDC WD2500BJKT (7200 RPM)
SATA mode and IMSM driver version: AHCI - IMSM 8.8.0.1009
GPU: model and driver version: Nvidia Quadro NVS 160M - 7.15.11.7653
WiFi: model and driver version: Intel 5300 - 12.1.2.1
NIC: model and driver version: Intel 82567LM - 9.50.14.2
OS: Vista x86

Interestingly, right after I took the second shot I got a red spike at about 36000 microseconds.

 

Mine is directly related to wifi... here is a ss with wifi off

 

Whoa... Just to give it a shot I disabled the wireless a band on my card, and since my last post I have not had ANY latency spikes!

I still have b/g enabled and have been connected to the internet.