Choppy/Stuttering Gameplay

D

DaShnipa

n00b
Joined
Dec 29, 2008
Messages
5
Hello, been lurking around for quite a while, and have followed some great advice given by many members around the forums but I've run into an issue, that I alone cannot solve.

When playing games in XP or vista 32 and 64bit I have SEVERE audio popping and odd stuttering accompanied by the popping. I lose about 10-15 fps for no apparent reason, but it feels like my PC has lost way more than that (it stutters as if I were playing on a 486 XD) . When running XP, I lose the audio popping but retain the stuttering. This occurs rather frequently in approximately 3-5 minute intervals.

I recently sent away my EVGA 680i for rma, and I received a 750i SLI in return. I borrowed my friends 780i to only end up with the same issues, I've replaced some hardware trying to follow the logical line of these issues, I upgraded my OCZ 1010w PSU to a Corsair HX1000W to provide more juice to my 2 GTX 260's. I've bought a sound card, but I still retain the audio popping and stuttering.

I hope I've explained myself clearly it's something that has me completely puzzled and I am hoping you guys can point me in the right direction, Im starting to think my CPU is on its way out.

I ran orthos for 26 hours and no errors with the below specs

System Spec's

Corsair HX1000 PSU
Intel E6600 @ 3.2Ghz 1.45v ( doesn't like anything less when going over 3ghz)
Mushkin DDR2 1000 @ 997mhz 5-5-5-12 2T 2.2v (4GB)
EVGA 750i SLI FTW
BFG GTX 260 x 2 (SLI) (192SP)
WD Caviar 250GB (SATA 1)
Coolermaster HAF
OCZ Vendetta 2 Cooler w/ Arctic Silver
Creative X-Fi Titanium
LG DvD-RW (SATA)

Hope you guys can help, I plan on moving to the new Core i7/X58 setup but not until the summer, but I still obviously want to play games lol, hope you guys can point me in the right direction.
Thanks in advance
Shawn
 
- Wait so the popping and stuttering occur with both onboard and dedicated sound cards?
- How long has this problem been occuring?
- Try only using one of those GTX260 cards. Test both cards by themselves with the other card physically removed from the system.
- And just for the hell of it:
[Testing the RAM]
Download Memtest+ v2.10 or whatever the latest version is, unzip it, burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot from it, just like you would do with the XP install CD. Let Memtest+ run for at least three hours on each stick of RAM separately as well as test the RAM together. Go for a full 24 hours if you want to be completely sure that the RAM is not a problem. If you start seeing errors, than your RAM is defective or you have incorrect settings for the RAM.

[Testing the Hard drive]
Download the CD image of Hitachi Drive Fitness Test, burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot from it, just like you would do with the XP/Vista install CD. Test the hard drive and see if any problems are found. DFT will run on most manufacturers' hard drives. Alternatively, you can use Seagate's SeaTools for DOS to test a Seagate or Maxtor drive. For a Western Digital drive, you could use Data Lifeguard Tools for DOS to test a Western Digital drive.
 
Probably a minute chance of helping, but try changing RAM slots from 1/3 to 2/4.
 
3 motherboards and a sound card and you still get it? Sounds like bad speakers :p


had to :D
 
Thanks for the speedy replies guys.

The problem has been occurring for about a month, about 1 week after installing the 2 GTX 260's. I sent my 680i away for RMA thinking it was a mobo issue, but alas it was not. The problem persists with both onboard and dedicated audio. Ive also run the WD data guard software on my drive to see if there were any issues, no problems were found. If you think running any of the other companies software will help I'll definitely give it a go.


Ive tried running the ram in all 4 slots, 1 and 2 sticks etc. I haven't run memtest, as I figured orthos would be a good enough stress test for the ram, that I wouldn't have to, but if you think it will help Ill give it a try.

Speakers are good lol, Ive tried with a few headsets, ear buds etc same issue.

To be honest with ya's the issue started occuring when I installed EVGA's O/C software for my GTX 260's to see their temps and maybe try some overclocking. Perhaps the cards didn't take to it well and I damaged them? I OC'd to about 5% of the cards stock specs.

Again thanks for the info guys, and further input would be greatly appreciated.

Shawn
 
DaShnipa said:
To be honest with ya's the issue started occuring when I installed EVGA's O/C software for my GTX 260's to see their temps and maybe try some overclocking. Perhaps the cards didn't take to it well and I damaged them? I OC'd to about 5% of the cards stock specs.
Click to expand...

Well, did you do what I said and test each card individually? Also set the cards back to their stock speeds as well. Also uninstall the eVGA OC software
 
Yes sir I have, software was uninstalled over the course of trying multiple OS's : / cards are running at stock speeds. because of bios settings (or bios limitations) I cannot run a single card in the second PCI Express slot alone, I have no idea why, but it simply beeps at me and wont post. EVGA said it had something to do with their side of things bios wise. There has been no change so far, but I do appreciate your suggestions and idea's keep em coming because I am stumped.
 
I followed the issues Creative had with sound popping etc using NForce motherboards and 2 causes spring to mind that might somehow let you rescue your system.

1) interrupt conflicts
Try different PCI slots for the soundcard so that it gets paired with a device that is less likely to be in heavy use.
For onboard sound, try manually specifying the interrupt used by the onboard sound in the system BIOS.

2) EM Radiation
The inside of a PC is noisy and that noise does induce electrical current in anything exposed to it that can conduct.
Ordinarily the signal to noise ratio is high enough for it not to matter but audio can have very low signal levels so is more prone to interference.
The noise might be enough to disturb normal soundcard operation and hence give you not only noise disturbances but performance disturbances too.
It might help to shield the soundcard with some metal gauze to prevent point to point radiation effects.

Be sure you arent using old drivers.
Verify if the performance disturbances still occur when the soundcards are disabled.
 
Unfortunately from what I've noticed in the BIOS there is no way for me to assign IRQ's to specific pieces of hardware. I have the option to "reserve" IRQ's but I cannot specifically assign them. I too have read about the Nforce and creative issue, and I'm assuming its a vista issue as it does not pop when I use XP.

The case isn't overly noisy, in fact I think its one of the quieter cases I've ever owned. The Coolermaster HAF has 3 260mm fans that are pretty quiet and a 120 (I think) on the back for exhaust as well. Overall case noise I find is minimal. Even with the sound disabled the few games I am actually able to play still have the stutter issues mentioned above, which is why I am 100% clueless.

I've tried running old and beta drivers alike still to no avail. I cannot move it to any other PCI slots, as its a PCI-E based soundcard, and I only have one slot, that is situated above the first x16 slot for my vid cards.

I forgot to add in my specs that I have a DLink Extreme N wireless NIC in my only free PCI slot. Dunno if that changes anything.

Again thanks for the idea's and keep em coming.
 
I am referring to EM Radiation noise not case noise :)
There is plenty of EM noise!

Try taking the NIC out.
 
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