Try another PCI slot, preferably the one above or below.
You could try and remove or disable any other PCI devices.

PD2JK wrote on 2025-07-01, 21:06:

Try another PCI slot, preferably the one above or below.
You could try and remove or disable any other PCI devices.

I have two PCI slot, both of them were free. Tomorrow I'll try the most bottom one. The airflow there isn't great, that's why I went for the first one available after the PCIe ones... I didn't know the PCI slot could cause these kind of audio issues.

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows.

Go into windows sound settings, you are looking for the bitrate/khz settings and you need to change it to the maximum. Once that gets set, windows and the sound card "get on the same page" in terms of timings and that has always solved the crackling issue for me.

example:

X-Fi can have 2 problems that lead to such a result
- drying of the biggest capacitor near the DSP chip (replacement)
- damage to the switching MOSFETs near the connectors. (replacement with 0 Ohm jumpers, on some cards they are initially soldered)
Better to return.

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-01, 23:12:

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows. […]
Show full quote

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows.

Go into windows sound settings, you are looking for the bitrate/khz settings and you need to change it to the maximum. Once that gets set, windows and the sound card "get on the same page" in terms of timings and that has always solved the crackling issue for me.

example:

The attachment settings.png is no longer available

Ok, I'll try and check these settings under Windows XP.

shevalier wrote on 2025-07-02, 04:21:

X-Fi can have 2 problems that lead to such a result - drying of the biggest capacitor near the DSP chip (replacement) - damage t […]
Show full quote

X-Fi can have 2 problems that lead to such a result
- drying of the biggest capacitor near the DSP chip (replacement)
- damage to the switching MOSFETs near the connectors. (replacement with 0 Ohm jumpers, on some cards they are initially soldered)
Better to return.

If the settings suggested before won't fix the issue, I'll think about returning it. It did came with the front panel that, on ebay, also goes for around 30€.

Mondodimotori wrote on 2025-07-01, 20:51:

I have yet to install the front panel, so I don't know how's the sound If I were to connect the headphones to it.

Be sure to check the front panel - turning headphones/line-in knob may reveal a rustling sound. This may be another possible reason for return. Repair will require replacing potentiometers - they are cheap, but require soldering skills.

Also, the X-Fi I/O Drive panel uses its own DAC for headphones (Audigy 2ZS front panel is same), perhaps there will be no crackling sound through it.

ott wrote on 2025-07-02, 10:05:

Mondodimotori wrote on 2025-07-01, 20:51:

I have yet to install the front panel, so I don't know how's the sound If I were to connect the headphones to it.

Be sure to check the front panel - turning headphones/line-in knob may reveal a rustling sound. This may be another possible reason for return. Repair will require replacing potentiometers - they are cheap, but require soldering skills.

Also, the X-Fi I/O Drive panel uses its own DAC for headphones (Audigy 2ZS front panel is same), perhaps there will be no crackling sound through it.

Yeah, I have a similar issue on the Logitech 2.1 system: Turning the volume knob causes rustling sound, so I should be able to spot it immediately if the front panel does the same. This afternoon I'll install it and connect the headphones through it.

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-01, 23:12:

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows.

Do you have more information about this? Has this happened with every driver version, including the latest ones and with what has this crackling shown up?

It's just I've never had any crackling issues with the two PCI and one PCIe X-Fi card I've had.

Mondodimotori wrote on 2025-07-02, 10:44:

Yeah, I have a similar issue on the Logitech 2.1 system: Turning the volume knob causes rustling sound, so I should be able to spot it immediately if the front panel does the same. This afternoon I'll install it and connect the headphones through it.

On Logitech speakers this rustling when turning the volume knob is due to the lubricant used that dries up. Turn the speakers off, then quickly turn the volume knob from 0 to max volume several times, which will spread the lubricant and (at least temporarily) diminish or even completely fix the problem. Just do it again when it comes back. I've been doing that for years with my own Logitech 2.1 set and it still completely cancels the issue when I do it....only for it to come back if I don't use it for some time.

Boohyaka wrote on 2025-07-02, 12:02:

On Logitech speakers this rustling when turning the volume knob is due to the lubricant used that dries up. Turn the speakers off, then quickly turn the volume knob from 0 to max volume several times, which will spread the lubricant and (at least temporarily) diminish or even completely fix the problem. Just do it again when it comes back. I've been doing that for years with my own Logitech 2.1 set and it still completely cancels the issue when I do it....only for it to come back if I don't use it for some time.

Good to know. Shame that yesterday I discovered that the left speaker is barely audible... I though the sound card was completely broken, instead it was the speakers that were acting wonky.

Sombrero wrote on 2025-07-02, 11:16:

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-01, 23:12:

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows.

Do you have more information about this? Has this happened with every driver version, including the latest ones and with what has this crackling shown up?

It's just I've never had any crackling issues with the two PCI and one PCIe X-Fi card I've had.

I doubt that such a problem exists at all with Creative cards.
They have always been positioned as cards with hardware (not software) DSP, which itself performs signal resampling.
And this is how the advertising of X-Fi and its Crystalizer was built - "even the most vile samples with a frequency of 11 kHz we convert to the best quality. And now you are a super gamer - bang-bang"

Sombrero wrote on 2025-07-02, 11:16:

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-01, 23:12:

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows.

Do you have more information about this? Has this happened with every driver version, including the latest ones and with what has this crackling shown up?

It's just I've never had any crackling issues with the two PCI and one PCIe X-Fi card I've had.

No - I never looked into it once I found a solution.

I only ever had to do it whenever I re-installed windows or the card into an existing setup. It didn't happen EVERY time, but it happened often enough that I have the solution memoried. However it was always something I needed to do to get the full 192k/24-bit out of the card. And to be honest, I had to do with with ALL of my Creative cards since the Audigy 1.

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-02, 14:28:

And to be honest, I had to do with with ALL of my Creative cards since the Audigy 1.

I'm terribly sorry, but this is an attempt to put the dog back together. From the hot dog.
Once a recording is digitized at a certain sampling rate, information above the sampling rate is simply lost.
Completely.
Increasing the sampling rate is a "fantasy" of a digital filter, when (at best) - not much nastiness is introduced.
It's like trying to stretch DVD to FullHD.

Mondodimotori wrote on 2025-07-02, 12:05:

though the sound card was completely broken, instead it was the speakers that were acting wonky.

If the main board and the line-out on it are fully functional, then I recommend just throwing away this 5.25 I/O bay.
Completely useless thing, needed only for a collection.
X-Fi is a very special card for the heyday of EAX games, exclusively for playing with headphones.
Everything else in it is very mediocre.

shevalier wrote on 2025-07-02, 15:00:

If the main board and the line-out on it are fully functional, then I recommend just throwing away this 5.25 I/O bay. Completely […]
Show full quote

Mondodimotori wrote on 2025-07-02, 12:05:

though the sound card was completely broken, instead it was the speakers that were acting wonky.

If the main board and the line-out on it are fully functional, then I recommend just throwing away this 5.25 I/O bay.
Completely useless thing, needed only for a collection.
X-Fi is a very special card for the heyday of EAX games, exclusively for playing with headphones.
Everything else in it is very mediocre.

Problem is... The crackling sound comes directly from the 3.5 card output. So if it cannot be a software issue, it must be hardware.

But, even then... This setup is gonna be used with speakers mostly so... Is it pointless to try and get true EAX from a sound card? Should I just use the realtek on board audio?

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-01, 23:12:

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows. […]
Show full quote

the X-FI has a bug where the sound card isnt setup correctly with windows.

Go into windows sound settings, you are looking for the bitrate/khz settings and you need to change it to the maximum. Once that gets set, windows and the sound card "get on the same page" in terms of timings and that has always solved the crackling issue for me.

example:

The attachment settings.png is no longer available

I may be dumb but... Where do I find these settings on windows XP?

I dont have it memorized - I'd start in the settings and check under "sound" and go from there.

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-02, 16:43:

I dont have it memorized - I'd start in the settings and check under "sound" and go from there.

Erh... I can't seem to find it. Is it even present on Windows XP?

Mondodimotori wrote on 2025-07-02, 16:57:

luckybob wrote on 2025-07-02, 16:43:

I dont have it memorized - I'd start in the settings and check under "sound" and go from there.

Erh... I can't seem to find it. Is it even present on Windows XP?

NOPE. Nowhere.
In XP just slider "hardware acceleration"
Which is responsible for everything at once and for nothing (in fact, for the level of compatibility with DirectX)