ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401IV) Random Audio Crackle Issue

[OnAironaut]

System: Windows 11 Home 64 bit 21H2 build 22000.856 / BIOS 220
Battery or AC: Battery and AC
Model: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401IV)
Frequency of occurrence: Random, variable, every couple of minutes or so
Reset OS: Several times
Screenshot or video:
========================
Detailed description：Hello!

When listening to music, watching movies or doing anything else with sound, my computer audio suffers from micro stutters at random times. It sounds like little clicks, pops or crackles every once in a while.

This is terribly disrupting for me as I work with audio production.

This is not a sound card issue, as it occurs regardless of whether I am using the internal soundcard with Realtek drivers, or the external sound card with RME drivers. This suggests that in the signal chain stuttering takes place before the sound card.

I have been having this problem for a long time and have been looking for a solution everywhere to no avail. I have tried different versions of different drivers, I have even completely reset and reinstalled my computer several times.

I have also contacted ASUS support via MyASUS app, but I only get generic and useless answers like "check if your Windows is licensed" and "update your audio drivers".

My current findings and suspects are the following:

First, I have noticed that the microstutter seemingly disappears after disabling AMD display driver in Windows Device Manager --> Display Adapters ---> AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics ---> DISABLE

Second, I have read about the AMD fTPM issue that can cause microstutters, but there is no option in my BIOS version 220 to disable the fTPM and check if it is indeed the culprit.
But supposedly the fTPM issue can be fixed by the recently released AMD AGESA V2 1.2.0.7 Microcode for Motherboard Vendors and OEMs (ASUS in this case), and updating the BIOS with this new microcode. Is this BIOS update to be expected soon?

Could anybody please help me solve this issue?

Thank you very much in advance,
JS

[Falcon_ASUS]

OnAironaut

1. System: Windows 11 Home 64 bit 21H2 build 22000.856 / BIOS 220
2. Battery or AC: Battery and AC
3. Model: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401IV)
4. Frequency of occurrence: Random, variable, every couple of minutes or so
5. Reset OS: Several times
6. Screenshot or video:

========================

Detailed description：Hello!

When listening to music, watching movies or doing anything else with sound, my computer audio suffers from micro stutters at random times. It sounds like little clicks, pops or crackles every once in a while.

This is terribly disrupting for me as I work with audio production.

This is not a sound card issue, as it occurs regardless of whether I am using the internal soundcard with Realtek drivers, or the external sound card with RME drivers. This suggests that in the signal chain stuttering takes place before the sound card.

I have been having this problem for a long time and have been looking for a solution everywhere to no avail. I have tried different versions of different drivers, I have even completely reset and reinstalled my computer several times.

I have also contacted ASUS support via MyASUS app, but I only get generic and useless answers like "check if your Windows is licensed" and "update your audio drivers".

My current findings and suspects are the following:

First, I have noticed that the microstutter seemingly disappears after disabling AMD display driver in Windows Device Manager --> Display Adapters ---> AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics ---> DISABLE

Second, I have read about the AMD fTPM issue that can cause microstutters, but there is no option in my BIOS version 220 to disable the fTPM and check if it is indeed the culprit.

But supposedly the fTPM issue can be fixed by the recently released AMD AGESA V2 1.2.0.7 Microcode for Motherboard Vendors and OEMs (ASUS in this case), and updating the BIOS with this new microcode. Is this BIOS update to be expected soon?

Could anybody please help me solve this issue?

Thank you very much in advance,

JS

ROG Zephyrus G14 (GA401IV) Random Audio Crackle Issue

@OnAironaut
Could you please provide me with a video of when the problem occurs for me to confirm?
Also, please provide the audio driver version you are currently using.
Thank you.

[OnAironaut]

Hello!

I don't seem to be allowed to post links in this forum, and the file is too big for attachment, so just add this string to the YouTube URL in your address bar:
watch?v=PqjiW6Pi6WU
If you turn up the volume, you can hear the audio crackle at about 7 seconds into this video.

I am currently using RME Babyface Pro FS external audio card with driver version 1.221.
But the same issue is present if I use the internal Realtek audio card with driver version 6.0.9013.1
As the crackling happens regardless of what audio card and driver I use, I believe that in the signal chain stuttering takes place before the sound card.

Thank you very much in advance,
JS

[Falcon_ASUS]

OnAironaut

Hello!

I don't seem to be allowed to post links in this forum, and the file is too big for attachment, so just add this string to the YouTube URL in your address bar:

watch?v=PqjiW6Pi6WU

If you turn up the volume, you can hear the audio crackle at about 7 seconds into this video.

I am currently using RME Babyface Pro FS external audio card with driver version 1.221.

But the same issue is present if I use the internal Realtek audio card with driver version 6.0.9013.1

As the crackling happens regardless of what audio card and driver I use, I believe that in the signal chain stuttering takes place before the sound card.

Thank you very much in advance,

JS

View post

@OnAironaut
From your description, the video you provided appears to be happening with an external sound card.
If the same situation occurs when using the internal sound card, could you please provide the video of the situation encountered with the internal sound card again?
Sorry for any inconvenience it may be caused. 

[OnAironaut]

Falcon_ASUS

https://zentalk.asus.com/en/discussion/comment/225446#Comment_225446

@OnAironaut

From your description, the video you provided appears to be happening with an external sound card.

If the same situation occurs when using the internal sound card, could you please provide the video of the situation encountered with the internal sound card again?

Sorry for any inconvenience it may be caused. 

View post

Hello!

O.k. Fine.

This video was taken using the internal sound card with Realtek drivers. "Creative" speakers are connected to the computer audio jack.
Add this string to the YouTube URL in your address bar:
watch?v=aKJD5rrhAcs

If you turn up the volume, the audio crackle can be heard at about 26 seconds into the video.

So far I have noticed that the audio stutter only disappears when AMD Radeon display driver is disabled in Windows Device Manager --> Display Adapters ---> AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics ---> DISABLE

But working with disabled iGPU is not optimal.

I have tried a lot of different versions of AMD Graphics drivers, old and new, downloaded both from ASUS website as well as from AMD website, but the audio stuttering remains present no matter which version of the driver I use.

Best regards,
JS