FPS DROP-OFF FIX FOR REALTEK CHIPSET FOR WIN7

[MageThis]

After lots of research it has been shown that the offending file (process) is a dreg left over from Windows Vista: Audiodg.exe Yeah, I know that Tl2 runs on one core but the REAL problem is that Audiodg.exe both leaks memory and does not dump its cache so it will consume up to and over 90% of CPU cycles. The reason it LOOKS like a graphics problem and manifests as a massive FPS drop-off is that the larger the mob on the screen more audio (weapons, spells, creature sounds etc) is processed by audiodg.exe and it is HORRIBLY coded.
This fix has been extensively tested and involves a number of simple steps.
1. Right-click on speaker icon in taskbar (bottom right of screen).
2. Left-click on Audio Devices
3. Double-click on speakers.
4. Left-click on Properties.
5. Left-click on Driver and ensure provider is Realtek and NOT your motherboard manufacturer because I only have tested fix for Realtek Manufacturer.
6. Driver date and version should be 3/29/2013 and version 6.0.1.6873 or newer.
7. If driver version is different (older) go to Realtek website by Left-click "Realtek" (blue text to left of the Properties button. Download and follow simple instructions to update driver).
8. After driver installation, repeat steps 1, 2, 3.
9. Left-click Enhancements.
10. Check box Disable all Sound Effects. No, it won't affect any game sound effects, so don't worry. Left-click Apply or OK
11. Left-click DTS and confirm that Surround Sound, and everything else is either grey or is not check marked.
12. Left-click Advanced and set to 16 bit 48000Hz. You won't be able to hear the difference. Left-click Apply or OK.
13. Re-boot computer.

Now Audiodg.exe should never exceed 5-10% of CPU cycles and will typically take 2-5%. This fix will also speed up your entire system (with Realtek audio chip) because ANY program that uses sound HAS to access the file and it may eventually spike to near 100% and when it does hit 100% it causes a "false crash" evident by a black screen. If your s/w uses multiple cores the effect will be minimized because the file (process) runs on Core 0.
This problem does not exist with Win XP so if you are running XP and have FPS problems do update your drivers but I can't help.
It WORKS.

Edit: Newer drivers than the date above should be fine but as usual some drivers might not work... didn't check. The one referenced does work.

[( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Moist]

okay, I wanna find you and kiss you so hard till you die. THANK YOU FOR THIS!
+1

[MageThis]

No problems. BTW, it also fixes FPS problems with Skype which is why I initially looked at the process. Re-booting, of course, would temporarily fix Skype but it would reoccur. Stopping the service meant no sound (not an option) and no matter what the service would auto start next boot because it is dependent on two other services (one hidden MS antimalware) which cannot be safely stopped.

[Sidio]

THANKS A LOT !!!

[Morgs]

Thanks for linking me here mate but I have a problem; My driver provider isn't Realtek, it's viatech and I've no clue how to change it

[graevon]

What about Windows 8? Can I do this fix on Windows 8?

[MageThis]

-=ZOH=-Nemesis の投稿を引用：

Thanks for linking me here mate but I have a problem; My driver provider isn't Realtek, it's viatech and I've no clue how to change it

Don't attempt to change it to a Realtek driver because the driver is 100% chipset dependent. I have no experience with viatech chipsets and was unaware they manufactured an audio chipset.
It is possible updating the viatech drivers may address certain issues ... it is generally a good thing to be running current drivers but sometimes the new drivers are buggier than the older ones so I just don't know.

[MageThis]

Graevon の投稿を引用：

What about Windows 8? Can I do this fix on Windows 8?

I have no experience with Win 8 or 8.1 I would hope that audiodg.exe would be history and not used by Win 8.

[Morgs]

MageThis の投稿を引用：

-=ZOH=-Nemesis の投稿を引用：

Thanks for linking me here mate but I have a problem; My driver provider isn't Realtek, it's viatech and I've no clue how to change it

Don't attempt to change it to a Realtek driver because the driver is 100% chipset dependent. I have no experience with viatech chipsets and was unaware they manufactured an audio chipset.
It is possible updating the viatech drivers may address certain issues ... it is generally a good thing to be running current drivers but sometimes the new drivers are buggier than the older ones so I just don't know.

No worries pal, I verified the game (derp) and it seems to have worked. It's great to see you're helping people though. :)

[CAPA]

I will try set this to my VIA Tech card, and see if i finally have some results...

The instructions are very general in a way its possible to do it to Audio Cards of any manufacture.

BTW my PC:

AMD Phenom II x6 3.2 ~ 3.6 GHz
RAM: Hyper-X 8GB 1600 Mhz
Graphics: AMD Radeon 6970 2GB GPU 880Mhz GDDR5 1375Mhz (Its not overclocked)

Have tried an infinity of things since the release of the game to get rid of the Framerate drops...

Hopefuly this will help... I will test and post the results :)

[BDK]

1) Install a proper network card such as an Intel Pro/1000 CT or GT.
2) Huh .. I guess that's it.

[CAPA]

TheBDK の投稿を引用：

1) Install a proper network card such as an Intel Pro/1000 CT or GT.
2) Huh .. I guess that's it.

TheBDK, we are talking about AUDIO and Performance here, not about Lags because of internet conection :), They are not related in this case since my test is in SINGLE-PLAYER

Anyway... Updated the VIA Audio Driver to the most recent, set to 16bit 48k, disabled all the enhancements.

Still the same drops... Was worth a shot.

BTW, remembered that one of my tests that i already done, was disable the sound loading of the game, no improvement either.

[MageThis]

Yeah, Capa.wtt, it does not help with creative audio either. Oddly MS blames the various audio chip/card manufacturers for not optimizing their drivers to their Win 7 audiolg.exe requirements and the manufacturers blame MS for a crappy, leaky process. This actually has been an ongoing problem since Vista. Unfortunately, Torchlight 2 runs on core 0 whereas if it ran on multiple cores there wouldn't be an issue.
One test that you could do is disable the process... it will restart on your system's next boot... just to see if your chipset is affected.

[lfp]

how do i get to dts????

[Moose]

I'm giving this thread a friendly bump. I used the tips in this thread and, in my short test this morning playing TL2 a bit, my lag seems to have taken a leave of absence. I don't have time to find a huge noisy mob at the moment, but the medium sized mobs that normally gave me stutters and frame rate drops are no longer causing issues. Such a strage solution too. Never would have thought that audio might cause lag like this.

[MageThis]

Glad to hear it might have resolved your problem. For other fixes, that may seem odd, check my post concerning (gave link in recent complaints about FPS/LAG problems) Power Management having a huge affect on a system's performance (for multi-processor CPUs).