When a Windows PC lags or stalls, the cause is often not a faulty hard drive or insufficient RAM, but drivers or background processes that monopolize system resources. LatencyMon, a free utility from Resplendence, is designed to pinpoint these hidden culprits by monitoring DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) and ISR (Interrupt Service Routine) execution times.
Originally built for musicians needing real‑time audio, LatencyMon measures whether a PC can process time‑sensitive tasks without dropouts. If a driver or process keeps DPC or ISR calls longer than 4,000 microseconds, the system may exhibit audio glitches, video stuttering, or even freezes. LatencyMon runs for five to ten minutes while the user operates the computer normally, then reports a clear verdict: below 2,000 µs is acceptable, 2,000–4,000 µs is doubtful, and anything above 4,000 µs signals a problem that requires attention.
The most frequent offenders identified by LatencyMon include network adapters, especially Wi‑Fi cards, graphics drivers such as Nvidia’s nvlddmkm.sys or AMD’s amdkmdag.sys, Intel’s Dynamic Platform and Thermal Framework, and Intel Rapid Storage Technology. A simple workaround is often disabling the problematic device or updating its driver through Windows Device Manager or a dedicated vendor utility.
After locating the offending driver, users can resolve the issue by updating or reinstalling it, disabling unused hardware, or switching to the highest‑performance Windows power plan. In many cases, adjusting these settings eliminates latency spikes without the need for new hardware.
LatencyMon’s intuitive interface—download, install, click Start, and let the scan run—makes it accessible to non‑technical users. The tool’s concise results provide actionable insight, enabling quick fixes that can restore smooth performance on both entry‑level and high‑end PCs.
For more information, visit Resplendence’s LatencyMon page.
