Software causing noisy analog sound output?

[frankR]

I have the Sound Blaster Live 24-bit in my machine. The card is capable of sounding excelent, good SNR, high resolution audio is very detailed with a transparent sound stage on my Sennheiser HD590s.

Right now there is a ton of noise on the analog output. There's a scraching squeeling noise when hard drivers are in use, not the way it sounded when it was new.

When I uninstall the drivers and reboot, it returns to it's normal self, but after a day or of use on the computer the noise returns and I have to reinstall the drivers again, very annoying!!

Does anyone know what could cause this and hopefully how to fix it?

[nn_step]

first thing first I would check to make sure that the system was 24/7 stable
Running WCG for a week would let you know exactly

[frankR]

first thing first I would check to make sure that the system was 24/7 stable
Running WCG for a week would let you know exactly

You believe an overclock instability can cause a noisy sound card?

Why would reinstalling the drivers fix the problem?

My system ran dual P95 for 3 days without error.

[nn_step]

data corruption (or driver corruption) is correctable (for a little while) by just reinstalling/replacing the corrupted data.
Prime isn't a full system test, WCG is

[frankR]

I haven't noticed any data corruption on my machine.

What is WCG?

[nn_step]

http://xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=113030

[frankR]

Downloading, BOINC.

[frankR]

It's installed and connecting.

How do I use this as a stability test?

[frankR]

It's running at full throttle.

Off to the gym for now...

[nn_step]

if any of the WU's error out than your system isn't stable.

[frankR]

I'm 3 hours into something called faah1078_do60n847_x1MEU_002_2
and faah1078_d060n811_x1MEU_00_0. .:banana:

What's a WU?

So the way this work is each calculation is performed by three seperate clients, and cross checked?

[nn_step]

yes so that you not only help out a good cause but you also get a ROCK solid test for system stability
faah1078_do60n847_x1MEU_002_2 is an example of a WU (or work unit)

[Serra]

If system stability isn't found to be the issue, my recommendations are (in order):

1. Try it on a fresh Windows installation (even on just a new partition made to test it, no reason to format your whole drive) to help eliminate any software-related issues
2. Try it in a new PCI slot if possible. This will help eliminate issues relating to that PCI slot at the very least
3. Try it in a friends computer.
4. If all else fails, it's an issue with the hardware. I know it doesn't happen when the driver isn't installed, but my inclination would be that there are some hardware features that are not in use without the driver and those parts would be what's going. Not particularly likely, but... yeah.

[mnewxcv]

try this, this was the problem for me on my audigy 1 plat.

start/all programs/accesories/entertainment/volume control

mute line in

[frankR]

If system stability isn't found to be the issue, my recommendations are (in order):

1. Try it on a fresh Windows installation (even on just a new partition made to test it, no reason to format your whole drive) to help eliminate any software-related issues
2. Try it in a new PCI slot if possible. This will help eliminate issues relating to that PCI slot at the very least
3. Try it in a friends computer.
4. If all else fails, it's an issue with the hardware. I know it doesn't happen when the driver isn't installed, but my inclination would be that there are some hardware features that are not in use without the driver and those parts would be what's going. Not particularly likely, but... yeah.

The sound problem goes away after reinstalling the drivers. Not while they're uninstalled. There's no sound at all with them uninstalled.:)

[mnewxcv]

The sound problem goes away after reinstalling the drivers. Not while they're uninstalled. There's no sound at all with them uninstalled.:)


so did my advice fail?

[frankR]

try this, this was the problem for me on my audigy 1 plat.

start/all programs/accesories/entertainment/volume control

mute line in

I have everything muted or turn-off complete except for Master and Wave.

I've actually looked at this problem before. About my third go around of posting this question on a message forum.

[frankR]

so did my advice fail?

Windows install. Yes it goes away. I'm on my 3rd Window install on this system. The problem comes back after a few month of use. After I get all the software I normally use reinstalled.

Another PCI slot. I can try that. However, the problem has to be software/driver related. Otherwise how do you explain the problem going away after reinstalling the drivers?

Friends computer. I can stick it in another machine. But it may take days before the problem arises. I don't want to go that long without sound.

I'm still running WCG with no errors, apparently. I'll be seriously shock if something fails. This computer has run P95 and memtest forever. I'm well below the systems maximum bootable or semi-stable OC. The ram will actually do 270Mhz, it's actually running 237 Mhz at 3-3-3-5 right now, because I thought it might have gotten unstable when it was hot in the summer. My CPU will do about 2 hours of P95 at 2.75 Ghz at this voltage.


I don't know if this helps, but I believe it's game related. Maybe DX9 or something? The on board sound is disabled, incase anyone asks. I can post my dxdiag.