X-Fi? Cracking and popping? The solution is here!

DJKahuna

DJKahuna

DJKahuna

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Joined
6 Jan 2007
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270
Location
Near Sheffield
Hi everyone,
i believe that the answer has arrived! The Creative X-Fi Popping and Cracking sound problems and the "Squeak of death" appear to have been solved. The cause? Electromagnetic Interference! So nothing technical, something natural. And we have a solution on solving it:

http://forums.creative.com/creativel...ssage.id=91973

So anyone with those problems, give it a try. Perhaps you could even wrap the "addin card" in a few layers of clingfilm and use sticky tape to attach it to your X-Fi, so that it doesn't short the card but still provides the function of stopping the cracking sounds. Maybe you could even leave a small amount of cardboard and actually "plug it in" to one of your PCI slots. Or glue it to one of those PCI slot protector things.

For anyone who doesn't want to click:

Finally, I’ve found the solution for ALL crackling, beeping, “not-driver-finding” and wahtever problems with your X-Fi. As crazy as it may sound, follow my instructions and watch your problems disappear

Take a piece of cardboard and cut in in size of a full sized PCI-card.
Wrap this piece in 2-3 layers of aluminium foil.
Isolate every square inch of that piece using adhesive tape or whatever is at hand.
Place the “thing” between your graphics card and your X-Fi, like an ordinary PCI-card! Remember that it has to cover the whole area your graphics adapter covers.
It’s done! All problems should be gone by now! Boot your system, install the drivers and enjoy the sound. Works for me for almost 2 hours now, even though it was the last attempt I’ve been about to make, cos I read it in a forum and found the idea so crazy, that I had to try it!
Click to expand...

Please spread the word. It's plagued people worldwide for years!

Sorry if i seem overjoyed, this answer came at the right time as my X-Fi is gonna be here tomorrow!
 
The link is broken, the correct link is

HERE

It's also worth mentioning, a quote from the thread.

"There are at least 2 problems with this:

1) If any of that foil isn't 100% insulated, and it touches anything inside the case, chances are you'll short out something and *pop*, no more computer.

2) You have to entirely cover the sound card in order to isolate the EMI from it that way. Believe me, I know about Faraday Cages, which is what you're trying to build here. The card has to be completely covered in a metal mesh or metal sheet that is grounded to block that EMI. If you do this, especially how the directions imply, you prevent the card from cooling properly! This can kill the card!

Also, many people's SCP is stopped when they change BIOS settings, drivers, OSes etc. In these cases this is obviously a problem with the computer in some way, and not simple EMI. I'm willing to bet a very low percentage are actually caused by EMI, although an internal leaky WiFi card is definately a candidate for causing EMI in some cases.

Overall, this solution is not recommended by CL due to problems that it can cause."

So be careful! :p
 
you mean the same way that lightning rods completely cover buildings?

I disagree with the second point, although it will need to be earthed to the case.
 
I thought creative sent out a new batch that had the popping/crackling noise eliminated?, My old X-Fi card did not have any problem, but I recently noticed when Listning to some music I can hear weird crackling in it sometimes with my new card.
 
Smurfy said:
you mean the same way that lightning rods completely cover buildings?

I disagree with the second point, although it will need to be earthed to the case.
Click to expand...

Are you no about my post? I didn't write it so I can't comment on the accuracy on what it says. I'm just passing on info from Creative.

willhub said:
I thought creative sent out a new batch that had the popping/crackling noise eliminated?, My old X-Fi card did not have any problem, but I recently noticed when Listning to some music I can hear weird crackling in it sometimes with my new card.
Click to expand...

I don't think they have changed any batches for the sound cards to fix the crackling problem as far as I'm aware.
 
I thought I read somewere about some crackling free X-Fi's, I thought I got the problem but It was because of the connections at the back of the sound card were not in properly.

Oh hell, I have got the problem, it came back :\, sounds like static or someone rubbing on a coat, even a mouse chewing something >: (, sure aint gonna try what it says in this thread though, too risky tbh.
 
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So Creative can't build a soundcard that is capable of working properly when surrounded by computer components?
 
Caged said:
So Creative can't build a soundcard that is capable of working properly when surrounded by computer components?
Click to expand...

If that were the case, my sound would be crackling and popping, which it isn't. It's to do with certain chipsets as far as I'm aware, or so creative say.
 
killer_uk said:
Are you no about my post? I didn't write it so I can't comment on the accuracy on what it says. I'm just passing on info from Creative.
Click to expand...

Sorry i did get that it wasnt your post, didnt make my response very clear though.
 
Might be slightly off topic here, but increasing PCI latency in the bios from 32 to 64 solved all my audigy 2 crackling/popping in battlefield. :)
 
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