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Loud buzz noise from X-Fi Xtreme card when playing FEAR
Windows XP 64bit
no strange noise during intro and game direction scene video
shortly into first shooter game there is a very loud steady buzz noise coming out of pc
as soon as ESC is pressed back into game direction noise is gone
clearly related to game playing stream
when switching to onboard Realtek audio there is no such noise.
I thought sound card is less susceptible to cpu gpu emi but this case is the opposite
note when playing same game in Windows XP 32 bit no such noise from sound card.
FEAR-1 on Steam or DRM-Free from Gog?
Anyway, sounds like it's not the game anyway. Sounds like glitchy 64-bit drivers (or a setting in them) while running those. Have you tried the Windows compatibility setting?
It's just that ... XP-64 is so old. I'm sure the games (both Steam or GOG) have been updated to run on Windows-10.
Dell Rockstar
Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
- Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
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AI suggests
Mute Unused Recording/Playback Channels: Open Windows sound control panel, go to X-Fi playback device properties, select Levels, and mute auxiliary inputs like Line In, Aux, or Mic which often pick up static feedback when high CPU/GPU loads occur.
Actually, not a bad suggestion. I was thinking same ... like these mutes and disable all Enhancements.
Dell Rockstar
Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS Developer (Retired)
- Like many of you, I can appreciate a good game-engine.
- I answer questions here, but I'm not a Dell employee.
- Consider giving posts you like a "thumbs-up"
- Posting models-numbers and software versions speeds trouble-shooting.
- Click "Mark as Accepted Answer" on any post that answers your question best.I play FEAR on CD and DVD single player offline, not on STEAM.
I am able to play all three FEAR games 2005 20006 2007 on XP 32 bit
I think you are probably correct that the Creative sound card 64 bit driver has a bug or can not handle the advanced audio of this game
redxps630
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Posted August 24th, 2026 02:15
AI suggests
Mute Unused Recording/Playback Channels: Open Windows sound control panel, go to X-Fi playback device properties, select Levels, and mute auxiliary inputs like Line In, Aux, or Mic which often pick up static feedback when high CPU/GPU loads occur.