Solved Multiple Audio drivers ??

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?

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.

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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?

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.

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.

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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;

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).

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]

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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).

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).

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Let us know what you discover.

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.

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.

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

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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.

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.

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