On Board Sound Card Problems

Needo · 09-15-2008, 06:39 AM

Hello,

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, i thought here would be best as I'm using on on board sound card atm. Anyways, the sound on my pc is really quiet, barely audible. I've checked all the usual suspects, sound settings/panels and various programs that may alter the master volume in vista but everything is on full. I tested my speakers through other devices and they work fine.

My pc is a
Dell Dimension 9100 Intel Pentium 4 Dual Core 3.0ghz
2ghz RAM (2x 512MB , 1x 1GB DDR2)
DVDR and DVDRW
nVidia Geforce 7600 GS 512MB
PSU model no. N375P-00

I know you probably think this is software related but it only happened after i cleaned out my pc (took out fans and Processor cool synch) i placed everything back as it should be and all the wiring etc is secure. I'm at a complete loss, i use my pc for pretty much everything (movies, music games etc) i don't have the luxury of extra pc's lying around nor wads of cash to throw around for new hardware. Any help or advice you could offer would be great. I just can't stand my pc being so quiet.

**tecknomage** · 09-15-2008, 01:35 PM

First, from Dell Support about Dimension 9100 Vista drivers

Now, according to the Dell Dimension 9100 specs, they use the Intel 945P Chipset. So these drivers MAY apply if you are using the on-board Audio card.

Look at Intel's Chipset Software page.

These should include the on-board audio drivers. There is also a separate link to Audio Drivers page, with a special link for audio drivers IF you have an Intel motherboard.

CAUTION - If you download ANY of the drivers/installers, READ the detailed instructions.

Some Intel Chipsets will require you to unpack the downloaded (and SAVED to HD) EXE (WinZIP will do this) and run SETUP.EXE -OVERALL to install properly.

In all cases, you want the Vista drivers.

Needo · 09-17-2008, 11:32 AM

lol, i never considered it might be a driver problem.
After your reply (thanks very much btw) i booted up everest, the chipset responsible for the audio is:
Intel 8280 1GB(M) ICH7, and it uses a SigmaTel (SigmaTel STAC9220 A1) i found a driver matching this on some site but got the run around when trying to get a link. The mobo itself is listed (on everest) as i945G/P which confuses me further as there are a few SigmaTel drivers on the Intel site but i don't which one i should use.
Plus from what I've read so far there are no Vista drivers for sigmatel chipsets only XP SP3 with limited Vista compatability. However i currently have no drivers specifically for the on board audio so i think even the xp drivers are worth a try.
Anyway thought i'd give an update, and thanks again for your help.

Needo · 09-17-2008, 02:03 PM

Well, that was fun...not, but problem solved, must have been some sort of driver conflict,i installed some SigmaTel drivers but they must have been wrong and i ended up with no sound, removed them, restarted and vista re-installed its own drivers and the sound is fine now. (my ears however are a different story, had the sound looped and amplified through several hi-fi's etc, that start up chime thing...ouch) Anyways thanks again for pointing out it was the driver.

09-15-2008, 06:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
Needo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista x86 home basic	On Board Sound Card Problems Hello, Sorry if this is in the wrong place, i thought here would be best as I'm using on on board sound card atm. Anyways, the sound on my pc is really quiet, barely audible. I've checked all the usual suspects, sound settings/panels and various programs that may alter the master volume in vista but everything is on full. I tested my speakers through other devices and they work fine. My pc is a Dell Dimension 9100 Intel Pentium 4 Dual Core 3.0ghz 2ghz RAM (2x 512MB , 1x 1GB DDR2) DVDR and DVDRW nVidia Geforce 7600 GS 512MB PSU model no. N375P-00 I know you probably think this is software related but it only happened after i cleaned out my pc (took out fans and Processor cool synch) i placed everything back as it should be and all the wiring etc is secure. I'm at a complete loss, i use my pc for pretty much everything (movies, music games etc) i don't have the luxury of extra pc's lying around nor wads of cash to throw around for new hardware. Any help or advice you could offer would be great. I just can't stand my pc being so quiet. Last edited by Needo; 09-15-2008 at 06:43 AM.

09-15-2008, 01:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
tecknomage TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 928 OS: WinXP Pro SP3	Re: On Board Sound Card Problems First, from Dell Support about Dimension 9100 Vista drivers Now, according to the Dell Dimension 9100 specs, they use the Intel 945P Chipset. So these drivers MAY apply if you are using the on-board Audio card. Look at Intel's Chipset Software page. These should include the on-board audio drivers. There is also a separate link to Audio Drivers page, with a special link for audio drivers IF you have an Intel motherboard. CAUTION - If you download ANY of the drivers/installers, READ the detailed instructions. Some Intel Chipsets will require you to unpack the downloaded (and SAVED to HD) EXE (WinZIP will do this) and run SETUP.EXE -OVERALL to install properly. In all cases, you want the Vista drivers. __________________ Tecknomage Computer System Specialist IT Technician

09-17-2008, 11:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
Needo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista x86 home basic	Re: On Board Sound Card Problems lol, i never considered it might be a driver problem. After your reply (thanks very much btw) i booted up everest, the chipset responsible for the audio is: Intel 8280 1GB(M) ICH7, and it uses a SigmaTel (SigmaTel STAC9220 A1) i found a driver matching this on some site but got the run around when trying to get a link. The mobo itself is listed (on everest) as i945G/P which confuses me further as there are a few SigmaTel drivers on the Intel site but i don't which one i should use. Plus from what I've read so far there are no Vista drivers for sigmatel chipsets only XP SP3 with limited Vista compatability. However i currently have no drivers specifically for the on board audio so i think even the xp drivers are worth a try. Anyway thought i'd give an update, and thanks again for your help.

09-17-2008, 02:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Needo Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Vista x86 home basic	Re: On Board Sound Card Problems Well, that was fun...not, but problem solved, must have been some sort of driver conflict,i installed some SigmaTel drivers but they must have been wrong and i ended up with no sound, removed them, restarted and vista re-installed its own drivers and the sound is fine now. (my ears however are a different story, had the sound looped and amplified through several hi-fi's etc, that start up chime thing...ouch) Anyways thanks again for pointing out it was the driver.