Problem with audio playback.
 

So I have this problem with audio playback on my computer. Basicly, the audio will become all garbled every now and then. Skipping, "chopping" or whatever it's called. And before you ask, this is not a problem with the audio files themselves.

The only thing I can think of myself is that it's due to insufficient power supply.

I currectly have three hard drives (40+200+300), as well as a dvd burner, feeding off (what I think is) a 200W power supply. As this started happening only after I added the 300 gb drive, I assume it has to be somehow connected to that.

I actually used to have this problem in the past too, but only when I read from/wrote to a cd/dvd. Now it happens pretty much all the time.

Any ideas?

Needs more information.

- operating system
- mainboard
- soundcard/onboard?
- driver version
- software used to play files

I don't think it's your power supply. If your output isn't sufficient, it would usually just reboot the system periodically or not boot up at all.

[QUOTE=Rock]Needs more information.

Win XP Pro

No Idea.

Onboard.

No idea.


Here are some specs. Don't know if they help.

Get a new power source, or try to remove the 40GB HD.

I'd rather not remove the 40 as it's the primary drive. I guess I should just get a new power supply, but I'd just like to know that that is definitely what's causing this to happen.

Maybe adding more RAM wouldn't be a bad idea. Don't forget it needs to work with another hard drive (The 300 one).

And your PSU is old. I'd change it for at least a 300W one.

So you'd say that insufficient RAM could also be the cause? Natuarally, 256 SDRAM isn't exactly much these days and I should do an upgrade, but as I said I'm jreally only interested in getting the problem at hand fixed at the moment.

Something just like what you described happened to me recenty, after upgrading to more powerful hardware but still remaining on an even weaker (145W peak) power supply.

Upgrading that caused everything to work fine. I think you're possibly cutting it close with your power.

Even if it's not this that's causing the problem at all, you should upgrade to a more powerful supply either way, for the sake of stability ~

I doubt the RAM is the issue here, but 256 is really, really low. I'd first just try to get a new PSU, since that should be the main problem here.

Try it without the 300GB HD, if not try the latest audio drivers, check for any conflicts in device manager, check settings in bios and sound settings in windows and as a last resort try upgrading your PSU.

Thanks. I reckon it has to be the power supply then :)

Yeah, 256 is pretty ancient I guess. I probably would have done something about it if it hadn't been such a bitch to find compatible RAM sticks.

Yeah, it doesn't happen without the 300 gb one connected. And I actually have no idea how to update the drivers, since it's an onboard job and I have no idea what the motherboard is called or what make it is. And when checking the device manager and bios settings I found nothing out of the ordinary.


Thanks for the help guys. I've already looked for around a bit for a new power supply and found a few 300 and 350 ones that sounded alright. If anyone has any suggestions though, I'd appreciate it.

You can always get Everest to check the information of your mainboard. While it isn't 100% accurate, it might help loads with your problem. There's also Driver Guide if you want to get the drivers pretty easily. You gotta register, though.