I recently started having an intermittent audio problem on my PC with an RTX 5070 Ti and Intel Core Ultra 7 265F. The sound occasionally turns into electronic crackling every few seconds or minutes, and sometimes cuts out completely. It does not seem tied to a specific application or event. I have tried different headphones of the same model, disabling headset software and audio enhancements, reinstalling Windows, performing multiple full driver reinstalls, changing USB power settings, and testing different USB ports. I have also used LatencyMon, but the issue keeps returning a few days after a fresh Windows installation. My headset connects through a USB dongle, and I switched my speakers from the motherboard audio output to the NVIDIA monitor output while troubleshooting.
2 Answers
Intermittent crackling can also result from a hardware fault, especially if the motherboard or USB controller was exposed to a short or physical damage. If the issue began after any work inside the case, inspect the board, USB connectors, and power connections and consider testing with another motherboard or an add-in audio device. If there was no such incident, hardware damage is less likely, so testing a different USB audio device remains the best next step.
Since the crackling affects a USB headset and sometimes causes a complete dropout, it would be useful to isolate the audio path. Test with a genuinely different headset or USB audio device if possible, not just another pair of the same model. Also check whether the system is switching between motherboard audio, monitor/NVIDIA audio, and the USB headset. A separate DAC or audio interface could help determine whether the headset dongle, motherboard, USB controller, or system software is responsible.
I have tried different headphones, but they were the same model, so I cannot completely rule out the headset or its USB dongle. The problem happens randomly rather than at a consistent time. I am using the headset through its USB dongle, and I switched my speakers from the motherboard output to the monitor's NVIDIA audio output as another troubleshooting step.
There was no incident like that in my case. I always disconnect the PC from power before working inside it.