Razer blade 16 2023 persistent audio crackling/drop out and video frame drop

Question

Hi all,I'm reaching out to the community regarding a persistent and frustrating audio issue I'm experiencing with my Razer Blade 16 (2023) when using an external USB DAC, specifically the Fiio BTR15, during GPU-intensive tasks like gaming.Initial Problem Encountered:When playing games (e.g., Counter-Strike 2, Valorant), approximately 1-2 minutes into a match, the audio through the Fiio BTR15 (connected via USB-C) degrades significantly.	In its default UAC 2.0 mode, the sound becomes crackled, develops static, and resembles distorted "8-bit" audio.			If I switch the BTR15 to UAC 1.0 mode, the muffling is replaced by consistent audio dropouts occurring every few seconds.	This audio degradation only occurs with the USB DAC. The laptop's built-in speakers and audio via the 3.5mm headphone jack function perfectly fine under all conditions. Furthermore, the Fiio BTR15 (I've tested two separate units) works flawlessly on other computers. However, without the USB DAC plugged in, when playing video on 4K monitor through dGPU at idle, there are significant framedrop instead of audio issue with laptop speaker.Key Reproducibility Finding:The issue is instantly and consistently reproducible by running a GPU stress test like FurMark while playing audio through the BTR15. CPU-only stress tests do not trigger the audio problem. Furthermore, when running Furmark with video playback through 4k external monitor and audio is played on laptop speaker, there is significant framedrop, although laptop speaker has no issue. This strongly points to high GPU load as the direct trigger.Core Diagnostic Observation:Using LatencyMon, I've consistently observed very high DPC latency spikes when the audio issue is active.	ACPI.sys and nvlddmkm.sys is almost always the top offender, with DPC execution times at idle and running Furmark frequently exceeding 1500µs and sometimes reaching over 2500µs.			Drivers like nvlddmkm.sys (NVIDIA) and dxgkrnl.sys (DirectX) also show increased DPC latency during these episodes, likely due to the heavy GPU load and interaction with ACPI.			While high hard page fault counts were initially observed (despite 64GB RAM), addressing potential software culprits for this (like pausing SharePoint/OneDrive sync) did not resolve the primary audio/DPC latency issue.	Exhaustive Troubleshooting Steps Performed (Issue Persists):	Operating System & Integrity:			Performed a Windows 11 In-Place Upgrade (Repair Install).						Performed a Full Clean Install of Windows 11 (formatting the system drive, installing from official USB media).						sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth run multiple times; currently report no integrity violations.					Drivers & Firmware:			System BIOS updated to the latest version provided by Razer.						GPU VBIOS confirmed to be the latest version provided by Razer.						Latest Chipset drivers installed directly from Razer (multiple attempts, including after clean install).						Latest NVIDIA Graphics drivers installed (multiple versions tested, including Game Ready and Studio drivers, all with clean installation selected).						Fiio BTR15 drivers and device firmware are up to date.					Hardware & Connection:			Tested with two different Fiio BTR15 units – same problem occurs on this Razer Blade 16.						All USB-C ports on the laptop tested.						Multiple high-quality USB-C cables tested.						Tested with an externally powered Thunderbolt 4 dock (Dell WD22TB4) – issue persists.						MemTest86 passed multiple passes with no errors.						No disk errors found via chkdsk.						System is not thermal throttling during gaming or FurMark tests (monitored with HWMonitor).						Using the original Razer-provided power adapter.					Software & Configuration Settings:			Windows Power Plan consistently set to High Performance (Minimum/Maximum processor state at 100%, PCI Express Link State Power Management OFF).						NVIDIA Control Panel: "Prefer maximum performance" set for Power management mode. "Debug Mode" tested with no change.						Razer Synapse, Razer THX, and other Razer utilities uninstalled. Issue persists even on a clean OS install before any Razer utilities are reinstalled.						Extensive testing of Windows Sound settings (Exclusive Mode on/off, various sample rates and bit depths for the DAC).						In-game audio output explicitly set to the Fiio BTR15.						Windows Clean Boot performed – issue still occurs.					Targeted Component Disabling (via Device Manager by Uninstalling Device, Rebooting, and Testing):			Systematically uninstalled (allowing Windows to reinstall on reboot) key Intel platform components under "System devices," including:					Intel(R) Innovation Platform Framework Manager									Intel(R) Innovation Platform Framework Processor Participant									Intel(R) Innovation Platform Framework Fan Participant									Multiple Intel(R) Innovation Platform Framework Generic Participants									Intel(R) Power Engine Plug-in									Intel(R) Platform Monitoring Technology Driver									None of these individual uninstalls resolved the audio issue when triggered by FurMark.					BIOS Settings (Limited Options Available):			Disabled: Intel SpeedStep, CPU Undervolt Protection, Intel Virtualization Technology. No impact.			Current Hypothesis on the Cause:Given the extensive troubleshooting, the instant reproducibility with GPU stress (FurMark), the consistent ACPI.sys DPC latency, and the fact that the issue is isolated to this specific Razer Blade 16 unit when using USB DACs (which work fine elsewhere), I strongly suspect the problem lies in one of these areas:	A fundamental hardware flaw or design limitation in the Razer Blade 16's motherboard, USB subsystem, or power delivery to USB ports, which becomes apparent only under high GPU power draw, leading to instability or electrical noise affecting the USB audio stream.			A deep-seated firmware (System BIOS, EC Firmware, and/or VBIOS interaction) issue specific to this Razer Blade 16 model. This firmware may be improperly handling ACPI states, interrupt management, or resource allocation when the GPU is heavily utilized, causing conflicts that manifest as high ACPI.sys DPC latency and disrupt real-time USB audio.			An unresolvable, low-level incompatibility between the Razer Blade 16's platform architecture and the USB audio class implementation of DACs like the Fiio BTR15, specifically under conditions of high system (GPU) load.	Further software-based troubleshooting seems unlikely to resolve this. I am hoping to find others who might have experienced similar issues with this laptop model or to get insights from those with deeper hardware/firmware expertise. Any suggestions for escalation with Razer or specific diagnostic paths they might pursue would also be appreciated.Thanks for reading this long post.

Mindaroloadquick559 · Answer

UPDATE: ISSUE IS SOLVED! I installed Windows 11 23H2 instead of 24H2. PCH temp dropped from idle at 100C to 82C, max load from 109C to 103C. The audio issue is gone. I suspected that sensor readings on 24H2 might be problematic and have seen users downgraded to 23H2 to see lower temperatures on PCH. Since PCH controls I/O ports, I figured that the wrong sensor readings contribute to the throttle of PCH or it might not be working as intended. After the downgrade, the temperature lowers average 10C per component and the audio issue is miraculously fixed, along with Razer mouse stuttering when connected to Thunderbolt Dock.

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