Realtek Sound Card Problem

[masoodKh]

Dear all,
I've got a problem with my sound card and wondered if you could spare a moment and help me out.
The problem is that while playing a music or a video clip, the sound frequently freezes for a second, i.e. still playing that particular tone, and then it continues normally. Meanwhile the CPU usage shots up.
If I execute sth while playing, this happens more frequently.
My system:
Sony VAIO laptop VGN-FS285H - Pentium M Centrino 1.73 GHz - Realtek High Def. Sound card -WinXP-Pro-SP2

I have installed/reinstalled:
- Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for high Definition Audio (Tried both
KB835221 and the newer KB888111)
- Realtek High Definition Audio Driver
- Latest DirectX

But the problem still persists. Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance for taking the time to response.
Kind Regards,
Masood

PS: I also have WinXP-Home and FC5 installed in my computer; both of them are OK.

[radie]

Tried it, no change.

Getting particularly annoyed when streaming media.

Will contact Sony Support, but after browsing these forums I doubt they will be able to solve the issue...can all but try!

Cheers for the advice

[Resonate]

Tried it, no change.  

Getting particularly annoyed when streaming media.

Will contact Sony Support, but after browsing these forums I doubt they will be able to solve the issue...can all but try!

Cheers for the advice

It maybe the only thing left if you have updated the driver, even installed & re-insatalled the card after doing all that it does sound like a hardware problem, Hey you never know Sony may suprise you & pull out the solution from up there ass :smileygrin: keep us updated on how you get on with sony.

[Blencogo]

Hi masood, Hi radie

I don't know the answer but it sounds like it is being caused by a 'spike' in your CPU usage. Something is intermittently using 100% if your CPU causing everything else to pause.

Have you tried opening Task Manager and clicking on Processes. Try to spot what is suddenly using 100% CPU.

You also mention 'Interrupt' so it is worth checking if you have an IRQ conflict with any other devices on your system:

Try opening Device Manager and choose View -> Resources by Connection and expand IRQ. See if you can see what is sharing an IRQ with your sound card.

Alternatively Start -> Run -> msinfo32.exe (and Enter). Open 'Hardware Resources' and have a good look at 'Conflicts/Sharing' and 'Forced Hardware'.

[radie]

Hi there
Task manager runs at about 34% cpu usage during audio streaming....not noticed any spikes.

Device Manages includes Chipset at IRQ 16 as follows...

IRQ 16Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family
IRQ 16Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio

System Info conflicts include also...
IRQ 16Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265B
IRQ 16Generic CardBus Controller

Nothing in forced hardware

Could any of these be the culprit?
Thanks
Helen

[Blencogo]

Hi Helen,

I don't think there is anything there to suggest a conflict.

Just check by expanding 'System Devices' in Device Manager and double-clicking on the UAA High Definition Audio Bus Driver. Click on the Resources tab and check to see if it says 'No Conflicts'.

Probably back to square one !!!

:smileyd_oh:

[Resonate]

Device Manages includes Chipset at IRQ 16 as follows...
IRQ 16 Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family
IRQ 16 Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio

Looking at the above IRQ 16 One being microsoft & one not, It might be worth trying to run a Direct X Diagnostics by going to Start > Run & type dxdiag then press [Enter] this tool gives you detailed info on Direct X & sound input, Music & allows you to run a test or to determine if the problem is a broken sound card or just the poltergeist in yet another system

[ddf]

Jumping in the discussion as i have same problem, distorted sound with Realtek HD Audio on my newly bought VGN-FS495VP. I noticed it happens when there is access to the harddisk (or at least the harddisk LED blinks). Sound is distorted, in if i play a video or a game, there is usually also a small glitch/freeze. When the harddisk is no longer accessed, no problem. Doesnt matter if you play a small sound or Far Cry, same issue. Even Windows welcome sound is distorted.

I did the check recommanded above, didnt get anything interesting out of DirectX (tried different HW acceleration levels). But it looks like IRQ16 is under a lot of pressure:
IRQ 16Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/PM Express PCI Express Root Port - 2591
IRQ 16NVIDIA GeForce Go 6400
IRQ 16Microsoft UAA Bus Driver for High Definition Audio
IRQ 16Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265B
IRQ 16Generic CardBus Controller

Considering the post of Esmarelda earlier in October, looks like somebody's driver update is in cause (Windows??). The first hours of usage of my Vaio i did not notice any sound problem, but when i had updated with all the latest Windows stuff, DirectX, Realtek etc etc the problem started.

So looking forward for a solution, as i looks as Microsoft KB888111 is not doing any good according the first post.

br
david

[Resonate]

Hi ddf, Welcome to Club-VAIO

Have you tried uninstalling the Update & booting back up again ? I recommend a back up before proceding.

I have noticed with the affected realtek the IRQ's ( Interuppt request signals) go through the roof which does suggest there is an unforseen Conflict.
Firstly if these programs are within the system check they are within the start up list ALCMTR.EXE & AzMixerSel these should 'interupt'(IRQ) the processor and gain its attention. I think its starting to point out towards the intel chipset (Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/PM Express PCI Express Root Port) to which i can only suggest that you Open device manager > other devices > PCI System management bus [Update driver] failing this find out your motherboard & go to there support site were you will find audio utillity downloads.

[Blencogo]

I still don't think it is an IRQ conflict. It is quite normal for a number of devices to successfully share the same IRQ. Unless you are using a Legacy Device which is not Plug and Play, conflicts are very rare in XP.

Anyway, XP will not let you change the assignment unless it detects a conflict - you will see that the manual assignment fields are greyed out. I suppose you could uninstall, re-boot and reinstall the UAA driver and hope that it gets assigned a different IRQ.

Where is the source when this happens? Does it happen when playing from hard disc, DVD/CD drive or both? I assume DMA is enabled and actually working?

[ddf]

I am not so good at forums... managed to erase a 24-pages long reply, so i will try to make it more concise this time.

Yesterday i uninstalled all i found that had to do with HD (Realtek drivers and windows KB835211 / KB888111), and re-installed KB888111 and original realtek drivers R1.23 that were on my C:\drivers.
A bit better but still no good.
Today i do again, but install KB835221 instead and R1.23.

Not sure about the DMA, how can i check that?

There is a slight difference in behaviour depending on the appli:
- even small beep sounds in windows are distorted when accessing harddisk.
- Windows WMP11 is a nightmare: running a 10-20Mb clip is full chaos. Picture glitches, terrible sound, no coordination sound/picture. The harddisk is accessed continuously when there is sound. Picture problem disappear when disabling sound card. Same files no problem to play on old crap laptop.
- Games like Far Cry and Call of Duty: sound glitches when starting up a level, plus little picture glitches. But ultimately all gets quite quick loaded in RAM and then no more problem, runs fine (still i wont buy 100GB RAM to solve the issue!). in-game videos: bad.

So i dont know.. maybe the IRQ16 is really overloaded?? Or the HW buffers of the Audio are not working (OK according DirectX). I hope this is solve soon, looking on the web it looks like a generic problem for Vaio/Realtek users! If not fixed quick i return the laptop to the retailer and get another brand (try to at least!)

br
david