Realtek, Windows 7 64RTM Crackle/static/popping

[dsperber]

It doesn't seem to work on my system. I uninstalled the old driver and installed the beta but when I reboot I get a pop-up saying the HD Audio driver was installed (not the Realtek HD audio driver) and when I check it appears to be the default M$ driver not a RealTek one.I disabled driver signing on boot but it doesn't seem to help.

You need to run the installation file twice and reboot twice. The first time, it will remove the current driver. The second time, it will install the driver.

Had exactly the same results and symptoms (and mal-functioning sound) as DigitalDeviant... did not realize I had to run the install and reboot twice, although it's stated quite plainly when you first run the file. Obviously I didn't remember what I'd just read.

In my case, I have a 4.1 ("quadrophonic") set of Altec-Lansing 641 speakers and was not getting sound out of the rear speakers. Plus the front/rear jacks were all wrong. Everything was crazy. Of course, in retrospect, it was my own fault for not running the driver install file twice.

I backed off by just reinstalling 2.36 (did not run twice and reboot twice, but the install ran fine and I was back in business) and that got everything working again.

Today I saw your post, UberB, and decided to give 2.37 another try. Sure enough, running twice and rebooting twice did the trick. This time everything is normal (and sounding great, on my SuperMicro CS2BX board with ALC883 HD Audio chip).

I don't ever remember having to do this double-install before 2.37. And the fact that 2.36 reinstall went fine with just a single run confirms that. So unless I'm just not remembering correctly, it does seem like this 2-step/2-reboot install procedure for 2.37 is something totally new. Or am I crazy?

Anyway, I'm now back in business and "sounding fine".

 

[morte]

Just wanted to let you all know about the solution I found to my problem.

Like many in this thread, I was experiencing "pops" and "crackles" when listening to sound played through the onboard sound of my motherboard. I am using a Gigabyte MA790XT-UPD4 with the built-in Realtek ALC889A. and just some simple 2.1 analog speakers.

I had tried running the newest drivers from the Gigabyte wegpage and also the latest 2.37 drivers from Realtek ...and even the older Vista 2.22 drivers. I tried changing sound settings in Windows and also lowering the quality all the way down to 16bit 44100Hz.... but still had the issue.

The solution for me was to stop running the Gigabyte ET6 overclocking/monitoring application. I don't usually even install those programs that come with a new motherboard, but I thought I would give this one a try.

Well as soon as I killed that application my sound issues would clear up. I assume it is not compatible with my Win7 64bit Home Premium or it is hogging a lot of resources every few seconds as it checks temps and fan speeds. Funny thing is that I found that I can run WCPUID HW Monitor 1.15 just fine.

Not sure if this will help others, but I thought I would mention it.

Bill321

Removing the ET6 monitoring software cured it for me also. I removed it when I read this post and I've been noise free since.

Many thanks for posting, greatly appreciated.

 

[octane097]

Hey all,

I have read this thread from beginning to end. I have a w7 64, a Gigabyte board, 4gb ram, and the same crackle-and-pop issue.

It's so frustating when you're watchig a YouTube clip or trying to listen to a new tune. It's even more frustrating that the problem is temporarily cured on reboot.

I will be trying all of the proposed fixes--beta drivers, tweaking settings, and rescuing memory--but I wanted to say that for me this is not an ET6 issue since I don't have it installed.

 

[zoltan zsirai]

Windows Vista/7 sound problems

The solution (For All)

Start - Control Panel - Performance Information And Tools - Adjust Visual Effects - UNMARK Enable Desktop Composition

 

[armyslowrdr]

Turning off composition shouldn't have to be done! Isn't composition what provides aero, 3d flip, etc.

Computer sound never has and maybe never will be audiophile-grade.

Even under XP when I used the scroll button on my mouse I could hear a squeek in the audio.

 

[octane097]

Turning off composition shouldn't have to be done! Isn't composition what provides aero, 3d flip, etc.

Computer sound never has and maybe never will be audiophile-grade.

Even under XP when I used the scroll button on my mouse I could hear a squeek in the audio.

Not only that but it makes the desktop look ugly!

 

[arbatinukaz]

With 5898_PG281_VISTA_TurnOff_PullMode_Upd.zip realtek version, all problems had gone, but i can't hear subwoofer sound anymore. When i run 5.1 speakers test everything works except subwoofer (tuba). With Realtek_R237 all speakers works but i can hear strange voice in subwoofer like other before

 

[arbatinukaz]

So if i use intel motherboard and there are not Gigabyte board, how can i fix this audio problem? if i use 5898_PG281_VISTA_TurnOff_PullMode_Upd.zip, the subwoofer don't work and i can't hear any problems in voice, but how to make subwoofer work again on this version of realtek? I'm reading this forum about a week and trying to fix it

 

[Parker]

So there's still no real fix, currently can't use my microphone with Windows 7 x64.

 

[asmisc]

I also don't seem to have this Gigabyte board on my system. A few things I've noticed about my sound crackle:
streaming audio crackles, yet streaming video does not (though I think they both use Adobe flash)
after reinstalling the NVIDIA sound drivers, windows media player stops crackling (at least for now), itunes still crackles

Are there other drivers associated with programs like itunes and streaming audio? Also, if the NVIDIA sound drivers are conflicting with something (in addition to the graphics drivers), is there a way to uninstall them and prevent them from reinstalling when I restart my computer?

 

[Thistleseed]

I am running a Dell Studio Intel quad core with the Realtek audio drivers installed with W7. I have noticed the popping and crackling sound when running iTunes and even when watching video at times. I have tried uninstalling the driver and reinstalling and am now running without Realtek. I am still noticing the popping noise even with the driver uninstalled. I have tried messing with the speaker settings and turning system volume down, etc. My speakers are Logitech Z 5300 5.1 system. I have messed with the power settings on the CPU to no avail. I hope this is something that either Realtek or Microsoft fixes!

 

[elliottjoey]

its your driver update to fix i just went though it

 

[xanture]

Hello,
Stating off with my system set up:
AMD Phenom II Quad Core 3.0
8Gig Ram
Gigabyte GA-p55-US3L Mobo
GTX 285 GPU
750w PSU
Raptor 150gig Main HD
WD 1TB Slave
WB 300GB Slave

Okay now with my problem, when I play any media that has sounds I get these periodical problems that sound like a skip or a scratch. I've downloaded the newest drivers from Gigabyte, uninstalled, reinstalled, tried playing all type of media on many different software programs and they all have that same problem. I've been in the sound setting and unchecked and disabled all Enhancements (Read that on another Forum) and still no luck getting these interrupts to stop. I've noticed that they seem to happen more frequently when the sound spikes up or down, for example in the movie 300 there are a lot of times where it goes from almost no sound to lots of sound and in that moment when it jumps, that's when it seems to skip more. I've posted on many different forums and i hope someone can help me out here.

 

[Thistleseed]

xanture,

I am having the same issue with my Realtek drivers. I updated to the version that was just released, and I'm still getting periodic cracking/skipping noises. I have read that perhaps some CPU "throttling" is causing this, but I'm not sure how to even recognize how to find that or to figure out if it's causing it. Is anyone else still having this issue with the new Realtek driver?

 

[octane097]

someone please make this stop!!!!!!!

 

[octane097]

Turning off composition shouldn't have to be done! Isn't composition what provides aero, 3d flip, etc.

Computer sound never has and maybe never will be audiophile-grade.

Even under XP when I used the scroll button on my mouse I could hear a squeek in the audio.

Not only that but it makes the desktop look ugly!

This is not the solution btw at least for me (without a reboot)

 

[Geo64]

For those having trouble with audio:

Look in your bios. On ASUS it's called Cool N Quiet. Others will be different.

You're looking for a setting that throttles the cpu. Sometimes, the throttling could be caused by a motherboard utility you installed, that starts with Windows, instead.

The whole point is to disable the throttling to test. And also to test, run High Performance mode for Windows power settings.

Actually updating the bios too is always good. Then look at the setting I said as well.

You can use CPU-Z to see if any throttling is occuring.

 

[Thistleseed]

I hate to be obtuse here but how does one "look in the BIOS?" Can you access this through the boot-up period? Like you press F10 or something when my Dell boots up and I can look at those options. But is this somewhere else as well? I am currently running in "High Performance" mode and this problem is still occurring. Forgive my neophyte-ness on this but this forum has been a source of much information so far.

 

[3spades]

My usb headset broke and I had to revert to my onboard sound which uses Realtek ALC883. This was the only good thread I found dealing with the issues I heard. I tried every version of the drivers recommended here. Tried adjusting power settings etc. Two hours of frustration and multiple reboots I gave up. Uninstalled whatever driver I last tried and was ready to go to bed.

I had one more thing to try. It was so stupid I saved it for last. I unwrapped my 10ft long headphone cord and plugged it into the back of my machine. It was amazing. No noise. While plugged into the front audio, every single movement of my mouse caused this scanning and popping noise. The stupid front panel audio is nestled between the bottom pci(e) which is right below my video card.

I installed the latest drivers to adjust the db lower so I can use volume above 10 without blowing out my ears. For whomever has a full desktop and was using the front panel audio connector, try using the back. Purely anecdotal but I wanted to post it anywhere to justify the 2 hours I wasted last night troubleshooting.

 

[octane097]

New drivers came out today, 12/15, version 2.39

Realtek