This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This is a bit of a self answering post to save other people the troubleshooting that I've had to do.
I'm on an old system from Dell, where the motherboard and CPU are from an old Studio XPS 435MT. It's an old (but still managing) Core i7 940 CPU, but the bigger challenge is the ICH10R SATA ACHI / RAID controller.
To cut a long story short, after upgrading from 1709 to 1803 (via Windows Update), I got horrible audio stuttering on both the built in Realtek system, and an external Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2nd gen). The fact that I had problems on both made me think that the issue was more fundamental than an audio driver issue, and so it proved to be.
It turned out that I had horrific DPC latency issues on what Windows had defaulted to as a storage driver (storport.sys).
After digging a bit, I installed the latest Intel RST driver. No joy. It was just as bad.
Then I realised that Intel probably dumped support for ICH10R donkey's years ago, and so they did. In fact, they seem to have dropped it back in 2012.
So I uninstalled that, and downloaded Intel RST version 11.7.0.1013 from the Intel download site (thankfully it is still there). This is the last version of the driver with support for ICH10R as far as I can see.
After installing this version, the audio problems are gone, or as good as gone. The latency on storport.sys is nominal again.
I just hope saves someone else the troubleshooting nightmare. Intel have left us poor people that are milking the last life out of the first gen Core CPUs high and dry with regards to Meltdown and Spectre patches, and the performance has been badly impacted by few patches that have released... but at least this might let us keep the old ICH10R chugging along a bit longer!
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
You are an absolute legend. I kind of had it from your first post but it got a little techie in your description and i was nervouse about messing with the motherboard.
Having the video solved all my problems.
Much apreciated.
Recommend this fix for all who are having this problem.
Still cant get over the PC I lovingly built myself and upgraded, as and when I could afford it, is Old!!! Guess I must be too.
Thanks for your help.
Hi .
I have the same problem with an asus pq50 pro motherboard. Intel quad core q9550 processor. M- audio delta 1010 sound card.
Any chance you would be able to do a dummies guide to what i need to do to fix like you did?
Ive tried drivers etc.
I am a little lost with how to fix from your original post as not sure what intel RST etc. is.
Any help will be gratefully recieved.
Hi Chopstuey,
I assume you mean the P5Q Pro Motherboard. If so, it also uses the ICH10R controller, so you can use the exact same process that I've done.
So, I've recorded this little video for you and anyone else that might need it. It's a bit rough, but should get you there.
Hope it helps!
Hi .
I have the same problem with an asus pq50 pro motherboard. Intel quad core q9550 processor. M- audio delta 1010 sound card.
Any chance you would be able to do a dummies guide to what i need to do to fix like you did?
Ive tried drivers etc.
I am a little lost with how to fix from your original post as not sure what intel RST etc. is.
Any help will be gratefully recieved.
Hi Stakman,
I'm so happy for you... and your pants! :-)
Hi Stakman1,
I have no knowledge whatsoever about Microsoft plans for the future, but given that Intel has consciously decided to abandon the 920, 940 and 960 CPUs (Bloomfield) from a Spectre/Meltdown perspective, I can imagine that Microsoft probably feel largely excused to do the same.
With that in mind, I would say that it is time to put your old underwear at risk of a little soiling, create a backup or at least a restore point, then give this a go. Given how badly our systems are impacted, I consider them effectively useless without the latency problem resolved... So give it a go... you have little to lose, other than perhaps some underwear from the mid naughties.
Good luck! :-)
You can't see me right now, but if you could you would see me dancing in my chair. Dancing to undistorted music coming from my computer! You may also be happy to know that I'm wearing pants. Anyway, I knew in my mind that I needed to take the chance and that I didn't really have anything to lose at this point. I guess I just needed to hear it from someone else. As an added bonus, I now have a redundant backup of my backup because I'm cautious. Anyway, thanks!
For others who are considering this fix, installation for me was simple. After downloading the installer from Intels website, I ran it without uninstalling the current version and the installer asks if you want the older version. A reboot later and I was in business again.
