Steam Client Service causing audio crackle?

[gerkbyrd]

Hi everyone. My laptop has had some troubles with the audio lately, it's just random crackling that I thought was related to CPU usage. Anyhow, it had stopped for a couple of day now, out of nowhere, and since I had ran a clean boot to try and locate the issue, I started to turn back on some services at System Configuration. When I turned the Steam Client Service back on, I played a game which doesn't stress my laptop at all, and after a while the crackling returned. This issue has been quite unpredictable, but I figured something similar might have happened to someone. So... has anyone else had issues with the Steam Client Service? or knows how it could be related to this issue? (btw, I turned it back off, and after restarting the problem has been gone for the last 5 hours of usage) and sorry if the forum section doesn't make sense to you, but it seems like the most adequate to me. I use Windows 8.1 if you need to know!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Try updating Audio Driver

[chiefputsa☒lag]

is the audio problem occuring only on headphones/earphones but not on laptop speakers?

[gerkbyrd]

hey! thanks for replying, i thought this post had been deleted somehow... Yes, i've tested all kinds of audio drivers, I'm just sticking to the one i'm supposed to have, but the problem won't go away. And no, the audio issue persists on speakers, headphones, and even when playing it through an external audio interface.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

What all kinds of audio drivers? There should just be the one for your specific audio. Most laptops have Realtek HD Audio. That driver gets updated often, so it is best to get that from Realtek website. DO NOT get drivers for non-Microsoft products from Windows Updates.

Can u list the full model of laptop u have?

[gerkbyrd]

no no, i know. Haha, sorry, should've been more specific. Yes it's all Realtek. I tried the one windows suggested on device manager (didn't keep it because it didn't even recognize the speakers as Realtek HD audio, so a bunch of apps that worked with them (Cubase, SteelSeries Engine, etc.) gave me trouble I switched to the most updated one on Realtek's website, and then to some other that is also updated but for some reason was different (I checked both of them worked on my OS though) and it didn't solve the issue, but at least the speakers were recognized properly. I own a MSI GT60 Dominator-424 by the way. Thanks for the reply too! and I just made a test and I don't think Steam Client Service was the cause... I'm starting to think it is mostly related to using the Cooler Boost function that comes with the laptop.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Sounds like a power issue. I had a laptop like that before (and see others with such problems first-hand) where the audio would have crackling in it whenever the AC adapter was connected.

[gerkbyrd]

you had this model?? or do you mean it had the same components or something? thanks for the reply anyway! that is something I hadn't considered, but I think that it has happened even when it's been unplugged... And now it's really hard to determine because the crackling is very hard to reproduce. Ok but, forget it, I just tried unplugging right as I wrote this because the crackling was happening, and it definetely didn't help. But thanks anyway! For the sound of it, I believe that even after proving this it still could be a power issue like you say... It just makes sense. But what do you think? Does this (the issue persisting with the laptop plugged or unplugged) means that it isn't a power issue?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Then perhaps is something inside the laptop; like a faulty connection with an internal part/wire/plug.

Or possible some unknown interference, perhaps.

[Blenda]

a

[gerkbyrd]

yes... I'm mainly thinking it has to do with the OS. When I do some update or something like that, the issue gets better or worse. It's quite untracable. But if I can't fix it I'd go for that kind of unique hardware problem, and RMA the thing. Thanks for the replies!

[PAO DE FORMA]

Try updating Audio Driver

[iRoxter]

Hi! I am having a similar issues. I already updated my audio drivers.
The sound crackling only occurs when steam client is downloading and having some cpu load.
If steam finished downloading the sound issues are gone.

I am also using Realtek HD ausio drivers. The issue persists with the newest drivers.

[gerkbyrd]

Originally posted by GERRoxter:

Hi! I am having a similar issues. I already updated my audio drivers.
The sound crackling only occurs when steam client is downloading and having some cpu load.
If steam finished downloading the sound issues are gone.

I am also using Realtek HD ausio drivers. The issue persists with the newest drivers.

Yeah, I think the issue got better for me when I did some windows update... I'm guessing it's mostly the result of the cpu load the app causes, and that this would happen with any other app using that amount of cpu load.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Try lowering the Steam Download Limit in the Client Settings and see if that helps when u are downloading via Steam and doing other things where this audio issue would occur.

Yes on slower systems something like Steam using alot of your LAN bandwidth & CPU could cause such an issue. But again, usually only older much slower systems.