RejZoR's little secrets

If you happen to use a PC or laptop with Realtek driver and you're "all of the sudden" getting massive CPU usage on process RtkNGUI64.exe, i have a solution for that. The reason for this problem is in registry entry related to SRS Labs which apparently supply certain audio enhancement solution to Realtek.
Deleting this registry entry results in massive CPU usage by the RtkNGUI64.exe process. The problem happens even faster if you use registry cleaners because the registry entry is in fact empty and most registry cleaners treat it as useless (empty) and delete it.

Solution was found by the user "cheshirecat179" on DELL Forums. I've just compiled the solution into a registry file that you just have to run by double clicking it (to import registry key into your registry) and then reboot your system. RtkNGUI64.exe should not be using any CPU after reboot.

DOWNLOAD FIX:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=94a12102e5094675&resid=94A12102E5094675!889&parid=94A12102E5094675!218

Ok, i just found this gem few days ago. It's called SRS Audio Essentials. It's a sound enhancer developed by a famous company SRS Labs which supplies audio enhancing algorithms to various software companies and also hardware companies like Philips, LG, Grundig, Samsung and so on. What's so interesting about SRS Audio Essentials are two things. First is that they offer a limited free version and second that it works for all audio that you playback on your PC. It doesn't matter if it's a music player, video player or a game. It applies sound processing to all sounds. Even windows sounds! So you don't have to bother with plugins that only work in one application but not in the other.

In a nutshell, it works very similar to Creative Labs Crystalizer or Analog Devices (ADI Soundmax) BlackHawk for anyone who has ever used it, except it can be used on any soundcard. And offers much more settings and tweaks.



I have tested it for music on my Altec Lansing MX5021 speakers and it gives very pleasant effect to the sound. The bass feels a bit deeper and smoothed out (sounds softer) which in return makes it feel like it's much stronger than it really is. I've also tested it in NFS Hot Pursuit 2010 and CounterStrike:Source and it worked great as well. Again with deeper bass and noticeably more high and mid frequency details. It didn't ruin the games 3D sound positioning even in Music mode used in limited free version which is a good thing.
It even worked well on my laptop and laptop using headphones though sound "quality" varied based on content used. It sometimes worked better with Speakers setting than with Built-in. But in general, very nice effect on small laptop speakers as well.

Free version is well, free but has certain limitations:
- works only for 2.0 or 2.1 speaker configuration
- only Music mode can be used
- only Speakers and Laptop Speakers (Built-in) can be used
- none of the advanced settings can be changed (sliders below)
- Smart Volume cannot be enabled

What might also be interesting is that they sell this thing for end users as well and it's surprisingly cheap. $19,99 (around 15€) for a single PC license. Various software companies sell plugins for Winamp or Windows Media Player that cost the same, but have very limited functionality (you can only use them for that program and not for games either). This one works in ALL applications. So it has a much greater value.
I'll be using free version for a while but i think for the price, it would be well worth it, based on what i've seen with my ears so far.

Give it a try and see how it works for you. It's free, so there's nothing to lose

DOWNLOAD:
http://www.srslabs.com/audioessentials/

Ok, this is getting a bit ridiculous. Second week or so and Youtube is still working like garbage. Once ultra fast service, today it's barely buffering 480p on my 8Mbit line. 720p videos are simply unwatchable and i don't even want to try 1080p... I've even left video to buffer for 2 minutes before watching it and it somehow managed to stall 3 times near the end. Youtube stalling but i get 1MB/s (yes, megabyte!) when downloading from anywhere else. So i'm guessing it's not my connection... just fix it will ya big G ?

Another new year, another constant adaption to properly write down the new year number hehe.
I could easily stay up till 3 AM during the year almost every day and still go to the work at 7 AM easily, but today i somehow fell asleep at around 1 AM lol. I guess handling the number 2012 was too much for me

I don't think much will change this year and i'm also not gonna write something cheesy here like everyone do every single year. Especially since the world will end in a massive BSOD this year. Or so they say.
Just enjoy it in whatever way you like it the most. Now where is that eggnog hm...

If you're having problems with too low laptop speakers volume, even though you have the volume already cranked to the max, there is a trick to increase volume even further. It's really simple and in most cases does a fine job. Just open the audio device equalizer, pretty much all of them have it. It might look slightly different, maybe even have less sliders (or more). But that doesn't really matter as you'll see why...


Adjust all the sliders to the same level. Make sure you're increasing it (move them up). If you increase just the left side, you'll increase low frequencies (bass). If you move just the right part you'll increase high frequencies (treble). But if you increase them all in the straight line, sound characteristics won't change, but the volume will. If volume is not high enough, move them even higher.

Please note that on some devices, this will slightly distort the sound (especially at very high levels). Not by much but some might notice. Still, overal volume will be significantly higher, making even small netbook speakers loud enough.