Question Windows 11 OS stutters

[xoddam]

Hi, I got an MSI Sword 16HX about 6 months ago now and it has treated me great except for minor stuttering that seems to affect the entire OS. It happens briefly about every 15-45 minutes or so and is so short it took me this long to finally get annoyed with it enough to start looking into it. I found a program called LatencyMon and it said "Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks" and then goes on to recommend that it is a driver causing the problem which locks up for a moment before being reloaded fixing the issue. This would make sense as the problem doesn't seem to be caused by anything I do and will happen even when nothing is open and I am just sitting at the desktop. I have tried everything from reinstalling any and all drivers from MSI's website for my specific model and have disabled Intel Speed Storage which I read may cause the issue. I have also tried disabling hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling, while I can't determine how effective it is, it does seem to cut down on the stutters somewhat. The only issue with this now is in older titles such as Skyrim/Oblivion, they go from running at 200+ fps to barely 45 leading me to have to turn it back on. The only thing I haven't done is update my BIOS as I would need to get my hands on a USB drive which funnily enough I can't seem to find. I would prefer not to have to do a clean install at this point as I have many settings, config files, mods and games already filling up the 2TB of space. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


Here are my specs:
CPU Intel 13700HX
GPU: Nvidia 4070 Mobile
Storage: 2x 1TB Gen 4 NVMe Drives
RAM: 40GB (yes i know lol, didn't realize the 32gb i got was only 1 stick haha)
(I only add this next part because maybe having so many devices connected is having an effect)
Peripherals are essentially filled to capacity. External keyboard, mouse, ethernet, headset using 3.5mm, HDMI to 1440p 144hz monitor


Here is the log from LatencyMon:
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CONCLUSION
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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. At least one detected problem appears to be network related. In case you are using a WLAN adapter, try disabling it to get better results. 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 0:16:47 (h:mm:ss) on all processors.


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SYSTEM INFORMATION
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Computer name: MSI-XOD
OS version: Windows 11, 10.0, version 2009, build: 22631 (x64)
Hardware: Sword 16 HX B13VGKG, Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
BIOS: E15P2IMS.10C
CPU: GenuineIntel 13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-13700HX
Logical processors: 24
Processor groups: 1
Processor group size: 24
RAM: 40663 MB total


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU SPEED
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Reported CPU speed (WMI): 210 MHz
Reported CPU speed (registry): 2304 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
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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): 1719.10
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 10.455745

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 1712.0
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 6.097460


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED ISRs
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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): 350.557292
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.005261
Driver with highest ISR total time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.010461

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 185519
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-1000 µs): 30
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): 113327.889757
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: ACPI.sys - ACPI Driver for NT, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.067329
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: dxgkrnl.sys - DirectX Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.163895

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 2824782
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-10000 µs): 7259
DPC count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 62
DPC count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 1


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS
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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: system

Total number of hard pagefaults 1356
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 344
Number of processes hit: 52


_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PER CPU DATA
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CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 99.666930
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 294.461806
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 2.153862
CPU 0 ISR count: 160170
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1798.559028
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 33.577697
CPU 0 DPC count: 2418201
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 23.698630
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 13.359375
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000022
CPU 1 ISR count: 2
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 127.907118
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.013167
CPU 1 DPC count: 2272
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CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 30.699294
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 7.926215
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000016
CPU 2 ISR count: 2
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 558.531250
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.266145
CPU 2 DPC count: 21025
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 29.920042
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 298.575521
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.147462
CPU 3 ISR count: 15238
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1901.595486
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 2.047175
CPU 3 DPC count: 127084
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 33.751726
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs): 294.165799
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s): 0.154795
CPU 4 ISR count: 6021
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs): 1275.963542
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 1.293273
CPU 4 DPC count: 74357
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 24.088356
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): 164.117188
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0.019776
CPU 5 DPC count: 2251
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s): 30.367515
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs): 7.510417
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000014
CPU 6 ISR count: 2
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs): 603.007813
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s): 0.148570
CPU 6 DPC count: 11062
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s): 23.241353
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs): 350.557292
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s): 0.010808
CPU 7 ISR count: 579
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs): 873.607639
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s): 0.100505
CPU 7 DPC count: 7752
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 8 Interrupt cycle time (s): 34.876272
CPU 8 ISR highest execution time (µs): 230.350694
CPU 8 ISR total execution time (s): 0.051421
CPU 8 ISR count: 2640
CPU 8 DPC highest execution time (µs): 989.781250
CPU 8 DPC total execution time (s): 0.998941
CPU 8 DPC count: 59553
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 9 Interrupt cycle time (s): 28.804788
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): 213.231771
CPU 9 DPC total execution time (s): 0.134162
CPU 9 DPC count: 11504
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 10 Interrupt cycle time (s): 29.624111
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): 707.473958
CPU 10 DPC total execution time (s): 0.208336
CPU 10 DPC count: 23652
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 11 Interrupt cycle time (s): 29.123010
CPU 11 ISR highest execution time (µs): 123.013021
CPU 11 ISR total execution time (s): 0.001359
CPU 11 ISR count: 85
CPU 11 DPC highest execution time (µs): 931.177083
CPU 11 DPC total execution time (s): 0.129037
CPU 11 DPC count: 11734
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 12 Interrupt cycle time (s): 31.006182
CPU 12 ISR highest execution time (µs): 266.981771
CPU 12 ISR total execution time (s): 0.010241
CPU 12 ISR count: 810
CPU 12 DPC highest execution time (µs): 933.015625
CPU 12 DPC total execution time (s): 0.166824
CPU 12 DPC count: 16302
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 13 Interrupt cycle time (s): 23.924588
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): 143.033854
CPU 13 DPC total execution time (s): 0.020125
CPU 13 DPC count: 2642
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 14 Interrupt cycle time (s): 31.322549
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): 113327.889757
CPU 14 DPC total execution time (s): 0.183891
CPU 14 DPC count: 8742
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 15 Interrupt cycle time (s): 23.234414
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): 156.547743
CPU 15 DPC total execution time (s): 0.018243
CPU 15 DPC count: 2107
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 16 Interrupt cycle time (s): 16.589630
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): 156.414931
CPU 16 DPC total execution time (s): 0.058293
CPU 16 DPC count: 5844
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 17 Interrupt cycle time (s): 15.617408
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): 201.110243
CPU 17 DPC total execution time (s): 0.041858
CPU 17 DPC count: 4190
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 18 Interrupt cycle time (s): 13.694070
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): 133.404514
CPU 18 DPC total execution time (s): 0.034606
CPU 18 DPC count: 3942
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 19 Interrupt cycle time (s): 12.985465
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): 152.715278
CPU 19 DPC total execution time (s): 0.028735
CPU 19 DPC count: 3140
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 20 Interrupt cycle time (s): 14.919006
CPU 20 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 20 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 20 ISR count: 0
CPU 20 DPC highest execution time (µs): 208.317708
CPU 20 DPC total execution time (s): 0.034589
CPU 20 DPC count: 3435
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 21 Interrupt cycle time (s): 14.299877
CPU 21 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 21 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 21 ISR count: 0
CPU 21 DPC highest execution time (µs): 146.990451
CPU 21 DPC total execution time (s): 0.035956
CPU 21 DPC count: 3444
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 22 Interrupt cycle time (s): 14.262754
CPU 22 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 22 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 22 ISR count: 0
CPU 22 DPC highest execution time (µs): 159.478299
CPU 22 DPC total execution time (s): 0.040538
CPU 22 DPC count: 4115
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CPU 23 Interrupt cycle time (s): 12.885596
CPU 23 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 23 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 23 ISR count: 0
CPU 23 DPC highest execution time (µs): 136.320313
CPU 23 DPC total execution time (s): 0.038079
CPU 23 DPC count: 3754
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

[Ralston18]

Try Resource Monitor and Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Use both tools but only one tool at a time.

You will need to leave the tool window open and viewable while gaming, etc..

Objective simply to discover some change that occurs just before or at the time of the stutters.

May take some trial and error effort to find a method that works for you.

Take your time, watch carefully. You do have some control over the display format and sorting.

Could be some process that starts and stops with the stutters or perhaps grabs more resources with the same end effect.

Once identified then the next step is to determine if there is an applicable fix or solution.

 

[xoddam]

Try Resource Monitor and Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Use both tools but only one tool at a time.

You will need to leave the tool window open and viewable while gaming, etc..

Objective simply to discover some change that occurs just before or at the time of the stutters.

May take some trial and error effort to find a method that works for you.

Take your time, watch carefully. You do have some control over the display format and sorting.

Could be some process that starts and stops with the stutters or perhaps grabs more resources with the same end effect.

Once identified then the next step is to determine if there is an applicable fix or solution.

I have been paying attention to resource monitor for a while now and there are no spikes in usage of any components when it happens. As for process explorer, i gave it a shot and tried seeing if it would give anymore info and I can't seem to figure out what im looking for. The processes can be organized the same as in task manager and its quite hard to keep an eye out for the given process, if this is the issue, that is only appearing for a couple tenths of a second. I am positive there is no specific cause of it, as I mentioned it happens when the computer is at the desktop with nothing open and i really mean nothing else. I have windows running as barebones as possible, even removed any all traces of microsoft defender which was such a hassle.

edit: i discovered that this is a common problem with MSI laptops 🙁 at least i just use it for gaming and not anything audiophile related

 

[COLGeek]

Does removing the additional memory you installed change the behavior?

What are your CPU and GPU operating temperatures at idle and under load?

 

[COLGeek]

Please do not create another thread on this topic. Thank you.

 

[xoddam]

Does removing the additional memory you installed change the behavior?

What are your CPU and GPU operating temperatures at idle and under load?

Unfortunately removing the 32GB and reverting back to the 2x 8GB sticks doesn't have an effect on the problem. My temps are well within reason, actually kind of upset about how strictly MSI limits voltages. With all components at max use, especially VRAM I sit at 70C, if I am doing nothing it sits between 42-50C.

As for the duplicate thread, I apologize I thought maybe I had put it in the wrong section with how many views it got and no responses lol