popping/skipping of ripped files

Letting Vista install its own driver has helped to a point, but it still has the occasional popping.

Message Edited by StereoHeathen on 04-03-2007 06:16 PM

I've got a 1490, others have said they have 1390's, or whatever the Intel one is. The 1500's not the problem, if that's what you were saying.

I have gone through many of the issues here. I hope some of this advice helps: It seems that some people have found several "causes" of this issue.

If you think it's your WiFi then try the following tests:

1) Play continuous sound such as an mp3 in Windows Media Player

2) Disable WiFi (Fn->F2). Listen for 1-2 min, does the sound popping exist? If the skip/pop goes away, you are likely getting WiFi interference.

3) Enable WiFi, do you hear sound popping right away? You can try toggling WiFi on and off repeatedly to see if you hear sound popping while the WiFi is "enabling." If so you are likely getting WiFi interference.

4) With WiFi enabled, load the list of "available WiFi networks" - On the right side is a refresh button. When you press this button do you hear sound skipping? Press it repeatedly. If so you are likely getting WiFi interference. In windows Vista this button is essentially "pressed" for you every 30-60 seconds - hence the intermittent audio-popping.

For those that think it's the Dell Quickset, SATA HD Controller, or other devices in the system. I would recommend that you try steps 3 & 4 just to make sure.

If WiFi is your cause there are several solutions/minimizers:

1) Getting the latest drivers definitely seems to minimize this problem, but does not make it go away. Steps 3,4 still produce popping.

2) Disabling 802.11a does seem to minimize this problem further, but this is not a real solution for some/most people.

3) I tried replacing the WiFi card with a new Dell 1500 - this had zero effect.

4) After all that, a senior Dell Tech said that there could be an IRQ conflict with the Dell 1500 & SigmaTel cards. If Vista forces them to use the same IRQ, this would explain the Popping. This could be unique to certain configurations, which would explain why it does not effect everyone with a Dell 1500 & SigmaTel card. Or there could just be an inherent conflict with all Dell 1500 Cards and some people don't notice it. He then shipped an Intel 3945 Card to me. Once installed and driver updated, the sound skip/pop was gone.

For those who have this on the Intel cards, perhaps using the Dell 1500 (broadcomm) would fix your problem, if it is just a random Vista IRQ conflict. However, I still am leaning toward this being a specific issue with the Dell 1500 (Broadcomm) because as soon as Vista was officially shipped with the Dell e1505 laptop, they no longer offered the Dell 1500 as an option - it has been replaced with the "Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N". Coincidence? Maybe.

Right, Previously you had to pick the Intel 3945 Card to get "Centrino" certified on the laptop. Still, as far as I could tell, you can no longer choose the Dell 1500 card any more, centrino or no centrino. They do still offer the Dell Wireless 1390b/g. Perhaps this does not have issues as it does not have the 802.11a? I think this one does not give centrino status either. Hope this helps

>>I've got a 1490, others have said they have 1390's
>>or whatever the Intel one is. The 1500's not
>>the problem, if that's what you were saying.


I could be wrong, but the 1490 and 1390 are both Dell/Broadcom Chips. The Intel is the 3945. The 1490 (offering a/b/g) and being the predecessor to the Dell 1500 (offering a/b/g/n). The Dell 1390 (offering b/g) is still available via Dell. So it would not surprise me if the Dell/Broadcom 1490 and Dell/Broadcom 1390 chips show similar incompatibilities.

Message Edited by ste1505 on 04-03-2007 10:24 PM

Message Edited by ktuluboy on 04-04-2007 07:44 AM

He then shipped an Intel 3945 Card to me. Once installed and driver updated, the sound skip/pop was gone.

So it works? Now we have conflicting reports. I just got off the phone with them after an hour of discussion and they won't budge on giving me a different card. Purchasing another card will not be covered under my Latitude's 3 year warranty, and to be quite honest I don't feel like spending more money on a brand new laptop.

I'm sending this back and getting a Macbook.

Message Edited by Zeromus on 04-04-2007 08:59 AM

Message Edited by Zeromus on 04-04-2007 08:59 AM

Zeromis, you should know that if you plan on putting Vista on that Macbook, some of the Macbooks are having the exact same problem for Vista; the new ones are, anyway. They have the same Broadcom chipset and don't have drivers that don't pop. I guess Apple's OS X will work fine, I'm not sure, but I just noticed this problem on a mac forum while I was searching for solutions to our problem.