sound blaster card problems

[shegeek72]

My Sound Blaster Audigy SE (model SB0570) sound card either disrupts
my internet connection or causes my computer to reset when sounds are
played. I thought it was a bad card, so I replaced it with a new one
and the same thing happens. I'm using the latest driver. I'm thinking
it's an IRQ problem. When I checked the IRQs in the BIOS they are all
set to auto. Specifically:

PCI 3
PCI 4
PCI 1/5
PCI 2

Does that sound like the problem and, if so, how should I set the IRQs
or is auto the best setting? Thx.

 

[Don Burnette]

My Sound Blaster Audigy SE (model SB0570) sound card either disrupts
my internet connection or causes my computer to reset when sounds are
played. I thought it was a bad card, so I replaced it with a new one
and the same thing happens. I'm using the latest driver. I'm thinking
it's an IRQ problem. When I checked the IRQs in the BIOS they are all
set to auto. Specifically:

PCI 3
PCI 4
PCI 1/5
PCI 2

Does that sound like the problem and, if so, how should I set the IRQs
or is auto the best setting? Thx.

Just for giggles, have you tried moving it to a different pci slot?

Seems like back when I had my Audigy, I had to put it in like slot3 or
something...

 

[Sleepy]

Just for giggles, have you tried moving it to a different pci slot?

Seems like back when I had my Audigy, I had to put it in like slot3 or
something...

as Don says - try a differant PCI slot. I read somewhere that Soundblaster
cards work better in slots 1 and 2 than lower down the slots. Less
likelyhood of IRQ sharing and suchlike. You can check for IRQ sharing by
typing "msinfo32" in the Run command. Another thing to try is something
called "PCI Latency tool" which allows you to set the PCI Latency of all
devices to an equal level (32 is good) so that no device hogs system
resources and chokes other devices.

 

[Sarge®]

as Don says - try a differant PCI slot. I read somewhere that Soundblaster
cards work better in slots 1 and 2 than lower down the slots. Less
likelyhood of IRQ sharing and suchlike. You can check for IRQ sharing by
typing "msinfo32" in the Run command. Another thing to try is something
called "PCI Latency tool" which allows you to set the PCI Latency of all
devices to an equal level (32 is good) so that no device hogs system
resources and chokes other devices.

By any chance are you using a Linksys wireless card. If you are,
that's you prob. I still have found no solution.

 

[shegeek72]

By any chance are you using a Linksys wireless card.

No.

Well, I tried slots 3, 4 & 5 - same thing. Can't use #1 due to AGP
video card fan blocking it. Looked in msinfo32 and didn't see any
conflicts, though I'm not thoroughly familiar with msinfo32 (I saved
some settings in text files if that would help).

I d/l a PCI Latency tool and the Audigy was already set at 32!
http://tarafoundation.org/pci_latency.jpg

Should I try another number or set some of the other values?

 

[kony]

No.

Well, I tried slots 3, 4 & 5 - same thing. Can't use #1 due to AGP
video card fan blocking it. Looked in msinfo32 and didn't see any
conflicts, though I'm not thoroughly familiar with msinfo32 (I saved
some settings in text files if that would help).

I d/l a PCI Latency tool and the Audigy was already set at 32!
http://tarafoundation.org/pci_latency.jpg

Should I try another number or set some of the other values?

You could try a higher value but too low a latency tends to
cause stuttering sound, not resets. It is not necessary,
nor advised to set everything to a low 32, value. Increase
the number for the NIC and SB card.

Disable windows restart-on-error setting and note the
bluescreen stop code.

You might try another driver, older if it's the newest
you're presently using. If the network adapter is not
motherboard integral, try it in another slot as well. I'm
assuming you meant a network adapter, that your internet
connection is not via USB to a modem... it is good to
mention these details ahead of time, remember we cannot see
your system.

 

[shegeek72]

You could try a higher value but too low a latency tends to
cause stuttering sound, not resets. It is not necessary,
nor advised to set everything to a low 32, value. Increase
the number for the NIC and SB card.

Tried 64 for both and still had problems (interrupted network / reset
computer).

Disable windows restart-on-error setting and note the
bluescreen stop code.

Done. However, BSOD didn't show up on last reset.

You might try another driver, older if it's the newest
you're presently using.

Tried both.

If the network adapter is not
motherboard integral, try it in another slot as well. I'm
assuming you meant a network adapter, that your internet
connection is not via USB to a modem...

Via a modem. However, I'm tired of trying different things and none
working - has been going on a week. I'm returning the card for a
refund.

Suggestions for another sound card (non-Creative)?

 

[kony]

Tried 64 for both and still had problems (interrupted network / reset
computer).


Done. However, BSOD didn't show up on last reset.


Tried both.


Via a modem.

So you mean via USB to a modem?
It would be better to use a network connection to it
instead. Since you also have the problem, it would seem
even better to try using a network adapter instead of USB.

However, I'm tired of trying different things and none
working - has been going on a week. I'm returning the card for a
refund.

Suggestions for another sound card (non-Creative)?

What do you need, functionality, price, etc?
A lot of people like the Via Envy based cards, many dislike
the C-Medias. Not all, one way or the other, some people
aren't very picky or don't have high end speakers and so
they wouldn't even benefit from higher priced cards... but
then some try to game with a very old CPU and find it is
such a limitation that the CL hardware EAX helps some, so
they get a CL card despite the higher than average problem
rates.

 

[Bodo Eggert]

Tried 64 for both and still had problems (interrupted network / reset
computer).

Bad power supply, I asume. It happened to me when I got my new NIC.

 

[kony]

Bad power supply, I asume. It happened to me when I got my new NIC.

There is no chance a bad PSU would cause a PC reset only
when the sound card tries to play a sound. A bad PSU could
certainly cause system resets, but it would be manifested in
far more situations than playing sound, and playing sound in
itself isn't a particularly stressful activity, would not be
likely to cause a problem if the system were even stable
enough to finish booting windows (a process which would draw
more power that sitting idle besides playing an audio file).

 

[shegeek72]

I originally posted this in alt.hacker and thought I'd cross-posted
here:

What do you need, functionality, price, etc?

Games and I'm a musician, so I play a lot mp3s and plan to do my own
mixing / recording on my computer. I paid around $40 for the SB, so
something in that range.

 

[kony]

I originally posted this in alt.hacker and thought I'd cross-posted
here:




Games and I'm a musician, so I play a lot mp3s and plan to do my own
mixing / recording on my computer. I paid around $40 for the SB, so
something in that range.

That's not really a suitable budget for a studio grade card,
but then the SB wasn't either. I don't have a product to
recommend.

 

[VanShania]

I'm using the soundblaster X-fi which seems to be working fine with me and
everyone else I've seen with one. Always buy the retail version of the
soundcard, not the OEM(or SE?). You will need a good set of headphones. I
have a $70 Sony headset which is poor at best. Spend about $150 or more on
some Sony or Sennheiser. I would say stick with Creative. They have the best
sound. I used a Soundblaster Live which seemed to make my computer
unstable(an OEM version) but I'm glad I bought the X-fi.

--
Love and Teach, Not Yell and Beat
Stop Violence and Child Abuse.
No such thing as Bad Kids. Only Bad Parents.
It is violent/abusive/neglectful parents that churn out the serial
killers/murderers/child molesters etc.

A64 3500+, Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939,AIW 9800 Pro 128mb
MSI 550 Pro, X-Fi, Pioneer 110D, 111D
Antec 550 watt,Thermaltake Lanfire,2 Gb OCZ Platinum 2-3-2-5
2XSATA 320gb Raid Edition, PATA 120Gb
XP MCE2005, 19in Viewsonic,BenchMark 2001 SE- 19074
Games I'm Playing- NFS: Most Wanted, Civ 4

 

[Leo Fellmann]

I'm using the soundblaster X-fi which seems to be working fine with me and
everyone else I've seen with one. Always buy the retail version of the
soundcard, not the OEM(or SE?).

Normally (i.e IME) the difference between OEM and retail versions of the
same hardware is not the hardware itself but the packaging,
documentation, possibly the software, and cables. Is this not the case
with soundcards?

 

[kony]

Normally (i.e IME) the difference between OEM and retail versions of the
same hardware is not the hardware itself but the packaging,
documentation, possibly the software, and cables. Is this not the case
with soundcards?

Depends on the specific card, sometimes Dell et al may buy
cheaper cards that use soft rather than hardware
environmetal processing. I've never heard of it being the
case on the X-Fi though, but it is not a particularly better
sounding card, it's just hype and the HW EAX meant for
gaming.

 

[VanShania]

OEM is apparently product that has been made by other contractors according
an article I read in a computer mag

--
Love and Teach, Not Yell and Beat
Stop Violence and Child Abuse.
No such thing as Bad Kids. Only Bad Parents.
It is violent/abusive/neglectful parents that churn out the serial
killers/murderers/child molesters etc.

A64 3500+, Gigabyte GA-K8NSC-939,AIW 9800 Pro 128mb
MSI 550 Pro, X-Fi, Pioneer 110D, 111D
Antec 550 watt,Thermaltake Lanfire,2 Gb OCZ Platinum 2-3-2-5
2XSATA 320gb Raid Edition, PATA 120Gb
XP MCE2005, 19in Viewsonic,BenchMark 2001 SE- 19074
Games I'm Playing- NFS: Most Wanted, Civ 4

 

[Rod Speed]

OEM is apparently product that has been made by other contractors according an article I read in a
computer mag

There's always been more than one meaning.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_equipment_manufacturer