Windows 7 audio crackles after running CPU-Z and similar

erim · May 17, 2010, 11:06 AM

This is a more general Windows 7 related issue, which happens with both my onboard and my Audigy with KX. But I didn't test the latter very much, so I'm mostly talking about the onboard Realtek HD here.

I've made a thread here and if you look at that forum (and some other forums) many users have issues with 7.

For me, everything works great after restarting or resuming from sleep. But if I then run CPU-Z or HWMonitor the audio playback starts to have pops and crackles. Closing that program doesn't help, I have to restart or go into sleep mode.

I tried with both Win 7 64 and 32 bit.

The same hardware worked just perfectly with XP (64 and 32 bit).

I'd just like to know if anyone here has any ideas on what could be wrong with Windows 7. Are all the drivers just bad? (I tried the onboard with Realtek and Windows drivers and Audigy with KX - 3 different ones in total.) Is there something that can be done?

RPGWiZaRD · May 20, 2010, 08:54 PM

Are you using Wave 0/1 output? That's known to provide issues in Win 7. I'd recommend using SPIF/AC3 output device if using a 5.1 set, with stereo/headphones I'd use Wave 4/5.

erim · Jun 8, 2010, 09:47 AM

Here's how DPC Latency Checker looks like after running CPU-Z (red bars start popping up):
http://i46.tinypic.com/2gy9hyw.jpg

RPGWiZaRD: I'm not even running KX at the moment. I'd like to solve the issue with the onboard if possible before I start using the Audigy.

christopherw · Jun 15, 2010, 03:04 AM

Although I can't offer a solution, I have a machine here which I've been using with XP 32bit for a long time.

I've just dualbooted it with W7 Pro x64 for specific use, and as a matter of course the second thing I installed were the latest kX drivers (the first being latest graphics card drivers).

I have the budget Audigy 2 (PCI) (SB0420 10k2 [e880] and using using 0/1, I get the occasional crackling and pops / static with the defaults (routed to 4/5). I actually use output 4/5 due to the superior DAC, and switching off the Toggle front/rear mode solved the problem instantly.

Curious that this 0/1 problem is present, I guess it's (as others have said) partially due to the old card architecture. Just a good job I don't intend to use Windows 7 permanently for the foreseeable future, I'm just too attached to Windows XP!

mkk · Jun 15, 2010, 03:54 AM

I've read of instanced where an update of the motherboard BIOS has helped. On the other hand DPC latency might not necessarily be involved, as I get a lot of red bars seemingly on any HD access, but still no audio playback issues. I've used CPU-Z a lot too.

May 17, 2010, 11:06 AM	#1
erim HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 55 Rep Power: 0	Windows 7 audio crackles after running CPU-Z and similar This is a more general Windows 7 related issue, which happens with both my onboard and my Audigy with KX. But I didn't test the latter very much, so I'm mostly talking about the onboard Realtek HD here. I've made a thread here and if you look at that forum (and some other forums) many users have issues with 7. For me, everything works great after restarting or resuming from sleep. But if I then run CPU-Z or HWMonitor the audio playback starts to have pops and crackles. Closing that program doesn't help, I have to restart or go into sleep mode. I tried with both Win 7 64 and 32 bit. The same hardware worked just perfectly with XP (64 and 32 bit). I'd just like to know if anyone here has any ideas on what could be wrong with Windows 7. Are all the drivers just bad? (I tried the onboard with Realtek and Windows drivers and Audigy with KX - 3 different ones in total.) Is there something that can be done?

May 20, 2010, 08:54 PM	#2
RPGWiZaRD HardwareHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 132 Rep Power: 0	Re: Windows 7 audio crackles after running CPU-Z and similar Are you using Wave 0/1 output? That's known to provide issues in Win 7. I'd recommend using SPIF/AC3 output device if using a 5.1 set, with stereo/headphones I'd use Wave 4/5.

Jun 8, 2010, 09:47 AM	Thread Starter #3
erim HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 55 Rep Power: 0	Re: Windows 7 audio crackles after running CPU-Z and similar Here's how DPC Latency Checker looks like after running CPU-Z (red bars start popping up): http://i46.tinypic.com/2gy9hyw.jpg RPGWiZaRD: I'm not even running KX at the moment. I'd like to solve the issue with the onboard if possible before I start using the Audigy.

Jun 15, 2010, 03:04 AM	#4
christopherw HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 17 Rep Power: 0	Re: Windows 7 audio crackles after running CPU-Z and similar Although I can't offer a solution, I have a machine here which I've been using with XP 32bit for a long time. I've just dualbooted it with W7 Pro x64 for specific use, and as a matter of course the second thing I installed were the latest kX drivers (the first being latest graphics card drivers). I have the budget Audigy 2 (PCI) (SB0420 10k2 [e880] and using using 0/1, I get the occasional crackling and pops / static with the defaults (routed to 4/5). I actually use output 4/5 due to the superior DAC, and switching off the Toggle front/rear mode solved the problem instantly. Curious that this 0/1 problem is present, I guess it's (as others have said) partially due to the old card architecture. Just a good job I don't intend to use Windows 7 permanently for the foreseeable future, I'm just too attached to Windows XP! __________________ Tickety boo.

Jun 15, 2010, 03:54 AM	#5
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,490 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Re: Windows 7 audio crackles after running CPU-Z and similar I've read of instanced where an update of the motherboard BIOS has helped. On the other hand DPC latency might not necessarily be involved, as I get a lot of red bars seemingly on any HD access, but still no audio playback issues. I've used CPU-Z a lot too.