Audio popping issue

[AeroXaia]

Afaik the only throttling going on (if you don't underclock your CPU) is when your CPU gets too hot. But that wouldnt JUST affect audio. It would also result in low fps - and obvious delay with input etc.
My CPU doesnt get hot when playing FF14 - and the audio stuttering is absolutely not related to downthrottling of CPU when too hot. I also know that it's not related to the CPU not being able to draw enough Volts.

I overclocked my CPU some 2 years ago, and made sure to have really good cooling - because i knew how much heat it would produce. I specifically bought a new power supply that is able to supply the overclock sufficiently, and then some.

Anyway - I love not having to wear clothes at home in winter... But i'm 99% sure it's not related to the audio issues,

Well, I can show you a video if you want. There's is an absolute 100% 1:1 correlation with zero delay whatsoever when I change that setting. You can IMMEDIATELY see it cause the sound issues or resolve it (as long as it's not a big battle), in real time, without hurting the FPS much until you go too low. It disproportionately affects the audio.

Again, I can record a video and show it, it's not a guess or theory. It affects it instantaneously and I've been switching back and forth as I play to have less broken sound in dungeons and trials, and going back while waiting in queues, so I don't have excess heat and fan noise. The moment I click it, the sound instantly changes, and the FPS remains good either way.

Edit: Also, just to add more detail, the CPU usage doesn't seem to ever go too far past 50% in any case anyways, according to windows task manager.