Audio crackling/popping. Can't find any working solutions!

I've seen many people with this same issue. But I've tried every fix I could come across, and nothing seems to be working.

The issue is most noticeable when I'm listening to my music, in any program. It gets unbearable at times. However, when I stream videos or watch DVDs, the issues seems much less prevalent. Actually, there will be times where I really can't notice the issue at all while streaming video or watching DVDs. Then again, sometimes the issue just goes away entirely. But it has always come back. Basically, it's very inconsistent, but it's a problem.

The sound is a very distinct popping noise, which sometimes occurs in sets of around 3-6 right in a row, or it can sometimes be very sporadic. Also, my audio sometimes tends to "skip," usually when click on buttons, open programs, view certain web pages, or move my mouse over certain things. It's unpredictable.

I'm pretty stumped as to what could be causing it. The annoying part is that I had this issue when I first got my laptop several months ago. However, I managed to fix it. I think by disabling the IDT power management settings. But, my hard drive died on me, so I got a replacement from HP. Ever since the replacement, the problem has been back.

Could it be related to the new hard drive? I'm totally out of ideas, so any help is greatly greatly appreciated.

 

It's not likely due to your drive as HD's don't cause that kind of interference. The problem you're describing is normally due to a corrupted, incorrect or old driver.

It would help to know your system Product # (it's on the label under your system) - you've given nothing to go on other than it's an HP.

Your best option is to first update the IDT driver from the Support page for your system configuration. Get the Product # of your system, then go to this link: HP Customer Care

Enter your Product # into the field then submit it. This will take you to the Support Page for your system configuration. Once you tell it which OS you're using, click on the "Software & Driver Downloads" link, then scroll down to the IDT Driver. Download it to your system.

Before you install it, go to your System Device Manager, find your audio card, right click on it, click on Properties, then Driver, then Uninstall to remove the current driver before you install the new one.

As far as audio "skipping" when you open a program or click on something, that's due to your system accessing the drive where your audio file resides. The only way to avoid that is to put your audio files on a separate drive where your programs aren't installed, and the drive isn't accessed for anything other than media functions. External SSD's or spin-drives are good for media storage and to help prevent that problem.

However if it's due to low RAM it won't make any difference. Low memory resources will also contribute to and cause that kind of problem. If you have a 32 bit system, you can use a RAM manager called Memory Boost which monitors RAM usage and lets you reclaim RAM not given back to the system after you close programs. Your system never gives back the same amount of RAM as it uses for any given program, so over time if you don't restart, the amount of available RAM decreases and the system begins to use the hard drive to make up the for the difference/lack of available RAM. If you're listening to an audio file on the same drive, you'll get a lot of skipping as the drive is accessed a lot more to compensate. Memory Boost lets you see in real time how much RAM is being used so you can reclaim it when necessary. It's great if you don't have a full complement of RAM modules installed. You can get a full trial version at Tenebril.com: http://www.tenebril.com/consumer/memboost/

 

Ah sorry, I don't know how I forgot to mention what sort of notebook I have haha.

I have an HP DV5T. The product number is KQ574AV. I'm running Vista 64-bit. Also, the memory isn't the problem, as I've got 4 gigs of RAM.

I also should have mentioned that I've already tried reinstalling the drivers. I originally tried to find the most up-to-date drivers with your method through HP, but there is an issue with the most recent IDT drivers for my specific product number on their site. I believe that this is an issue with that particular driver, as I've read about others having problems with it. It won't function at all when installed, so I have no audio. I just tried it again to be sure, but no luck. I just downloaded the most recent drivers from the "HP DV5T latest drivers" thread on this forum, and as I type this I'm hearing the same issues again with my audio from this driver. Right back where I started I'm afraid

If it is a driver issue, I don't think it's the audio driver. If it was, wouldn't it be equally present for DVD playback and audio playback?

 

I get the same thing. Nothing I've tried works.

 

Over the last 18 months I have noticed this problem from a few users on this forum. I remember one user had the same exact dv6500 as mine and he had the popping sounds and nothing would fix it including formatting and a clean install. If software/drivers don't fix it then I'm thinking that there is a small occurrence where somethings wrong on the MOBO. Maybe picking up some static from an area without proper shielding etc.. Remember the dell 1520's?

This could definitely be a hardware issue.

 

Hmmm sounds like a possibility. But if that was the case for me, why was I able to fix the issue before, but not after I installed the replacement hard drive and vista?

 

call tech support. If you're lucky it'll be a hardware issue... I had a hardware issue on day 1 with a speaker and ended up with lots of goodies

 

What processor you have? AMD?


Are you running hwmonitor? If so, close it, and never open it for a few days.

 

I'm on an Intel processor, P8600. And nope, no hwmonitor running.

I know, I could call tech support, but I'm trying to avoid it. I have a feeling they're going to be less helpful than the advice I can get on this forum. Still, I'll probably give them a call soon if I can't come up with a solution.

 

Well if the last thing you did was install a new HD then one would suspect that. Sounds like you need to swap out the HD.... again to eliminate that as the source of trouble.

 

I just got my DV5 back from HP, they replaced the mobo and thermal pad. Now, i am not getting any sound popping issues. I also had an issues trying to do a system recovery. Plus USB ports kicking out once and while. Mobo replacement fixed the issue... but what was wierd is when i got it back, it was fixed with a F14 BIOS, it is not even out on their website yet! So, maybe there will be an bios update to fix that issue?

 

nope issue still presist... just when u think it is all fixed.

 

I had a DV5T when they first came out. I was lucky enough to get a awesome $500 off coupon.

When i received it, the thing had so many different problems from sound to running CRAZY hot, even after a fresh and clean vista install, i called them and said get this thing out of my sight. They asked, "what can we do to have you be satisfied? I said, it would have to be a ridiculous offer. And it was pretty nice, another $250 off, upgraded ram and hard drive, and they swap the laptop with a new one.

After reading about all the issues people have with it, the offer wasnt enough. i sent it back within 24 hours.

 

i think this is a problem with the RAM (if any) present in the onboard soundcard not buffering fast enough for the music. i get it quite a lot, and nothing so far has solved it. i dont think anything will solve it until you get an external sound card or DAC.

 

I don't get it. It's gotten far worse today, and it annoys me to listen to anything. I can't see how the problem was once fixed on my laptop, and it has suddenly come back with the installation of a new hard drive. I don't see how it could be a hardware issue, unless of course it's from the hard drive, but that doesn't seem likely, does it?

 

I've done a lot of googling and I've found that some Dells had the same problem and it was solved by installing a new version of Intel Matrix Storage drivers. I've noticed on my DV5 that Device manager says I'm missing the driver for Intel(R) ICH9M LPC Interface Controller - 2919. I've tried half a dozen versions of Matrix Storage Manager but none of them will install this driver. My question is, if you have audio crackle does device manager say you have a driver for this?

 

Yes, I do have that driver installed and it's working properly. However, now that you mention, I do remember some either seeing or dealing with some sort of issue with this at some point. I remember it being mentioned as the source of this problem. I'll try to check that out more.

 

After reading this entire thread I read things like "replaced everything but the HD and still popping, or I just got it back after HP replaced HD etc... and its popping, or I replaced the HD and problems return.. Seems to be a recurring theme here eh? So maybe everyone with the problem can go into the device manager and get the ID from the HD to see what the make is and list it here. I have a ST9120822AS 120 GB drive made by seagate and no problems. At this point, from the evidence in, its looking like the HD to me.

 

I have a Hitachi 250gb HD.


Did you reformat the drive? If you didn't then it's probably the drivers on the HD that are causing the problem.

 

I have uninstalled the intel matrix storgage drive and it brought system latency down by over 9000us. It stopped the audio crackling for a while too... however it has re apeared.. not as bad, but still noticeable.. I have also uninstalled the IDT driver and let windows just install genaric HD audio drivers.. that again, seemed to work for a bit.. but then.. same type of thing... I am getting really confused as to what it could possibly be. I thought I had the anwser with the intel driver.. but natta, still kidna happens.. anyone else getting a high pitch sound comming from their HD while is is accessing files and such? when I am in a room with nothing esle going all i can hear is the drive and this high pitch sound comming from it while it is working. ? I have a 320GB SATA2 Fujitsu I don;t have it on me right now so no model number atm.

 

could it be USb issues? casuing the audio to be shorte or something. I had my board replaced by HP, and I still have these issues, also, I have had the 2 usb ports on my right side kill my Keyboard.Mouse and I have to restart to get my keyboard and mouse to work.

 

uninstall IDT and Intel matrix storage controller (in safe mode)

on reboot prevent either from installing on their own

install----------> intel_msm_8.7.1.1001...[ no these are not some special drivers, make sure you install an intel Matrix storage driver of 1001 series]

reboot and then install the IDT from HP's website

(all of these were initially done under cover of enabling VT in bios...but after a month i have found that disabling this option in bios now, produces no ill effects....atleast in the area of sound issues)

 

........and by the way, chopping,cracking, popping of audio playback are all descriptions of the same issue we DV5 owners experience..