Windows 7: Realtek, Windows 7 64RTM Crackle/static/popping

Optical · 03 May 2010

@Barthelemy Our systems are almost the same, I ran this board under Vista 64 with no sound issues whatsoever. A few months ago it was running Windows 7 with no sound problems. I'm convinced it's software, probably a driver conflict of some sort.

Barthelemy · 03 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Optical

A few months ago it was running Windows 7 with no sound problems.

@Optical

Same story here, Windows worked fine until I had to reinstall it (due to malicious software). It's seems just illogical that for no apparent reason suddenly something doesn't work like it's supposed to.

Testing sound on Ubuntu didn't result with crackling noise (few hours of testing).

If that's really the case all we can do now is to wait until either Microsoft or Realtek(?) realeses proper drivers.

Strekjaeden · 03 May 2010

I fixed an issue that sounds pretty much like OP described by changing bit and Hz rates.

Aphelion · 03 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Optical

Just looking at people's system specs, lot of us with Gigabyte and Asus motherboards. Is there a particular hardware component that these manufacturers use on their boards (Realtek LAN!) that doesn't get used on boards from other manufacturers such as Dell?

Is this a Realtek problem?

Who's having the problem but doesn't have a Realtek network chip?

Interestingly, I have both a Realtek audio and Realtek onboard Lan and don't have any problems.

The only static I had was after the first install and it involved replugging my speakers in (several times) as the jack almost seemed like it wasn't making a good connection. I also disabled some of the Realtek auto sensing features and pop-up notices. Also, the Realtek audio would start to corrupt after the computer woke from sleep or hibernate mode. There was an optional update from MS that addressed this issue, that, the latest drivers and a mainboard BIOS update has everything running smooth. Don't forget the BIOS update, I think manufacturers are tweaking their BIOS to accommodate Win-7.

Ap

Mozenrath · 08 May 2010

I think I may have found a solution for some of you.

I have a VIA HD Audio card, which is in reality a Realtek card because it uses a Realtek chipset or something like that.

Anyway, I've tried Realtek's and VIA's drivers and none of them made a difference with the crackle/static/popping problem.

Then I decided to try the updated drivers on my PC manufacturer's site. I've had my computer on for 3 days straight, and haven't heard so much as a pop.

I uploaded the driver I'm using so that you guys can try it out and see if it fixes your problem.

EDIT: Don't install it unless you are absolutely sure of what you are doing! Your computer most likely needs to have a Via chipset for this to actually work.

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

johngalt · 08 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by Mozenrath

I think I may have found a solution for some of you.

I have a VIA HD Audio card, which is in reality a Realtek card because it uses a Realtek chipset or something like that.

Anyway, I've tried Realtek's and VIA's drivers and none of them made a difference with the crackle/static/popping problem.

Then I decided to try the updated drivers on my PC manufacturer's site. I've had my computer on for 3 days straight, and haven't heard so much as a pop.

I uploaded the driver I'm using so that you guys can try it out and see if it fixes your problem.

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

Anyone who downloads that driver better damn well have the same chipset he has, or else you'll take a good chance at at least temporarily messing up your hardware.

Not all motherboards have a Via Chipset feeding the RealTek HD Audio, dude. Be careful what you post.

Mozenrath · 08 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by johngalt

Quote: Originally Posted by Mozenrath

I think I may have found a solution for some of you.

I have a VIA HD Audio card, which is in reality a Realtek card because it uses a Realtek chipset or something like that.

Anyway, I've tried Realtek's and VIA's drivers and none of them made a difference with the crackle/static/popping problem.

Then I decided to try the updated drivers on my PC manufacturer's site. I've had my computer on for 3 days straight, and haven't heard so much as a pop.

I uploaded the driver I'm using so that you guys can try it out and see if it fixes your problem.

MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

Anyone who downloads that driver better damn well have the same chipset he has, or else you'll take a good chance at at least temporarily messing up your hardware.

Not all motherboards have a Via Chipset feeding the RealTek HD Audio, dude. Be careful what you post.

Ah yes, thanks for that warning. I share the same sentiment. Don't download and install the drivers unless you know what you're doing!

Optical · 09 May 2010

My system hasn't crackled for over a week - yet I've not updated any drivers.

Looking at Windows Update > View update history I can see during that time there was an "Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB980408)"

It's a general stability and reliability update.

The details don't mention sound or LAN, so it's maybe just a coincidence.

medavies · 09 May 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by locozozi

Hi All,

When playing audio on my Windows 7 64bit RTM using my onboard Realtek ALC888 I get those weird popping/static/grating noises every 30 seconds or so.
When actively using the computer the problem intensifies.
I've installed numerous versions of the Realtek official Windows 7 64bit drivers - no improvement.

After scouring the Internet, I've also tried messing around with the HPET setting in the BIOS (setting it to 32bit/64bit/disabled) - again, no improvement.

I've also went through the posts in this forum, while some people post pretty similar problems, I saw no conclusive solutions - if at all.

Let me state that otherwise, everything appears to be in excellent working order, all -devices are recognized, the speakers are correctly recognized in the "Sound" AND the "Realtek HD Audio Manager" Control Panel applets.

This is slowly driving me nuts as you can imagine - listening to music and getting a loud "Crack!" all the time is, to put it mildly, annoying.

Any help/hint/pointer/advise will be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks
LZ

I hear you LZ. I'm running Win7x64 Enterprise on a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3LR mb with onboard Realtek ALC888. Having the same popping, crackling issue. I'm currently dual-booting with Vista (32bit) and it works fine when running Vista. I have also tried many older versions of the ALC888 driver with no luck. Latest version (R2.48) from the Realtek site did not help. Not sure what else to do at this point.

I'll let you know if I find any answers.

MD

Tpiom · 11 May 2010

And I was foolish enough to think M$ actually had solved their driver issue with this OS! The sound is barely usable - it's only a matter of time before I throw out this system, and go back to XP (AGAIN!)... but more likely Ubuntu.

They're repeating the Vista-mistake, by releasing an OS without proper drivers. Do we really need to wait for Sp1 for a potential fix?!

Windows 7: Realtek, Windows 7 64RTM Crackle/static/popping

Realtek, Windows 7 64RTM Crackle/static/popping problems?