XFi-Fatal1ty /w top end machine stutteri

Question

I purchased and built a new computer. It's a:
Quad core QX6700 (4 x 2.667GHz) processor<
EVGA nForce 680i motherboard<
EVGA Geforce 8800GTX /w 768MB RAM per card x 2 in SLI mode<
2GB PC6400 RAM (800MHz)<
XFi Fatalty Audio card<
50GB Raptor HD (fast)<
30" Dell 3000WFP running at 2560 x 600<
Windows XP Pro SP2<
Latest drivers for everything including motherboard.<
Now, the games I'm currently playing are:
Medieval 2: Total War<
Dark Messiah of Might & Magic<
Neverwinter Nights 2<
The problems I'm experiencing are only with the sound. Dark Messiah is absolutely the worst offender with persistant stuttering audio that happens so frequently that I can only play it for a few minutes before having to quit and restart. I actually suspect the game implementation because of how buggy it is. Looks like it has potential once resolved.
With all the games, however, I have frequent clicking sounds whenever videos are being played (Bink mainly). Also an oddity is that I also get clicking sounds in-game while scrolling around or essentially anything that causes a lot of changes in the video such as intense combat. This computer is so fast, that even at the highest possible video settings, I am pretty much stuck at 60FPS, except for NWN2 which hovers around 30FPS with max settings. Medieval 2 has it's moments in combat where I'm getting over 200FPS with FRAPS engaged!
My theory is that the extreme amount of video data being passed around might be causing issues with audio not getting enough bandwidth to do it's own thing, so I tested it by dropping the resolution and it didnt' make a difference in a series of tests. What I did notice is that the music is getting interference, higher pitched or more busy music is subject to the clicking sounds while scrolling in Medieval 2. When the music is quiet and faded between songs, there are no distortions at all.
I started the tech support process and they emailed me an article from their knowledge base:
<span class="majorheader">Start Solution ID # 656<!-- Solution graphic or text string --><img height="3" width="5" src="http://ask.americas.creative.com/servicesoft/DATA/WW_TS/TemplateSets/ww_english_add/images/dot-clear.gif"><img height="3" width="200" src="http://ask.americas.creative.com/servicesoft/DATA/WW_TS/TemplateSets/ww_english_add/images/dot-clear.gif"><span class="text"><SCRIPT><!--
//IGNORE THIS PIECE OF CODE
function show_hide(element){
if (eval(element+'.style.display=="none"')){
eval(element+'.style.display=""')
else
eval(element+'.style.display="none"')
// --> </SCRIPT>Optimizing your system for better sound performanceDuring audio play back, you may receive random drop outs, repeating sounds or constant distortion (hissing/crackling sound). All these symptoms (and any other degradation of sound quality for that matter) can mostly be traced back to system / BIOS settings that prevent your audio sub-system from functioning properly. In other words, if your system is optimised ("tweaked") for a specific task, the result might be that the extra bit of 3D power or data transfer speed to the dri'ves uses up so much of the systems resources, that there is simply not enough left for your sound card to do its job as it should. Sometimes even the factory settings of certain PCs / Motherboards can cause symptoms as described above.
The following guide is separated into the following main sections. If changing one specific setting does not resolve the difficulty, it is recommended that you change it back to the previous setting, or the default setting, before proceeding with a different configuration.
<a target="_blank">General Troubleshooting steps<img height="0[/img] width="" src="http://ask.americas.creative.com/wwimages/style/arrow.GIF">[/url]
Ensure your Sound Blaster card is installed in a PCI slot as far away as possible from components such as graphics card, CPU and hard dri'ves.<
Ensure that?the PCI slot?doesn't share resources with other devices in your PC (mainly graphics card, dri've interfaces, etc...)<
Remove all unnecessary hardware. Every device installed in your system uses some of the available resources, even if you do not acti'vely use it.<
Tidy up all cables inside your computer as electrical interference may be caused otherwise.<
Ensure that audio drivers are up to date.<
Download and install the latest chipset drivers and BIOS update. The major chipset manufactures are: VIA/ETEQ, AMD/Nvidia, Intel, SIS. Ali? Note: If you have a motherboard with a hybrid chipset consisting of AMD Northbridge and VIA Southbridge, ensure you download the latest driver package from your motherboard manufacturer. <span class="majorheader"><
<span class="majorheader">End?Solution ID # 656<!-- Solution graphic or text string --><!-- Solution graphic or text string -->
To address the issues:
With SLI, I only have PCI slot, which is between the two video cards with the SLI connector going over top of it. There is no possible way to get closer to the video cards...<
Everything else checks out.<
Other notes:
Going to the Creative Entertainment Center : Entertainment Center?Settings pops up a window which allows me to tweak remote control settings. I tried disabling the remote control and the program crashed!<
Using the Mode Switcher to switching modes from Game Mode to Entertainment mode didn't solve the problem. Neither did Audio Creation Mode.<
I've printed out the article and going to work on changing some of the settings.<

Answer 1

Figured my dxdiag info would help...still trying to fix the problem. I chopped some stuff out. [size="" face="Courier New">------------------
System Information
Time of this report: 2/7/2006, 2:36:3
?Machine name: HOME-
?Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5., Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.05030-59)
??Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
?System Model: NF68?
???BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
??Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU?? @ 2.66GHz (4 CPUs)
??Memory: 2046MB RAM
??Page File: 309MB used, 39MB available
??Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
?DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
?DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.280 32bit Unicode[size="" face="Courier New">------------
DxDiag Notes
?DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
??Display Tab : The file nv4_disp.dll is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
??Sound Tab : No problems found.
??Music Tab: No problems found.
??Input Tab: No problems found.
??Network Tab: No problems found.[size="" face="Courier New">--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
Direct3D:? 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:? 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:? 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:? 0/6 (retail)[size="" face="Courier New">---------------
Display Devices
??Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
?Manufacturer: NVIDIA
??Chip type: GeForce 8800 GTX
??DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
?Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_0DE&DEV_09&SUBSYS_C833842&REV_A2
?Display Memory: 768.0 MB
?Current Mode: 2560 x 600 (32 bit) (60Hz)
??Monitor: Dell 3007WFP
?Monitor Max Res: 2560,600
??Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
?Driver Version: 6.4.000.9702 (English)
??DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
?Driver Date/Size: /6/2006 23:55:00, 5737472 bytes
??WHQL Logo'd: No
?WHQL Date Stamp: None
???VDD: n/a
??Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
?Mini VDD Date: /6/2006 23:55:00, 575692 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B7E3E-42D-CF-47E-3BE803C2CB35}
??Vendor ID: 0x0DE
??Device ID: 0x09
??SubSys ID: 0xC833842
??Revision ID: 0x00A2
??Revision ID: 0x00A2
??Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
?Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-767-4637-9E5-C02DB80285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdapti've
???{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C9-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
???{6CB69578-767-4637-9E5-C02DB80285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdapti've
???{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C9-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
???{6CB69578-767-4637-9E5-C02DB80285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV2,0x323564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdapti've
???{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C9-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV2,0x323564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
???{6CB69578-767-4637-9E5-C02DB80285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV2,0x323564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdapti've
???{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C9-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV2,0x323564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
??Registry: OK
?DDraw Status: Enabled
?D3D Status: Enabled
?AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
?D3D7 Test Result: Not run
?D3D8 Test Result: Not run
?D3D9 Test Result: Not run[size="" face="Courier New">-------------
Sound Devices
???Description: SB X-Fi Audio [8C00]
?Default Sound Playback: Yes
?Default Voice Playback: Yes
???Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_02&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_002302&REV_00
??Manufacturer ID:
??Product ID: 00
???Type: WDM
???Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
??Driver Version: 5.2.000.87 (English)
??Driver Attributes: Final Retail
???WHQL Logo'd: Yes
??Date and Size: 8/7/2006 :7:0, 500480 bytes
???Other Files:
??Driver Provider: Creative
??HW Accel Level: Full
???Cap Flags: 0xF5F
?Min/Max Sample Rate: , 92000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 28, 28
?Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 28, 28
???HW Memory: 0
?Voice Management: Yes
?EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
?I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
???Registry: OK
??Sound Test Result: Not run[size="" face="Courier New">---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
???Description: SB X-Fi Audio [8C00]
?Default Sound Capture: Yes
?Default Voice Capture: Yes
???Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
??Driver Version: 5.2.000.87 (English)
??Driver Attributes: Final Retail
??Date and Size: 8/7/2006 :7:0, 500480 bytes
???Cap Flags: 0x4
??Format Flags: 0xFFF[size="" face="Courier New">-----------
DirectMusic
??DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
?DLS Version: .00.006.0002
?Acceleration: Enabled
??Ports: SB X-Fi DMusic Synth [8C00], Hardware (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
????SB X-Fi Audio [8C00], Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
????Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
????SB X-Fi Synth A [8C00] [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
????SB X-Fi Synth B [8C00] [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
????SB X-Fi MIDI Port [8C00] [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, External
????Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
????SB X-Fi MIDI Port [8C00] [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Input, No DLS, External
????Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
??Registry: OK
?Test Result: Not run