Solved Multiple Audio drivers ??

S0C9 · Feb 22, 2024

While doing some audio playback, I heard some glitching/artifacts so I started digging.
I discovered I had TWO ACTIVE audio drivers - sO I disabled the NVIDIA version - but the problem persists.
Not even sure how the NVIDIA one installed or whether it came with the build and the Realtek was installed as part of my restoration of my old PC using Laplinks PC Mover app. Thoughts?

antspants · Feb 22, 2024

I had to google PCmover. Whenever I see a company claim things like this;

Microsoft® no longer offers Windows Easy Transfer (WET) for moving your data to Windows 10 or Windows 11. Instead, Microsoft®, Intel®, and all major PC manufacturers recommend PCmover when moving to a new computer.

I run for my life.

Here’s a thread from Reddit re having both drivers installed. I doubt your glitching has anything to do with either driver but that’s just my opinion. Are you sure it isn't the hardware?

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/5ye7tx/i_have_both_nvidia_and_realtek_hd_audio_drivers

garlin · Feb 22, 2024

The glitching is caused by a controversial topic called "DPC latency". One of your other drivers is hurting the audio driver's performance.
The PC's CPU speed and specs have nothing to do with it, some drivers just don't play well with each other.

antspants · Feb 22, 2024

garlin said:
The glitching is caused by a controversial topic called "DPC latency". One of your other drivers is hurting the audio driver's performance.
The PC's CPU speed and specs have nothing to do with it, some drivers just don't play well with each other.

I’m guesssing this is random? I have multiple audio drivers installed and don’t have a problem. I’d imagine millions of people who use windows have both realtek and nvidia audio drivers installed? Yet this is the first topic asking about it that I have seen, which could just mean I don’t take notice. I googled it. Trying to make sense of it.

Also, came across this article;

Nvidia Software QA Manager Says Long-Awaited DPC Latency Fix Is Ready

After a little standard QA testing, the fix should be released.

www.tomshardware.com

garlin · Feb 22, 2024

It's random because there's too many combinations of graphics, networking and audio drivers, and their releases.

Some drivers play together better than others. It's a crap shoot, and if you discover a stable combination that minimizes audio dropouts -- then don't bother updating your driver set unless it's absolutely necessary. The sad thing is so many users buy expensive "elite PC's" expecting not to see these issues. And it still gets broken by bad drivers. You just keep trying different driver versions until it stops (or becomes less worse).

S0C9 · Feb 22, 2024

antspants said:
Here’s a thread from Reddit re having both drivers installed. I doubt your glitching has anything to do with either driver but that’s just my opinion. Are you sure it isn't the hardware?[/MEDIA]

It's onboard audio from an MSI PRO Z690-A mobo - so it's new-ish and I cannot find anything on their forums about there being a h/ware issue.
I'm reading the reddit sub on it..
It might be the software I am using for playback.. cuz audio from utube vids don't seem to be impacted.
I'll dig some more into that piece of software.... and yes, it's infrequent/intermittent.. might be the audio itself..

Thanks to all for the replies.. I'm NOT using HDMI audio, just audio out from the Z690 to external speakers (w/ sub).

antspants · Feb 22, 2024

S0C9 said:
It's onboard audio from an MSI PRO Z690-A mobo - so it's new-ish and I cannot find anything on their forums about there being a h/ware issue.
I'm reading the reddit sub on it..

Thanks to all for the replies.. I'm NOT using HDMI audio, just audio out from the Z690 to external speakers (w/ sub).

Let us know what you discover.

garlin · Feb 22, 2024

The simple way to check is change your GPU to run in low-power mode, while you're using audio apps. If that helps, you know where the problem lies.

glasskuter · Feb 22, 2024

The Nvidia audio driver controls the audio carried from graphics card by HDMI or DisplayPort (uses speakers built into monitor). Realtek is audio driver that controls sound from internal audio and the line out jack. In this day and time it is normal to have 2 sound drivers if a system is equipped with a DP or HDMI port.

Dru2 · Feb 22, 2024

S0C9 said:
While doing some audio playback, I heard some glitching/artifacts so I started digging.
I discovered I had TWO ACTIVE audio drivers - sO I disabled the NVIDIA version - but the problem persists.
Not even sure how the NVIDIA one installed or whether it came with the build and the Realtek was installed as part of my restoration of my old PC using Laplinks PC Mover app. Thoughts?

View attachment 88023

I've got more than that. Zero issue. That just shows how many audio devices installed. Interestingly enough I don't see my AMD audio listed, but I've zero worries as I don't use it, and my GPU is running fine. No issues here...

Oh, and only one should show active as seen from Sound under Control Panel. Here my Teac DAC ASIO drivers are in use as I'm playing music through my DAC at the moment...

Check Sound under Control panel and see what it's saying.

Helmut · Feb 22, 2024

Each driver is for different audio functionality.

The Nvidia ones come with Nvidia Graphics drivers, possibly also from Geforce Experience App.

There is 5 on mine
1. Realtek Audio.
2. Nvidia HDA (HDMI/DisplayPort audio).
3. Nvidia broadcast (streaming).
4. Nahimic mirroring device.
5. Nahimic easy surround device.

currently using 1 and 4.
2,3,5 are not used.

No problems with audio.

Stexred · Feb 25, 2024

you can customize NVidia driver install and choose not to install their audio drivers

S0C9 · Aug 27, 2024

UPDATE:
Posting for others who may encounter similar issues.
Thanks all the above responses. Since the last post in this thread, I've updated drivers, changed NVIDIA audio options, done a ton of research, installed LatencyMon (free version)... and "think" I have FINALLY solved the issue.
Basically, I reverted the Realtek driver back to an earlier version - not touching MS HDAudio or NVIDIA drivers.
Installed Realtek Audio driver = v6.0.9629.1 01/09/2024

Audio glitches appear to have been resolved.

stormy13 · Aug 27, 2024

S0C9 said:
UPDATE:
Posting for others who may encounter similar issues.
Thanks all the above responses. Since the last post in this thread, I've updated drivers, changed NVIDIA audio options, done a ton of research, installed LatencyMon (free version)... and "think" I have FINALLY solved the issue.
Basically, I reverted the Realtek driver back to an earlier version - not touching MS HDAudio or NVIDIA drivers.
Installed Realtek Audio driver = v6.0.9629.1 01/09/2024

Audio glitches appear to have been resolved.

The MS HDAudio is the default Windows driver that gets installed for basic audio out of most sound devices (provides just enough functionality to get sound out of it) until such a time as the proper driver for said device is installed.

S0C9 · Aug 28, 2024

stormy13 said:
The MS HDAudio is the default Windows driver that gets installed for basic audio out of most sound devices (provides just enough functionality to get sound out of it) until such a time as the proper driver for said device is installed.

Thanks.. but yeah, I know. I didn't mess with it as MS in their infinite wisdom would likely decide it needed to be re-installed during my next Win11 "update"

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