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Sound Card Dead?

S

SolidSnakeUS

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
May 29, 2008
Messages
1,282
Over the past couple of nights my speakers would just flat out stop working (no sound, but power is still on). I try the speakers via my PS3 and they work fine and so do my headphones via front 3.5mm jack on my case (hooked into my HT Omega Striker). Now something new happened, I did get sound out of the speakers (first time I tried to fix it, it got fixed, not the 2nd time), which was really quiet and distorted music that I was trying to play through it. Does that mean the card is starting to go? I was thinking of an Asus D1/DX to replace it, are they good choices? Or do you think my motherboard's on board is good enough for Logitech X-540s (5.1) and AudioTechnica ATH-AD700 headphones? Should I shell out the $85 on Newegg for a new card? Currently, the only thing that works are my headphones, which is what I'm using right now.

EDIT: Or should I go lower with like the Xonar DS instead considering I don't have really high quality stuff?

EDIT 2: Or what is best under $100?

EDIT 3: Should I just get a new one of the same card? This one lasted about 2 years and I wouldn't have to fuck with drivers.
 
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Sounds like the audio jack on the card might be dirty or loose, try cleaning the jacks and make sure they do not have loose solder joints where the jacks connect to the card.
Also try plugging the speakers into another output jack on the card to check.
to rule out any software problems, it may be a good idea to try the soundcard in another computer and see if you have the same issue.
 
Clean the jacks with what? A Q-tip with alcohol? Also, I'm curious, how would it just cut out for no reason when I RARELY ever take out the plugs?
 
i've cleaned soundcard jacks with de-oxit spray, you can also try alcohol and q-tips but ya gotta be real careful to not get any of the q-tip cotton stuck in the jacks.
if the jack has been damaged by accidentally pulling on the audio cable plugged into the card, it could have broken a solder joint on the jack.
it may be a software issue, or corrupt driver...there is a new driver at htomega's site for the striker 7.1 .. try reinstalling the driver..
if none of that works, try it in another computer, and if you experience the same problem.. well then the card may definitely be dying.
 
After I'm done watching this I'll take a look at it. I just (as a personal thing) hate turning off my PC. Also, this bitch is heavy to move around lol.
 
I used to own a striker, was a good card, but stuttered in some games.
I changed it out for a Xonar DS and it's actually much better as it has proper openAL support and the same audio processor that is on the htomega claro card (C-media Oxygen HD 8788) the striker had the C-media 8770 processor.
 
Well apparently it works again. Hope it stays working, and I mean that this is the 2nd night in a row that the speakers messed up. If it messes up again tomorrow night, would it probably be replacement time?
 
Turned off my system. Took it out of the PCI slot, took canned air to the jacks and as well as alcohol on a rolled up small piece of paper towel, so it wouldn't flake. Hooked it back in and bam, it works... I dunno... also, how the connections on the card are covered in plastic housings, I can't really check the soldering.
 
look on the back side of the card to check the solder connections for the jacks.
it could be that you have a loose pci slot on your motherboard, that would also cause this sort of issue, also make sure the card isn't in the pci slot at some sort of angle.
you may want to also clean the card's edge connector, it may be a bit tarnished. ( you can use a pencil eraser for this).. but be careful, don't scratch the card's edge connector.
and make sure that the card isn't physically coming unseated a bit from the pci slot..
sometimes screwing a card down in the case slot backplate can tilt the card forward and unseat the card a bit if the case isn't perfectly square at the backplate.
 
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I know you're trying to help, but please (and for some reason it did), don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I've been putting computers together for myself for over 8 years, so I think I know how to take care of some things. Just wanted suggestions on why it might be messed up. Also, in my whole history of PC making, I've never once ran into PCI/PCI-E connection problems. Not trying to sound hostile, but please, don't look down on me, that's all.
 
I've personally reseated several PCI sound cards into their slots, they tend to get alot of force applied to their backplates from removing and inserting audio plugs, and if the screw isn't tight enough or the motherboard isn't sitting at the correct height, eventually it slips inward unseating the back part of the PCI connector.

In short, noone was talking to you like you're an idiot. I've been doing this for 3 times as long as you have and I could still easily miss something like that.

Also, if you are ever in doubt as to whether a problem is hardware or software related, a Linux LiveCD is your friend.
 
dustNbone said:
I've personally reseated several PCI sound cards into their slots, they tend to get alot of force applied to their backplates from removing and inserting audio plugs, and if the screw isn't tight enough or the motherboard isn't sitting at the correct height, eventually it slips inward unseating the back part of the PCI connector.

In short, noone was talking to you like you're an idiot. I've been doing this for 3 times as long as you have and I could still easily miss something like that.

Also, if you are ever in doubt as to whether a problem is hardware or software related, a Linux LiveCD is your friend.
Click to expand...

I do always have a spare Ubuntu 11 disk and GParted on me.

I just don't have the kind of cash to just splurge at least 80 bucks on a new sound card. Would still love a new sound system though. Got any recommendations for the best bang for the buck? I would love the Z5500/equivalent, but too pricey.

Actually I messed up my original post. I have X-530s, not 540s.
 
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SolidSnakeUS said:
I know you're trying to help, but please (and for some reason it did), don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I've been putting computers together for myself for over 8 years, so I think I know how to take care of some things. Just wanted suggestions on why it might be messed up. Also, in my whole history of PC making, I've never once ran into PCI/PCI-E connection problems. Not trying to sound hostile, but please, don't look down on me, that's all.
Click to expand...

Didn't mean for it to sound like that,,, just trying to help, i have been building and fixing computers for a living for over 25 years now..I was just trying to cover all issues it could be, as i have seen a lot of unusual issues with computer hardware.
 
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