audiodg.exe in Vista Sucking all the Performance

[Assimilator87]

This only happens on my laptop and I've yet to find a solution to this problem so hopefully someone here can help. There's a process in Vista called audiodg. Here's a description of it: Link (It's pretty short) (http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2007/01/31/what-is-audiodg-exe.aspx) For some reason, the process jumps up in CPU utilization about every five seconds when there's any sort of audio playback. The amount of CPU usage depends on the quality settings in the sound options, but there's always a periodic jump in usage no matter the settings. For example, when I have Dolby Sound Room enabled, the output format set to 24 bit 192khz, and play music in Winamp, the CPU usage jumps between 5% when normal to 30% when lagging. Like I said the CPU usage rocks like a rollercoaster every five or so seconds.

This is not acceptable so I went Googling around and saw suggestions to turn off all audio enhancements. I did so and when playing music in Winamp, audiodg never goes above 0%, yet the spikes of lag persist, as the visualization framerate shows. Games show the exact same thing. I've only tested in CS:S and TF2, but every five seconds the framerate cuts down by 3/4 no matter how well the game is running. I can be looking at the ground, not moving, and crunching 100 FPS and will still get periodic dips down to about 25 FPS. With sound settings at a minimum, audiodg never goes above about 6% when gaming. I don't know what to do.

CPU: 2.2Ghz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-64 (Dual-Core Optimizer installed)
Memory: 2x1GB DDR2-667
Audio: Realtek ALC268 w/ newest drivers v1.96 (6/18/2008)
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit w/ SP1 and all updates

Thanks to anyone who has the magical answer

[owen]

I had a similar problem with Asus aacentre using 50% of my resources. I located the .EXE file and just renamed it to anything but aacentre. However you need that audiodg running at all times.

I have audiodg on mine but never notice the reductions in frame ratesas you describe. The only other thing i can suggest is to buy a soundcard so that all of the processing and effects can be done on a dedicated card.

[Zefram]

I have audiodg on mine but never notice the reductions in frame ratesas you describe. The only other thing i can suggest is to buy a soundcard so that all of the processing and effects can be done on a dedicated card.

He's using a laptop....... and if he really wanted a external soundcard then he's pretty much stuck to a USB-based soundcard or the PCMCIA/expresscard based soundcard :p

Owh, the audiodg problem presist in my audigy2 when i use vista. However, that problem ironed out when i apply the latest (daniel k hacked) driver ;)

Perhaps you should use the manufacturer driver instead of realtek OEM driver? Just try it out :p