Strange audio problem

[iulian81]

Hi! I have a new PC with a Gigabyte B83-hd3 motherboard with Realtek audio chipsets which is connected to a 2.1 audio system. In Windows 8 Pro 64 bit when I use in the same time Utorrent and also play a video on Youtube using ofcourse Adobe Flash player or even when using a video player software like Potplayer to play a video file from HDD, I get some strange metallic sound distortions like some sound stuttering that persist for 2-3 seconds and then disappear. It happens randomly, sometimes don't happen at all. Also I observed that when this distortions happen the mouse lags a bit. I used the Task Manager to monitor the CPU activity when the problem occurs, but no overload spikes from the CPU were detected. Once I even got a forced restart from Windows 8 and after reboot the error code I got was related to drivers, system services or other programs that malfunction. I think the error was this: irql_not_less_or_equal !!!

I updated all the drivers and windows. I update Utorrent and Flash. I even used a program to clean the registry and junk files. And the same problem. My only solution now is not to use Utorrent in the same time with Flash or any video player software :\

What do u think I should do?

 

[Virgorising]

Hi.

Are you using Realtek drivers?

Do you have Realtek HD Audio Manger? I run Windows 7, but I do, and I like it and use it to configure things, someone here said not necessary, just use Windows, but I think the dedicated app is better.

And, what browser are you using to watch uTube videos?

And, did this issue present from The Get?

Not to be insulted given yr high end audio system, but, have you tried hooking up low end, garden variety speakers just to see if the issue still presents? It is even possible something is sometimes shorting out. Have you removed the audio system and reinstalled it?

I don't think this is a software issue. At all. Esp since it presents even when you are playing vid files from yr HDD.

Finally, did you build this system? Please give us your specs, including PSU.

 

[Ketchup]

How many audio outputs do you have on your system? If you have those on the front, have you tried them?

Have these speakers run recently on another system without the distortion?

Are there any other issues with the system that are worth mentioning?

When the mouse lags, does the audio freeze in conjunction with it, or does it just have distortion while playing at normal speed?

 

[iulian81]

Hi.

Are you using Realtek drivers?

Do you have Realtek HD Audio Manger? I run Windows 7, but I do, and I like it and use it to configure things, someone here said not necessary, just use Windows, but I think the dedicated app is better.

And, what browser are you using to watch uTube videos?

And, did this issue present from The Get?

Not to be insulted given yr high end audio system, but, have you tried hooking up low end, garden variety speakers just to see if the issue still presents? It is even possible something is sometimes shorting out. Have you removed the audio system and reinstalled it?

I don't think this is a software issue. At all. Esp since it presents even when you are playing vid files from yr HDD.

Finally, did you build this system? Please give us your specs, including PSU.

Yes I use Realtek drivers without HD Audio manager. I am using Mozilla latest version. I don't know what is THE GET?? Maybe that php transfer protocol? I tried the same speakers on Windows 7 and there was no issue. Also I tried the system with an old PC. Also no problems.
If it was a short or a hardware issue then why everything is OK when I am not using 2 programs in the same time..? When I watch youtube without utorrent everything is fine.

And now my rig:

i5 4670 cpu 3400- normal, 3800- turbo, stock cooler

gigabyte b85-hd3 motherboard, Realtek audio chipset, Realtek LAN

16 gb ram Corsair Vengeance 1600 - but i must set it to 1600 in bios; the default bios setting is 1330

GTX 660 Gainward Golden sample -has factory overclock

1 TB Western digital blue hdd

Corsair Builder CX750 750W PSU

 

[iulian81]

How many audio outputs do you have on your system? If you have those on the front, have you tried them?

Have these speakers run recently on another system without the distortion?

Are there any other issues with the system that are worth mentioning?

When the mouse lags, does the audio freeze in conjunction with it, or does it just have distortion while playing at normal speed?

On the front of the case I only have sockets for headphones and microphones. On the back are the normal 3 ways different color sockets from the audio part of the motherboard: blue, green and read ones. I use the green one for my speakers connector.

The speakers run on a very old PC and also on this PC but with Windows 7 installed without any problem.

And yes the mouse freeze in conjunction with those distortions.

 

[Ketchup]

Trying the headphone jack in the front and see if the problem continues.

 

[iulian81]

Trying the headphone jack in the front and see if the problem continues.

Yes, I tried the headphones and the problem persists. I think I made a mistake before saying about not using HD Audio manager.. I didn't know that it is called this way, but I used it when I connected the headphones. I also saw that in this Audio manager all my audio is input and output connection sockets are considered as Analog not Digital. My speakers are 2.1 but on the Audio manager are set as Stereo. Is this OK?

 

[Ketchup]

That sound right for those ports. You mentioned a blue screen, is that correct?

Software like this may give you a better idea of what it is pointing to:

http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

There could be an issue with a driver windows 8 doesn't like. You may want to also check for a BIOS update for your board.

Is this your board?
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4566#ov

Make sure you have the latest drivers from their driver page, not just want Windows Update offers.

 

[iulian81]

That sound right for those ports. You mentioned a blue screen, is that correct?

Software like this may give you a better idea of what it is pointing to:

http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

There could be an issue with a driver windows 8 doesn't like. You may want to also check for a BIOS update for your board.

Is this your board?
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4566#ov

Make sure you have the latest drivers from their driver page, not just want Windows Update offers.

Yes this is my board. But I am afraid to update to the latest BIOS version as I made an update before for F2 to F4 I think and I had problems with the system recognizing my full CPU performance... My maximum speed was 3600 mhz not 3800mhz. I also saw people complaining about F6 BIOS version. I have all the drivers from Gigabyte installed.
That program can be used just by installing it or do we need to be experts in debugging or something?

 

[Ketchup]

Yes this is my board. But I am afraid to update to the latest BIOS version as I made an update before for F2 to F4 I think and I had problems with the system recognizing my full CPU performance... My maximum speed was 3600 mhz not 3800mhz. I also saw people complaining about F6 BIOS version. I have all the drivers from Gigabyte installed.
That program can be used just by installing it or do we need to be experts in debugging or something?

That program is great. It grabs the minidump files (since windows always puts them in the same place), shows you the errors, and gives you an idea of what could cause it. Depending on the dump, I have seem it be pretty specific, but most of the time is pretty general, but still points in the right direction.

 

[iulian81]

That program is great. It grabs the minidump files (since windows always puts them in the same place), shows you the errors, and gives you an idea of what could cause it. Depending on the dump, I have seem it be pretty specific, but most of the time is pretty general, but still points in the right direction.

I run it and but no results. It says there are no mini dumps. But I think they might existed but when I run a program to clean Windows for junk files they were deleted too.

 

[Ketchup]

I run it and but no results. It says there are no mini dumps. But I think they might existed but when I run a program to clean Windows for junk files they were deleted too.

Could have. Oh well. Probably next thing on my list would be the BIOS then.

 

[iulian81]

What BIOS has to do with sound?

 

[Ketchup]

Well, the BIOS tells the OS how to address the sound chip, so a problem there could manifest itself the way you are describing.

Because if that doesn't fix your issue, the only other things I can think of are a bad part on board. I put together a system last month with a Gigabyte board using the same audio chip as your board and had zero audio issues or lags.

 

[Virgorising]

I don't know what is THE GET??

Sorry, The Get is short for The Get Go. Meaning, from the beginning. Meaning did this issue present immediately, or did it develop later?

I tried the same speakers on Windows 7 and there was no issue. Also I tried the system with an old PC. Also no problems.

Good information. So, it's starting to sound like maybe a software conflict in W8? have you tried rolling back yr drivers?

If it was a short or a hardware issue then why everything is OK when I am not using 2 programs in the same time..? When I watch youtube without utorrent everything is fine.

Very smart question. Is it possible yr installation of the torrent thingy is corrupt? Can you uninstall it and get a fresh copy of it?

Lovely rig! I see you are using the stock cooler. When was the last tie you monitored yr temps? INCLUDING YR GPU. Are you using integrated graphics with yr Haswell chip or discreet?

 

[Virgorising]

Yes, I tried the headphones and the problem persists. I think I made a mistake before saying about not using HD Audio manager.. I didn't know that it is called this way, but I used it when I connected the headphones. I also saw that in this Audio manager all my audio is input and output connection sockets are considered as Analog not Digital. My speakers are 2.1 but on the Audio manager are set as Stereo. Is this OK?

Above is normal, re settings.

 

[Virgorising]

That program is great. It grabs the minidump files (since windows always puts them in the same place), shows you the errors, and gives you an idea of what could cause it. Depending on the dump, I have seem it be pretty specific, but most of the time is pretty general, but still points in the right direction.

Ditto. I only learned about Whocrashed right here. It is amazing. Pls get it and run it.

You have nothing to loose, after all.

 

[iulian81]

I saw on Task manager that Utorrent actually is using a lot of HDD sometimes near 100%. Could be this one of the reasons for my problems? I remember on my old, 2004 PC that when the HDD was near full activity the whole PC almost froze, sometimes even crashed, also when I was using on it Utorrent.

 

[Virgorising]

I saw on Task manager that Utorrent actually is using a lot of HDD sometimes near 100%. Could be this one of the reasons for my problems? I remember on my old, 2004 PC that when the HDD was near full activity the whole PC almost froze, sometimes even crashed, also when I was using on it Utorrent.

U mean this app is stressing yr CPU? That sounds strange to me, but is also a good observation, cause, yes, it sure could be the reason for yr issue.

I would uninstall it, clean my registry and get a new copy of it.

Pls tell us about yr firewall and how you have it configured.

 

[iulian81]

U mean this app is stressing yr CPU? That sounds strange to me, but is also a good observation, cause, yes, it sure could be the reason for yr issue.

I would uninstall it, clean my registry and get a new copy of it.

Pls tell us about yr firewall and how you have it configured.

Is not stressing the CPU but the HDD. I saw HDD in Task Manager at 100% for some time because of Utorrent. Anyway, I am using AVG Internet security with default firewall settings, I didn't change nothing from its installation. I read something about Avast P2P shield on other forum, that was causing near similar problems when using Utorrent for other users, but I don't know if it might be the same problem...

 

[Ketchup]

I saw on Task manager that Utorrent actually is using a lot of HDD sometimes near 100%. Could be this one of the reasons for my problems? I remember on my old, 2004 PC that when the HDD was near full activity the whole PC almost froze, sometimes even crashed, also when I was using on it Utorrent.

If you have uTorrent pretty active, and have decent internet speed, I have found that to be pretty common. How many things were you downloading/uploading when you noticed this?

 

[Virgorising]

Is not stressing the CPU but the HDD. I saw HDD in Task Manager at 100% for some time because of Utorrent. Anyway, I am using AVG Internet security with default firewall settings, I didn't change nothing from its installation. I read something about Avast P2P shield on other forum, that was causing near similar problems when using Utorrent for other users, but I don't know if it might be the same problem...

I never heard of Task Mgr showing HDD anything. CPU and Ram, yes. Maybe it's different in Windows 8.

Again, if U R using AVG, I might try disabling it for a bit to see the result.

Once I moved up to Norton IS, I left everything else in the dust. And, have not used AVG for years.

 

[Ketchup]

Is not stressing the CPU but the HDD. I saw HDD in Task Manager at 100% for some time because of Utorrent. Anyway, I am using AVG Internet security with default firewall settings, I didn't change nothing from its installation. I read something about Avast P2P shield on other forum, that was causing near similar problems when using Utorrent for other users, but I don't know if it might be the same problem...

I would disable it and see. What Avast product are you running?

What I would recommend is that you get rid of AVG (I personally still don't think it's any good) and just run avast (but see if it runs better without that shield). If all your downloads are legit, what do you need it for, right?

 

[iulian81]

If you have uTorrent pretty active, and have decent internet speed, I have found that to be pretty common. How many things were you downloading/uploading when you noticed this?

Like 70 torrent uploads!

 

[Virgorising]

I would disable it and see. What Avast product are you running?

What I would recommend is that you get rid of AVG (I personally still don't think it's any good) and just run avast (but see if it runs better without that shield). If all your downloads are legit, what do you need it for, right?

Sorrreee! He's running AVG....I just edited my post. But would not surprise me if AVG is his issue.

And I could not agree more re AVG.....I ran it with my first computer, cause everyone said I should and it was free. But then....I learned.