Just got my Auzentech X-Fi Prelude... but...

Postalisback · *Last edited by Postalisback; 03-04-2008 at 10:39.*

I'm getting an annoying crackling noise whenever I listen to music, I have it set to headphone mode and have tried turning the crystalizer on/off and SVM on/off, neither works, PCI Latency is at 32 would changing it make any difference?

Switched PCI slot 3 times, still getting crackling, some help with things to try would be really appreciated as I don't want to feel like I've just wasted £125 on a sound card I can't even use to its potential.

:'(

Driving me crazy, not sure how I should feel right now, but I can't deny I'm disappointed that I'm getting crackling, didn't expect this to happen

GenClaymore · 03-04-2008, 10:51 | posts: 5,091 | Location: Michigan,usa

Try giving 64 pci latency a try, also try updating your chipset drivers. Because I dont really get any of your problems, but I do keep it on 64 pci latency just in case.

Also did you update the drivers for it from the drivers on the site.

Postalisback · *Last edited by Postalisback; 03-04-2008 at 13:50.*

Yeah, got the latest drivers from the site, I've tried 64 pci latency but it hasn't worked so far, as far as I know my chipset drivers are up to date

I'm going to try switching back to the drivers that came on the driver disc.

ROBSCIX · 03-04-2008, 14:12 | posts: 16,094 | Location: Guru3D Audio Lab

Try muting all your inputs that your not using...in the recording panel MUTE, MIC, line_in..synth etc..many times these can pick up noise from the bus.

Keitosha · 03-04-2008, 14:40 | posts: 4,380 | Location: Omicron Persei Windows 8 Pro WMC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Postalisback

I'm getting an annoying crackling noise whenever I listen to music, I have it set to headphone mode and have tried turning the crystalizer on/off and SVM on/off, neither works, PCI Latency is at 32 would changing it make any difference?

Switched PCI slot 3 times, still getting crackling, some help with things to try would be really appreciated as I don't want to feel like I've just wasted £125 on a sound card I can't even use to its potential.

:'(

Driving me crazy, not sure how I should feel right now, but I can't deny I'm disappointed that I'm getting crackling, didn't expect this to happen

Which os are you using? I got the card last saturday and i'm using it under Vista Ultimate 64 and i've heard nothing like crackling noises.

Did you turn off your onboard soundcard within the bios?

Postalisback · *Last edited by Postalisback; 03-04-2008 at 18:02.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Try muting all your inputs that your not using...in the recording panel MUTE, MIC, line_in..synth etc..many times these can pick up noise from the bus.

Already done this, had it setup the same way when I had my onboard and heard nothing.

@Keitosha - Windows XP with Service Pack 2, turned off my onboard in the BIOS and removed the old drivers using driver cleaner, add/remove programs and driver sweeper, even tried uninstalling the latest Auzentech drivers and reverting to the ones on the CD which made things slightly better but not by much at all, still noticing the crackling.

The weird thing is there isn't as much crackling while in Game Mode but in Entertainment Mode it's horrible, I can only hear it if sounds are played though, when just idling on the desktop or web browsing I can't hear any interference at all.

It's just strange because all the other stuff I've got from Overclockers UK has worked fine, which is all the stuff you see on the left + Razer Lachesis Mouse and SpeedLink Medusa Stereo Headset.

Going to try it in another computer to see if the crackling is still there.

Postalisback · 03-05-2008, 19:00 | posts: 3,569 | Location: pualuiɟ

Okay, tried it in the other computer and it worked fine, no crackling whatsoever, moved it back into my computer with a network card in and the crackling isnt as bad which leads me to believe its the card & my hardware configuration that's causing this.

A great shame really, but I don't want to RMA this card at all and I won't be, onboard sound is awful I don't see how people put up with it, I'd rather stick with this sound card and put up with the crackling than go back to onboard.

DoctorO · 03-05-2008, 19:50 | posts: 123 | Location: Germany

http://www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml

Get DPCLat, check out your pci latency and report back. Normal latencies are about 10µs, than 32µs can be too high. If it is a latency problem, please contact the Auzentech support and supply them with informtation as they are already looking into this issue. The more information they have, the faster the problem should be solved.

PHJF · 03-05-2008, 20:13 | posts: 1,253 | Location: OH

according to that app my latency averages ~70 and spikes well into the several hundreds. WTF?

DoctorO · 03-05-2008, 20:22 | posts: 123 | Location: Germany

That’s pretty high. However, you don’t have to neccessarily experience problems. For example, serious sound corruption starts at 1000µs in my system.

PHJF · 03-05-2008, 21:01 | posts: 1,253 | Location: OH

well my mic doesnt work 95% of the time and i wouldnt have any other idea as to why

Terrorizor · 03-05-2008, 21:14 | posts: 1,898 | Location: United States

do you have the latest bios flashed to the motherboard? and i would also recommend not installing anything from the CD that came with your x-fi.

Postalisback · *Last edited by Postalisback; 03-06-2008 at 01:28.*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrorizor

do you have the latest bios flashed to the motherboard? and i would also recommend not installing anything from the CD that came with your x-fi.

Yeah flashed my bios to 1.80 and am using a network card in with the X-Fi Prelude, seems to have made some difference to the crackling as its tolerable to listen to music now, but it's still there...

Hmm DPC Latency was around 9-20 with some spikes into the 70/80/90 region

Starting to think the only real option would be to try and get a new motherboard, as I tested the card on another machine and it was fine (really old mobo lol)

Postalisback · 03-06-2008, 05:26 | posts: 3,569 | Location: pualuiɟ

YES!!! think I've fixed it, I set V-Link Speed in BIOS to Fast and V-Link Auto Disconnect to Disabled and it seems to have fixed it, NO CRACKLING OMG

I just hope it stays like this, otherwise I'll go through the steps I used before, fiddling in BIOS.

Wow, great to finally hear the power this card has to offer ^_^

Postalisback · 03-06-2008, 11:54 | posts: 3,569 | Location: pualuiɟ

Okay, tested some music on both my headphones and speakers with relatively loud volumes, can't hear any crackling at all.

I just hope it stays and doesnt come back when I power off/power on.

Brilliant soundcard, definitely worth the money I paid for it!