Audio is distorted, slowing down, and internet drops out.
Audio is distorted, slowing down, and internet drops out.
I've noticed some unpredictable problems with the PC I assembled last year; it usually begins with random audio distortion, then shifts to network instability (restarting the adapter resolves the internet issue but leads to a quick recurrence), and eventually causes performance drops (even basic tasks like moving the mouse become sluggish). The disruptions can be interrupted by a restart, though they often return after the next one. There appears to be no link between the software I'm using and these symptoms. It seems to occur during various activities—gaming, browsing, or even simple document editing—and sometimes it persists for weeks without a clear pattern. The Event Viewer shows no errors, and I've reinstalled drivers for GPU, network, and audio. My system specifications are: Windows 11 Pro, B650 PG Lightning motherboard, Ryzen 7 7800X3D processor, GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU, and 16GB RAM with 60% usage on all drives.
What is the BIOS version of your current motherboard?
Are you equipped with the "ASRock motherboard utility" or any other ASRock software?
Do you have the most recent AMD chipset driver, Realtek high definition audio driver, and Nahimic3 utility installed from the ASRock driver downloads page for your motherboard?
https://pg.asrock.com/mb/amd/b650 pg lightning/index.asp#Download
Thank you for the reply.
I updated the BIOS a few months ago to version 3.30 while attempting to fix the problems.
I don't have the motherboard utility or Nahimic3 installed. At one point, I had the motherboard utility installed and then removed it, and the issue persisted in both states.
I'm using the newest chipset and Realtek drivers.
I would consider setting up the Nahimic3 utility since I've noticed many issues with Realtek adapters in the past, and in some instances having Nahimic installed is essential to avoid problems. If that doesn't resolve the issue, you can simply remove it. I'd also check the AMD website for the most recent chipset drivers and the latest LAN drivers from the product page I mentioned earlier. It's possible any driver can impact another, especially if they're outdated.
I might also think about performing a clean install of the Nvidia driver using DDU first, as the Nvidia drivers include audio components that could cause conflicts. It's unlikely, but I've encountered more unusual situations.
Does this problem occur with headphones or speakers, or both?
Alright, I have installed Nahimic3 now, will also update every driver available. I have previously used DDU to do a clean install of the Nvidia driver, but there is no harm in doing it again.
I only ever used headphones, but should I try to see if it happens if I unplug them and swap to speaker while the issue is happening?
Failing that, perhaps I should try a clean install of Windows considering it was an in-place installation when building the new PC. I was trying to avoid that option but there might not be a way around it.
If you performed an on-site setup of a prior Windows release after setting up the new system, halt all operations immediately. Safely back up every crucial file stored on the Windows drive that isn’t elsewhere, such as your bookmarks and backup settings for third-party programs that could simplify reconfiguration post-installation. Proceed with a fresh installation of Windows. Very seldom have I encountered or personally experienced a Windows setup from an earlier release, even when they shared the same architecture (chipset), without encountering any issues either right away or later on after the new build was finished.
And for context, although there may be some variations between the version used when I wrote this guide and the current release, these differences should be minor and unlikely to impact the essential process of a successful clean install. Even if you’ve completed clean installs before and feel confident in the steps, it’s still wise to review any further because many experienced builders and technicians sometimes overlook proper procedures. Additionally, confirm that your Windows license is linked to a Microsoft account under your name to avoid activation issues down the line. If your system currently shows as activated with the existing motherboard, this might not be the case—especially if it was transferred from another board and a clean install wasn’t carried out.
I attempted to try things out before this response.
A full Windows reinstall was completed, and until yesterday there were no problems. The problem appears to be recurring (twice in the last 24 hours). If it's a hardware issue, I'm unsure why it stopped for nearly two months.
The phrase asks whether the term "complete Windows reinstallation" refers to a full clean installation, a factory image reinstall, a refresh, or something else. It highlights confusion about what exactly is meant by a clean install and seeks confirmation on the specific method used.
It functioned well for a couple of months. Between that period and when issues began again, what exactly changed? This includes any new applications or programs added, drivers installed manually, updates from Windows, or new hardware—whether internal or external. Something definitely happened. Also, there are two newer BIOS versions available. I suggest updating to version 3.5. Version 3.4 introduced changes aimed at improving hardware compatibility and system stability, which could relate to your problem. However, the brief descriptions don’t detail every change, so it’s always wise to confirm you have the latest BIOS installed when facing issues.