Unlocking the Latency

1.

Unlocking the Latency
Monitor: Alchemy Tweaks
Comprehensive Guide
Optimal Utilization of the Latency Monitor: A Step-by-Step
Guide
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2.

Unveiling the Guide's Contents
Unlock the Latency Monitor: Your Essential Guide Maximize the
potential of the latency monitor. Learn the essentials: how to use it
effectively, key factors to consider, when and how often to test, ideal
test durations, and more. All your questions answered in a clear,
focused style inspired by Microsoft's professionalism. No jargon, just
actionable insights.
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3.

Decoding the Role of Latency Monitoring
LatencyMon is a specialized utility designed to evaluate the suitability of a Windows-based system for handling
real-time audio processing and other critical tasks. By meticulously analyzing potential triggers of buffer
underruns, LatencyMon primarily focuses on assessing kernel timer latencies. It goes beyond by meticulously
scrutinizing the execution times of Deferred Procedure Call (DPC) and Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) routines,
alongside monitoring hard pagefault incidents.
With an ultimate objective of enhancing system performance, LatencyMon delivers a comprehensive diagnostic
report. This report seamlessly pinpoints kernel modules and active processes contributing to audio latencies,
ultimately causing undesirable dropouts in performance. Moreover, the tool encompasses functionalities akin to
an ISR monitor, DPC monitor, and a hard pagefault monitor.
LatencyMon, in its intricate analysis, reveals the most elevated latencies associated with kernel timers.
Furthermore, it offers insights into the highest execution durations of ISR and DPC routines, as well as instances
of hard pagefault occurrences. An integral facet of this tool is its capability to discern and elucidate drivers and
processes accountable for triggering these latencies. The culmination of LatencyMon's assessment materializes
in an intelligible report, encapsulating all sampled data in an exhaustive manner, enabling users to conduct
meticulous and profound analyses.
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What Does the Latency Monitor Actually Do?
In essence, what it tells us is that we see in real time the latency of our
system and specifically the drivers of our system. For example, we see
the driver of our GPU, what latency it has.In addition, what you are
looking at are the times of DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) and IRS
(interrupt service routines).
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5.

Understanding Hard Pagefault
Windows relies on virtual memory, managed by the CPU's page translation
system. When a memory address isn't in physical memory, it triggers INT 14. The
OS then decides the next steps. If the page is known to Windows but not resident,
it's a 'hard pagefault'—slow as data might be fetched from disk. This can disrupt
audio, like dropouts. To prevent this, boost app working set, increase RAM, or
disable the pagefile, though system crash info might be affected.
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Minimizing Hard Pagefault: Effective Strategies
1. Close background processes
2. Disable search indexer service
3. Add more ram ( from 8gb to 16gb e.t.c )
4. Disable paging file

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What causes high latency?
Background tasks cause high latency
Programs that are open such as spotify, discord, browsers, peripherals programs
Windows updates that try to take place while you are playing
Windows bloatwares that perform updates
The drivers we have installed (Sound, GPU, Network)
Μodifications that we have implemented ourselves
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Extras about DPC and ISR
If DPC & ISR < 200 ms your system is good
If DPC & ISR > 2000 ms your system is doubtful
If DPC & ISR > 4000 ms your system is unstable
Note: To reduce DPC & ISR milliseconds reduce Hz of audio
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9.

Accurate Latency Measurement with the Latency
Monitor: A Step-by-Step Guide
Prioritize a Clean Slate: Essential Steps for Effective Latency Monitoring
1.
2.
3.
4.
Streamlined Environment: Ensure minimal background activity. Check the taskbar at the bottom right for any
lingering minimized programs that may be running.
Patience After Boot: Following system boot-up, exercise patience. Allow a buffer time of at least 10 minutes
before commencing latency monitor measurements.
Initial Test Caution: When launching the latency monitor and hitting the start button, be vigilant. The initial test
often yields misleading outcomes and should be considered experimental. Exclude its results from your overall
assessment.
Established Precision: To enhance the precision and reliability of your measurements, conduct the first test solely
for calibration purposes. This step lays the groundwork for subsequent accurate evaluations.
By following these refined steps, you ensure an environment primed for precise latency monitoring. Your commitment
to this meticulous approach will yield results that truly reflect your system's performance.
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Sensitivity Caution: Navigating LatencyMon Precision LatencyMon is exquisitely
sensitive, meaning minor system variations can yield deceptive results. Thus,
rigorous testing is vital, especially when detecting subtle fluctuations. Your
attentiveness ensures trustworthy outcomes, providing an accurate picture of
system performance.

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Optimal Number and Duration of Tests
Test Strategy for Optimal Insights Based on my experience, conducting 5-10 tests each lasting 1
minute is ideal. This approach fosters stability and consistency in your findings. A crucial tip: after
booting your computer, avoid immediately launching the latency monitor. Give your system at least
10 minutes to stabilize before initiating the first set of tests. You'll likely observe that the initial test
is less stable due to this 'settling' period. Subsequent tests (3-4) will generally exhibit greater
stability, enabling more dependable results.
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12.

Navigating Latency Tests: Key Focus Areas
We head to the stats and focus on averages and highest DPCs and processes
Also in the main tab we focus on hard pagefault count
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13.

Defining Your Goals for Success
Your goal is to reduce the numbers in all the above that we have shown. Lower numbers are
better.
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14.

Ways to reduce system latency
1. Disable windows updates & Antivirus
2. Remove windows bloatwares and uninstall programs that you not use
3. Find which is the best GPU, Network & Audio driver for your system
4. Disable useless background processes & remove peripherals programs
5. Reset your Router
6. Overclock & Upgrade your hardware
7. Install the latest version of windows 10 or 11
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15.

Disable from BIOS
1. Intel Speedstep Technology
2. Intel Turbo Boost
3. AMD Cool'n'Quiet
4. CPU C - States
All these BIOS settings causing power management issues. (not always)
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16.

Further Reading
Learn more more about DPC & ISR mechanisms:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoFF46PsQQrOT1t5drWY2cMoz-3eYK0X

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ENDING
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