Windows 7 Audio Crackle

[soundproblems]

Hi friends
This problem has persisted for as long as i can remember and only recently have i tried to solve it. Updating all drivers + BIOS configuring did not help at all. I followed a guide on how to isolate and update problem drivers but after updating all drivers nothing has improved. Would truly genuinely appreciate any help on this matter.
*NVIDIA gtx 770 + Realtek Sound Card

 

[TomasD]

Dear,

To properly troubleshoot issues with high/frequent DPCs/IRPs, we require a XPERF trace. Please follow these steps to generate one:

1. Download Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows and run the setup.
2. Select Windows Performance Toolkit feature (all the others can be unchecked) and proceed with the download/installation.
3. Once the installation finishes, open an elevated Command Prompt by right-clicking on CMD.EXE shortcut in your start menu and selecting Run As Administrator from the context menu.
4. Type the following command, which will start tracing, in the Command Prompt window you just opened:
   

   xperf -on PROC_THREAD+LOADER+PROFILE+INTERRUPT+DPC+DRIVERS+POWER+IDLE_STATES -stackwalk Profile -BufferSize 1024 -MinBuffers 256 -MaxBuffers 256 -MaxFile 256 -FileMode Circular

   If you see a yellow warning "xperf: warning: This system is not fully configured for x64 stack tracing" after running the above command, please complete these extra steps (otherwise, proceed to the step #5):
   
   Read More:

   1. Run the following command which will stop the tracing:
      

      xperf -stop

   2. Run the following command to enable stack tracing (by disabling Paging Executive):
      

      REG ADD "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management" -v DisablePagingExecutive -d 0x1 -t REG_DWORD -f

   3. Reboot the computer
   4. Once computer reboots, proceed from the step #3
   If you see a red error "xperf: error: NT Kernel Logger: A device attached to the system is not functioning. (0x1f)" after running the above command, please complete these extra steps (otherwise, proceed to the step #5):
   
   Read More:

   
   

   1. Run the following command to disable Driver Verifier, which causes the above error:
      

      verifier /reset

   2. Reboot the computer
   3. Once computer reboots, proceed from the step #3
   
   If you see a red error "xperf: error: NT Kernel Logger: Cannot create a file when that file already exists. (0xb7)", please do the following (otherwise, proceed to the step #5):
   
   Read More:

   
   Make sure you do not have any programs that capture ETW data already running. Some examples of these are:
   
   

   • Process Explorer
   • Process Hacker
   • Resource Monitor
   • Process Monitor
   • Latency Monitor
   • Another instance of XPERF or WPR
5. Perform some activities with your computer for few minutes, making sure the issues you reported are reproduced.
6. Run the following command, which will stop the tracing, in the command prompt window you already have opened:
   

   xperf -stop -d C:\CPU.etl

7. Compress file C:\CPU.etl
8. Upload the compressed file to a file sharing service (e.g. OneDrive or DropBox).
9. Share the download link here.

Thank you.

 

[soundproblems]

Thanks so much for the quick reply Tomas!
I hope this has all the information that is relevant, https://www.dropbox.com/s/rxty558pp4nqw0g/CPU.rar?dl=0

 

[TomasD]

Thanks so much for the quick reply Tomas!
I hope this has all the information that is relevant, https://www.dropbox.com/s/rxty558pp4nqw0g/CPU.rar?dl=0

Thanks.

Do you experience these issues if you remove your Ralink USB WiFi dongle?

 

[soundproblems]

Yes sir. My actual DPC Latency reduced by a fair amount after updating drivers/scanning for malware, the crackle/popping has remained though

 

[soundproblems]

Not sure if you had any ideas but this might be relevant.
http://i.imgur.com/TkN1P4P.png
http://i.imgur.com/brJtGTl.png
The processes that are showing high dpc sometimes are only at 0.6- sometimes

 

[TomasD]

OK, I've took another look into your trace and I really do not like these Interrupt spikes (they shouldn't really go above 0.5%) of IdePortInterrupt function from ATAPORT.SYS:



CPU Usage graph, grouped by ISRs, also points to the IDE port (under PCIIDEX.SYS driver):



I cannot tell exactly what's causing that, but I would start by looking into the storage hardware. For example, is there a reason you have SSD and another drive connected to this high-end PC via (or, set in BIOS to operate as) IDE instead of SATA?

P.S. Get rid of cFosSpeed you have, as these programs usually do more harm than good.

 

[soundproblems]

There is no reason other than I really have no idea what that is/affects my cpu.
Brought my cpu down to the local place and they had no idea what was causing it, tried a new sound card with zero results.
Do you think having old power cords could have any impact?
Thanks in advance

 

[TomasD]

There is no reason other than I really have no idea what that is/affects my cpu.
Brought my cpu down to the local place and they had no idea what was causing it, tried a new sound card with zero results.
Do you think having old power cords could have any impact?
Thanks in advance

Once again, the issue is pointing to the drives operating as IDE, not audio or power. For starters, could you enter the BIOS and check the HDDs are operating in AHCI mode? Look for a setting name "SATA mode" or "Disk mode", which should have a value of AHCI or IDE and let us know the current value.

 

[soundproblems]

In the Storage Configuration of the BIOS I confirmed the HDD's were operating in AHCI mode.
And genuinely thanks for youre help again Tomas, appreciate any assistance.

 

[soundproblems]

Hey Tomas!
Unsure if you're still looking into this for me, or arent available right now but maybe this information is relevant. Sometimes during games I will get a black screen where audio will freeze, then 1-2 seconds later it will be fine again. Also seems that it happens more frequently when connected to the internet.
A recent run of LatencyMon, http://i.imgur.com/wPvozGR.pngThanks in advance and I hope all is well!

 

[TomasD]

Hi,

sorry for delay getting back to you.

I'd still suspect the storage causing issues for you and I would like to stick to it until we get it proved or discarded, unless someone on the forum has other ideas.

Could you please make a photo of your BIOS showing the HDD/Controller settings (including the mode)?

Thank you.

 

[soundproblems]

Hey Tomas

No worries with the reply, I appreciate any help you can provide!
Hope this is what you meant, http://i.imgur.com/LjGjM8k.jpg http://i.imgur.com/H6v0gCP.jpg
Sometimes, albeit infrequently, my cpu will blackscreen and videos audio will distort then the video will go black, not sure if relevant or if I explained it well
All the best!