Glad to hear it sort of helped.
Another thing to consider - your windows version (type "winver" in the start/search in Windows 10) and what version of realtek you have. Maybe BIOS version matters too. I'm on 3504. Many others don't have audio issues and I'm curious if they are on the 2202 (most stable from what I hear).
So that Intel Ethernet driver fixed my issue back before I had the Creators update. Once I updated to the Windows 10 Creators update (1703), I noticed if I had used the same version of realtek that I was using for the previous Win10 Version (1607), that I'd have audio cracks/sync issues across all programs.
I then tried finding a newer version of realtek that was made more for the 1703 version and still didn't help. I then updated to the 1709 Fall Creator update, and still nothing worked. There was a release of realtek version 6.0.1.8302 that for the Fall Creators update, and my audio became better. Less cracks/pops, and audio is in sync across most programs except a few.
I usually follow this:
https://www.tenforums.com/drivers-hardware/5993-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version.htmlAnd see what the newest audio is from Realtek. Then I search it in the Microsoft official catalog of drivers to verify it and check the column/field "Products" and verify it matches my windows 10 version, which I have the Fall creators update, so I always pick the driver that matches that.
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=6.0.1.8302The other drivers should really work, and I never had an issue before, but somethings been weird lately and seems like not many are experiencing this issue. I wonder what other versions people have and which realtek.
Looking at the ten-forums, there's a newer version than 8302, so now I'll go search that in the catalog, or just click the link in the forum post that links directly to the catalog.
Since I have the Fall Creators update, I'd want to verify that's there and download that specific one (maybe doesn't make a difference which you download, but just to be safe).
"Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and Later Servicing Drivers" is there, so I'll actually download that right now, extract it to a single new folder, then Device Manager > Sound, video and game controllers > Realtek High Definition Audio > right click, update driver, browse, and select that new folder and keep the "include subfolders" checked. Click next.
You'll hear the motherboard itself make the "tick" noise as it updates. Now I have 8318 updated. I'll see if my audio issues persist.
All my previous boards were Asus and never had a single issue. With these ones, I have nothing but audio issues. It's a shame for a great performing board.
I highly suggest trying a few more fixes, and if it doesn't work, go to another brand. Asus customer support is horrible beyond my belief too.
If I ever upgrade I will compare benchmarks and if Asus has the best performance, I may try it but if there's a single audio issue I will return it ASAP and get another brand in a heartbeat. It's not worth the audio issues years down the road.
Z790 Asus Hero Maximus on 0816 BIOS (0914 and 1202 crashes for me on XMP I), Intel 13900k stock clock, Asus 4090 Strix OC edition, FF3D532G720 Teamgroup Ram running XMP I, 16gb x 2, Samsung 980 Pro 2TB x 2, Seasonic VERTEX GX 1200W, Win 11 Pro 64, Deepcool LS720 AIO, NZXT H7 Flow. Comfortably using Armoury Crate for updates/fan xpert.