T520 Sound Issues...Latency Spikes...SIMPLE SOLUTION !! [ Edited ]

[cmon123]

Hello All, 

Many of us T520 owners have had problems with skipping/cracking/distorted audio as a result of DPC Latency Spikes. I have been reading every available thread on the topic and I found a simple solution in a T420 thread  that I wanted to share with any T520 users that may have overlooked it.  

The Latency Spikes experienced by many users (including myself) were caused by the Ethernet Driver (Intel 82579LM Gigabit Adapter). The current T520 is loaded with Intel driver version 11.12.38.2001. However, if you revert to version 11.12.36.0 the issue disappears. You can download the driver directly from the HP website. (It is no longer available on the Lenovo Support Page)

Thanks again to the original T420 poster and GOOD LUCK!

Moderator Note: Links fixed.

[mixz1]

Please edit the links in your post so that they are correctly formatted, and then when that's done can this be forwarded to a forum moderator for submission to Lenovo? If this conclusively fixes the problem their driver download should be rolled back.

[lenovoZ]

According to LatencyMon, my issue (as with many others) is from the NVIDIA drivers. Have you found a solution for that? I've also got a new T520.

[petar]

Just bought a NEW T520 with nVidia 4200 , i5 , 4GB, 500GB (7K2 rpm)....
Had before Y560p, & resplved problems with that by reversing the bios to an older one, I didn't found it on Lenovo web, but hte guy from Thailand sended it to me on e-mail (he had problems too).
So it was OK but I wanted the best U can buy... & bought T520.... Had a BIG problem on a gig 1st time a used it ...
Music just stopped for a second or two.... big spike in latency monitor (I started it before work)... then I put to OFF WiFi (on the switch - left side). OK for about 45 min, then AGAIN.... I have gone crazy .... bought a double priced laptop & have problems again ??!?!  Is that possible ?!?!?
BTW the drivers on my LAN card are : 11.15.16.0

Anyone know the answer for this ?   Thanks in advance, while I'm reconsidering (not glad about that cose I love the Lenovo brand) buying the Apple Mac Book Pro...

[petar]

Sorry for my typing issues, wanted to do it fast.
I forgot to tell that I'm using Win7 Pro 64 bit & workin' with NI Traktor S4 controller. All originall software....
So it is somewere problem on the USB latency ....

[ColonelONeill]

@petar, the above posted fix was to downgrade the drivers for your wired network card. Yours is 11.15.16.0, which is newer than the required 11.12.36.0.

[petar]

Offcourse I figured it out, but wanted to explain a bit about this problem in another type of usage.
I will try that out (with HP driver & with disabled LAN card), and I will post then conclusions.
THX everyone for the posts.

[petar]

HP LAN driver solved the spikes in latency, bu still I'm not happy with the latency, a bit big for my taste. But if I find ideal one (combination) will post.

Take care 2 all.

[ColonelONeill]

Uninstall or Disable the Intel Management (heci.sys) driver. Seems to help for me.

[tnor]

Had similar problems on my T520 with audio stuttering so I went with a clean install on a Crucial M4 SSD of Windows 7 Ultimate. Only driver installed aside from the base drivers that come with Windows 7 was the network adapter here, and I still have issues according to latencymon with ataport.sys causing large spikes. Thought it could be a memory issue, but in running MemTest I have seen no errors. Not sure I want to go around removing base drivers from Windows to solve this issue.

Pretty frustrating that a brand new computer with a new installation of windows has these issues. Interestingly, my Dell Studio XPS 13 also has major latency issues according to latencymon, but I've never heard audio stuttering.