Realtek HD Audio - Sound Stutter under heavy CPU load

[Esmodia]

Hi,

my Problem:

Under Windows 7 (64) there are many games, where the sound stutters while heavy CPU load and hard disk performance. I didn't had these problems while playing in Win XP 32.

I tryed both my Gigabyte specific Realtek driver and the official Realtek driver (2.70). I also tested several audio options, like enhancements off and so on.

It didn't helped.

The stutters only happen, while heavy CPU load/spikes. Sometimes while heavy Hard Drive performance.

I have no more idears what I could try....

[ROBSCIX]

The best advice would be to get a soundcard.

[Meocene]

if you don't use any of realtek's driver features, you could try uninstalling it and just using MS's generic drivers.
they work great for me - way better than the soundmax junk.

[Esmodia]

I will try this. Thanks !

I also tested some other things - and it seems, that not only due to CPU load, but also when many programs access the HD - the audio-streaming from the HD begins to stutter... this does not happen unter WIn XP - only in WIN 7 64

maybe I also have to do anything with my HD(-Drivers)?

[pokerapar88]

Originally Posted by Esmodia

Hi,

my Problem:

Under Windows 7 (64) there are many games, where the sound stutters while heavy CPU load and hard disk performance. I didn't had these problems while playing in Win XP 32.

I tryed both my Gigabyte specific Realtek driver and the official Realtek driver (2.70). I also tested several audio options, like enhancements off and so on.

It didn't helped.

The stutters only happen, while heavy CPU load/spikes. Sometimes while heavy Hard Drive performance.

I have no more idears what I could try....

Windows xp is able to use hardware accelerated audio.. Windows vista and seven don't. This is why the cpu is processing all audio through software.. when it reaches maximum threshold, it will cause audio lag and stutters. As someone said above: use windows drivers, or get a better cpu or get a soundcard.. Any cheap one will suffice to unload your cpu. Creative or asus, or maybe something better if you are willing and have the speakers to enjoy better sound quality. I have a creative titanium fatality and it does a great job, but drivers are a pain in the arse

[ROBSCIX]

Originally Posted by pokerapar88

Windows xp is able to use hardware accelerated audio.. Windows vista and seven don't. This is why the cpu is processing all audio through software.. when it reaches maximum threshold, it will cause audio lag and stutters. As someone said above: use windows drivers, or get a better cpu or get a soundcard.. Any cheap one will suffice to unload your cpu. Creative or asus, or maybe something better if you are willing and have the speakers to enjoy better sound quality. I have a creative titanium fatality and it does a great job, but drivers are a pain in the arse

That is both incorrect and irrelavent in this situation.

1. Incorrect, Windows Vista and 7 can still use hardware accelerated audio just fine provided you have the right hardware and are using the proper API.

2. Irrelavent, This onboard can't accelerate anything no matter which OS is being used. Technically it is an audio controller, it has no hardware DSP so it is nothing more then a signal router.

You have the correct information but it is not applicable in the least to this topic.

If I had to guess I would say either a driver issue or some other device conflicting with the onboard. Which is why I suggested just grabbing a new soundcard are being done with the onboard junk.

[Esmodia]

thanks for advice - just a question - my board is now around 3-4 years old.
Does this also attribute to onboard chips of the now available boards?

[ROBSCIX]

Originally Posted by Esmodia

thanks for advice - just a question - my board is now around 3-4 years old.
Does this also attribute to onboard chips of the now available boards?

Even modern ones really can't compare to add in soundcards so if you want the best sound, get a soundcard and leave the onboards for grandma's email dings.

[GenClaymore]

Xonar DG PCI/DGX PCi-E ver is a good choice for a sound card that's affordable.

[Esmodia]

thanks, but it is still strange - that there aren't any problems with Win XP - and if I boot Win 7 64 with every driver I tryed - it stutters under heavy cpu/hd load
So it really seems to be a Win 7 problem - I wouldn't think about it, if there would be the same problem under Win XP.

[xtremegamer]

Hi Esmodia....

i had Audio Stuttering issues With Battlefield 3, it fixed by upgrading the processor to Core i5, before i had Core2duo, try atleast an entry level Sound Card like Xonar DG then try upgrading to i5 or i7.......)

[ROBSCIX]

It is possible your onboard is riding the same resources as your HDD controller but you would have to check that.

[sykozis]

Originally Posted by Esmodia

thanks, but it is still strange - that there aren't any problems with Win XP - and if I boot Win 7 64 with every driver I tryed - it stutters under heavy cpu/hd load
So it really seems to be a Win 7 problem - I wouldn't think about it, if there would be the same problem under Win XP.

The drivers between WinXP and Win7 are very different.

Current onboard audio chips are a little better than the Sound Blaster cards released in the mid-90's...unless you get a motherboard like the Gigabyte G1.Assasin2 that uses the CA20K2 (X-Fi) or the G1.Sniper that uses the CA0132 (SoundCore3D/Recon3D)....then you get audio quality a lot closer to current cards. Still won't be identical....but should be pretty damn close.

[ROBSCIX]

Come to the dark side, buy a soundcard!

If not, check your IRQ table, I bet your onboard is sharing an IRQ with your HD controller. You might be able to fix it by using a different port but you may be stuck too.

[sykozis]

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Come to the dark side, buy a soundcard!

If not, check your IRQ table, I bet your onboard is sharing an IRQ with your HD controller. You might be able to fix it by using a different port but you may be stuck too.

Rob, any possibility at all of checking out the audio on those 2 motherboards I listed? For, erm, reference purposes? I'm curious as to whether or not CA20K2 is negatively effected by being placed on the motherboard as opposed to a dedicated card. Not so much concerned with CA0132 as it was designed for such purposes.

[ROBSCIX]

The 20K2 is only a DSP so it would depend on what DAC chip they coupled to it.
That chip is one of the only DSP chips used in the PC soundcard industry and it is really old in comparison to other technology.

The recon chip has an onboard DAC and it is not that high end in comparison to what has been coming out on some of the other cards.

Not sure what marketing genius did that, they should have just left it a DSP as they did with the earlier 10KX and 20KX series DSP's. This way the chip could be used in entry level cards are ocupled to a high end DAC for a flagship unit.

[sykozis]

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

The 20K2 is only a DSP so it would depend on what DAC chip they coupled to it.
That chip is one of the only DSP chips used in the PC soundcard industry and it is really old in comparison to other technology.

The recon chip has an onboard DAC and it is not that high end in comparison to what has been coming out on some of the other cards.

Not sure what marketing genius did that, they should have just left it a DSP as they did with the earlier 10KX and 20KX series DSP's. This way the chip could be used in entry level cards are ocupled to a high end DAC for a flagship unit.

According to Creative, CA0132 was designed to be an integrated audio chip...not a high-end chip. That's what the SB-Axx1 is supposed to be for. Which reminds me, will there be a review for those any time soon? (Sound BlasterAxx)

At the heart of Sound BlasterAxx lies the SB-Axx1™ chip - Creative's most advanced multi-core voice and audio effects processor. This boost in audio processing power translates to a dramatically superior listening experience for your music, movies and calls that is simply second to none.

The SBX8 has 2 pretty bad reviews on Creative's own site so far.... And Newegg has already pulled their listings for all 3 of the Sound BlasterAxx models....

[ROBSCIX]

Originally Posted by sykozis

According to Creative, CA0132 was designed to be an integrated audio chip...not a high-end chip. That's what the SB-Axx1 is supposed to be for. Which reminds me, will there be a review for those any time soon? (Sound BlasterAxx)

Yes, it can be used for integrated as it has the onboard DAC. Makes you wonder why they are putting these lower end chips on discrete cards.

The Sound BlasterAxx?
You mean those small speakers?

[sykozis]

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

Yes, it can be used for integrated as it has the onboard DAC. Makes you wonder why they are putting these lower end chips on discrete cards.

The Sound BlasterAxx?
You mean those small speakers?

Yep, these
http://www.soundblaster.com/products...oductCatHeader

[ROBSCIX]

I doubt you would get good sound quality out of that system.

[Esmodia]

Hi, thanks for responses.
I checked the IRQ and my HD uses an other IRQ then the sound chip.
But I noticed that both, my Soundchip and my LAN-Chip are using the same IRQ (both Realtek onboard). Since these problems occure mostly in online-games - could this be the source of the problem ?
But I doubt I can switch the IRQ for these (maybe connected?) Realtek onboard-chips. (I have really no idear)

[ROBSCIX]

Yep, you can try updating the Lan drivers, if there is a new set available.

I suggested it might have been the HDD controller because you said the issue came up during heavy HDD loads. There is no way to know or sure until you check the resources and IRQ table.

Atleast now you know it is probably the conflict or sharing of the IRQ between the onboard and the LAN.

Fixing it might be more difficult though.

[sykozis]

Yes, LAN and audio sharing IRQ can cause such issues.....unfortunately, you can't always just change IRQs and have things work. You can give it a try though, just make sure you write down the original settings before you change anything.

Originally Posted by ROBSCIX

I doubt you would get good sound quality out of that system.

According to the reviews I've read thus far (only 2) they're worse than onboard....lol

[-Tj-]

Originally Posted by Esmodia

Hi, thanks for responses.
I checked the IRQ and my HD uses an other IRQ then the sound chip.
But I noticed that both, my Soundchip and my LAN-Chip are using the same IRQ (both Realtek onboard). Since these problems occure mostly in online-games - could this be the source of the problem ?
But I doubt I can switch the IRQ for these (maybe connected?) Realtek onboard-chips. (I have really no idear)

Try older 7.053 LAN driver and older audio driver (Feb-March).


Realtek LAN 7.058 and newer 7.061 cause 600-700us DPC spikes ever 4-5sec, at least on my old LGA775 system.

7.053 or default MS 6.20 is ok, idk about audio part but i assume it could be the same...

[Esmodia]

thanks, good to know.

I have the specific newest driver for my gigabyte board: 7.49 from 9/27/2011 installed as LAN Realtek driver. I will try the older one. But as I said, there where no DPC spikes during the sound stutters.