[RESOLVED] [Pro] Audio Stutter

[ProfessorU]

The suspect is an old Dell. I get audio stutter when playing back audio, and video stutter on video playback. Usually it's about 1-2 seconds of a fast stutter every 5 seconds four or five times, then it's okay for two to twenty minutes. I've already updated drivers, windows, tried different software, and even REINSTALLED windows with a fresh install.

I've ruled out the processor throttling down with Throttle watch. Other ideas?

System Info
Model : Dell Dimension 4300
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)

Processor
Type : Intel Pentium 4 1500 MHz
Processors Bus Speed : 400 MHz

Graphics
Model : nVidia PCI NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000 (Microsoft Corporation) (PCI)

Memory
256 MB SDRAM DIMM PC133

[ProfessorU]

Here's some more relevant stuff. All the proc spikes are stutters, usually without any activity on my part.

When the PC is behaving, I can't get it to stutter even if I'm trying. Even running a prog like CPU Burn-in will take utilization up to 100% but music doesn't stutter.

[dunedin]

Hello ProfessorU

Well, first off you area bit short of memory and playing video is going to show that.

Open Task Manager and keep it open while you play a video. Check Task Manager when you get the stutters to see what is spiking

I have known a faulty NIC card to produce spikes like that in video.

Elaine

[ProfessorU]

Hi Elaine.
I've been watching Task Manager to look for what takes all the resources. Usually everything 'locks' so no single process jumps up to the top of the utilization, but sometimes WMP is the one that takes the largest %.

I have known a faulty NIC card to produce spikes like that in video.

Well I have been fighting network gremlins with this thing for weeks, too. I'll definitely try a new NIC.
I've started testing a new theory... Maybe it's the HDs/controller. I'm going to find some sort of HD benchmark, try to play CDs, streaming audio, etc. and I'll post back.
Thanks!

[ProfessorU]

Okay I'm beginning to think this is a systemwide issue. In this new graph the first two spikes happened with audio stutter. Then I paused and a few seconds later the last spike happened. So I think that the spikes in CPU util are causing the stutter and not the other way around.
I've ruled out any IDE issues.
I'm going to pull the NIC and see what happens.

[ProfessorU]

I was unable to duplicate the problem with the NIC removed. Problem solved.

[dunedin]

Wonderful

Thanks for posting back.

Elaine

[ttodd]

I was unable to duplicate the problem with the NIC removed. Problem solved.

confused.... If you said able instead of unable then resolved,, I could understand your post..

But you state I was UNABLE,, therefore problem solved solved.. huh?

[fink]

Unable to duplicate the problem means he could not get the audio stuttering to happen.. conversley being able to duplicate the problem would mean the suttering would still be there.

[ProfessorU]

the inverse of the negative... hmmm
yes, that's what I meant.
I'm so glad you posted that idea, or I'd never have fixed it. Kind of an awkward solution to an audio problem.

[dunedin]

It is indeed an unusual fix for an audio problem.

A while back a friend came to me for help. He was mixing sound tracks to record songs he had written and had this exact problem. I tried all the usual audio troubleshooting with no success and eventually discovered that the NIC was to blame.
Then with hindsight I researched the symptoms and discovered that this could happen if a faulty NIC was continually trying to connect.

Elaine