Deferred Procedure Call (DPC) manages the execution of low-priority tasks related to hardware and device drivers. Although its purpose is to defer less time-sensitive operations so that important tasks can be processed first, when high, it can lead to performance problems, especially in real-time tasks like audio-video streaming or editing. In today’s blog, we will guide you on how to fix high DPC latency on both Windows 11 and 10. let’s get on.
Causes of High DPC Latency on Windows 11/10 and How to Fix It
When hardware needs attention or a device driver needs service, it generates an interrupt to alert the CPU. Now the Windows OS executes an Interrupt Service Routine (ISR) to respond to them. The DPC defers some work related to these disruptions to a later time. Higher-priority ones are processed before lower-priority ones. When a driver takes longer than usual to do its job, it simultaneously delays the work of other drivers, which can ultimately make the PC sluggish. In technical terms, we call this DPC latency.
Here are some common causes of high DPC latency on Windows:
- outdated or faulty drivers
- excessive background processes
- overloaded cpu
- Incorrectly configured system settings
- faulty hardware component
quick reply
Update graphics and audio drivers on PC. If this doesn’t help, change the power plan.
1. Launch control Panel choose more large icons From view by drop down menu.
2. Click on power options choose more high performance power plan.
Method 1: Switch to a new power plan
High performance or ultimate performance power plans maximize the processing power of the CPU, which then continuously runs at higher clock speeds. Therefore, it can respond more quickly to handle deferred procedure calls.
1. Launch Control Panel, expand it view by dropdown menu in the top right corner, and select large icons,
2. Click on power options choose more high performance Or ultimate performance Option.
Note, however, that since it will consume more power, it will result in faster battery drain. If this is not possible for you, consider other methods mentioned below.
Method 2: Update graphics and audio drivers
Graphics and audio drivers handle significant amounts of data and real-time processing. If these drivers are outdated or corrupt, they may have difficulty keeping up with the demands of processing tasks, resulting in high DPC latency. To update these drivers, you can follow our guides on how to update graphics drivers in Windows 11 and how to update audio drivers in Windows 11.
Method 3: Modify the Registry
Some hardware processes may contribute to latency problems. Modifying these settings via the Registry may affect how these processes interact with the system and fix the occurrence of high DPC latency in Windows 11.
Comment: create one Backup Registry Keys To restore previous settings in case of manual errors during modification.
1. press Win + R keys to open run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and click Ok, If prompted, select Yes In the UAC prompt.
3. in registry EditorGo to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{DEB039CC-B704-4F53-B43E-9DD4432FA2E9}\00004. Right click on 0000 key, click on Newand then choose DWORD (32-bit) value From the context menu.
If you get any errors at this step, you can follow our guide on how to fix unable to write key error in registry.
5. Name the DWORD value key as perflevelsrc,
6. Double click on perflevelsrc key and modify it value data To 3322,
7. Similarly create three more DWORD values named: enable powermizer, powermizerlevelAnd powermizerlevelac,
8. Set value data For powermizerlevel And powermizerlevelac As 1,
9. Click Ok To save the changes made to the registry and restart Your PC.
Method 4: Disable dynamic ticking
Dynamic ticking is a feature in Windows that adjusts the timing of the system clock. System adjustments to clock time can potentially create irregularities in the handling of deferred procedure calls. Here’s how to disable it:
1. run command prompt As administrator.
2. Type the following command and press enter, bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes
3. Once the command is executed successfully, restart PC.
Method 5: Disable IPv6
IPv6 and IPv4 are two different network protocols. Enabling both simultaneously can sometimes cause conflicts and increase network processing overhead, therefore resulting in higher DPC latency. Here’s how to disable IPv6:
1. press Windows key + R to open run dialog box.
2. Type at ncpa.cpl Press more in the text field enter to open Network Connection window.
3. Right-click the network connection you are using (such as Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and select Property From the dropdown menu.
4. In the list of items, uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)Click Ok To confirm the changes, close the Properties window.
Method 6: Disable Windows Firewall
Windows Defender continuously scans in real-time for malware and other threats. Now the scanning process involves system resources and can sometimes contribute to the issue discussed. The burden on system resources can be reduced by temporarily disabling the Firewall and for this, you can follow our guide on how to disable Windows 11 Firewall.
Method 7: Uninstall Bonjour App (if applicable)
Bonjour is a networking protocol developed by Apple that is primarily used to discover devices and services on a local network. If you’ve previously connected an Apple device to your Windows PC, you may find this app installed on the system. However, it may run background processes that cause excess CPU usage and network activity, which can cause high DPC latency.
1. Open control Panel and click Uninstall a program under programs,
2. Search Bonjour In the list of installed programs. Right-click on it and then click Uninstall,
3. Once uninstalled, restart Your computer to make sure the changes take effect.
Method 8: Turn off D0 packet coalescing
D0 packet coalescing is an energy-saving feature that works by combining small packets of data into larger packets before transmitting them. By turning off this feature, you prevent bundling of data packets, allowing quicker transmission of smaller packets which can fix high DPC latency issues on Windows 11.
1. Launch device Manager expand further network adapters Social class.
2. Right-click on your network adapter and select Property From the context menu.
3. Look for properties related to packet composition, e.g. interrupt restraint Or packet freezingSelect it, and choose disable,
Method 9: Use TCP Optimizer
TCP Optimizer allows users to adjust various network settings to optimize Internet connectivity and performance. By fine-tuning these settings, it is possible to improve network efficiency and reduce potential bottlenecks that may contribute to DPC latency problems.
1. Download tcp adapter From the official website and once installed, run it as administrator.
2. Select optimal Options in the lower right corner and then click apply changes button.
TCP Optimizer will prompt you to restart your computer to apply the new settings. Save any work and restart the system.
Method 10: System Restore
If the error persists, the last method is to perform a System Restore on the PC, and for that, you can follow our guide on how to use and create a System Restore in Windows 11.
How do I check my DPC latency?
You can use DPC Latency Checker for Windows 11/10 to check whether your PC is experiencing the discussed issue or not.
1. Go to the LatencyMon page of the official website of Resplendence and click on download button in the top navigation bar.
2. Scroll down and down system monitoring toolschoose Latencysome 7.31 (or any latest version) to download it on PC.
3. Install the downloaded .exe file.
4. Open Latencysome Click on App and start monitor button (green triangular icon) In the upper left corner.
5. Allow monitoring to run for several minutes to gather enough data and then click stop monitoring button (square icon),
6. Visit statistics Tab. Here, you can view all your statistics.
- If the DPC and ISR routines are less than 2000µs, your PC can handle real-time audio dropouts.
- If it is between 2000-4000, it is not ideal.
- If it exceeds 4000μs, it is a serious problem.
In general, if the DPC latency is more than 2000μs it is considered high. High DPC latency can degrade your audio on the computer. You may notice problems like video stuttering, inconsistent performance with your mouse or keyboard, or more commonly, audio problems such as dropouts, clicking, and popping sounds.
Is DPC latency better on Windows 10 or 11?
Both Windows 10 and 11 may experience DPC latency issues. Its performance between both versions may vary depending on different system configurations, hardware and software.
We hope our guide helped you Fix High DPC Latency on Both Windows 11 and Windows 10, If you have any questions or suggestions for us, feel free to let us know in the comments section. Stay connected to TechCult for more such troubleshooting guides.
