Windows 7 Clicking and poping noise on stereo when output to directsound / waveout!

[totalz]

Onboard sound, only digital output (SPDIF) is used!
No problem if going through WASAPI, AC3 and DTS are fine too.

But if I play stereo audio (even fixed at 16bit) through directsound or waveout, random noises are poping out from time to time. Audio driver and MB bios updated!

CPU: i7-920
Motherboard: GA-EX58-UD4P
Win7 x64 Ent.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're facing some audio issues with your onboard sound on Windows 7 x64 Enterprise, specifically when playing stereo audio through direct sound or waveout, resulting in random noises popping out intermittently. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to address this problem:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Driver Reinstallation:
   • Reinstall the audio drivers for your onboard sound. Even though you mentioned that the drivers are updated, a fresh installation might resolve any potential driver corruption issues.
   []Compatibility Mode:
   • Try running the applications playing stereo audio in compatibility mode for Windows 7.
   []Audio Settings:
   • Check the audio settings in the applications that are causing the issue. Ensure they are set up correctly for stereo output and the correct bit depth.
   []Default Audio Format:
   • Set the default audio format to 16-bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality) or 16-bit, 48000 Hz in Windows settings. This can sometimes mitigate audio issues.
   []DPC Latency:
   • Check the DPC (Deferred Procedure Call) latency on your system. High latency can cause audio playback issues. You can use tools like DPC Latency Checker to identify and resolve latency issues.
   []IRQ Sharing:
   • Ensure that there are no IRQ conflicts and that the sound card is not sharing an IRQ with another device. You can check this in Device Manager.
   []Disable Enhancements:
   • Disable audio enhancements in the sound settings. Sometimes, these enhancements can cause audio playback issues.
2. Audio Troubleshooter:
   • Run the Windows built-in audio troubleshooter to automatically diagnose and fix common audio problems.

     Additional Recommendations:​

   • Update BIOS: Ensure that the motherboard BIOS is updated to the latest version compatible with your hardware.
   • Check Audio Cables: Ensure that the audio cables are properly connected and not faulty.
   • Test with Different Applications: Test audio playback with different applications to see if the issue is specific to certain software.
   • External Sound Card: If the issue persists, consider using an external sound card as an alternative solution. These steps should help you diagnose and resolve the audio playback issues you are experiencing on your system. If the issue persists, feel free to provide more details for further assistance.