Windows 7 - Crackling sound while playing music, games etc.

Hi,

Earlier this year, I came to this forum to get help for a BSOD problem. I found out that it was caused by my onboard soundcard which I have now replaced with a seperate soundcard from Icidu (PCI 7.1 Soundcard Optical S/PDIF In & Out - Soundcard - Audio).

I have tried several soundcards but I cannot fix this crackling sound issue. It mostly occurs whenever something is loading it seems, in soundcloud tracks for instance. Also, the windows startup sound sounds like yanking a cat in its tail. The driver IS up to date, there is no cpu throttling and the sound card itself is fine - there are no problems in linux.

Just for the record, here are my specs:

Operating System
MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz 45 °C
Yorkfield 45nm Technology
RAM
4,00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 666MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5Q3 DELUXE (LGA 775) 31 °C
Graphics
SyncMaster (1680x1050@60Hz)
1024MB GeForce GTX 285 (nVidia) 41 °C
Hard Drives
977GB Western Digital WDC WD10EARS-00MVWB0 ATA Device (SATA) 25 °C
Optical Drives
Optiarc DVD RW AD-5200S ATA Device
Audio
C-Media PCI Audio Device

Thanks in advance,
Jacob

Check any cables connected to speakers/headphones, both ends. While playing some music gently twist the ends & move them slightly in & out. See it there is any difference.

Edit - forget that. Just saw it is OK in Linux. Although...............

Make a Prt scr of this and see if you get red bars: DPC Latency Checker

I do get red bars! Not always two in a row, though. Will it be enough to disable some devices as the program suggests?

The DPC Latency spikes is why you get sound stuttering. Do you have Norton ?? I had the same problem and it was Norton if you don't have norton which AV do you use ?. Ok it can also be on of your drivers so do what the program suggests try disabling/reinstalling drivers and see if it works or not (I also recommend you update al your drivers to the lasted ones avaible)