Studio 1737 DPC Latency

mmontesdeoca:

Hi Bill

I have a Studrio XPS 1640 with 6GB of RAM memory, a 7200 rpm hard disk and everything 40 days ago ... it's a jet. ... But with high latency.

I've found this message and I'm glad to know that you are working on it. When are you planning to release the new BIOS? I'm looking forward to have it.

With best regards

Matías

For the 1640, you should be latency free with the latest Dell web posted BIOS and the latest Dell web posted ATI drivers. Update both of those and post back if you still have a latency problem.

Matias,

Please post the results after the BIOS update and running the DCP Latency test.  I've spent several hours over the weekend recording and I can't use any of it due to the cracking and skips.   Although I am very impressed with the way Dell's technical staff has stayed on top of this issue (specifically Bill),  I fear it may not get resolved anytime soon.  If it is not resolved with the XPS Series,  I doubt there will be a fix for the Studio soon. What is it with the Laptops that make this problem unique? I don't have it with my Slim tower.

eckythump:

 

Lastly, do you or anyone else have confirmation of wether the new i7 version of this laptop also has the DCP latency fault? 

 

I'm guessing same problem follows the i7 equipped models, unless there's a different BIOS revision included on the new ones.

Hi Bill,

Maybe you will be able to help me to figure it out what to do.

I recently bought a 1737 Studio (received it on Oct 16th), thing is, that I upgraded its Bios from A05 to A07, did some other stuff, all using the touch pad... and then started to plug in some usb devices... and found out that the right-rear one, wasn't working. Everytime I plugged something in, it said the usb device was broken or something, and only in that usb port.

Called Service Tech, they said my motherboard was broken, and that I should take it to Service Tech here in Buenos Aires - Argentina, for repair, which I did.

Took around 2 weeks for them to repair it, all they did was ask for another motherboard and change it...

So again, at home, first thing I did was to try out usb devices and everything was good, so after a couple of hours "playing" with the laptop I installed the A07 Bios... and then I noticed the known-message "The usb device is broken" before it even restarted the laptop... So again, my right rear-usb port, is not working anymore (actually the way it does it, is just work a couple of seconds and then stop working at all). Wonder how this A07 Bios works the fix on the DPC Latency... is there any workaround that I can use to get my usb port back? Should I reinstall the A05 Bios? How should I proceed?

It seems obvious that taking my laptop AGAIN to the service tech, won't fix the issue, they will probably, again, ask for a motherboard and replace it... So, I am looking for a faster way to "fix" the issue...

Thanks!

So any news whether the new 1745/1747s suffer the same?

Checked that their A01 firmware is a month younger then tha A07 on the 1737s.  How does that reflect on this subject?

Hi Coughdog

After upgrading the BIOS and ATI Driver and I suffered pops and cracks while playing my guitar with a Line6 UX2 Pod Studio external USB device. I called the support center and told me that the problem is in the external device. I checked all the forums and all of them point to DELL ... 

Bill, what should I do? do you want me to open a new message for Studio XPS 1640? I ordered Windows 7, do you think is a Vista problem?

With best regards

Matías

Matias,

I use the line6 Toneport UX-1.  I initially thought this was creating the problem but it is not the case (you can find similar threads on Line6 site).  You should down the DCP latency checker  http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml   and run the test.   My hardware runs with no problem with my Dell Slim Studio computer I bought with my 1737 both running 64bit Vista.   From what I've read, this is a problem with a lot of laptops not just Dell. I also ran the DCP test on the Slim Studio and had green bars.

As for Dell support,  my guess is only a few of them are aware of this issue.  I went through 3 of them and lost them at the ACPI.sys.

I too am suffering from the symtoms outlined in this thread.  Props the the OP for creating this thread. Also, to Bill (you're a gem on the dell team), offering a glimer of hope, that a possible fix might be forth coming.

mmontesdeoca:

Hi Coughdog

After upgrading the BIOS and ATI Driver and I suffered pops and cracks while playing my guitar with a Line6 UX2 Pod Studio external USB device. I called the support center and told me that the problem is in the external device. I checked all the forums and all of them point to DELL ... 

Bill, what should I do? do you want me to open a new message for Studio XPS 1640? I ordered Windows 7, do you think is a Vista problem?

With best regards

Matías

Your findings are different than mine, Matias. I have Vista running on a 1640 now and have no latency issues in DPC checker. Let's do some testing. I can't get my hands on your hardware, and if I tried to record myself playing guitar, pops and skips would be an improvement on my work.

Can you download DPC Latency Checker and post a screenshot of what you see there with the Line6 disconnected?

EDIT:

Yes, open a new thread and post back the URL here. I'll follow you over there and alert the new Laptop Liaisons that we're opening a 1640 thread. So far, I've reported to the engineers no trouble found on the 1640. Guess I need to recant if we can't isolate and solve the problem on your box.

Hi Bill,

I disabled my WI-FI, DVD and everything else I could think of and it had absolutley no affect when running the DCP checker.  I still get a solid red bar every 4 secs or so.  Also, I downloaded the A07 BIOS update (with a techie on the phone) and was unable to install it due to unauthorized user and non-recorgnizable hardware.  Any idea what would cause this?   I know the A07 will not resolve the latency issue so its not like I need to install it.  Just curious. 

Well, having read most of this whole thread and other forums, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that I shouldn't go ahead and buy the Studio 17 that I was just about to buy. I am not technically gifted and don't want to grapple with all the various workarounds or wait for the promised bios that might fix it. Feels like that could be a bit of 'Waiting for Godot' about it.  Glad to have found this thread before parting with my cash - though sorry too as it seems a great machine in other respects.

Any latest news to from Bill or others to convince me otherwise would be welcome!

UPDATING.

There is a BIOS in test now. Early reports show with WLAN disabled, no yellow or red spikes. With WLAN enabled (Dell branded 1397 card), there is a yellow spike every 20-30 seconds, but no reds. It is unclear from the email string if anyone has had the chance to test it with an Intel card. The WLAN card vendor has been engaged in hopes of getting the yellow spikes cleared with a new driver. I believe we are waiting on three things at this point: 1. completion of testing and validation for the current BIOS, 2. input from the WLAN card vendor on 1397, and 3. how the Intel cards work in this test version.

This is progress, folks. Hang in there.

^Nice, I have faith you guys will get this problem ironed out!

Thanks for the update Bill!

Thanks for the update Bill, it's good to hear there is progress. I have the Intel wi-fi adapter in my 1737, if you need someone to test. Also, make sure they test the eject touch button. It causes a huge dpc spike and audio interruption when pressed.

It's not a problem with the eject function because if you use the soft eject option via My Computer by right-clicking on the dvd drive doesn't cause this problem. It only happens when you press the touch eject button.

Hi Bill,

This is great news!  There is also much debate about this topic on the "notebookreview" site http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=341918&page=12

where they list probable causes and talk about switching out the wi-fi adaptors.  I seem to recall someone writing in saying that they had much better success with the Intel wi-fi (I forget which model).  The threads are very informative but way over my head. 

What I don't understand is that when I dismantle my DVD, Wi-Fi and all non-essencials from the start up menu I still get a red spike every 3-4 secs. Will the BIOS cure this?