Audio distortion whenever CPU is taxed

[peppergomez]

Lately I've been listening to streaming audio when editing photos and notice that there are lots of distorted pops and clicks when the CPU is engaged in anything even remotely intensive. Which makes being able to listen to the streaming audio pretty difficult.

I'm not sure how I might troubleshoot this. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm running Windows 10


Description: Realtek Digital Output(Optical) (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.7535 (English)
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 6/16/2015 12:00:00 AM, 4504320 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0900&SUBSYS_10438619&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.7535 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 6/16/2015 12:00:00 AM, 4504320 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

 

[ashmelev75]

That's DPC latency with shitty CPU audio codec in play.
You can switch to Windows 7/8.1 or use HDMI audio output from the video card or USB DAC.

 

[B00nie]

Realtek is a bottom bunch product. Use a USB Dac or use the optical out of the Realtek (to an external dac obviously) and your audio problems are gone. Audioquest Dragonfly black is cheap and good.

 

[peppergomez]

Thanks folks. They keep going on about laptops. https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-C10659K-DACMagic-XS/dp/B00FSDFF9K
Will it work with a PC? I would assume so. I have my Logitech 5.1 plugged in with a Digital Audio Optical Toslink Cable. How would a USB DAC work with this sort of setup?

Thanks.

 

[ashmelev75]

Thanks folks. They keep going on about laptops. https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-C10659K-DACMagic-XS/dp/B00FSDFF9K
Will it work with a PC? I would assume so. I have my Logitech 5.1 plugged in with a Digital Audio Optical Toslink Cable. How would a USB DAC work with this sort of setup?

USB DACs are mainly stereo, I don't think I've ever seen 5.1 ones.
But there are things like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EZT7RE4

 

[peppergomez]

thanks

 

[B00nie]

Thanks folks. They keep going on about laptops. https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-C10659K-DACMagic-XS/dp/B00FSDFF9K
Will it work with a PC? I would assume so. I have my Logitech 5.1 plugged in with a Digital Audio Optical Toslink Cable. How would a USB DAC work with this sort of setup?

Thanks.

If you use toslink already

Thanks folks. They keep going on about laptops. https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-C10659K-DACMagic-XS/dp/B00FSDFF9K
Will it work with a PC? I would assume so. I have my Logitech 5.1 plugged in with a Digital Audio Optical Toslink Cable. How would a USB DAC work with this sort of setup?

Thanks.

It seems I read your original post wrong as you already are using the optical out. In this case it's surprising that you get problems because the optical out should mostly bypass the realtek device. The USB dac may help - or the problem lies deeper in the setup.

 

[Krispy Kritter]

I don't know if it's changed, but audio is (was) low priority. Typically when the cpu is maxed, audio issues are one of the first indications.