Crackly Audio

[stimpy1]

I finished building my new comp recently. It has Realtek 97 audio onboard. MP3's sound good normally, but it crackles when I open a new window, another program, minimize or maximize a window, etc. It also does this in games when it experiences a "suddenness" in sounds (big explosion, etc.) It also crackles at startup and at shrill sounds like the chime for yahoo messenger when someone sends you a new message. I have a gig of RAM, so the amount of memory shoudn't be the issue. I've also updated the latest driver for the audio from MSI's website. Thanks for your help.

 

[montag451]

Try the speakers on another computer and see if the same happens.
Conversely, try someone else's speakers on yours. Might also want to see if the same happens for headphones.

Can you supply loads of information about your hardware/setup/os/software please

 

[stimpy1]

Originally posted by: montag451
Try the speakers on another computer and see if the same happens.
Conversely, try someone else's speakers on yours. Might also want to see if the same happens for headphones.

Can you supply loads of information about your hardware/setup/os/software please

Let me know if you need more info.

1 gig Corsair Value 3200 @ 2.5 latency. 512 x 2 in dual channel.

MSI RS-480M2-IL mobo.

Windows 2000 Professional.

AMD athlon 64 3000+ Winchester.

Rosewill RD-162 DVD burner. This stutters and stops during DVD and CD audio playback.

Western Digital 80GB SATA hard drive.

Mitsumi floppy and card reader combo.

Enermax 420W ATX 12V V2.0.

THe video is onboard ATI. This will barely play Farcry at the lowest detail setting.

Altec Lansing stereo speakers with subwoofer. These worked fine on my other computer, so I don't think it's the speakers.

 

[montag451]

Nice one.

Can you check another set of speakers on the problem system. That would rule out a few things.

It might be worth considering getting a cheapie sound card - this will also reduce the load on the CPU, as most [all?] onboard sound uses the cpu to do the processing.
Also, if there are probs with the dvd, it might be worth checking that DMA is enabled for it. If it isn't, enable it. IF it reverts back, then there is a fix to cancel out the CRC [cyclic redundancy check] so that you can get it to go back to DMA

 

[stimpy1]

Originally posted by: montag451
Nice one.

Can you check another set of speakers on the problem system. That would rule out a few things.

It might be worth considering getting a cheapie sound card - this will also reduce the load on the CPU, as most [all?] onboard sound uses the cpu to do the processing.
Also, if there are probs with the dvd, it might be worth checking that DMA is enabled for it. If it isn't, enable it. IF it reverts back, then there is a fix to cancel out the CRC [cyclic redundancy check] so that you can get it to go back to DMA

I tried another pair of speakers with the same result. It's not the speakers.

The DVD won't go into DMA mode. I'm having a heck of a time trying to get it to do that. How do I go about doing what you suggested to enable it?

 

[elecrzy]

Enable DMA in BIOS. Then enable in Windows.

 

[stimpy1]

Originally posted by: elecrzy
Enable DMA in BIOS. Then enable in Windows.

I tried that in BIOS once and I couldn't even get it to post after that. I had to remove the board battery to get it going again. It may be already enabled in BIOS. Where do I enable in Windows?

 

[montag451]

In control panel - Hardware devices - CD/DVD drives

 

[stimpy1]

Thanks. Any ideas on the audio montag451? Would a sound card solve my problem? If so, any recommendations?

 

[MGSolidSnake5]

Originally posted by: stimpy1
Thanks. Any ideas on the audio montag451? Would a sound card solve my problem? If so, any recommendations?

I had the same problem, but I have an ASUS motherboard. From what I've heard, you'll sometimes get static whenever you use the audio onboard. As for me, I bought a Creative Sound Blaster 24-bit with 7.1 Surround. The quality isn't as good as my onboard surprisingly, but when you have surround sound, you don't really notice it as much. And I don't get the crackling noise.

 

[stimpy1]

Update. DVD problem solved. I enabled in Windows as suggested. In Device Manager (under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers) there are three primary IDE channels. DMA was only enabled in the first three (last was PIO). Unsure if this would affect my hard drive if I changed it, I put the DVD connector in the IDE2 slot on the mobo. All DMA settings were on in the secondary IDE channel. DVD playback appears to be fine.

 

[stimpy1]

Originally posted by: MGSolidSnake5

Originally posted by: stimpy1
Thanks. Any ideas on the audio montag451? Would a sound card solve my problem? If so, any recommendations?

I had the same problem, but I have an ASUS motherboard. From what I've heard, you'll sometimes get static whenever you use the audio onboard. As for me, I bought a Creative Sound Blaster 24-bit with 7.1 Surround. The quality isn't as good as my onboard surprisingly, but when you have surround sound, you don't really notice it as much. And I don't get the crackling noise.

Sounds good. I don't want to spend a lot on a sound card. I have stereo with no plans for surround on my computer in the forseable future.

 

[montag451]

You can get a working soundcard for about £10/$14,
If you aren't a diva about your sound, then anything goes - I use the tinny monitor speakers!

 

[tk11]

Download this utility:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=951

Play with the latency of your video and audio cards to see if you can get rid of the distortion.

 

[MGSolidSnake5]

Originally posted by: stimpy1

Originally posted by: MGSolidSnake5

Originally posted by: stimpy1
Thanks. Any ideas on the audio montag451? Would a sound card solve my problem? If so, any recommendations?

I had the same problem, but I have an ASUS motherboard. From what I've heard, you'll sometimes get static whenever you use the audio onboard. As for me, I bought a Creative Sound Blaster 24-bit with 7.1 Surround. The quality isn't as good as my onboard surprisingly, but when you have surround sound, you don't really notice it as much. And I don't get the crackling noise.

Sounds good. I don't want to spend a lot on a sound card. I have stereo with no plans for surround on my computer in the forseable future.

Well, I got it for only about $30 from Best Buy. This is it.

 

[montag451]

Does it make that crackle go away?