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.

[ddf]

and to follow up, i have now installed KB835221 (de-installed first KB888111), and R1.23 from the original drivers.

Not much better.

So still at a loss....

[Blencogo]

Direct Memory Access (DMA) allows the transfer of data direct from memory to a device like your soundcard without passing through the CPU.

To check that DMA is enabled, go to Device Manager and expand 'IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers' and double-click on 'Primary IDE Channel' -> 'Advanced Settings'.

Check that all devices have 'DMA if Available' selected as the Transfer Mode and that a 'Current Transfer Mode' is shown that is DMA enabled (something like 'Ultra DMA Mode 4').

Do you get the same problem if you play a CD from the optical drive? I am trying to establish if this only happens with media played from the hard drive.



EDIT: I uninstalled WMP11 after a nasty BSOD experience !!!

:smileyhypnotized:

[Resonate]

Updates as from yesterday with VISTA incase anyone needs then Otherwise Belencogo your there only hope

Realtek AC'97 Audio Codec Driver A3.96 (Update 8/01/2007)*(WinALL)

REALTEK High Definition Audio Driver 1.54 (Update 8/01/2007)*(WinALL)


Realtek AC'97 Vista Driver (2/01/2007)*(VISTA)

Realtek High Definition Audio 1.53 (11/12/06)*(VISTA)

Realtek ALC100/ 101/ 200/ 201/ 202/ 203/ 250/ 650/ 653/ 655/ 658/ 850 Audio Driver a3.92 WHQL (WinXP}Driver Chipset


Realtek ALC260/ 262/ 265/ 268/ 660/ 861/ 880/ 882/ 883/ 885/ 888 Audio Driver r1.45 WHQLDriver Chipset

Realtek AC97 Audio Driver 3.92 WHQL

Realtek AC97 Audio Driver 3.92

Realtek HD Audio R1.44

Realtek Media Player A3.93


Realtek Media Player Rtl Rack Driver A3.91

Realtek Auto Installition V649

[dobbyonthemove]

I'm rather hoping that the new drivers will solve my problem - I got a new VGN-N11H for Christmas and it "loses" the sound card - the Hardware/Device Manager says that everything is working correctly but I don't get anything from the sound card.

[ddf]

Audio CD works fine. If checked the Primary IDE, i had:

Device 0 DMA if Available
Device 1 PIO mode.

I changed device 1 to DMA if available.

Both have transfer mode = PIO mode (doesnt sound as nice as Ulta DMA!)

Primary IDE have drivers 5.1.2600.2180 date 01/07/2001.
Its on IRQ14 (didnt find place on IRQ16 i guess, too much stuff there!).

Tested after setting change, sound problem still there. Can be related to this PIO mode which i know nothing about?

Cheers!

PS: WMP11 has good chances of being rolled back to WMP10 or below here also!

[ddf]

btw one idea: is it possible to instable the AC'97 drivers for realtek instead of HD audio? I just run on headphones usually so i dont really care about HD audio!

cheers 2

[Blencogo]

Both have transfer mode = PIO mode (doesnt sound as nice as Ulta DMA!)

This could be part of the problem. XP uses DMA Mode as the default (Ultra DMA Mode 4 is the quickest, Ultra DMA Mode 3 is a bit slower ......etc.................. all the way down to PIO mode which means NO DMA). XP only usually selects PIO mode if a device in the system - or a chipset - will not allow DMA or is causing a problem but this should not happen with modern PCs and drives.

Try toggling the setting to 'PIO Mode' and back to 'DMA if available'. If this doesn't work, change the mode to PIO and re-boot. Then set DMA and re-boot.

I think this is a hard disc access problem caused by either DMA not working, slow 'seek' times, too small a cache or .............. mmmmmmm ...............Your Hard Disc doesn't 'click' regularly does it?

[Blencogo]

Just found this INTERESTING SITE with Google.

It explains the reasons for DMA not working, offers various solutions and even offers an online DMA Reset Fix. Have a read.

I am only bringing this to your attention - I am not recommending you run the fix as it makes Registry changes. That's your decision !!!!!

[Resonate]

Just found this INTERESTING SITE with Google.
 

Thats well weird i was reading it as you just posted. Thats just totally freaked me out lol

[ddf]

Blencongo big thanks to having isolated the problem and the solution proposed. Very much appreciated help! Thanks Resonate also for the tips.

I am travelling now but i will try all the stuff this weekend.
I was actually not very impressed by the speed of download when transfering pictures or installing games, or at start up, so now i know the root of all evil! Will also check the old laptop, i bet my arse it has the same problem.

I do hope it works, otherwise the new Vaio will go back to shop shelves as i consider that as a major technical malfunction.

cheers,
david