Audigy Only Works in a Certain PCI Slot

MythicaL · Aug 16, 2004, 04:57 PM

Title says it all; will only work in the second to the top PCI slot, and nothing else. But I want the next one down because it provides better air flow to the case and it is farther away from the GPU fan.

This has been a problem for a while now, even back on SP1. I have latest offical drivers installed from Creative's site, but I still can't get it to work in the 3rd PCI slot. I'm pretty sure there's a conflict somewhere but I don't know what that would be and don't want to do an XP repair installation or something like that.

Help?

classic_leon · Aug 16, 2004, 05:12 PM

do you have lots of hardware devices?
the problem may be that a system IRQ has been used by other device, but your Audigy also want the same IRQ. the only way is that you disable the hardware device which has rebbed your Audigy's IRQ.

MythicaL · Aug 16, 2004, 05:17 PM

Well, I don't think I would have anything using the same IRQ... but how would I go about changing the IRQ's anyway? (I remember seeing the place to do it but I forget where now)

mike2h · Aug 16, 2004, 05:30 PM

your 3rd slot is probably dharing irq. look in your mb documentation. there will be a chart that shows what irqs are assigned to what slots. choose a slot with a single irq or with a irq that is not assigned anything to anything else. ie usually slot 1 & slot 5 sahre irqs. so if nothing is in slot 1 you have a 'free' slot ay 5.

your mb docs should also give you a clue as to were to look in your bios to adjust irqs. do this as a last resort.

MythicaL · Aug 16, 2004, 05:33 PM

Well what's weird is that these slots have worked before... just not now... it's like they died or something, I don't know... The thing that wont install is Multimedia Audio Controller, and that only installs when I put the card into the second PCI slot.

mike2h · Aug 16, 2004, 05:51 PM

have you tried putting anything else into these slots? like a nic?

MythicaL · Aug 16, 2004, 06:13 PM

Nope, it's been the Audigy the whole time. Come to think of it, I remember when I put the card in the working slot, the Multimedia Audio Controller AND a IEEE 1394 Controller was installed... So maybe it's the 1394 Controller that's fuxing up the card? But I looked in Device Manager and no conflicts.

mike2h · Aug 16, 2004, 06:52 PM

well iwas just wondering if there was actually someting wrong with those slots. if they are okay then you can probably elimanate the mb has a problem. you sure this is not a driver/win issue?
like i said check your mb docs & find another non- sharing pci slot.
what else do you have using pci slots?

MythicaL · Aug 16, 2004, 06:52 PM

You know what? Screw it... Too much trouble for such a little thing. I wish I still knew what was causing all this to happen though.

Anyway, I put the card in the 'special' PCI slot and the sound is working.

And by the way, I just reformatted so no drivers issues or anything like that. And no, the PCI slots are fine, since I tested out a USB addon on two of them.

mike2h · Aug 16, 2004, 07:19 PM

one thing you might try-if you have not already- is disabling 'plug-n-play' in your bios. this lets the bios configure instead of win. win will sometimes arbitrarily change resource use. for me this has been a more consistent, stable setting.
either way, good luck. sorry was not able to help you.
bty, you are aware that there is a lot of ways to free up resources in your bios for devices you are not using?- assuming you are not using everything.

MythicaL · Aug 16, 2004, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike2h

one thing you might try-if you have not already- is disabling 'plug-n-play' in your bios. this lets the bios configure instead of win. win will sometimes arbitrarily change resource use. for me this has been a more consistent, stable setting.
either way, good luck. sorry was not able to help you.
bty, you are aware that there is a lot of ways to free up resources in your bios for devices you are not using?- assuming you are not using everything.

Yeah, I'm not stupid

I disabled the crap that I didn't need already... Don't know about disabling Plug and Play though, don't really want to fux anything up now.

Thanks for your help though (and Leon of course)

**dj_stick** · Aug 16, 2004, 11:52 PM

with creative soundcards - they really hate sharing IRQ ports with other devices… depending on your motherboard manufacturer, generally 2 out of the 5 PCI slots share an IRQ. on gigabyte boards it appears to be 1 and 5 that share… check your BIOS to see if you can manually change the IRQ
This link shows you an image of the bios settings i am talking about

classic_leon · Aug 17, 2004, 08:54 AM

you have already getten a lota helps from lots of friends, i think ur card will be safely moved to another slot. if it still cannot work, flash your bios.

MythicaL · Aug 17, 2004, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by classic_leon

you have already getten a lota helps from lots of friends, i think ur card will be safely moved to another slot. if it still cannot work, flash your bios.

Already flashed to latest version. And I really don't want to unless I really have to, because I had a bad flash before and I had to get a whole new mobo.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Aug 17, 2004, 09:51 AM

Easy... it has to due to resourses disable serail port 1 and 2
try disableing anything that you don't use usb ports, on board sound (if you board has it) no printer? disable your serail port, all via the bios

make sure you bios has pnp os to yes! other wise windows can't juggle irq's

Matth · Aug 17, 2004, 03:33 PM

Enable APIC mode in BIOS, if it's not already enabled - this generally means less IRQ sharing, as the PCI IRQ's can use number above the ISA range.

In old style (PIC) mode, there are only FOUR PCI IRQ's ( A-D ) mapped to FOUR ISA IRQs (less, if you do not have 4 spare) - and the 4 PCI IRQs are all available on each slot, but the ordering is rotated.
They are also in the same pool as the AGP, and any onboard PCI-class devices such as USB.

Where 5 PCI slots are available, One shares with AGP, One with USB and two with each other - whatever IRQ numbers are assigned, the sharing rules stay the same (this is on an old PIC mode interrupt controller).

MythicaL · Aug 17, 2004, 05:02 PM

Neon and Matt, it's already done... That's what confuses me.

Aug 16, 2004, 04:57 PM	#1
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Audigy Only Works in a Certain PCI Slot Title says it all; will only work in the second to the top PCI slot, and nothing else. But I want the next one down because it provides better air flow to the case and it is farther away from the GPU fan. This has been a problem for a while now, even back on SP1. I have latest offical drivers installed from Creative's site, but I still can't get it to work in the 3rd PCI slot. I'm pretty sure there's a conflict somewhere but I don't know what that would be and don't want to do an XP repair installation or something like that. Help? __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Aug 16, 2004, 05:12 PM	#2
classic_leon HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wu Han, Hu Bei, P.R.China Posts: 1,238 Rep Power: 0	do you have lots of hardware devices? the problem may be that a system IRQ has been used by other device, but your Audigy also want the same IRQ. the only way is that you disable the hardware device which has rebbed your Audigy's IRQ. __________________ Fashion keeps us alive. YouP-PAX Please visit http://www.A-PAX.co.uk to discuss the computer mods. The latest YouP PAX modded drivers are provided on the site.

Aug 16, 2004, 05:17 PM	Thread Starter #3
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Well, I don't think I would have anything using the same IRQ... but how would I go about changing the IRQ's anyway? (I remember seeing the place to do it but I forget where now) __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Aug 16, 2004, 05:30 PM	#4
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	your 3rd slot is probably dharing irq. look in your mb documentation. there will be a chart that shows what irqs are assigned to what slots. choose a slot with a single irq or with a irq that is not assigned anything to anything else. ie usually slot 1 & slot 5 sahre irqs. so if nothing is in slot 1 you have a 'free' slot ay 5. your mb docs should also give you a clue as to were to look in your bios to adjust irqs. do this as a last resort. __________________

Aug 16, 2004, 05:33 PM	Thread Starter #5
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Well what's weird is that these slots have worked before... just not now... it's like they died or something, I don't know... The thing that wont install is Multimedia Audio Controller, and that only installs when I put the card into the second PCI slot. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Aug 16, 2004, 05:51 PM	#6
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	have you tried putting anything else into these slots? like a nic? __________________

Aug 16, 2004, 06:13 PM	Thread Starter #7
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Nope, it's been the Audigy the whole time. Come to think of it, I remember when I put the card in the working slot, the Multimedia Audio Controller AND a IEEE 1394 Controller was installed... So maybe it's the 1394 Controller that's fuxing up the card? But I looked in Device Manager and no conflicts. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.

Aug 16, 2004, 06:52 PM	#8
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	well iwas just wondering if there was actually someting wrong with those slots. if they are okay then you can probably elimanate the mb has a problem. you sure this is not a driver/win issue? like i said check your mb docs & find another non- sharing pci slot. what else do you have using pci slots? __________________

Aug 16, 2004, 06:52 PM	Thread Starter #9
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	You know what? Screw it... Too much trouble for such a little thing. I wish I still knew what was causing all this to happen though. Anyway, I put the card in the 'special' PCI slot and the sound is working. And by the way, I just reformatted so no drivers issues or anything like that. And no, the PCI slots are fine, since I tested out a USB addon on two of them. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust. Last edited by mYthicaL; Aug 16, 2004 at 07:02 PM.

Aug 16, 2004, 07:19 PM	#10
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	one thing you might try-if you have not already- is disabling 'plug-n-play' in your bios. this lets the bios configure instead of win. win will sometimes arbitrarily change resource use. for me this has been a more consistent, stable setting. either way, good luck. sorry was not able to help you. bty, you are aware that there is a lot of ways to free up resources in your bios for devices you are not using?- assuming you are not using everything. __________________

Aug 17, 2004, 08:54 AM	#13
classic_leon HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wu Han, Hu Bei, P.R.China Posts: 1,238 Rep Power: 0	you have already getten a lota helps from lots of friends, i think ur card will be safely moved to another slot. if it still cannot work, flash your bios. __________________ Fashion keeps us alive. YouP-PAX Please visit http://www.A-PAX.co.uk to discuss the computer mods. The latest YouP PAX modded drivers are provided on the site.

Aug 17, 2004, 09:51 AM	#15
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	Easy... it has to due to resourses disable serail port 1 and 2 try disableing anything that you don't use usb ports, on board sound (if you board has it) no printer? disable your serail port, all via the bios make sure you bios has pnp os to yes! other wise windows can't juggle irq's __________________

Aug 17, 2004, 03:33 PM	#16
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Enable APIC mode in BIOS, if it's not already enabled - this generally means less IRQ sharing, as the PCI IRQ's can use number above the ISA range. In old style (PIC) mode, there are only FOUR PCI IRQ's ( A-D ) mapped to FOUR ISA IRQs (less, if you do not have 4 spare) - and the 4 PCI IRQs are all available on each slot, but the ordering is rotated. They are also in the same pool as the AGP, and any onboard PCI-class devices such as USB. Where 5 PCI slots are available, One shares with AGP, One with USB and two with each other - whatever IRQ numbers are assigned, the sharing rules stay the same (this is on an old PIC mode interrupt controller).

Aug 17, 2004, 05:02 PM	Thread Starter #17
MythicaL I like computers. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In front of a monitor Posts: 3,399 Rep Power: 89 System Specs	Neon and Matt, it's already done... That's what confuses me. __________________ Always knew I didn't belong in this world. I wasn't made for this. But I'll never forget those who betrayed me, and those who never failed my trust.