High CPU usage while playing audio and "audio dropouts"

It would be helpful if we could leave an external device, which we are not acquainted with, out of the discussion and just concentrate on your system.

If the CPU is increasing, you should be able to open Task Manager or the Resource Monitor and tell what is using the processor.  If you can find a utility or process it might help.  If you haven't used the Resource Monitor before, in the top window you can check the box on the left of the line showing the highest CPU usage.  It will filter for just that one item in the windows below and may give you a culprit.

This situation comes up every now and then and some folks feel Waves is involved, but since it doesn't happen on every system, it may be just something on your system involved.

The same thing happens to my Dell inspiron 3147.

I checked resource monitor which shows me the process "audiodg.exe" as the culprit.

The minute I stop playing audio the process goes to 1.

Once I start playing audio it spikes my cpu usage from 23% to 100% without fail. 

How do I fix this please?

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@Colandre wrote:

The same thing happens to my Dell inspiron 3147.

I checked resource monitor which shows me the process "audiodg.exe" as the culprit.

The minute I stop playing audio the process goes to 1.

Once I start playing audio it spikes my cpu usage from 23% to 100% without fail. 

How do I fix this please?

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For me, turning off the effect/enhancements in the Waves software reduced the CPU usage of the "Windows Device Audio Graph Isolation" audiodg.exe process.

The sound looses a little punch when doing this but it allows me to run RocketLeague without my CPU maxing to 100% causing frame drops.

Would honestly prefer just a standard Realtek Audio Driver without the Waves "enhancements" that create unnecessary load for the CPU.

Thanks for replying, I appreciate! 

Sadly I still have the same issue even after turning off enhancements. 

I don't know what else to do...... I've tried many things, upgrading, reinstalling etc.

Nothing seems to work.

Hi There,

What worked for me was disabling a BIOS Performance feature called 'Multi Core Support'.

Press F2 upon boot.

My Dell Laptop is an Inspiron 13 7000 series (7359) and have had audio drop outs / crackles / slow downs for a long time.

Prior to this, I tried many different BIOS versions (even reverting to an old one) but the audio crackling never went away.

Now YouTube is crackle free LOL but am not yet sure if this impacts my laptop's performance... so will see.

Cheers.

Hi,

I previously got HIGH CPU usage (>15%) by 'Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation' @ Task Manager when playing anything with audio, eg playing HEVC/x265 movies via MPC-BE. When fix, this process use <5% of my CPU when playing any audio.

This fix WORKS for me: Dell Inspiron 15 Gaming 7567 purchased new in Aug-18.

I downloaded & installed 'Realtek High Definition Audio Driver': Version 6.0.1.8142, A04-> https://www.dell.com/support/home/au/en/aubsd1/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=8WWJK

Must follow the installation process, being,
    1. UN-install the existing version & reboot,
    2. install the 8142 version & reboot.

If your computer is different Dell model (eg Inspiron 15 5578), try downloading 3 versions of the audio drivers approved for your particular model: from current version to the PREVIOUS 2 older versions. Test each version & see which one does NOT create HIGH CPU usage. Then mark that working version for later RE-use.

If the above fix the problem but then the problem RE-ocur down the track, try updating/refreshing the drivers for your audio-hardware @ Device Manager.
In my case, I updated the 'Realtek Audio' hardware with 'Realtek Audio' software (version 8142) previously installed on my laptop, see attached photo below.

If you have 'sound cracking' problem, try this method also.

Welcome to IT: lots of trial & error, and frustration.

Good luck.

Hi,

Here is an update my HIGH CPU usage by 'Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation'.

There was a Windows 10 auto. update on 23-Aug-18-> Windows 10 Version 1803 for X64-based System KB4100347.

Straight after that (& a Windows REstart),  'Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation' usage went high again: 15 to 20% of CPU :-(.
I updated the Realtek audio drivers from official Dell drivers for my PARTICULAR model Inspiron 15 7567,
   1. the previously GOOD driver 8143...still HIGH CPU usuage,
   2. CURRENT driver 8403...bad sound, &
   3. RE-installed the previously GOOD drivers...finally CPU usage is normal.

Windows 10 updates...1 steps forward but 2 steps back. Wasted many hours trial & error.

Thanks for reading & good luck with your fix.

The only Fix that works 100% for this issue, I have found in the following Link (with pictures!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcAPXwB4HV0

Good Luck!

Nice man! on the Dell page it said that my Inspiron 7567 is not supported with this driver, but when I reinstalled it anyway to this older version my audio still sounds awesome like with the best driver that I found before, but it seems that it no longer destroys my CPU and it seems that I don't get that many ugly audio spikes like before I also experienced weird interfering noises in my headphones as if I was physically moving with Jack, but now it seems they are gone