[SOLVED] Needing sound card thats loud

KHPower · 02-15-2008, 04:29 AM

I am in need of a sound card due to my MSI motherboard audio does not work with a pair of desktop speakers. My MSI motherboard had originally had xp and is HP based and now I switched to vista and downloaded the the 2008 Realtek drivers no speakers will work , not even the headphones. I tried every driver from 2005 till now. It shows on the computer that that its working but there is no output

I have 2 computers and my main one has a basic audioligy Se 7.1 and has a logitech sound system with it and I am need of sound card for my other computer which hosts a pair of un-powered desktop speakers. The speakers were from a older computer and can get quite loud and sound good , however they were originally ran with a ESS sound card which will not work in my Vista machine. I was thinking of just buying another Audioligy se 7.1 the 29.00 one but if I remember right I have tried that card on these speakers and the output volume is so low that my cat asked me to turn them up

Basicly , can anyone recommend a decent sound card that can actually push a set of un-powered desktop speakers to a loud volume without being too expensive?

I dont know if I had the settings wrong with all my soundcards from Creative but I cant ever get them to really push anything that doesnt have amplificcation behind it.

I appreciate any suggestions

**Fox** · 02-15-2008, 10:53 AM

Most cards these days are meant to output line output, or a little higher, which really isn't meant to drive anything more than a pair of headphones. I think it would cost more to buy a card that supports a small speaker level than it would to just get a small pair of powered speakers. If you really love these speakers, and they aren't too big, another option would be to buy a headphone amp. These are made to push a 32 ohm or more load to a listenable volume, so that might work.

KHPower · 02-15-2008, 12:43 PM

Thanks Fox , I figured they were that way now. Too bad the ESS solo wont work. I do have a stereo within 5 feet of that computer and I could always get a 3.5mm to rca

Does anyuone know why I cant get any output out of my realtek 97 built into my motherboard? I even tested the headphones on the front and rear outputs and get nothing , I got the latest drivers and the computer is telling me everything is working.

Its a HP MSI motherboard and its only a couple of years old.

**Fox** · 02-15-2008, 03:29 PM

Where'd you get the driver for the AC'97? It might be the case that the driver needs to come from the motherboard manufacturer (of if the computer came from a retail builder, from that website). Try that one instead of a generic 97 driver and see if that works.

If not, there are a ton of cheap cards out there, and as you mentioned, you can take the headphone out into an RCA adapter and to a stereo. I find this to be the best solution, since the stereo will act as your amp. This is how I have mine set up, and it sounds fantastic.

KHPower · 02-15-2008, 07:12 PM

I will try reinstalling the original drivers. I believe after Vista installed them for me I installed the ones from HP but tey did not work either. I then went to "update driver " and got a 2007 driver and then I went to the realtek site and installed the 2008 version , so I dont know whats up.

I also have a computer that is ran to my stereo from my other computer and is also paired with a logitech 5.1 and that is pretty sick! I might just steal the 3.5 to rca from there and do without the extra push on my other computer.

If in the future I want a sound card that can actually push like the old school ones , can you recommend some? And what to look for to know that they have self amplification for un-powered speakers?

Thankyou

KHPower · 02-16-2008, 11:55 AM

Update:

I couldnt get the onboard Realtek sound to work so I did some more searching for the ESS Solo Driver I needed for the old school Ess card I have. For the last year and a half I have been looking for drivers for the standar ESS Solo Sound Card that will work with Win XP and Vista With no avail. You can find the drivers everywhere on the net but they will not work , I have tried everyone of them.

Today I gave it another go and I installed the IBM Thinkpads ESS Solo drive package and ran it in compatibility mode ith Win 2000 and it installed it as a game port but now I have SOund! It pushes these desktop speakers like nothing! So I got a old out of date pure power Ess Solo to work on Windows Vista! Very excited

I just wanna say this phrise :
"Old is Gold"

Now for some equalizer software

02-15-2008, 04:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
KHPower Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 131 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	[SOLVED] Needing sound card thats loud I am in need of a sound card due to my MSI motherboard audio does not work with a pair of desktop speakers. My MSI motherboard had originally had xp and is HP based and now I switched to vista and downloaded the the 2008 Realtek drivers no speakers will work , not even the headphones. I tried every driver from 2005 till now. It shows on the computer that that its working but there is no output I have 2 computers and my main one has a basic audioligy Se 7.1 and has a logitech sound system with it and I am need of sound card for my other computer which hosts a pair of un-powered desktop speakers. The speakers were from a older computer and can get quite loud and sound good , however they were originally ran with a ESS sound card which will not work in my Vista machine. I was thinking of just buying another Audioligy se 7.1 the 29.00 one but if I remember right I have tried that card on these speakers and the output volume is so low that my cat asked me to turn them up Basicly , can anyone recommend a decent sound card that can actually push a set of un-powered desktop speakers to a loud volume without being too expensive? I dont know if I had the settings wrong with all my soundcards from Creative but I cant ever get them to really push anything that doesnt have amplificcation behind it. I appreciate any suggestions __________________ "If you kill the Jo you make some mo"

02-15-2008, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: Needing sound card thats loud Most cards these days are meant to output line output, or a little higher, which really isn't meant to drive anything more than a pair of headphones. I think it would cost more to buy a card that supports a small speaker level than it would to just get a small pair of powered speakers. If you really love these speakers, and they aren't too big, another option would be to buy a headphone amp. These are made to push a 32 ohm or more load to a listenable volume, so that might work. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

02-15-2008, 12:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
KHPower Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 131 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Needing sound card thats loud Thanks Fox , I figured they were that way now. Too bad the ESS solo wont work. I do have a stereo within 5 feet of that computer and I could always get a 3.5mm to rca Does anyuone know why I cant get any output out of my realtek 97 built into my motherboard? I even tested the headphones on the front and rear outputs and get nothing , I got the latest drivers and the computer is telling me everything is working. Its a HP MSI motherboard and its only a couple of years old. __________________ "If you kill the Jo you make some mo"

02-15-2008, 03:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: Needing sound card thats loud Where'd you get the driver for the AC'97? It might be the case that the driver needs to come from the motherboard manufacturer (of if the computer came from a retail builder, from that website). Try that one instead of a generic 97 driver and see if that works. If not, there are a ton of cheap cards out there, and as you mentioned, you can take the headphone out into an RCA adapter and to a stereo. I find this to be the best solution, since the stereo will act as your amp. This is how I have mine set up, and it sounds fantastic. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

02-15-2008, 07:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
KHPower Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 131 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Needing sound card thats loud I will try reinstalling the original drivers. I believe after Vista installed them for me I installed the ones from HP but tey did not work either. I then went to "update driver " and got a 2007 driver and then I went to the realtek site and installed the 2008 version , so I dont know whats up. I also have a computer that is ran to my stereo from my other computer and is also paired with a logitech 5.1 and that is pretty sick! I might just steal the 3.5 to rca from there and do without the extra push on my other computer. If in the future I want a sound card that can actually push like the old school ones , can you recommend some? And what to look for to know that they have self amplification for un-powered speakers? Thankyou __________________ "If you kill the Jo you make some mo"

02-16-2008, 11:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
KHPower Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nebraska Posts: 131 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Needing sound card thats loud Update: I couldnt get the onboard Realtek sound to work so I did some more searching for the ESS Solo Driver I needed for the old school Ess card I have. For the last year and a half I have been looking for drivers for the standar ESS Solo Sound Card that will work with Win XP and Vista With no avail. You can find the drivers everywhere on the net but they will not work , I have tried everyone of them. Today I gave it another go and I installed the IBM Thinkpads ESS Solo drive package and ran it in compatibility mode ith Win 2000 and it installed it as a game port but now I have SOund! It pushes these desktop speakers like nothing! So I got a old out of date pure power Ess Solo to work on Windows Vista! Very excited I just wanna say this phrise : "Old is Gold" Now for some equalizer software __________________ "If you kill the Jo you make some mo"