Gateway P6831fx Sound popping issue

Hi all, I am hoping someone here might be able to help me solve an issue I've had for months on my laptop. When I am playing mp3s, or playing a game, I hear an annoying 'pop' sound in the audio. It happens once every 30 seconds or so. It's not as noticeable when I am using the crappy speakers on the laptop, but when I have it hooked up to my Logitech AudioHub speakers it's very obvious.

Since I got the laptop I've upgraded the RAM to 4gb, and upgraded the CPU to an Intel 9300 Core 2 Duo. I am running the OS that came with the laptop, Vista 32bit. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

P6860-FX here and I've noticed the same problem. It didn't affect the machine originally, but developed after some time.

What audio driver are you using? I've also noticed that the Gateway provided audio driver (the original driver) will sometimes crash (though it only rarely happens). I'm now using the Windows HDA audio driver and the issue is still present, so my guess is it is a hardware issue.

 

maybe it has to do with the actually speakers, because i hear the "pop" whenever i first turn on or restart my 6860, but never after that.

 

I am using the audio drivers that Gateway made available on their website - IDT.

I hear the 'pop' constantly while playing mp3s or a game. I never hear it while sitting on the desktop or surfing the net. I will look into those HDA audio drivers. I've been looking for newer drivers to see if that would solve my problem.

 

As do I, but the pop sound I am talking about also happens while the OS is running. It's the same pop, about as loud and obnoxious, but frequently recurring.

 

Well HDA is not really a driver, it's whatever Windows uses natively -- you don't have to download an extra driver. Gateway has a later driver than the one that shipped with the computer on their web page. I've tried the later driver and found that it doesn't work that well (frequently crashes) on my machine. I still think it's a hardware issue, and you're probably right -- it's heat induced.

 

Update on this issue: I have the Audigy 2 ZS Notebook sound card plugged in through a PCMCIA/Expresscard adaptor. I've used this card with the driver found through Windows Update and the popping sound doesn't occur anymore.

I'm fairly certain that this is a hardware issue.

 

This is odd. I own a 6860fx and don't get this problem. Not sure what would cause it either.