Crackling in Vista

[AD-15]

hello,

I'm using 5.1 Creative G500 speakers, with an X-Fi Elite Pro in MS vista. However, I've noticed other than the normal hissing (non-digital speakers) I'm also getting a bit of crackling. It fluctuates a lot of the time. WHat could this be?

I've tried sorting out the connections (in the back of the speaker), but this has done nothing. How are they actually supposed to be connected? Should the individual metal wires be spread so when clipped they're all in contact with the contact in the speaker? Or should they all be 'twisted' together like a rope?

Is it possible they are faulty?

Thanks!!!!

[0iD]

X-Fi 64bit Vista drivers I'd hazard a guess. They're rubbish.

[Burnin_18]

hello,

I'm using 5.1 Creative G500 speakers, with an X-Fi Elite Pro in MS vista. However, I've noticed other than the normal hissing (non-digital speakers) I'm also getting a bit of crackling. It fluctuates a lot of the time. WHat could this be?

I've tried sorting out the connections (in the back of the speaker), but this has done nothing. How are they actually supposed to be connected? Should the individual metal wires be spread so when clipped they're all in contact with the contact in the speaker? Or should they all be 'twisted' together like a rope?

Is it possible they are faulty?

Thanks!!!!

does the noise get louder as u move the mouse? does ur mobo have onboard sound or are u using a soundcard?

[AD-15]

hello,

I'm using Vista 32.

does the noise get louder as u move the mouse?

Nope.

does ur mobo have onboard sound or are u using a soundcard?

I said I'm using an Elite pro mate.

[Blitzen]

Doesnt sound like a Vista issue. Why do you think it is?

Its just interference fom somewhere.

[kalniel]

Most likely to be drivers. I'd point the finger at Creative first and foremost, but you could also try updating your BIOS and motherboard drivers.

[camalbitboy]

You'll find your answer here in the 4th sticky down.

When I say answer I mean the answer to whats causing it. Creative still haven't actually fixed it after nearly 2 years....

Just to warn you there is a bit of a the world vs Creative war on at the moment as Creative accidently admitted that they were gimping older hardware to force people to upgrade hardware. Also they issued a cease and desist letter to a guy called Daniel_k who distributed beta drivers that solved alot of th problems for various users. This is after Creative hosted his drivers in stickies in their forums......

Alot of threas are getting deleted by mods at the mo so some threads don't make alot of sense.

X-bit labs - Creative Technology Threatens SoundBlaster Driver Developer.

Daniel_K, Who Fixed Creative's Broken Vista Drivers, Speaks Out | Gadget Lab from Wired.com

Quite alot of other tech sites too, but not Hexus for some reason.

I just built a new system with Vista 64bit that worked fine, loaded up all my old games, razer mouse (need new driver obv) and it was all peachy. Instal my Creative Fatl1ty soundacrd from my 2 year old system and its all gone horibly wrong. Multiple driver loads, patches etc and for example I still can't get surround soundin HL2, in fact it causes errors, a node graph out of date error, an disables the AI every time i load a level.
Remove card and drivers, use onboard sound and all is fine again......

[Thorsson]

Sounds like the speakers or cables to me, or possibly interference.

You might try moving the sub around and checking the cabling is all snug. I note that lots of people have had problems with these speakers, suggesting quality is not brilliant.

Could be the dreaded XFi crackle. It seems that some P35 boards are experiencing this. Try changing the PCI slot.

[AD-15]

hello,

Thanks for the help guys.

If it's drivers I guess there's nothing I can do for now. I will check to see if it works properly with onboard sound before I go any further.

Thorsson, are you saying that sometimes there is a specific issue with the P35 boards when using Xfi?

I still have a warranty with Scan too, I'll try getting in touch with them.

I'll update ASAP.

[HSK]

Does the crackle happen when you're transferring or accessing data? or installing something? i had that problem...isn't entirely fixed though, i may need to update my bios (which i don;t really want too.

[Thorsson]

No, I'm saying that the XiFi crackle, which originally Creative claimed only affected NVidia chipsets, appears to affect some P35 users as well (and not just P35).

[AD-15]

hello,

I've just tried the onboard audio instead, and it works fine, so I think it is the now very well-known X-fi card issues.

BTW, I read an interesting suggestion on the net before. Somebody has overclocked their PCI bus frequency to 37, and now their card is working fine. Think it will work?

[Agent]

Try it and see

Have you tried the Daniel_K drivers, just in case?

[AD-15]

I would if I knew where they were.

Out of interest, what features have actually been disabled in Vista?

[pauldarkside]

I would if I knew where they were.

Try here

I've got to say though, my Fatal1ty's been working fine in Vista 64-bit using Creative's drivers. I did experience a bout of noise many months ago but since then it's worked fine (although I'm using it in Direct Sound (3 x 3.5mm hook up) mode though from card to Logitech 5.1 speakers if that makes any difference).