I found the source of my crackling, static audio

[haddockd]

Hi All,

I can't really explain it (and I have verified this on two different machines), but any time I overclock more than .3 MHz, then the crackling happens. I leave everything on auto (which is the default type of overclock) to ensure max compatibility, but it still happens. Can Dolphin not compensate for high overclocks?


No other applications or emulators have an issue compensating for my high overclocks other than Dolphin (I use many...and can give a comprehensive list if needed). If I stay at stock, Dolphin works like a charm, although slower than I would like (using LLE of course). As soon as I try to overclock (just using the multiplier and nothing else more than .3 MHz) Dolphin gets all crackly.

NO OTHER app or emulator that I use is affected by the overclock on either system I use other than Dolphin. I have made peace with this (sort of) but the developers may want to look into the way that audio is handled on highly overclocked systems (which is encouraged in the forums).

Just wanted to share my experience. I would be happy to give any other details if needed.

[lor]

Nice find! You were only getting the crackling after a longer playtime right? This is what I was sort of thinking with the HPET suggestion/thinking it could be something to do with the invariant TSC when overclocking. I might test out win8 on a separate installation as it handles the timer differently but need to pick up another drive as out of space again

[ExtremeDude2]

Try the latest with OpenAL

[MayImilae]

I'm running a 3570K @ 4.7ghz. No crackling. Of course, I'm also using a real sound card, and not some integrated thing. It sounds like a problem with your machine.

[haddockd]

I get the crackling with the integrated card and the dedicated card. The only way to eliminate it (I have been testing and experimenting for months) is to eliminate the overclock.
This ONLY happens with Dolphin and literally NO other app or emulator. The Dolphin team refuses to accept it as a bug (I cant say I blame them due to lack of repro-ability) but this is a bug that ONLY appears in Dolphin even though I use 8 other emulators and other standard apps on this PC.

[Shonumi]

haddockd, ever think it could be an OS issue? Have you tried a complete reinstall? Have you tried using another OS altogether? I'm at 3.8 (profile is outdated) and I haven't had this issue at all. Additionally, have you run Prime95 at all? Perhaps your system might not be as stable as you think; a .3MHz increase should be stable, but you never know what might be wrong with your system.

[lor]

Was just testing again and it took approx 90 mins to appear this time.

My system is very similar to haddockd, I have tested using both my x-fi xtremegamer and the integrated realtek - I usually use spdif passthrough to a good quality external amp which handles the DPLII though.

I am prime95 24hours stable @ 5ghz and have done 40 rounds of linpack using 7GB of RAM with a max temp of 71C. This is also the only app I have ever experienced this in and assuming people are playing for the required length of time simultaneously (usually requires 90-120mins and in areas with more bass usually reproduces this quicker) it only occurs on certain configurations for some reason.

[haddockd]

haddockd, ever think it could be an OS issue? Have you tried a complete reinstall? Have you tried using another OS altogether? I'm at 3.8 (profile is outdated) and I haven't had this issue at all. Additionally, have you run Prime95 at all? Perhaps your system might not be as stable as you think; a .3MHz increase should be stable, but you never know what might be wrong with your system.

I have reinstalled Win 7, XP, and Linux (Ubuntu) to test and the result is the same. I run Intel Burn Test and Prime95 (among others) to ensure all my systems are fully stable. I mentioned before that this happens on two different PCs running different hardware. I have even gone so far as to shield parts of the PC from outside EMI thinking it was interference. Besides, if this were a stability issue, other programs would also have issues due to heavy usage (PCSX2 on software mode comes to mind)

Also if you look on page three of the audio glitch thread, Shonumi, you yourself said you experienced the issue...sooo...when you just said you never experienced this at all, perhaps you are just forgetting

Was just testing again and it took approx 90 mins to appear this time.

My system is very similar to haddockd, I have tested using both my x-fi xtremegamer and the integrated realtek - I usually use spdif passthrough to a good quality external amp which handles the DPLII though.

I am prime95 24hours stable @ 5ghz and have done 40 rounds of linpack using 7GB of RAM with a max temp of 71C. This is also the only app I have ever experienced this in and assuming people are playing for the required length of time simultaneously (usually requires 90-120mins and in areas with more bass usually reproduces this quicker) it only occurs on certain configurations for some reason.

lor and I arent the only ones experiencing this issue, there is an entire thread filled with folks who have petty much just accepted it as part of using Dolphin. If Dolphin could handle all games at full speed with a small overclock then this whole issue goes away, but we all know there are many popular games that are processor intensive.

Many of the folks experiencing this issue have different hardware, operating systems and use different backends so blaming it on hardware, stability, etc has sort of run its course. I even went as far as offering a few hundred bucks donation to the project if they could fix it and no one can seem to locate the source of the issue.

I know Dolphin is free so I have virtually no room to complain. I took some time to familiarize myself with the basics of how Dolphin works and I just do not posses the needed knowledge and skills to find and fix the issue for myself. I think the most frustrating part is that many of us with this issue are being brushed off and everything outside of Dolphin being blamed. Too many other ppl with a range of hardware, OS's and settings are getting this issue only in Dolphin. I just do not see how it can keep getting swept under the rug. None of this is meant as an attack or anything of the sort, it is just the frustrated ramblings of an avid lover and user of Dolphin.

[skid]

I think part of the problem here is the way that the issue is being described. Static and/or crackling audio is a general problem that all Dolphin users have experienced at one point or another.

Were both of the PC's overclocked by 0.3mhz? Are you overclocking the FSB? In other words, is the overclock locked to the CPU or does it include the other components (anything connected via PCI / PCI-E)?

[haddockd]

Thanks for the reply skid.

I apologize for not being clear before. Anytime I overclock (both my CPUs are K series) I only lift the multi and never the BLCK. For whatever reason any overclock over (adding 3 to the initial multi) .3 MHz results in the static. I literally just ran my PC through 22 hours of Prime95 (and still going strong) blend to establish stability. The static appears to not be affected by any other setting, hardware or software other than the CPU overclock itself. Other users experiencing this issue have different CPUs so I do not think it is related to Sandy Bridge specifically. I have one system with a 2500K and 2600K. One has a Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 and the other is in my sig. Both have different chipsets so I doubt it is specific to that either. Other than voltage increases (which are generally required for high overclocks), I change nothing in the BIOS except for the energy saving options which can cause instability. I have left those enabled just to see and the issue still persists. Trust me, I wish it were something like that then this would all blow away.

Here is the issue in detail. As soon as you start playing the game (all the games I play) you will hear faint pops coming and going (usually they are more noticeable when the background music is bass heavy). The longer you play, the louder the pops become. They will be periods where they arent there at all, but they come back stronger than ever. At some point (usually about 1.5 hours in) the static pops quickly (in a matter of 20 seconds or so) build on one another and the audio sort of goes out of sequence. The audio echos but with very heavy static. If you keep playing, the issue slowly fixes itself but then comes back (about another 1 - 2 hours in). I had examples online for months but the links expired. I can get you savestates, audio recording, logs, whatever you need if you think it will help. I am more than willing to put any effort forth I can.

Thanks for your time