Sound tip for Nvidia GPU users

The Nvidia driver set always includes a number of elements by default. I'll use a current WHQL set (355.98) as an example:

 

Software Modules • NView - version 146.78 • HD Audio Driver - version 1.3.34.3 • NVIDIA PhysX System Software - version 9.15.0428 • GeForce Experience - version 2.5.14.5 • CUDA - version 7.5

I've just disabled the HD audio driver in Device Manager and seemingly resolved a conflict with other drivers - not just sound.

I am sure most simmers just settle for the default installation and accept what gets installed - if you don't the NVIDIA Control Panel will install them anyway !

BUT if you don't have HD Audio controlled by the GPU (you use a CPU mounted sound chip or a separate sound card) then HD Audio drivers can actually conflict with your sound card and other drivers and cause stutters, but its very difficult to remove them as GeForce Experience just puts them back in automatically. 

So disable them at the driver level as follows:

Device Manager - Sound, video and game controllers - `NVIDIA High Definition Audio` - right click `disable`, then repeat for `NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device`, if present.

Best part is, if you're uncertain whether the driver is used on your rig, or the sound dies on your PC, its seconds to turn it back on again as you're not actually uninstalling.

For discussion or questions see

http://www.avsim.com/topic/476016-a-tip-for-nvidia-users/#entry3307252