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More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: Seamus on August 22, 2005, 08:53:08 am

Title: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: Seamus on August 22, 2005, 08:53:08 am
I'm thinking this is mainly a hardware problem, since I only have it with this new motherboard.  It's an ASUS P5GD2.

I have the problem of cracking / popping when listening to music through Media Center.  Strange enough, Media Center seems mostly affected by it, no problems with , let's say with WMP.

I'm not saying this is particularly an issue with MC, but maybe there's a solution to it.

Hardware is Audigy 2 ZS & Creative Inspire T7900 speakers
All the latest drivers

I've been through some FAQs, messed with BIOS settings and what not, but to no avail.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: JimH on August 22, 2005, 09:16:56 am
Have you tried searching google for this type of problem?  There are many possibilities.

In MC, you might try switching playback between direct sound and wave out.  Tools/Options/Playback.

Search for "PCI latency" and "via chipset" sound problems.

If you have on-board sound and a sound card, disable one.

More details on what causes the problem (playback of MP3 files, for example, or CD's) might help.  More on what you've tried, too.

Did you try ASUS support?

And, BTW, this problem isn't specific to MC or any other player.  Here's a thread on the same problem with iTunes:
http://forums.3ivx.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/topic.cgi?forum=6&topic=60
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: Seamus on August 25, 2005, 11:00:58 am
Hi, thanks for replying

MC: direct sound or wave doesn't make the difference
It's mainly obvious when playing my MP3's

I've read numerous guides and tips, here are a few I tried:
PCI Latency, lowest I can set is 32, no result
Another thing in the BIOS, something about Spectrum, was good for a short while

On board sound was always disabled

I tried ASUS support , nothing consistent
Some guides tell you to lower your videocard acceleration and what not, that's just ridiculous to me, I play games where I need the full acceleration.

I've tried the creative Diagnostics, it was good for a short while
I put my soundcard in another slot, no result.

The last resort seems to be an updated driver in WIndows update for my ATA Raid config
Strange enough I have the latest from ASUS website, so why would Microsoft display an update for that ?
The cracking is sometimes more obvious when the HD is being read/written to.
That's why the RAID driver is my last resort.
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: JimH on August 25, 2005, 11:20:33 am
I tried ASUS support , nothing consistent
Some guides tell you to lower your videocard acceleration and what not, that's just ridiculous to me, I play games where I need the full acceleration.
But try it to see if that's where the problem is.
Quote
The last resort seems to be an updated driver in WIndows update for my ATA Raid config
Strange enough I have the latest from ASUS website, so why would Microsoft display an update for that ?
The cracking is sometimes more obvious when the HD is being read/written to.
That's why the RAID driver is my last resort.
Are you also overclocking?

Electrical interferance from cabling?

Again, searching at google, and reading there may be the best answer.

Good luck with it.
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: GHammer on August 25, 2005, 06:33:38 pm
Don't always believe the MB site has current drivers for any device except BIOS.
Which I'd suggest updating if there is one.
I'd clear the CMOS after updating and restore to Optimized values, then I'd make sure to tweak whatever settings I wanted in BIOS setup afterwards.
I'd also visit the Intel site and get the latest chipset inf package for your chipset, it's a 915 I think.
Any of the Creative EAX stuff loading?
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: Seamus on August 27, 2005, 12:11:17 pm
BIOS is already the latest version, cmos was cleared and all that

I now installed the latest chipset inf from the intel website

So if I understand correct, the RAID driver from Microsoft windows update should be left alone ?

I'll follow up on the problem.
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: KingSparta on August 27, 2005, 05:15:27 pm
Quote
Popping and cracking problem

I have the same problem but it is my wife cracking her gum.

it's really annoying
Title: Re: Popping and cracking problem
Post by: marly421 on September 19, 2005, 03:52:30 pm
Sound Blaster/Creative has had many problems in the past with the sound breaking or crackling and was related to their hardware and the PCI slot.

There is something about the audio card and it not releasing resource quickly enough and its latency requirements.

I moved the card to another PCI slot, updated drivers and set controls properly. On another computer I had no choice and switched to the 5.1 onboard sound and pulled the soundcard out, I got tried of messing with it.