Question ASUS G513 Audio Crackling/Popping

[PapaDoobs]

Hello,

I recently acquired a new laptop, ASUS G513 and am having issues with my audio crackling and popping. I've been pulling my hair out for 2 days trying to resolve the issue. LatencyMon seems to be onto something, but I can't figure out how to solve it from here (output below). It seems to indicate that it is a power option setting that is throttling my CPU, but I cannot find anything in my power options nor my BIOS that will allow me to change that. Additionally, at some point I got a message saying that it may have something to do with my network adapter, but that message doesn't pop up all the time.

While the issue mostly happens when I'm doing CPU intensive things (playing Rocket League while listening to Spotify), I've also had the issue occur during conference calls for work when Zoom and my work VPN were the only things really running at the time.

Things I've tried:
Updating BIOS
Configuring Power Settings
Completely reinstalling Windows 10 Home from a non OEM source so it didn't have any preinstalled applications. Reinstalling those applications one by one, hoping one of them would give me control over my CPU throttle limit.

I've read that AMD had an issue earlier this year (back in March) and that BIOS updates would be pushed that should have fixed the issue, so maybe ASUS is just slow to release one for my laptop? The BIOS releases don't have dates on their support website so I don't know when the newest one was issued.

Any help resolving this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.


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CONCLUSION
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Your system appears to be having trouble handling real-time audio and other tasks. You are likely to experience buffer underruns appearing as drop outs, clicks or
pops. One problem may be related to power management, disable CPU throttling settings in Control Panel and BIOS setup. Check for BIOS updates.
LatencyMon has been analyzing your system for 0:00:42 (h🇲🇲ss) on all processors.


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SYSTEM INFORMATION
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Computer name: DESKTOP-O2FR97A
OS version: Windows 10, 10.0, version 2009, build: 19045 (x64)
Hardware: ROG Strix G513QM_G513QM, ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
BIOS: G513QM.320
CPU: AuthenticAMD AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX with Radeon Graphics
Logical processors: 16
Processor groups: 1
Processor group size: 16
RAM: 15792 MB total


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CPU SPEED
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Reported CPU speed (WMI): 3301 MHz
Reported CPU speed (registry): 3294 MHz

Note: reported execution times may be calculated based on a fixed reported CPU speed. Disable variable speed settings like Intel Speed Step and AMD Cool N Quiet in
the BIOS setup for more accurate results.


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MEASURED INTERRUPT TO USER PROCESS LATENCIES
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The interrupt to process latency reflects the measured interval that a usermode process needed to respond to a hardware request from the moment the interrupt
service routine started execution. This includes the scheduling and execution of a DPC routine, the signaling of an event and the waking up of a usermode thread
from an idle wait state in response to that event.

Highest measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 2128.40
Average measured interrupt to process latency (µs): 5.315271

Highest measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 2069.0
Average measured interrupt to DPC latency (µs): 2.690135


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REPORTED ISRs
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Interrupt service routines are routines installed by the OS and device drivers that execute in response to a hardware interrupt signal.

Highest ISR routine execution time (µs): 193.351548
Driver with highest ISR routine execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total ISR routine time (%): 0.003136
Driver with highest ISR total time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in ISRs (%) 0.003136

ISR count (execution time <250 µs): 23713
ISR count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 500-1000 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 0
ISR count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


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REPORTED DPCs
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DPC routines are part of the interrupt servicing dispatch mechanism and disable the possibility for a process to utilize the CPU while it is interrupted until the
DPC has finished execution.

Highest DPC routine execution time (µs): 893.514572
Driver with highest DPC routine execution time: dxgkrnl.sys - DirectX Graphics Kernel, Microsoft Corporation

Highest reported total DPC routine time (%): 0.047728
Driver with highest DPC total execution time: Wdf01000.sys - Kernel Mode Driver Framework Runtime, Microsoft Corporation

Total time spent in DPCs (%) 0.111730

DPC count (execution time <250 µs): 118240
DPC count (execution time 250-500 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 500-10000 µs): 37
DPC count (execution time 1000-2000 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time 2000-4000 µs): 0
DPC count (execution time >=4000 µs): 0


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REPORTED HARD PAGEFAULTS
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Hard pagefaults are events that get triggered by making use of virtual memory that is not resident in RAM but backed by a memory mapped file on disk. The process
of resolving the hard pagefault requires reading in the memory from disk while the process is interrupted and blocked from execution.

NOTE: some processes were hit by hard pagefaults. If these were programs producing audio, they are likely to interrupt the audio stream resulting in dropouts,
clicks and pops. Check the Processes tab to see which programs were hit.

Process with highest pagefault count: chrome.exe

Total number of hard pagefaults 1127
Hard pagefault count of hardest hit process: 364
Number of processes hit: 30


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PER CPU DATA
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CPU 0 Interrupt cycle time (s): 1.364983
CPU 0 ISR highest execution time (µs): 193.351548
CPU 0 ISR total execution time (s): 0.010414
CPU 0 ISR count: 10388
CPU 0 DPC highest execution time (µs): 893.514572
CPU 0 DPC total execution time (s): 0.556609
CPU 0 DPC count: 70147
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CPU 1 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.278519
CPU 1 ISR highest execution time (µs): 35.925319
CPU 1 ISR total execution time (s): 0.004634
CPU 1 ISR count: 3183
CPU 1 DPC highest execution time (µs): 841.580146
CPU 1 DPC total execution time (s): 0.109820
CPU 1 DPC count: 5624
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CPU 2 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.122449
CPU 2 ISR highest execution time (µs): 4.147541
CPU 2 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000222
CPU 2 ISR count: 158
CPU 2 DPC highest execution time (µs): 165.751366
CPU 2 DPC total execution time (s): 0.012676
CPU 2 DPC count: 2549
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CPU 3 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.064591
CPU 3 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 3 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 3 ISR count: 0
CPU 3 DPC highest execution time (µs): 25.255920
CPU 3 DPC total execution time (s): 0.001208
CPU 3 DPC count: 291
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CPU 4 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.084390
CPU 4 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 4 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 4 ISR count: 0
CPU 4 DPC highest execution time (µs): 58.756831
CPU 4 DPC total execution time (s): 0.003778
CPU 4 DPC count: 1372
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CPU 5 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.350874
CPU 5 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 5 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 5 ISR count: 0
CPU 5 DPC highest execution time (µs): 112.584699
CPU 5 DPC total execution time (s): 0.029893
CPU 5 DPC count: 29891
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CPU 6 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.094056
CPU 6 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 6 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 6 ISR count: 0
CPU 6 DPC highest execution time (µs): 96.084699
CPU 6 DPC total execution time (s): 0.005728
CPU 6 DPC count: 2097
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CPU 7 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.073408
CPU 7 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 7 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 7 ISR count: 0
CPU 7 DPC highest execution time (µs): 35.023679
CPU 7 DPC total execution time (s): 0.003009
CPU 7 DPC count: 677
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CPU 8 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.074724
CPU 8 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 8 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 8 ISR count: 0
CPU 8 DPC highest execution time (µs): 69.275956
CPU 8 DPC total execution time (s): 0.002834
CPU 8 DPC count: 729
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CPU 9 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.062073
CPU 9 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 9 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 9 ISR count: 0
CPU 9 DPC highest execution time (µs): 55.530965
CPU 9 DPC total execution time (s): 0.001341
CPU 9 DPC count: 360
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CPU 10 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.073273
CPU 10 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 10 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 10 ISR count: 0
CPU 10 DPC highest execution time (µs): 40.413479
CPU 10 DPC total execution time (s): 0.004868
CPU 10 DPC count: 1197
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CPU 11 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.065047
CPU 11 ISR highest execution time (µs): 0.0
CPU 11 ISR total execution time (s): 0.0
CPU 11 ISR count: 0
CPU 11 DPC highest execution time (µs): 70.438069
CPU 11 DPC total execution time (s): 0.001159
CPU 11 DPC count: 261
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CPU 12 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.103808
CPU 12 ISR highest execution time (µs): 24.504554
CPU 12 ISR total execution time (s): 0.004761
CPU 12 ISR count: 8762
CPU 12 DPC highest execution time (µs): 67.422587
CPU 12 DPC total execution time (s): 0.007576
CPU 12 DPC count: 1421
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CPU 13 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.074474
CPU 13 ISR highest execution time (µs): 5.820583
CPU 13 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000134
CPU 13 ISR count: 149
CPU 13 DPC highest execution time (µs): 67.552823
CPU 13 DPC total execution time (s): 0.001371
CPU 13 DPC count: 212
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CPU 14 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.090638
CPU 14 ISR highest execution time (µs): 25.756831
CPU 14 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000564
CPU 14 ISR count: 614
CPU 14 DPC highest execution time (µs): 93.009107
CPU 14 DPC total execution time (s): 0.008923
CPU 14 DPC count: 1071
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CPU 15 Interrupt cycle time (s): 0.086711
CPU 15 ISR highest execution time (µs): 14.756831
CPU 15 ISR total execution time (s): 0.000421
CPU 15 ISR count: 459
CPU 15 DPC highest execution time (µs): 54.579235
CPU 15 DPC total execution time (s): 0.002818
CPU 15 DPC count: 378
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[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

Completely reinstalling Windows 10 Home from a non OEM source so it didn't have any preinstalled applications.
Please elaborate on this. Where did you source the installer from and how did you fabricate your bootable installer?

Reinstalling those applications one by one, hoping one of them would give me control over my CPU throttle limit.
Did you manually install each item in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator? I'm assuming you've done the same with drivers as well?

Updating BIOS
What BIOS version are you on the laptop at this moment?

 

[PapaDoobs]

Thank you for your reply.

Completely reinstalling Windows 10 Home from a non OEM source so it didn't have any preinstalled applications.
Please elaborate on this. Where did you source the installer from and how did you fabricate your bootable installer?

I used a Windows 10 Home USB that I had made a year or so ago. I guess I could try making a new one, but I'm not convinced that will fix anything.

Reinstalling those applications one by one, hoping one of them would give me control over my CPU throttle limit.
Did you manually install each item in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator? I'm assuming you've done the same with drivers as well?

I did not install the programs and drivers as admin. Would this really affect the program's functionality enough to start throttling my CPU?

Updating BIOS
What BIOS version are you on the laptop at this moment?

Version 320. I actually downgraded to 318 yesterday to see if that helped. It did not.

Side note - after further testing, it seems that the issue is most prominent when I'm running multiple monitors. My 2nd monitor is plugged into the on-board HDMI, but I have a USB-C to Displayport adapter coming Friday and will be switching it to that.

 

[Lutfij]

I used a Windows 10 Home USB that I had made a year or so ago
Okay but where did you source the installer from and how did you fabricate the installer in question?

If the issue isn't a physical one(meaning traces in the motherboard and the audio codec/chip isn't compromised, then the issue might very well be with the OS or the drivers for your audio. Please try and understand that drivers are like a handshake between the hardware and the software. If the OS is corrupt, that handshake(driver install) can very well not exist and lead to the crackling you speak of. If your OS has stowaways on it, that can also be a cause for concern.

 

[PapaDoobs]

I used a Windows 10 Home USB that I had made a year or so ago
Okay but where did you source the installer from and how did you fabricate the installer in question?

Oh, my bad. I definitely used Microsoft's media creation tool to make the drive. Since it's old, I'll just make a new one with a more updated version of Windows and give that a shot.

I did some more testing and after installing the AMD chipset drivers directly from AMD's website and not ASUS's, the audio hitching seems to either be gone or much less noticeable, but I did have some graphical stuttering while in a game. Because I've done so much installing and uninstalling of drivers, I'll go ahead and reinstall Windows using the newer version.

I feel like I'm getting close.

 

[Lutfij]

In that case, yes, you should recreate the installer for the OS, using Windows Media Creation Tools. When installing the OS, make sure you're disconnected from the www. Once OS install is complete, manually install all relevant drivers for your laptop in an elevated command. Once all drivers are installed, connect to the www, let the OS run it's update. If I were you, I'd continue to source chipset drivers from AMD's support site(manually inputting what you're working with in their drop down menu's), then the discrete GPU's drivers(you have an APU on the laptop, mind you) from Nvidia's support site. Everything else under the sun can be sourced from Asus's support site for your laptop.

 

[PapaDoobs]

Posting a follow up here. After many unsuccessful attempts at downloading drivers from different sources, my USB-C to Displayport adapter came in the mail. I connected my main monitor to my laptop via the adapter and the audio issues disappeared. I have not noticed any cracking or popping since I started using it, even though another monitor is connected to the HDMI port that I was previously using for my main monitor.

I am unsure why or how this worked, but I hope my experience helps anyone else who has this issue in the future.

Thanks for your time @Lutfij. I appreciate the help.

 

[Lutfij]

I connected my main monitor to my laptop via the adapter and the audio issues disappeared. I have not noticed any cracking or popping since I started using it, even though another monitor is connected to the HDMI port that I was previously using for my main monitor.

Bad cables/adapters can be culprits.

Moreover, you didn't mention in your initial post that the laptop was tethered to an external display. It's possible that power over another device might be the cause of your issue or probably a red herring, that you have a grounding issue

Regardless, it's good to see you found a resolution.