Popping and crackling with a sound interface

[bleedemx]

I have a persistent problem with my laptop. Popping and crackling keeps occurring no matter what sound card I connect to the laptop at a small buffer size, under 256. I have updated the Bios and updated the Chipset drivers, but the problem still persists. I disabled CPU Throttling because I thought it was a possible cause, but to no avail. On top of all this I have updated everything from HPSA. I'll attach a picture from Latencymon with what it suggests to me. 

[Gaya1239]

Hi @bleedemx,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you are facing sound issues like popping and crackling. The symptoms you're describing often point to latency problems, which LatencyMon can help diagnose. Since you've already updated the BIOS, chipset drivers, and other updates through HP Support Assistant, we can focus on other potential causes. 

Here are some steps and tips that may help:
 

Check LatencyMon Results:

• Review the detailed report from LatencyMon to identify specific drivers causing high latency. The problem could be due to network drivers, GPU drivers, or even storage drivers.

Disable Unnecessary Devices:

• In Device Manager, disable unused devices such as network adapters, webcam, or Bluetooth. Sometimes, these devices can cause DPC latency issues.

Update Audio Drivers:

• Ensure you have the latest drivers for your sound card/interface. Visit the manufacturer's website for the most recent drivers rather than relying solely on Windows Update. 

Power Settings:

• Set your power plan to "High performance." This prevents the CPU from throttling down and potentially causing latency spikes.
  • Go to Control Panel > Power Options and select High performance.

Disable C-States in BIOS:

• Sometimes, disabling CPU power-saving features in the BIOS can help. Look for settings related to C-States and disable them.

Adjust Buffer Size and Sample Rate:

• While you mentioned issues at buffer sizes under 256, try experimenting with higher buffer sizes to see if it eliminates the problem. Also, test different sample rates.

Update GPU Drivers:

• Outdated or problematic GPU drivers can cause latency issues. Make sure you have the latest drivers from the GPU manufacturer's website.

Network Drivers:

• High DPC latency can be caused by network drivers. Ensure your network drivers are up to date, or try disabling the network adapter to see if the issue resolves.

Background Processes:

• Minimize background processes and startup programs. Use Task Manager to disable unnecessary startup items.

Refer to this document:   HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop - 15-dk1008nq User manual

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 

[bleedemx]

I've already done all this but for nothing. Could it be something inside it, maybe it's not getting enough power to allow the sound card to run properly on a small buffer size? From buffer size 256 upwards the problem disappears, but I don't find such a buffer size helpful.

[Gaya1239]

Hi @bleedemx ,

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your efforts. As the issue persists, I am sorry to hear that I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. 

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.