Sound problems

[Cytaur]

I've been getting sound problems lately, in NC and some other games, but not all. What happens is the game would sort of freeze/slow down for a second or so and during that time the sound would distort/crack/break up. I got latest drivers etc, windows running fine and I don't use ventrillo when it happens (I heard about similar issue + vent). Anybody with same problem or know how to fix it ?

My config: Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 1 (5.1 - 2600) AMD XP 3000+ 1024MB RAM video card GeForce FX5200 128MB soundcard SB Live! Value

it never happened to me before, only recently, like...wtf o_O

[ElfinLord]

Which driver release are you using? Is that the 53.03 release from nVIDIA's website?

I had a similar problem with, I believe, the 52.16 WHQL release. I upgraded to the 53.03 WHQL and my problems went away. :)

Now I use 53.06 from www.guru3d.com , which is NOT WHQL, but I have not had any problems yet.

I also run XP Pro (all current updates), AMD 2800+ (at the time of the problem), 1024 Dual Channel DDR, and FX5600 256MB, Hercules soundcard.

Aside from doublechecking your drivers version and possibly rolling back to something else or installing 3rd party drivers, I don't know what to say.

Good luck, though. :D

[Cytaur]

yeah I got latest and I only use official release from nVidia, I don't trust those beta / 3rd party

[ElfinLord]

Fair enough. :D

How are your temps? CPU and GPU?

[Cytaur]

temps are fine, my CPU is around 30-35C and GPU is same

[ElfinLord]

Well I wish I could help more, but I'm pretty much out of ideas. :(

You could, I suppose, remove your vid card and reseat it to see if that helps any or try a different card if possible.

Check IRQ settings to make sure that there are no confilicts is another option I suppose.

Have you changed or installed anything since the last time it worked properly?

It's a shame your problem was not as easy to fix as mine. :(

Good luck, sorry I couldn't help more.

[Cytaur]

:(

for future references -- my IRQs dont conflict

[Scikar]

It's something with SB Live! cards. There are a lot of issues with BF1942 and those cards too, I have the same problem. It seems to clear when a new sound plays, right? So sometimes it crackles until you make a footstep. No idea how to fix it. :p

[Cytaur]

do you have FX card too ?

[Scikar]

No, I have an ATi Radeon 9000 Pro.

[Cytaur]

do you have XP SP1 too ?

[Scikar]

I think I'm on XP without the SP.

[kurai]

One thing I have found helps with a lot of SB Live problems (and apparently Audigy too, although I don't have one) is to set all Midi stuff to use the MS Software Wavetable synth.

There is a known issue with the Creative midi hardware endlessly polling the bus, and generally being annoying.
It's been there since the Live cards were launched 5 years ago, or whatever it was, and they dont really seem to care about it
enough to fix, even now.

If you actually use hardware midi features, then this may not be an option, but I never do, so losing them is no hardship.