Here's another one for you - Sound Card problems

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 by Island Dog | Discussion: PC Hardware

Recently I bought a set of Logitech 5.1 speakers.  I forgot that I didn't have a 5.1 sound card.  So I went back to Newegg and bought a cheap soundcard that has great reviews.  I just wanted something simple.

I installed it with the latest version of the drivers from their website.  Now every other reboot or so, my cpu usage goes through the roof and the computer almost comes to a standstill.  Now here is the weird part.  If I quit Objectdock, then the cpu returns to normal usage, or if I reinstall the sound card. 

Any advice?

18 Reply 11 Referrals
Kevin_C
Reply #1 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 8:38 AM
When you say re-install the soundcard, do you mean the drivers? When the CPU spikes can you bring up task manager and see which process is using the CPU? You might try installing the software that came with the soundcard and then once everything is working upgrade to the latest version. Sometimes the driver downloads for soundcards work best as an upgrade and can cause all kinds of havok when installed alone. At least that's been my experience with Soundblaster cards.. YMMV.

Island Dog
Reply #2 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 8:49 AM

When you say re-install the soundcard, do you mean the drivers?

Yes

When the CPU spikes can you bring up task manager and see which process is using the CPU?

That's the thing.  There is nothing there that shows a real big increase.

You might try installing the software that came with the soundcard and then once everything is working upgrade to the latest version.

Tried it.  Same thing happens.


yrag
Reply #3 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:35 AM
Control Panel/ System/ Hardware/ Device Manager; click View and click Resources by Type. Expand Interrupt Request. If your sound card is sharing an IRQ, change the PCI slot it's in. Depending on what other cards (if any) you have installed, the third slot down is usually a winner.

If you had an onboard before, make sure it's turned off in the bios.

If that actually is a Soundblaster, don't use their software. It's problematic at best with any number of apps.

Island Dog
Reply #4 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:48 AM

In the same slot I previously had an fm tuner card.  It would occasionally cause a reboot.  The other slots I have a firewire card, and a usb 2.0 card. 

I haven't messed with IRQ's in a while, so I posted a screenshot.  Thanks for the help.

17 is the sound card.  I notice there is something else on 17, would that be a problem?


Kevin_C
Reply #5 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 12:47 PM
Do you have several devices plugged into the USB card? Maybe try removing it to see if you still have issues with the CPU spiking.

There is nothing there that shows a real big increase.


So, OD doesn't show an increase in it's CPU usage? Is the hard drive thrashing? Does it possibly need to be defragmented?

yrag
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 1:06 PM
17 is the sound card. I notice there is something else on 17, would that be a problem?


Could be the problem. Even if it's not, it certainly isn't helping. Your machine looks like a Dell, in which case changing anything in the bios is pretty much out. Changing IRQ's in XP isn't like the older systems, so you sorta have to trick XP to do it for you. First off, if you're using the onboard Ethernet exclusively, lose the modem. I find it hard to imagine that you're using all those USB ports (onboard and card). If you're not, turn the onboard off in bios. If you are then that's OK...you can just move some things around. Even with your present setup, it's still not using IRQ's 21 & 22. As you remove something, bootup and see if all the IRQ's are now NOT shared. You can also move cards to different PCI slots to achieve the same results. My guess is you have 4 PCI slots, so there's only so much song and dance you can do with them. The lower PCI's should be your port cards and slot 3 (it's probably the second PCI slot down) should be the sound card. You also need to get that graphic card on a non-shared IRQ (that's a more likely cause of the problem).

Island Dog
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:01 PM

This is a machine I built myself, definitely not a Dell.

Ok, I am using the onboard Ethernet, and I don't use the modem anymore since I got DSL.  I guess I can take that out then.

As far as the USB goes that was another problem.  Whenever I plugin a USB 2.0 only device Windows freezes.  This was with the onboard USB.  So I bought a USB card to supplement the onboard, but I don't even use the card.

You also need to get that graphic card on a non-shared IRQ (that's a more likely cause of the problem).

How do I do that?

Thanks again for your help.


yrag
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 7:56 PM
In regards to the AGP IRQ, what motherboard do you have so I can get the slot IRQ assignments. As far as the USB is concerned; boot into the bios; under Integrated Peripherals/ set USB Controller to 1.1 + 2.0.

yrag
Reply #9 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 8:06 PM
Never mind...I forgot you posted your device manager....this should be your board: http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/bz/index.htm If you enable the 2.0 support in bios and pull the USB card, the IRQs should fall in place, leaving your AGP port as un-shared. The sound card goes in the 3rd PCI slot down.

Island Dog
Reply #10 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 9:25 PM

I will try that.  Although the bios only says "usb legacy devices - disabled" and usb - enabled.

This is the board.

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=433

 


yrag
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 25, 2006 10:10 PM
I was only interested in the chipset (for the info I needed, it didn't really matter who made the board). MSI (AMIBIOS) usually has the 2.0 option, but not this one. It does, however, support 2.0 w/ the Enable switch). I will assume you have bios 2.3 or later and if you were trying to use a USB mouse or keyboard then USB Legacy must be enabled. If you want to make it easy (and if you actually use any USB devices), leave the USB (VIA) card in the lower PCI socket and disable the MB's USB (Intel) support. That will clear the sharing on your graphic card. Of course, if you don't use any USB device, kill off the card and the bios setting.

As an aside, you should have gotten 2 front panel D brackets with this board. One USB and one 1394...one would also have your board status code LED display. You should also have gotten an S bracket to enable the use of the 6CH (5.1) onboard.

Island Dog
Reply #12 Thursday, January 26, 2006 8:25 AM
I removed the modem and USB card. I installed the sound card on slot 3, and this is what I have now. I got the USB D bracket, but not the audio one. I kept the onboard USB before because I use the front panel for my camera. If you think it's better I can reinstall the USB card and disable the onboard. http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1701/devicemanager12pv.jpg

yrag
Reply #13 Thursday, January 26, 2006 11:20 AM
I can reinstall the USB card and disable the onboard


yep...

Island Dog
Reply #14 Thursday, January 26, 2006 11:53 AM
Well this is great. I put the USB card back in and it shows up on the same IRQ as the sound card. I put it in the bottom slot. If it wasn't for games I would sell this thing and buy another Mac.

yrag
Reply #15 Thursday, January 26, 2006 12:28 PM
buy another Mac.




This is your slot chart:
PCI Slot 1 INT A# INT B# INT C# INT D#
PCI Slot 2 INT B# INT C# INT D# INT A#
PCI Slot 3 INT C# INT D# INT A# INT B#
PCI Slot 4 INT D# INT A# INT B# INT C#
PCI Slot 5 INT B# INT C# INT D# INT A#

If your sound card is in the 3rd PCI slot (don't count the AGP slot) then the bottom (5th) should ...should (as in maybe) be correct. Put the USB card in #4 and see what it shows.

Island Dog
Reply #16 Thursday, January 26, 2006 12:37 PM
Slot 4 is the 1394 which I never have problems with. I put the card in both 5 and 2, and it takes up the same IRQ. I can't use Slot 1 because it's right against the AGP card. What is did disable the USB that was on the same as the sound card. That still leaves a couple of USB ports open for my printer and camera. I have been running it for a while and no problems yet.

yrag
Reply #17 Thursday, January 26, 2006 12:42 PM
When you look at the chart, 2 & 5 will always be the same no matter what your configuration is.

What is did disable the USB that was on the same as the sound card

Huh?

If you're not having any problems (the graphic sharing was the most important), then let it be. Are all the problems gone?

Island Dog
Reply #18 Thursday, January 26, 2006 1:18 PM
If you're not having any problems (the graphic sharing was the most important), then let it be. Are all the problems gone?
The one USB card had two different IRQ numbers. I disabled one and like two of the USB ports are disables. But there are still two working off the other. So by doing that everything has it's own number now. No problems as of yet. Thanks for all your help. I hope this helps now.

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