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Why does audio crackle only when CPU usage is low?
My audio produces crackling and popping sounds exclusively when the CPU usage drops below 10-15%, but the problem disappears completely under heavier processing loads. This counterintuitive behavior occurs with both internal speakers and external headphones, and I have already updated audio drivers and adjusted buffer settings without any improvement.
2 Replies
In Advanced Power Settings, set Processor power management > Minimum processor state to 100% and Maximum processor state to 100%.
To save power at low loads, your CPU enters deeper "sleep" states (C-states). Waking up from these states takes microseconds. For audio, which needs a constant, timely stream of data, that tiny delay is enough to cause a buffer underrun, resulting in pops and crackles.
