PCA Forums

You know, I've always loved VIA. Their chipsets have never given me any problems whatsoever, and every VIA motherboard I've ever gotten have never let me down. Well, now that's all changed.

My ASUS A7V8X-LA motherboard uses the KM400A Northbridge and the VT8237/R southbridge with integrated Realtek ALC658 AC'97 Audio. I've had this mobo for oh... about two years now. Never had any problems with the integrated sound. Always found it to be of the best and utmost quality. Well, I was playing Battlefield 2 earlier, and the audio started sounding really... flakey all of a sudden. One loud engine sound kept playing over and over, even though I was nowhere near a vehicle. I thought this was strange, and maybe a Battlefield glitch, so I closed the game, and restarted it. Same thing, except it was like this as soon as I started the level. I thought it was my computer or Windows that had caused this, so I turned off the computer, let it sit for about a minute, then restarted it. Went back into Battlefield 2, and the problem was gone as far as I could tell. Five minutes later, however, it did the exact same thing. I went into the game settings and Audio, and the settings were Hardware rendering, High output, and no EAX, just as they've always been. I switched it to Software, and the sound was restored. So I'm like... crap... time for a new sound card.

Basically, funds are limited, and I mean very limited. I just shelled out $120 on this bugger for case and PSU and other stuff. I need a decent soundcard that at least matches the AC'97 integrated at it's prime. Any advice?

First of all I'd try installing (or re-installing) the latest audio driver. It's not impossible for a chipset to just fail, but it's rare.

If the onboard really is pooched then your best solution is an inexpensive C-Media card. Just as good as that onboard AC'97.

This will do just fine if you don't need anything better unless you need digital outputs. $12.50 shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829130001

This is the most common chipset used onboard mobos.

If you need digital outputs then you'll want this for $25 shipped:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6829130002

Uninstalled the drivers and used Driver Cleaner, then reinstalled, and same crap...

Does that first card have Front Panel Audio? I kinda prefer that since I use my front jacks for headphones.

Don't know. You could try looking up the specs on the manufacturer's web site.

Thanks for all your help FP, but you were right. It wasn't crapping out, it was just the cruddy Realtek drivers. I went onto VIA and downloaded their VIA Vinyl drivers, and everythings fixed. Even have EAX back. Should have known it was the drivers. I just updated them a couple of days ago, then I started having problems

Originally posted by GuardianAsher
I just updated them a couple of days ago, then I started having problems