ASUS laptop getting pops/cracks

In case it could be helpful, I had a similar issue when I first started using GP: Inexplicable audio dropouts/popping sounds only in Gig Performer 4 - #14 by nodrog
It ended up being due to having my audio interface enabled as an audio device for system sounds (although I had disabled it, it reverted at some point).
I also have an asus laptop that totally crapped out after the most recent BIOS update and had to downgrade to the previous one. My laptop is a TUF A15.
Best of luck!