synthesis204

So...I've managed to skimp out and use the onboard audio of my computer for about a month now, but I've ran into a couple really annoying issues. About a week ago, the mic suddenly crapped out on me - and it's not the mic, but the computer. I tried it in my parent's computer and it works perfectly fine, but when hooked up to either the front panel or back end of my computer, the computer does not record any sound being input(yes, I have played with the Realtek sound manager). Also, while watching some flash videos, I get an incredibly loud popping sound every few seconds - Google has revealed to me this is an issue with the Realtek chipset, but I can't seem to find a solution (used the ASUS drivers, downloaded most recent ones from Realtek, also tried reverting to drivers #181, but none fixed my issues). At this rate I'm debating getting a sound card, but anyone have any ideas on issues?

Judas

i've litterally setup and ran dozen upon dozens of realtek solution and i've never ever heard of sound popping issues with flash videos or issues like that.

now in 2 cases i've had motherboards with faulty connectors/bad realtek chip where the audio either doesn't work properly or weird issues where it doesn't even detect that something is connected..

personally i find that any issue like this is deeper then just the sound device..

I've seen quite often a number of people that i've talked to and worked with in resolving sound video issues quite often are due to installing conflicting audio/video codecs.... and out of those.. 99% of the time it it's that damn community codec pack people insist on installing and it is nothing but a horrid mairage of crap, doesn't matter the video card, the drivers, the audio and it's drivers.... onboard or addin or whatever... I have NEVER seen a single case where those codec packs have ever done anything good and ALWAYS tend to screw things up

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Tipstaff

Here's a few suggestions:

- Disconnect the onboard header for the audio to your cases front panel. What you're trying to do is rule out feedback from the case (since your board is directly connected to your case this can happen), or a faulty connector. Also, you might want to try disconnecting other components to your case, such as USB headers (such as the front panel header, and if you have one, a card reader), and IEEE 1934 Firewire header (in fact, if you are not using Firewire you can try disabling the VIA chip that runs it in the bios).

- That particular board uses an NEC USB 3.0 chip, and the driver off of Asus' website works for that chip, however, Windows Update will also see a "newer" driver for that chip, something along the lines of ACS-6XXXX, but this driver totally borks it. 1/2 your USB ports will disappear, sound may or may not work (I know for a fact that PCIe 1x sound cards will stop working as it happened with my Auzentech Forte on my Asus P7P55D-E Pro), and you may lose some USB functionality (such as your USB keyboard or mouse no longer working). So, if you are letting Windows Update install newer drivers check device manager, and see if you have any devices with an exclamation mark next to it. Specifically, it will now show up as ACS-6XXXX. If so, the best solution is to change Windows Update so that it doesn't auto-install/download updates, reinstall the driver off of Asus' website, reboot, and check Windows Update. If you see an update for "ACS-6XXXX" or some such just right-click it, and hide it.

Edit: forgot to mention this: be sure to use the latest driver, version 1.0.19.0 off of Asus' website HERE, and not the older 1.0.17.0 or 1.0.14.0 driver on the CD/DVD that came with the board (although, some boards do come with the newer driver). Now that Renesas owns the chip they have put out their own updated driver and firmware (driver is now at 2.0.4.0, and firmware is at 3.0.2.5.8), however I've yet to test either yet, so I won't post a link 'till I do.

*BTW, this chip is giving a lot of companies a lot of problems, and some, if not most, are switching to using a different USB 3.0 controller now, such as ASMedia (which Asus now uses), Texas Instruments, or VIA*

- On the same note, DO NOT use the USB 3.0 ports for anything but USB 2.0 or 3.0 devices. I'm unsure why there is a problem, but it's been stated to never use USB 1.0/1.1 devices on those ports, however, I've noticed issues with both 1.0/1.1 and and a few non-standard 2.0 devices (really odd USB input devices and such) causing some sort of feedback, and things can act weird. I know thats very vague, but it's the best way I can describe it.

*Note: the onboard headers are controlled by the Intel chipset, and only use support 2.0 and 1.1, so those are safe*

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synthesis204

I unplugged the front-end ports from the motherboard, as well as installed the old 1.0.19.0 drivers for the chipset. My issue is slightly different - the popping and crackling is gone, but my mic is still not functional, and I also hear a very close-to-inaudible-yet-still-audible feedback constantly as long as my speakers(headphones) are plugged in.

Sidenote: The mic comes with a built-in on/off switch, and when switching between on and off, I see a large sudden increase in sound being read by the computer (sound recorder, recording devices, etc, but not audible) and then it flatlines, with the microphone still not working.

Thanks for your time, Tipstaff

Tipstaff

Is this feedback more or less audible whenever you are doing something that requires more use of your video cards power, or whenever there is optical or hard drive access? The reason I ask is that since everything runs off your power supply, you might be getting feedback from it, or rather your components reacting to a bad power supply. Unfortunately, the only way to test this theory out is to try another power supply. The flip side to this is that it might be something connected to the power supply that is causing this issue to, in particular the video card.

*I would also consider relocating your computer to a new power outlet to rule the power in your home out. If you switch outlets, and are still getting feedback, try connecting directly to the wall outlet. A crappy power bar or surge protector can cause this kind of feedback too.

Another reason for the feedback could be due to something inside the case not being grounded properly, which is why I suggested disconnecting all front panel headers just to see if it is the case itself.

Last thing for now. In your specs you list using a Corsair H50-1 water cooler. The default is to hook up the H50-1 directly to one of the motherboards fan headers for power, with it being recommended to turn off any fan adjustment support for that header (or set it to 100% or always on), and the fan on the rad to the CPU_FAN header. This is the same recommended setup for my CoolIT ECO ALC. I had it setup this way originally, but I switched it so that the pump is directly hooked up to the power supply via a molex to 3 pin connector. This insures the pump is always on, and isn't directly connected to the motherboard. Now, I'm not trying to scare you here, but going on an issue I read about one time with these kinds of pumps. What I'm wondering is if the pump is failing and causing feedback through the header (as the pump is running it's pulling power from the motherboard directly), or maybe the pump isn't getting power all the time (which would happen if you have the power management for the that fans header on). In both cases the feedback could be due to the pump cycling up and down constantly.

On the same note, the first time I hooked up the pump I "thought" I used a chassis fan header. I didn't. Instead I had it hooked up to the "power supply" fan header. Your particular board has the same header labelled as PWR_FAN right beside the ATX power connector to your power supply. I was suggested that I not use that header, and to use to use the ones labelled as CHA_FAN 1 through whatever (1-3 in on your board if I remember correctly), and set whichever header you use in the bios (under Power | Hardware Management) to "ignore". This way whatever you have "Chassis Q-Fan Control" set to it won't adjust the speed of that fan header. It will always be on.

I know this doesn't help with the mic issue, but my very first suggestion in a way, does. If the power supply is bad, it might have damaged the board. This is a worst case scenario though, but it is one to consider, and if it is the case you might consider contacting Asus to get their advice. They may suggest having the board RMA'd. We're not at that point yet, thankfully.

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synthesis204

Some more information I've discovered:

The feedback only occurs as long as the microphone is plugged into the rear mic-in jack; when plugged into the front-end mic-in jack, there is no feedback (also having no mic in eliminates the feedback). Just pisser because the microphone was working a week ago, and I didn't have any issues (the drivers fixed the crackling/popping, fortunately).

Tipstaff

LOL! I just realized I'm going the more thorough technical "it must be a hardware issue" route, while you are going the simpler route which is garnering more results.

Question: how is the audio setting setup within the bios under Advanced | Onboard Devices Configuration? The 2 listings of importance are the "Front Panel Type" and "SPDIF Out Mode".

For "Front Panel Type" is it set to HD Audio or AC97? Normally you will always want HD Audio on newer cases, but if the chip isn't switching the output between the jacks properly you could try switching it to AC97. What will happen is that both jacks will be on all the time, so if you don't want sound out of your speakers just turn them off while you use your headphones.

For the "SPDIF Out Mode" setting, try switching this between the 2 settings to see if this helps.

This also brings me to another question: have you changed the display drivers or the audio drivers within the last little while? The reason I ask is that the 460 has onboard audio, and sometimes changing the display driver will reset the default audio settings to the Nvidia HDMI audio. Even reinstalling the audio drivers can do this, because during the reboot process Windows will switch the audio to the Nvidia HDMI. This shouldn't effect the Mic, but it might be worth checking just in case. So, go through the audio settings, and make sure that the Realtek audio is the default, maybe even go so far as to disable the Nvidia HDMI Audio, and any other listings that might be under "Playback Devices". For "Recording Devices", disable all other listings EXCEPT the "Microphone".

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