Audio popping issue

[XenophineEX]

Greetings,

Thanks again to everyone who submitted detailed information regarding the ongoing sound-related issue. Rest assured, the bug reports that were moved to the Duplicate Bug section have been also passed down and have been helpful in our investigation.

While it has taken some time to narrow down the conditions of the issue, we were able to reproduce it on our end.

We discovered an anomaly in the calculation process within FFXIV's game sound driver where the number of digits is not being adjusted correctly. Due to this, some CPUs with certain characteristics are unable to keep up with the calculation processes and have a high possibility of encountering the issue.

As mentioned previously, we noticed this primarily occurs on older CPU models that are around 10 years old, but have also confirmed cases on some of the latest CPU models.

We are continuing to investigate the matter and are working on a resolution to ensure that CPUs with these characteristics will be able to handle these processes correctly. Our current plans are to conduct pattern tests and release an additional fix in the next patch.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work towards resolving this issue.

Should maybe have the developers have a dedicated AMD rig they test all these new patches and fixes on, instead of assuming we all use intel processors.

"We discovered an anomaly in the calculation process within FFXIV's game sound driver where the number of digits is not being adjusted correctly. Due to this, some CPUs with certain characteristics are unable to keep up with the calculation processes and have a high possibility of encountering the issue."

Just say it is only affecting AMD processors. *eye roll*

we also have this tidbit: Quote Originally Posted by Nommers View Post
Sorry, but this is the very first thing Square Enix told us to try several weeks ago, and as far as I know it didn't work for anyone.

There was another tweet from Soken yesterday promising that fixes will be included in "the next version." https://twitter.com/sokensquareenix/...792569867?s=21 I sincerely hope he doesn't mean 6.1 because that is months off. The post-6.05 Known Issues post on Lodestone mentioned that they wanted to have the two listed issues fixed by the weekend. One's already been fixed. Maybe there will be another patch today fixing the other one that also attempts to address the audio. I don't exactly have my hopes up but I guess we'll see.

EDIT: There's also been a post by a community rep over on the Japanese forums: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...=1#post5797104

DeepL translation:


Together with Soken's tweet, this is very good news. The post immediately following this also mentions that FX series CPUs are a rarity in Japan. Given the apparent inconsistency in how the bug affects other hardware configurations I suppose it makes sense that the issue would take a long time to track down. I'm still praying for a Lodestone post so that we don't have to dig through twitter and filter forum posts through the language barrier. Still, here's hoping this is fixed sooner than later.

Says right at the bottom the Japanese culture doesn't use AMD processors. (Something I also said)

I would also like to add over-clocking your amd processor works for the base game and most of the expansions, once you get to the newest one... it is no, something clearly isn't working right no matter what you do. I'm not even going to play anymore into the new expansion until that is fixed... it isn't even grit your teeth and bear it and sometimes it works level. It is always going bad.

[rojimboo]

Just say it is only affecting AMD processors. *eye roll*

I don't think that's true though.

[XenophineEX]

I don't think that's true though.

Only thing I can find about intel users having this issue is people saying they have friends that have the issue. All that replied here have AMD's. (and whatever a bulldozer is)

[GorthRedsteel]

Only thing I can find about intel users having this issue is people saying they have friends that have the issue. All that replied here have AMD's. (and whatever a bulldozer is)

Bulldozer are the FX series CPUs from AMD.

[XenophineEX]

ahh, so still amd lol.

had to look it up to double check https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldo...oarchitecture)

After looking further "early fx" processors used bulldozer and that was switched to Vishera/ Piledriver later
https://www.anandtech.com/show/6396/...-fx4300-tested

(I'm on Vishera with an FX-6300 6 core) a.k.a. "Piledriver"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piledr...oarchitecture)

[Nommers]

Only thing I can find about intel users having this issue is people saying they have friends that have the issue. All that replied here have AMD's. (and whatever a bulldozer is)

Search results for "intel" from this very thread (I was not particularly thorough and not everyone posts their specs - I bet you can find more if you look through the bug reports):
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5768544
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5768383
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5774015
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5776300
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5795655 (this rig is very much in the high range right now)
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5783424

Once again, Square Enix has acknowledged that this is a software problem, it is on their end, and that they have to be the ones to fix it. Do not let anyone tell you that your computer is at fault.

As a customer we all have a right to demand a full working product, that is what we expect when we buy something. I trust they'll find and solve the problem, I hope at least. But for now their behavior about this issue is disappointing.

Amen. Tweets and forum posts do not constitute a sufficient official response for a gamebreaking bug that's persisted in a subscription game for a month and a half.

[XenophineEX]

Search results for "intel" from this very thread (I was not particularly thorough and not everyone posts their specs - I bet you can find more if you look through the bug reports):
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5768544
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5768383
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5774015
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5776300
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5795655 (this rig is very much in the high range right now)
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...el#post5783424

Once again, Square Enix has acknowledged that this is a software problem, it is on their end, and that they have to be the ones to fix it. Do not let anyone tell you that your computer is at fault.



Amen. Tweets and forum posts do not constitute a sufficient official response for a gamebreaking bug that's persisted in a subscription game for a month and a half.

So would it be safe to say with such a small sample size (I looked as well) that we can conclude that this issue is plaguing AMD machines with almost 99% efficiency? A few of those with Intel having issues may be able to fix it totally on their end as well. Whereas those with AMD are jumping backwards through flaming hoops of fire and landing on tightropes with hot coals and blades poking out underneath while walking backwards blindfolded to get the same efficacy.
And any attempt to fix said problem while anywhere near primetime that requires restarting the game will be met with a 1 hour plus log-in que?

Let say I want to try something else with graphics, currently, if I log out I will be waiting till 8:30 or longer to get back in. It is 7:05pm pst

[Nommers]

(I looked as well)

Only thing I can find about intel users having this issue is people saying they have friends that have the issue.

?

A few of those with Intel having issues may be able to fix it totally on their end as well.

Where are you getting this idea?

[XenophineEX]

?



Where are you getting this idea?

From the fixes we have been talking about here for nearly 2 months...

Overclocking your processor, setting to high power, setting up virtual ram on drives other than the one running final fantasy, making sure your machine is cool to name a few. But if I'm going to do a synapsis, might as well go over all of them.
Updating all audio codecs on your machine, updating audio drivers, updating video drivers, updating motherboard drivers, updating usb drivers, updating windows 10.
Going through device manager and disabling all instances of "turn off this device to save power when not in use". Running your fans at at least 80% at all times.
Cleaning out your peripherals.
Making sure your heatsink is seated correctly, make sure the thermal paste is also sound. Make sure all IO drivers are up to date (may take some searching for specific motherboards).
System performance setting needs to be set to active programs, not background services.
And finally setting final fantasy to high - real time priority in task manager under services.

In game setting visible object count lower helps. low to minimum for that setting. Other players effects disabled. Sound position 100% on character. Mute controller sound.

A few more extreme methods are to run the game in a smaller windowed size, and disabling all other programs/ web browsers. But I've had it still stutter in a tiny window. (1/16th of my 42inch screen)

We have tried capping and upcapping the framerate as well... stutters at 242 frame a second (uncapped tiny window), and it stutters at 60 and it stutters at 30. No frame rate dips happen during any of the audio slowdown/ clicking/popping/ stuttering.

-------------------------------------------------
The post about a someone talking about a friend with intel reporting this issue is searchable and findable on the first page of results typing intel.

[Puss_Kat]

Only thing I can find about intel users having this issue is people saying they have friends that have the issue. All that replied here have AMD's. (and whatever a bulldozer is)

You're skipping over posts then, slow down and read them thoroughly.