Question Audio popping and crackling out of nowhere

[The Great Buran]

Try another BIOS or toss it out the window.
It's a possible motherboard related issue, as I noticed several hits for audio issues with this specific MSI model.
I'd say that if you're looking to tinker with voltages, don't go with a bottom dollar board.

No I Replaced my motherboard 4x on one system, and all PCs I have built after 2023 Windows have cracked and popped. Windows Does not allow clean audio anymore. Its Flat out moronic the way they are killing windows. Both 10 and 11 same issue on 10+ Pcs. Different properties too, so it isnt electrical interference.

Many DAC's and sound cards to no avail. (including SPDIF to DAC)
Changing ASIO Settings buffer latency no avail.
Every BIOS and Driver going. for all Mobos.

IT IS WINDOWS>

From my AMD Systems (2600/5600/5700G) to intel rigs (12/13/14th gen) Tested.
Countless motherboards. Note ALC4080 is ASS anyways, but I had this issue on a B450 Prime AM4+ when first encountered. (and doesnt use ALC4080)

Even tried Integrated 5700G Fresh install. Still crackled. NO NVIDIA.

Windows changed something in the way it manages SOMETHING in 2023 for both 11 and 10.
I have brought this up to windows and creative and just get ignored and told "buy new PC or change drivers" not like Every PC has this issue or anything.

 

[Voidcraft]

https://imgur.com/Ys4x3Gl

View: https://imgur.com/Ys4x3Gl
Any idea why the interrupt to process latency is popping so high with core parking enabled? If I disabled core parking its not an issue as much, going to only about 1300us

 

[helper800]

https://imgur.com/Ys4x3Gl

View: https://imgur.com/Ys4x3Gl
Any idea why the interrupt to process latency is popping so high with core parking enabled? If I disabled core parking its not an issue as much, going to only about 1300us

Have you tried doing a clean boot to test for process and service conflicts?

Have you tried uninstalling your audio and video drivers with DDU in safe mode followed by a restart into windows with no networking, then, install the correct predownloaded drivers from Nvidia and whatever audio driver you need for the motherboard?

 

[Voidcraft]

I have done both of those steps, yes. I can try again on the DDU realtek step because I dont remember the exact version I installed after, but the clean boot wasn't helpful because it didn't enable wifi drivers so I couldnt test audio.

 

[helper800]

I have done both of those steps, yes. I can try again on the DDU realtek step because I dont remember the exact version I installed after, but the clean boot wasn't helpful because it didn't enable wifi drivers so I couldnt test audio.

A clean boot does not disable any driver. Your wifi should be working fine with a clean boot unless there is a service that needs to be running to work. If that is the case, simply tick the box to the service that is required to run the wifi before restarting.

 

[Voidcraft]

Ah what i might have tried was safe mode with networking enabled. Ill give a clean boot a go when I get access to my pc.

 

[Voidcraft]

A clean boot still produces the issue. Testing using Realtek audio through a 3.5mm jack & headphones, a USB DAC (soundblaster play 3!) and through a TV monitor. All three produced static/crackling when moving the volume slider on this video.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslHKEh7oZk

 

[helper800]

A clean boot still produces the issue. Testing using Realtek audio through a 3.5mm jack & headphones, a USB DAC (soundblaster play 3!) and through a TV monitor. All three produced static/crackling when moving the volume slider on this video.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslHKEh7oZk

Seems to be either a 'feature' of Windows, your browser, or some baseline hardware problem with firmware, drivers, or some combination of the he above. Considering this 'feature' is happening to my work laptop right now and my PC at home, I have to assume its a widespread bug or other such issue.

 

[Voidcraft]

Ah, you have to love windows. While I do believe I hear very subtle clicks/pops during audio streams I guess I just have to learn how to ignore them. Maybe it's something inside my PC but unless the part died overnight I doubt it, since one night it was fine and the next morning the issue started with no updates taking place. If it is a bug, hopefully Windows will be gracious enough to fix an issue..

 

[Voidcraft]

I decided to chat with AI to see what it thought, and it suggested buying a powered USB hub?? It's relatively cheap so I'll grab one, and if it doesn't do jack i can always take it to work so nbd, just an odd suggestion I haven't seen

 

[Voidcraft]

Update on the powered USB hub: it did nothing

 

[helper800]

I decided to chat with AI to see what it thought, and it suggested buying a powered USB hub?? It's relatively cheap so I'll grab one, and if it doesn't do jack i can always take it to work so nbd, just an odd suggestion I haven't seen

That buzzing/popping happened on my work laptop with basically no USB devices.

 

[Voidcraft]

Yeah at this point it's probably hardware related. The small pops when watching twitch/youtube are diving me crazy but unless I buy a new PC entirely, think I'm SOL.

 

[Voidcraft]

Update: I bought another DAC (Zen Air DAC) in hopes a more expensive one would help alleviate the issues - nope. My last ditch effort is going to be buying a 5v/3a power supply for it and powering it fully out of the PC environment, then if that doesn't work I'm at the point of looking at a brand new PC

 

[helper800]

Yeah at this point it's probably hardware related. The small pops when watching twitch/youtube are diving me crazy but unless I buy a new PC entirely, think I'm SOL.

I am 99.9% sure its either some low level bug with windows or some firmware or driver for your hardware. Boot into your choice of linux distro and test. My guess is the problem will disappear. If it still exists we can go from there.

 

[The Great Buran]

I am 99.9% sure its either some low level bug with windows or some firmware or driver for your hardware. Boot into your choice of linux distro and test. My guess is the problem will disappear. If it still exists we can go from there.

Im fairly sure it is windows since January 2023. Swapping to Steam OS

 

[The Great Buran]

A clean boot still produces the issue. Testing using Realtek audio through a 3.5mm jack & headphones, a USB DAC (soundblaster play 3!) and through a TV monitor. All three produced static/crackling when moving the volume slider on this video.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bslHKEh7oZk

Again unfixable its a issue within windows pushed in a update 2 years ago. Try telling Microsoft they wont listen

 

[helper800]

Im fairly sure it is windows since January 2023. Swapping to Steam OS

I would bet the farm its a bug that is only within windows, but what/s causing it could be windows itself or something related to another highly generic firmware from other hardware such as a realtek or intel device. I am nearly sure its windows at the root of the cause, though I cannot be sure.

 

[Aeacus]

I am nearly sure its windows at the root of the cause, though I cannot be sure.

This would be easy to validate, namely using different OS. E.g any GNU/Linux disto. This rules out OS issue. If issue remains, it is hardware. If not, it is software (OS) issue.

then if that doesn't work I'm at the point of looking at a brand new PC

For testing purposes, i'd suggest using e.g Linux Mint from bootable USB thumb drive, so you can boot into the distro, without distro being installed on your PC.

Here's a guide on how to create such bootable USB thumb drive,
link: https://pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Once you have USB thumb drive up and running and when you boot from it, you get several options. One of them is the "preview" option, that loads entire distro to RAM, so you can try out the distro, without installing it onto your drive. Pick this option. Another option is installing distro to your drive. No need to pick this one, unless you want to get rid of your Win. And there are few more options if memory serves me right.

I can say that this "preview" does work with Linux Mint. But will not work with Lubuntu.
Distro you choose doesn't matter, since all you need, is booting into different OS, to see if your audio issue shows up in there as well or not. Linux Mint is a good option since it is the closest (GUI wise) to Win.

When you've booted into preview mode (note, it takes a while to load since distro is loaded into RAM and RAM is slow), you can use the OS as it would be fully installed. This is good time to test out your audio issue.
Once you're done with testing and when you reboot the PC, the RAM is purged and disto is wiped from it. Then boot from your OS drive to get back to Win again.

I have bootable Linux Mint on my USB thumb drive for recovery purposes (e.g when Win decides to crap out and i need to access my data and use my PC).

So, give it a try, before throwing in the towel.

 

[Voidcraft]

I'll probably end up doing that if the issue becomes unbearable. For now I'm just trying to train my overly sensitive ears to ignore the pops I'm hearing when listening to stream lol. Thank you for all the help though, I do appreciate it!

 

[Voidcraft]

I do have to say, using the Zen Air DAC with external power seems to have lessened the issues somewhat when it comes to the consistent popping, but I'm still getting the random pop noises during live streams and especially when playing games. Tmodloader for Terraria is especially bad for random popping noises and I have no idea why.

 

[Aeacus]

Tmodloader for Terraria is especially bad for random popping noises and I have no idea why.

Tmodloader is 3rd party app. Remove it and all mods from Terraria and play vanilla. If issues go away, issue is with the mod.
In that case, contact mod maker about your issue.

 

[The Great Buran]

I do have to say, using the Zen Air DAC with external power seems to have lessened the issues somewhat when it comes to the consistent popping, but I'm still getting the random pop noises during live streams and especially when playing games. Tmodloader for Terraria is especially bad for random popping noises and I have no idea why.

Same issue for 3 Years on tens of PC's

Terraria pops everytime going in and out of inventory.

Microsoft is hands down one of the worst companies for support.


IT CANNOT BE FIXED until you complain to Microsoft and force them to fix it

 

[Heavy-]

Hi,

I'm trying to reply quickly, got to run.

Is this a "ground loop" you're refering to? I had alot of background hissing and annoying noises. What I did was, get a power strip and I broke off the grounds from it (European). You know Live, Neutral, Ground. The 3rd pin you'll hopefully never need.

No more hissing...
Now. Caviat: I've now ran 4 PC's this way. Electronics do like abit of ground to guide away rogue electrical signals. I sometimes get a sparking sound on my studio monitors... But they're already lasting me 12 years so...

 

[Voidcraft]

I've tested vanilla Terraria and the issue is still there, plus it happens no matter what's open on the PC so I doubt it's terraria/tmodloader specific. I don't think it's a grounding issue, but I guess I could test the ground loop isolator I purchased. I have my PC plugged into a UPS so I think it would handle any issues on that end though.