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eratic sound

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by jackray

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Not sure if this is a hardware or software problem. When I use any of my programs that play sounds, the sounds always sound like a needle skipping across a scratched record. Sometimes it skips, or repeats over and over. I've change the soundcard, the speakers,and checked for redundancy in the software although I'm not sure I know how.
There is onboard sound hardware. I know this by the jacks on the back of the MB. The current sound card is a new XFi. OS is XP Pro.
It does it with all files, cd's, sound files etc., and with WMP and Roxio.
I've checked the volume levels for overfeed and the system volume is at 30% while the speaker volume adjusted on the speaker.
I have two Cd/dvd players installed and the problem exists for them both. I'm wondering if there could be some sort of MB conflict since there is a sound card and the onboard capability.
To be more specific about the problem, the sound is like a cd with scratches on it where is skips sometimes and other times it sounds like Max Headroom.
Okay, that's as specific as I can be.
Thanks

22 replies

by jacemg

Is your computer acting up in any other strange ways? I ask because it's possible that it's a software problem. If everything else is running properly, try to plug in some $10 headphones. Also, is the sound card configured in windows to run in analog output? 5.1, 7.1, 2.1, or headphones?

by jackray

The sound card is configured to run analog and 2.1. I have tried the headphones and I get the same disturbance. Other than that, the computer seems to be running normally. If by software problem you are referring to the setup issue, then I don't think it is. If you're referring to something else, I'm open for suggestions.

by older mycroft

It is possible that the system is driving BOTH soundcard AND motherboard-sound system.

...Liked the mention of Max Headroom! :)

by jackray

If it is a conflict between them, where would i look and how would I resolve it. I considered an IRQ conflict but XP PRo is so good as allocating resouces that I just didn't think that would be it. Also, when I go to device manager, I have not yellow posting. Everything says that it's work properly.
I did intend to disable or uninstall the MOBO drivers just to eliminate the change they were both running but couldn't tell if and which drivers were for the onboard sound.

by oh smeg

What size is your Power Supply?

If it is underpowered or breaking down you will get problems like this.

Without knowing the Make & Model of the M'Board it's hard to suggest much more other than saying try a Live Linux and see if the problem persists. If it does you then need to look at something like the Ultimate Boot CD to test the Hardware.

If the sound is working properly with a Live Linux running and/or the system passes every test on the Ultimate Boot CD you need to look at the Software load for possible incompatibilities. If that is the case strip out the OS wipe the HDD and reload Windows it's just faster and easier. It will also delete any old Drivers that may be causing problems.

Download sites for the Ultimate Boot CD

http://tinyurl.com/3jnpy

A Live Linux

http://tinyurl.com/23nmq

A HDD wiping Utility

http://tinyurl.com/4rfur

Any of the Listed Linux Programs should work and all of the above links are to Free Downloads.

Col

by jackray

I guess this is where my lack of experience show. I've relatively few problems with the units I've built and consequently do not have any experience with the trouble shooting you mention above.
AS for wiping the HDD, there's way to much data to backup for me to consider this.
I know nothing of Linux or how to use it.

by jackray

Power supply is 380W but I am running 4 cooling fans.
The MOBO is an ECS PT890t-a.
I'm running 3gig of ram

by seanferd

Anything without it's own power cord is being powered by the PSU. Depending on what cards (video, sound, etc) and drives you have attached, you may be stretching the limits of the PSU. Try disconnecting some non-crucial items and test the sound.

by jackray

Well, I ran the diagnostic tool from PSUCalc and according to what I did, I only need a running supply of 92w. It seems my 380 should be more than sufficient to handle what I do. I'm not a gamer and am not running a graphics card,or at least not one that is a real hog.

by seanferd

if you are certain that the sound card will work with your system and XP.

Questions first: Does the onboard sound do the same thing? Are you able to disable one of the cards in DM? Have you checked for IRQ conflicts? (If there are resource conflicts of some sort, the onboard sound may not be disabled, or the card may have a conflict with a different device.)

So...

Have any drivers you are going to need handy.

Remove the new card.

Remove all sound devices in Device Manager.

Reboot. Let the system install any onboard sound drivers it wants.

Reboot again. Disable the sound items in Device Manager. Shut down.

Install the sound card. Reboot. Provide Windows with any sound drivers it might need for your card when it installs the device.

Reboot and check your sound.

by jackray

I looks like I have the usual items: sound card, wireless card, 2 HD, 1 floppy, 2 DVD drives, video card and an I-EEE card which I don't use. No more than I have it seems like 380W should be sufficient.

by seanferd

but it will depend on the specific components themselves. In particular, graphics cards vary widely in their power requirements, and can require very large amounts of juice.

If you think you want to investigate the PSU aspect further, consider the quality of the PSU, the amperage it is rated for, along with the total wattage (not peak wattage, which is not for sustained use).

You may find these interesting:

http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php
A PSU calculator.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/cases/a/PSUWattage.htm

http://compreviews.about.com/od/cases/bb/PSU.htm

by jackray

I've never used or configured the onboard sound. The only thing I see in the DM is the Legacy drivers. I'm not sure what they are. Frankly, i've looked at the manual and it isn't really very helpful when it comes to telling what software is drive their onboard devices.

by thumbsup2

That way, Windows won't load the drivers for that device if it's not present.

by seanferd

By way of expanding on my DM oriented post, what I mean is:

We aren't looking for actual drivers (but if you were missing one, it would help). What I was saying was, if there are two sound devices shown in the hardware tree, disable the onboard sound. (Not remove, but "disable in this hardware profile".)

The BIOS setting would cover this for you, though.

by jackray

Okay, I finally found which driver to look for and it is not installed as best I can tell. I went to the ECS website and tracked it down.

by jackray

One thing I do notice and that is that there is no small round cable attached to the Drives. The only cable is the flat ribbon cable. I'm wondering if I need to connect the small round cable to the MOBO and the drive 91 each)?

by seanferd

Is for digital output to a soundcard. If you needed it, you would probably have no sound.

by oh smeg

If the system returns to the same position change the PCI Slot that the Sound Card is in. It may remove a IRQ or other Conflict that is occurring.

Col

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