Sound enabled decreases gaming performance

Mythram · #1 September 27th, 2007, 06:53 PM

Hi. I have a Dell GX260 running Windows 2000. My problem is that most of the games I play have terrible sound quality when using the onboard sound, specifically World of Warcraft, Guild Wars and Sin Episodes: Emergence. The music and voice overs crackle and stutter, causing the games to slowdown overall. However, when I disable the sound through the control panel, the games run smooth with little to no lag. Here's my system information:
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System Information
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Time of this report: 9/27/2007, 13:37:46
Machine name:
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: OptiPlex GX260
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 1.80GHz, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 279MB used, 1411MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0001.0904 32bit Unicode

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DxDiag Notes
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DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

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DirectX Debug Levels
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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)

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Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6200 A-LE
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 6200 A-LE
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0222&SUBSYS_A2953842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1152 x 864 (16 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8466 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 4/28/2006 19:47:00, 3986944 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
Mini VDD Date: 4/28/2006 19:47:00, 3663040 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4162-11CF-E07A-9F8200C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0222
SubSys ID: 0xA2953842
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) 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

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_01261028&REV_01
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3538 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 12/19/2002 17:48:48, 539008 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x0
Format Flags: 0x0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
SoundMAX Digital Audio, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

Notice how under sound devices it's listed as "Type: Emulated". I've recently purchased and installed a Sound Blaster Audigy SE which did not improve my gaming sound at all so I returned it. It was also listed as "Type: Emulated" when I checked DirectX. Does it have anything to do with hardware accelerated sound cards versus software accelerated ones?

MaDef · #2 September 28th, 2007, 07:55 AM

Couple of things to try first. Do a virus scan, adware scan, disk cleanup, and defrag hard drives (in other words a standard maintainance sweep of the system). Next, run "msconfig" from the run box in the start menu,(this utility doesn't come with windows 2000, so if you havent installed it, you'll need to download and put it in the c:\wnnt\system32 folder, no need to install anything, you can then run it from the run box).If you need to download it, you can get it from the following link. msconfig.exe
when you run it, click the startup tab, and a list of programs that start with windows will pop up, disable any unecessary programs by clearing the checkboxes. you'll need to reboot for changes to take effect. after that update all your hardware drivers, video, sound, motherboard etc.
And finally, go to blackviper.com/ and download his windows 2000 service guide, there are services that windows 2000, runs that aren't needed unless you use cetain network enviroments.

see if that helps the game performance.

Mythram · #3 September 28th, 2007, 08:19 PM

Ok I did that. Even installed some new audio codecs to see if that would help the problem. Nope, the sound when playing Guild Wars, World of Warcraft or Sin Episodes: Emergence is still crackling and stuttering. One thing I forgot to mention is that the sound is fine when playing CDs, DVDs and Resident Evil 4.