DPC Latency Issues (possibly from Wi-Fi connection)

Bryqn 20 Reputation points
2026-08-07T21:22:56.0733333+00:00

On Windows 11, for a very long while, I've been having problems with minor graphical stutters and audio buzzing at random. It used to be somewhat uncommon previously, so I never paid much attention to it, but it's been getting more and more frequent. Recently I decided to finally research what has been causing it, and I believe my problem has to do with DPC Latency spikes.

Basically, at seemingly random times, my audio and graphics stutter for fractions of a second a bunch of times in a row (I've also noticed that the last stutter of these takes a little longer to happen than the rest) and then stops for a while before happening again. 

Some crucial details are that changing my internet connection or turning off my internet seems to always cause it as well, but these stutters keep going for much longer before they stabilize. And turning my internet connection off seems to completely prevent them from happening after it stops. This makes me believe it has something to do with network, possibly drivers and such.

So far, I've tried updating my graphics drivers, updating my network driver and changing some battery performance settings, but this hasn't helped.

I've done some LatencyMon scans, recorded a video about it and provided some system information below:

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This should link to the video:
https://1drv.ms/v/c/f603a9f7de90e29d/IQCec0zLtVu0TaIi4g77cXcCAcrEHQx7GKn-F7H9d9YJP7A?e=MfijxE
(In the video, the audio appears to cut out instead of buzz, but that's when the latency spikes occur, no more spikes happened sometime after turning on airplane mode)

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures
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Answer accepted by question author
Ivan B 123.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-08-07T22:06:28.8133333+00:00

Hi,

Should I note that the storage driver failure occurs right after the network driver?

Did you update the BIOS?

Could you provide the support URL?

Thanks.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-07T21:23:26.4133333+00:00

    The symptoms fit DPC/ISR interference. In Windows media analysis, long-running DPCs and ISRs can delay audio processing and cause audio glitches, and these problems are commonly found in network, storage, and graphics drivers. The fact that the stutters are triggered by changing or disabling the internet connection makes the network stack a strong suspect in this case.

    Based on the driver list shown, the most relevant path is to focus on the network-related drivers first:

    1. In Device Manager, test with the Intel Wi‑Fi adapter disabled.
      • Go to Device Manager > Network adapters.
      • Right-click Intel(R) Wi‑Fi 6 AX201 160MHz and choose Disable device.
      • Use the system for a while on Ethernet only or fully offline.
      • If the stutters stop, that isolates the issue to the Wi‑Fi path rather than graphics or audio alone.
    2. If Wi‑Fi is the trigger, also test Bluetooth disabled.
      • In Device Manager > Bluetooth, disable Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R).
      • Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth often share the same wireless hardware path, so this helps narrow whether the wireless stack is involved more broadly.
    3. Roll back or switch the network driver version instead of only updating.
      • In Device Manager > Network adapters > Intel(R) Wi‑Fi 6 AX201 160MHz > Properties > Driver:
        • Try Roll Back Driver if available.
        • If not, use Update Driver > Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer and test another installed version.
      • A Microsoft Q&A case with severe FPS drops after an update pointed to Microsoft Wi‑Fi Direct/NDIS-related errors and recommended rolling back the network driver first.
    4. Check whether the spikes line up with DPC/ISR activity in WPA.
      • Open the trace and identify the glitch events.
      • Add DPC/ISR Duration by CPU.
      • If peaks in that graph line up with the stutters, that confirms DPC/ISR interference.
      • Then zoom into the ~100 ms before the glitch and inspect which CPU and module are active.
    5. Review the highest-duration DPC/ISR modules during the glitch window.
      • In WPA, use the DPC/ISR Duration by Module, Function preset.
      • Compare the time range when the stutter occurs against normal periods.
      • If network modules are dominant in the glitch window, that supports the Wi‑Fi/NDIS path.
    6. Keep graphics and storage in scope as secondary suspects.
      • The Windows guidance notes that network, storage, and graphics drivers are the usual sources of ISR/DPC problems.
      • In the screenshots, ndis.sys and tcpip.sys are relevant because of the network trigger, but nvlddmkm.sys, dxgkrnl.sys, and storage drivers also appear in the list, so WPA correlation is important before blaming one component.
    7. If the issue started or worsened after a Windows update, test outside recent update changes.
      • A similar Microsoft Q&A case reported freezes and stutters tied to specific Windows updates and suggested reinstalling Windows offline, then pausing Windows Update temporarily to verify whether the issue returns.
      • This is a heavier step and should be treated as last resort because it is disruptive.

    What the current evidence supports:

    • DPC/ISR latency can cause exactly the kind of audio buzzing and brief graphical stalls described.
    • Network drivers are a common source.
    • The internet on/off trigger makes the Wi‑Fi/network stack the best first target.

    What to do next in order:

    1. Disable Wi‑Fi and test.
    2. Disable Bluetooth and test.
    3. Roll back or switch the Intel Wi‑Fi driver version.
    4. Capture and inspect the issue in WPA using DPC/ISR Duration by CPU and DPC/ISR Duration by Module, Function.
    5. If confirmed only when wireless is active, stay on the most stable driver version or use Ethernet as a temporary workaround.
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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