Audio performance at maximum with empty project on a powerful new pc

Drummer007 · August 24, 2023, 9:25pm

Hello Cubase Forum,

I just moved to a brand-new HP ZBook Power G10 with an i7-13800H coming from a 6-Year-Old Dell.
With the new powerful laptop, the Maximum Audio Load is always peaking red. Even in an empty project without a single track, 100% load. I can’t even play back simple audio tracks without vsts on them without distortion/audio cracks.

I tried everything I can think of:

Updating and switching drivers around (intel, nvidia, focusrite, …)
Reinstalling cubase
Starting the program in save mode
Deleting the preferences
switching audio engines
Deactivating hyperthreading
Asio Guard On/Off
→ Basically all suggestions I could think of or find online.
I am completely confused now, I bought this laptop to have more performance while recording and now I can’t even playback a simple project.

I would really appreciate any help! Detailed System Specs and a video showcasing my problem can be found below:

Focusrite 18i20 + OctoPre
Video with problem:

Thanks in advance and all the best!

Daniel

st10ss · August 25, 2023, 6:58pm

Have you installed any HP tools?
Or something to boost game performance?

Drummer007 · August 26, 2023, 12:26am

Only the stuff it comes with from the factory. Uninstalled the wolf security programs.

Nickeldome · August 26, 2023, 3:31am

As a test try this:

Activate Steinberg Audio Power Scheme in the Audio System Page (if not already tried?)
Disable your wifi adapter.
In the bios disable all power management options like C-states, Speedstep and Turbomode.

If the same issue persists Install and run Resplendence Software - LatencyMon: suitability checker for real-time audio and other tasks to investigate what drivers/processes may be causing this issue.

st10ss · August 26, 2023, 10:17am

That’s a good start. But there was more I guess…

Drummer007 · September 9, 2023, 5:17pm

Hey guys,

sry for the delayed answer, I was on holiday.
Sadly - The problem still persists and latency mon also tells me that - I don’t really understand the analysis. Screenshots/Upload also attached.
Additional things I tried:

Upgrading to Cubase 12
Deactivated in Bios: Turbo Boost, Hyperthreading, Runtime Power Management, Extend Idle Power States, Power Control
Uninstalled RTX Manager and GeForce Experience
Deactivated All Power Options → Everything is set to Full Power
Uninstalled basically every HP program → Only have myHP for the warranty stuff left.
Deactivated Network adapter (no change)

Only other thing I noticed: The problem is far less noticeable when using the standard low latency asio driver, but I guess that’s to be expected.

Any other Ideas?
Even when I do a fresh restart of the PC and start LatencyMon it’s green for 30 Seconds and then goes to the red instantly…
I’m really lost here

Thanks in Advance and all the best!

Daniel


Latency Mon:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or pops. One or more DPC routines that belong to a driver running in your system appear to be executing for too long. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates. 
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for  0:01:38  (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name:                                        DANIELS_LAPTOP
OS version:                                           Windows 11, 10.0, version 2009, build: 22621 (x64)
Hardware:                                             HP ZBook Power 15.6 inch G10 Mobile Workstation PC, HP
BIOS:                                                 V97 Ver. 01.01.03
CPU:                                                  GenuineIntel 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13800H
Logical processors:                                   20
Processor groups:                                     1
Processor group size:                                 20
RAM:                                                  32400 MB total


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reported CPU speed (WMI):                             2918 MHz
Reported CPU speed (registry):                        2918 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 USER PROCESS LATENCIES
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The interrupt to process latency reflects the measured interval that a usermode process needed to respond to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt service routine started execution. This includes the scheduling and execution of a DPC routine, the signaling of an event and the waking up of a usermode thread from an idle wait state in response to that event.

Highest measured interrupt to process latency (µs):   30176,60
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs):   7,987936

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs):       605,0
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs):       1,997914


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 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):              799,696367
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time:       ACPI.sys - ACPI-Treiber für NT, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%):          0,025954
Driver with highest ISR total time:                   Wdf01000.sys - Kernelmodustreiber-Frameworklaufzeit, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%)                          0,031390

ISR count (execution time <250 µs):                   16301
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs):                0
ISR count (execution time 500-1000 µs):               257
ISR count (execution time 1000-2000 µs):              0
ISR count (execution time 2000-4000 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):              1597,352296
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time:       ACPI.sys - ACPI-Treiber für NT, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%):          0,006748
Driver with highest DPC total execution time:         ACPI.sys - ACPI-Treiber für NT, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%)                          0,017890

DPC count (execution time <250 µs):                   19158
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs):                0
DPC count (execution time 500-10000 µs):              180
DPC count (execution time 1000-2000 µs):              38
DPC count (execution time 2000-4000 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:                 msmpeng.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults                       265
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process:          148
Number of processes hit:                              10


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
 PER CPU DATA
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       1,460261
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs):                579,021933
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,005249
CPU 0 ISR count:                                      49
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs):                1245,672378
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,049298
CPU 0 DPC count:                                      8416
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,502516
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 1 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs):                16,053461
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000016
CPU 1 DPC count:                                      1
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,436922
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 2 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 2 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,476302
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 3 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 3 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,713348
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs):                799,696367
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,060194
CPU 4 ISR count:                                      356
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs):                1597,352296
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,120413
CPU 4 DPC count:                                      3240
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,932834
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs):                209,18780
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,334219
CPU 5 ISR count:                                      10673
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs):                807,730637
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,030680
CPU 5 DPC count:                                      2888
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,616571
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs):                169,498286
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,167974
CPU 6 ISR count:                                      5223
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs):                859,599726
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,027454
CPU 6 DPC count:                                      2578
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,660094
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs):                638,236463
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,048790
CPU 7 ISR count:                                      257
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs):                1519,338588
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,122423
CPU 7 DPC count:                                      2159
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 8 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,381965
CPU 8 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 8 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 8 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 8 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 8 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 8 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 9 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,384316
CPU 9 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 9 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 9 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 9 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 9 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 9 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 10 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,374523
CPU 10 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 10 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 10 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 10 DPC highest execution time (µs):                12,917066
CPU 10 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000033
CPU 10 DPC count:                                      6
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 11 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,375493
CPU 11 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 11 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 11 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 11 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 11 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 11 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 12 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,262640
CPU 12 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 12 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 12 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 12 DPC highest execution time (µs):                8,536669
CPU 12 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000013
CPU 12 DPC count:                                      3
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 13 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,265140
CPU 13 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 13 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 13 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 13 DPC highest execution time (µs):                24,910898
CPU 13 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000107
CPU 13 DPC count:                                      10
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 14 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,261348
CPU 14 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 14 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 14 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 14 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 14 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 14 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 15 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,262716
CPU 15 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 15 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 15 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 15 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 15 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 15 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 16 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,281853
CPU 16 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 16 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 16 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 16 DPC highest execution time (µs):                7,942426
CPU 16 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000008
CPU 16 DPC count:                                      1
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 17 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,276552
CPU 17 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 17 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 17 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 17 DPC highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 17 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 17 DPC count:                                      0
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 18 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,280351
CPU 18 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 18 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 18 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 18 DPC highest execution time (µs):                6,128170
CPU 18 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000067
CPU 18 DPC count:                                      12
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 19 Interrupt cycle time (s):                       0,342447
CPU 19 ISR highest execution time (µs):                0,0
CPU 19 ISR total execution time (s):                   0,0
CPU 19 ISR count:                                      0
CPU 19 DPC highest execution time (µs):                80,010966
CPU 19 DPC total execution time (s):                   0,000814
CPU 19 DPC count:                                      62
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

almaelectronix · September 10, 2023, 11:00am

What’s your audio interface?
Do you use the latest drivers?
What are your settings inside cubase regarding buffer size etc?

Also along with disabling Hyperthreading , change the system performance from “ background services ” to “ programs ”.

Drummer007 · September 10, 2023, 5:54pm

Im using the Focusrite Scarlet 18i20, newst drivers. Fresh install of Windows with all drivers downloaded on newsest version.
You can see my Cubase Settings in the video i attached at the very top. Buffer Size is at 96 - Which should be fine for plain recording without any effects.
The System is already set to Performance “Programs”

st10ss · September 10, 2023, 9:02pm

???
System should be set to performance to background processes, since drivers running in the back.
Did you ever tried a higher buffer size?

almaelectronix · September 11, 2023, 11:26am

I hear you but I was the one who suggested trying “programs” along with the hyperthreading disabled, because I found this suggestion some years back on a post somewhere around here and when I tried this myself I saw a 10% drop in performance meter. Hyperthreading alone didn’t return any drop on the performance meter.

But since it is already set to programs, give it a try changing it to background to see what happens

I can see on Scarlett’s settings under latency a “safe mode” box was checked. What is this?

Also, there is a freeware called “shut up windows” which shuts down various non-needed functions of Windows with just one click.
It has 3 levels, just the recommended, recommended and optional, and all of them.
You can try it and see if Windows messes up with your daw and if not you can always return to the default state.

Running out of suggestions…

Drummer007 · September 11, 2023, 6:39pm

Soooo setting the system back to optimization for background process also brought no effect.
Disabling Safe Mode in the focusrite? You gueesed it! Also no effect.
grafik
Even with “Shut Up Windows” Nearly everything diasbled - No effect and still Peaks.

When I raise the buffer size to 512 or more I only see massive spikes but no peaks anymore.
Thing is - That’s not an Option.

I want to do guitar tracking with virtual amps as VST and I also have some drum processing as monitor output when recording drums.
On my old laptop that hat 20% performance of the new machine, this was not a problem and now just having cubase opened in safe mode, without plugins, in an empty project - Overload Issues.
Only playing back a Stereo WAV file in an empty project? - Cracks and Overload (Red Performance Meter).

I’m getting really desperate. I simply can’t record like this. Something has to be wrong… Is it a known windows 11 issue maybe?

Louis_R · September 12, 2023, 12:42am

I think it’s an issue with the battery driver (ACPI.sys as shown in your LatencyMon screenshot).
Take a look at this link.
One simple fix is to remove the preinstalled driver and restart so that Windows installs its own.
Another fix is to download a tool and change the affinity of the drivers.
Link is for Dell but this applies to any manufacturer.

st10ss · September 12, 2023, 1:08am

ACPI isn’t exactly a battery driver, it’s the power management system in total, so it’s present on desktop computers as well.

I don’t think so.

Can you try to disable the Nvidia graphic you mentioned above? There were reports about problems with it, from time to time.

MattiasNYC · September 12, 2023, 1:17am

Background processes should not be prioritized. Drivers are already getting high priority.

You can read the reply by Pete from Microsoft on exactly that matter here:

Gearspace.com - View Single Post - DPC latency better with AMD graphic cards (3 card comparison)

Also note that his tweak guide for Windows is in the link in the end of the post (very modest realistic and safe ‘tweaks’).

Louis_R · September 12, 2023, 1:40am

Sure ACPI.sys is the power management but all-in-one manufacturers use their own custom ACPI.sys and in the case it interferes with DAW usage then it needs to be replaced by Windows’ default one. This is the exact and only fix for this issue, or, use a tool to run the drivers on different cores so that they do not interrupt Cubase.

If both Cubase.exe and ACPI.sys run on Core 1 for example, then Cubase will have to wait as the core is busy to process the ACPI calls. This has nothing to do with the graphics card right now, it’s just the custom ACPI driver that is the source of the problem.

almaelectronix · September 13, 2023, 6:35pm

I think this is it man, check it out. Updated 2 weeks ago:

dangermike · September 13, 2023, 8:54pm

It sounds from your earlier posts that you are having problems even outside Cubase. I had a similar issue recently with a new Dell. I was getting terrible Latencymon reports even playing YouTube videos through an Scarlett 2nd Gen with a lowish buffer size, and the audio would distort and hum. After trying all the usual stuff I tried a UR22C and so far so good - the distortion has gone and the Latencymon reports are green in both YouTube and more importantly Cubase. I still can’t quite understand or believe what has happened but I’m just praying it stays that way.

(I mention this because if you’re having problems with simple audio / performance outside of Cubase, I guess it’s unlikely to be down to the P-Core / E-Core issue. Mine wasn’t an Intel chip, so it didn’t apply there anyway.)

Arlicht · September 18, 2023, 10:39am

If you not tried it yet - try to download and use Bitsum ParkControl program and turn off windows core parking. This thing helped a lot of people including myself with 12/13th gen high dpc issues. If it will not make any difference for you - just turn parking back on. Try to check latest bios updates as well.