SB0350 strange behavior

coolies · Jan 16, 2011, 03:09 AM

I had been using a SB0350 (audigy 2 zs) for some time. I use it like this

* I have a simple 5.1 amp with big rear and front speakers installed only
* I have three configurations that are like load settings.
-One for using it like a stereo where it outputs SPDIF digital on epilog 2 and 3 only
-One where I use nero showtime to drive AC3 into the upper wavs using 6 speakers, then use the downmix effect to send the output out analog epilog 0,1,8 and 9.
-One that downmixes AC3 as above but then stereo mixes it out spdif 2 an 3.

So I had eventually realized that it was almost impossible to leave the computer off for a while without for some reason without the front analog left channel totally not working no matter what you did, but this would go away after you rebooted. (sorry this is sort of hard to read what I mean is if I turned the computer 100% off and then came back to turn it on it would do this)

I tried the card with another supply and motherboard, and only the different motherboard made this go away, but I only tested it for a few hours in this way. I have a P4 3Ghz on an Aopen Springdale - G socket 478 motherboard.

I am hoping the problem is with the motherboard and not the SB0350. Any one else hear of this? I am thinking electrical instability with the motherboard is making the card malfunction.

Also I got this SB0243 card off a guy for $20 Canadian. It was a backup card, I finally used it and noticed it had this horrible crackle whatever you did (and in linux on 2 systems). I tried the PCI latency, but that didn't work. I changed some capacitors and re-soldered just the capacitors, and the horrible crackle went 100% away!!. I am using that card now, but would just feel better with some assurance on the SB0350.

Thanks
I tried various KX driver versions on both cards BTW.

Russ · Jan 16, 2011, 01:33 PM

My SB0090 has the same problem with one of the rear channels (I also have an SB0228 in the system that works fine). I have not been able to determine the exact cause as of yet, but there is definitely some kind of short circuit affecting that jack on that card (<-- my card, not SB0090 in general).

coolies · Oct 1, 2011, 05:20 PM

Hello, I gathered some more information on this and another problem and want to share my conclusions. Firstly the problem with the SB0350 was that from a cold state or literally cold state the analog right channel would not be connected. I suspected this may have something to do with the pass key transistors on the card, but I don't know. Restarting the computer, the next boot, the channel would be OK.

What I think I have tested for some time now is changing the motherboard from a aopen MX4SG-N to an ASUS P4P800 I did just as an upgrade made this problem go away. In fact I had tried the card in other motherboards, and was not able to reproduce the problem. I also tried another supply on the first aopen motherboard without success. At this point I suspect the aopen motherboard physically compromised, or not supplying the necessary pins/voltage/amps. All 3 PCI slots on the Aopen board did this. Reseating/cleaning the card also did not work.

Also I had a random crackling problem with a SB0240. I changed a few capacitors that were odd as I used a DVM with the capacitors still on the board. The suspects were also dusty seeming near a fan exhaust. The crackling problem went 100% away, but I lifted a bit of unused trace on the card so I don't use that card today. I suspect proximity to a GPU fan may have cooked some caps.

Jan 16, 2011, 03:09 AM	#1
coolies HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	SB0350 strange behavior I had been using a SB0350 (audigy 2 zs) for some time. I use it like this * I have a simple 5.1 amp with big rear and front speakers installed only * I have three configurations that are like load settings. -One for using it like a stereo where it outputs SPDIF digital on epilog 2 and 3 only -One where I use nero showtime to drive AC3 into the upper wavs using 6 speakers, then use the downmix effect to send the output out analog epilog 0,1,8 and 9. -One that downmixes AC3 as above but then stereo mixes it out spdif 2 an 3. So I had eventually realized that it was almost impossible to leave the computer off for a while without for some reason without the front analog left channel totally not working no matter what you did, but this would go away after you rebooted. (sorry this is sort of hard to read what I mean is if I turned the computer 100% off and then came back to turn it on it would do this) I tried the card with another supply and motherboard, and only the different motherboard made this go away, but I only tested it for a few hours in this way. I have a P4 3Ghz on an Aopen Springdale - G socket 478 motherboard. I am hoping the problem is with the motherboard and not the SB0350. Any one else hear of this? I am thinking electrical instability with the motherboard is making the card malfunction. Also I got this SB0243 card off a guy for $20 Canadian. It was a backup card, I finally used it and noticed it had this horrible crackle whatever you did (and in linux on 2 systems). I tried the PCI latency, but that didn't work. I changed some capacitors and re-soldered just the capacitors, and the horrible crackle went 100% away!!. I am using that card now, but would just feel better with some assurance on the SB0350. Thanks I tried various KX driver versions on both cards BTW. Last edited by coolies; Jan 16, 2011 at 03:40 AM.

Jan 16, 2011, 01:33 PM	#2
Russ HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,563 Rep Power: 62	Re: SB0350 strange behavior My SB0090 has the same problem with one of the rear channels (I also have an SB0228 in the system that works fine). I have not been able to determine the exact cause as of yet, but there is definitely some kind of short circuit affecting that jack on that card (<-- my card, not SB0090 in general). Last edited by Russ; Feb 1, 2011 at 08:35 PM.

Oct 1, 2011, 05:20 PM	Thread Starter #3
coolies HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Re: SB0350 strange behavior Hello, I gathered some more information on this and another problem and want to share my conclusions. Firstly the problem with the SB0350 was that from a cold state or literally cold state the analog right channel would not be connected. I suspected this may have something to do with the pass key transistors on the card, but I don't know. Restarting the computer, the next boot, the channel would be OK. What I think I have tested for some time now is changing the motherboard from a aopen MX4SG-N to an ASUS P4P800 I did just as an upgrade made this problem go away. In fact I had tried the card in other motherboards, and was not able to reproduce the problem. I also tried another supply on the first aopen motherboard without success. At this point I suspect the aopen motherboard physically compromised, or not supplying the necessary pins/voltage/amps. All 3 PCI slots on the Aopen board did this. Reseating/cleaning the card also did not work. Also I had a random crackling problem with a SB0240. I changed a few capacitors that were odd as I used a DVM with the capacitors still on the board. The suspects were also dusty seeming near a fan exhaust. The crackling problem went 100% away, but I lifted a bit of unused trace on the card so I don't use that card today. I suspect proximity to a GPU fan may have cooked some caps.