realtec sound

[RD]

Hi all,
I built a PC some time ago and the sound has never been right. Maybe someone
here can point me in the right direction.
Mobo is nvidia ultra 3+, AMD x64 3500+, 939 socket. XP home edition.

The problem is with the onboard audio - Realtek AC'97. From day one I never
had sound on startup. I have to open the realtek sound manager , go to
speaker configuration and then click on auto test. This seems to kick in the
audio and is fine untill the next boot and then same again. I could live
with this as the PC is on most of the time anyway but the problem is with
web applications. I just cannot get sound from any web app ie, youtube etc.
I have tried driver updates but they just kill the sound I have and then I
must roll back to the previous driver. Realtek's site is unhelpful and I
have failed to find a solution on the net.
Anyone any ideas?

Thanks
Richard.

 

[Ed Covney]

RD -

Most of the newer ASUS mobos come with the realtec
sound also. Terrible drivers, etc. I've found that the best
way to handle realtec is to NEVER open the Realtec
audio manager, and certainly not change a default
setting. That said, if you still have the mobo drivers:
1) turn off sound on the mobo BIOS and re-boot
2) un-install any Realtec s/w
3) reboot and turn on sound in the BIOS
If the sound card is programmable, it may
have 2 or more emulation modes - try any one
you think you might like - then re-boot.

Windows should "find new hardhare". Let windows
load the driver - it'll tell you when to insert the CD.

Loading the drivers without the Realtec software is
preferred (by me) and if it works, you may be done.

If not, you can load the drivers & realtec s/w via the
CD.

Then if still not OK, retry all steps, re-trying a different
sound card emulation each time.

All this for a 35¢ chip on the mobo!!!! Good luck

Ed

 

[Andrew E.]

On board sound or video is added to the board from its mfg.,but they are
a burdon to the rest of the system as they use up to many resources.Plus they
below average performance at best..Try adding a sound card from creative or
similiar,they cost about 20.00

 

[RD]

Thanks for the replies. I didn't realise sound cards are so cheap now so I
think that is the easiest option!

 

[smlunatick]

Hi all,
I built a PC some time ago and the sound has never been right. Maybe someone
here can point me in the right direction.
Mobo is nvidia ultra 3+, AMD x64 3500+, 939 socket. XP home edition.

The problem is with the onboard audio - Realtek AC'97. From day one I never
had sound on startup. I have to open the realtek sound manager , go to
speaker configuration and then click on auto test. This seems to kick in the
audio and is fine untill the next boot and then same again. I could live
with this as the PC is on most of the time anyway but the problem is with
web applications. I just cannot get sound from any web app ie, youtube etc..
I have tried driver updates but they just kill the sound I have and then I
must roll back to the previous driver. Realtek's site is unhelpful and I
have failed to find a solution on the net.
Anyone any ideas?

Thanks
Richard.

Built in sound (on the motherboard) usually require the drivers found
on the motherboard CD or manufacturer's web site.

 

[Don Phillipson]

I built a PC some time ago and the sound has never been right. . . .
The problem is with the onboard audio - Realtek AC'97. From day one I never
had sound on startup. I have to open the realtek sound manager , go to
speaker configuration and then click on auto test. This seems to kick in the
audio and is fine untill the next boot and then same again. . . .

Built in sound (on the motherboard) usually require the drivers found
on the motherboard CD or manufacturer's web site.

Sound-on-board seems normal nowadays: but its integration
adds steps if we need to test or replace the audio subsystem
(as I found when SoB failed on a Win98 MB.) RD should look
at the BIOS menu to check whether one or many switches
sets SoB circuitry to AUTO (assuming also that BIOS and
CMOS are good, i.e. retain custom settings on F10 to exit.)

The system can be tested by:
1. Adding a cheap audio card, if a slot is available,
and its drivers.
2. In BIOS, setting SoB DISABLED.
3. Then test audio function.