alvin.c, those are all good suggestions but the thing about that it is that its random. maybe if anything after i play music for a while but ity doesnt happen when i do something specific.so really if i did all that i woudnt know if it the card was the problem or the speakers because chances are is that the distortion wont even come up.ill try but ill have to get the patience to do so...........and is it possible that if the onboard sound is still on it could be interfering with the sound cards signal? just a thought.