New mobo, xonar card install issues

Woodenhead · 04-17-2008, 07:50 PM

First, my specs:

Mobo: Asus Maximus Formula
Audio: Asus Xonar D2X
Vid: ATI Radeon 3870 HD X2
Speakers: Logitech 2.1
CPU: Intel Quad Q6600
Power: OCZ GameXtreme 700W
RAM: 2X2GB Mushkin DDR2
Case: Antec P182
OS: Vista Ultimate (previously XP Pro, with same problem)

Anyway, here's the problem I'm having. The volume is extremely low; barely audible. In the mixer panel, however, the spectrum analyzer shows normal levels. There's no distortion.

The sound card worked perfectly in my previous PC (this one is my first build - everything else is fine)

I'm pretty sure it's to do with the audio riser card that is supplied with the mobo - a SupremeFX card, which has it's own dedicated PCI slot.

I've tried a few re-installs, with & without installing the riser card, but to no avail. If I use the riser, I have normal audio. But I need that Xonar card to get the most of my vinyl rips, etc.

I posted in the Asus forums, but haven't gotten much of a response. You guys have never let me down, so here I am!

I did get some info about installing jumpers on the SupremeFX, but I haven't gotten any jumpers yet, & I didn't really get any clear indication if I was to install the riser's drivers or not; also, it seemed to be a copy/paste answer from another problem with the Supreme's audio, not for a separate audio card.

Anyway, I'm quite desperate here - I've gone 2 weeks with no audio now, and haven't really done much with my new PC for fear of having to re-install everything all over again... again.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Woodenhead · 04-18-2008, 11:54 PM

SOLVED!

After a lot of banging my head off the desk, re-installs, tweaking, reconfigs, checking hardware, double-checking previous double checks, and general chaos, I stumbled upon the problem.

A cracked wire in the floppy drive power connector head. (which is needed to power the Xonar)

Must've been a factory defect - it's the first time I've used it, and it clicked together effortlessly the one time I connected it.

It was one of the grounds. I imagine that one of 'em was for the card's main power & the other was dedicated for the onboard amp, which would explain why the card powered up fine & (other than the low volume) functioned properly.

I fixed it, & everything's fine. :-)

* For those fo you who have your own similar problems, here's how I installed everything (yours may be neccessarily different:

1. Install SupremeFX II riser card in black PCI slot (which is dedicated for it) & hook up front panel connector
2. Install Xonar sound card in PCIe x16 slot (just to give breathing room between it & my vid card - it'll prolly work in any other slot)
3. BIOS - HD Audio = Enabled; Front Panel = HD (your panel may differ)
4. Install fresh OS (vLite-ed Vista Ultimate in my case)
5. Install chipset/mobo drivers
6. Vid card drivers
7. Lan drivers
8. Updates
9. Installed Xonar audio drivers only - no SupremeFX drivers installed at all
10. Profit!

That's all, folks!

04-17-2008, 07:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Woodenhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Okanagan, BC, Canada Posts: 128 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate (64) SP1 My System	New mobo, xonar card install issues First, my specs: Mobo: Asus Maximus Formula Audio: Asus Xonar D2X Vid: ATI Radeon 3870 HD X2 Speakers: Logitech 2.1 CPU: Intel Quad Q6600 Power: OCZ GameXtreme 700W RAM: 2X2GB Mushkin DDR2 Case: Antec P182 OS: Vista Ultimate (previously XP Pro, with same problem) Anyway, here's the problem I'm having. The volume is extremely low; barely audible. In the mixer panel, however, the spectrum analyzer shows normal levels. There's no distortion. The sound card worked perfectly in my previous PC (this one is my first build - everything else is fine) I'm pretty sure it's to do with the audio riser card that is supplied with the mobo - a SupremeFX card, which has it's own dedicated PCI slot. I've tried a few re-installs, with & without installing the riser card, but to no avail. If I use the riser, I have normal audio. But I need that Xonar card to get the most of my vinyl rips, etc. I posted in the Asus forums, but haven't gotten much of a response. You guys have never let me down, so here I am! I did get some info about installing jumpers on the SupremeFX, but I haven't gotten any jumpers yet, & I didn't really get any clear indication if I was to install the riser's drivers or not; also, it seemed to be a copy/paste answer from another problem with the Supreme's audio, not for a separate audio card. Anyway, I'm quite desperate here - I've gone 2 weeks with no audio now, and haven't really done much with my new PC for fear of having to re-install everything all over again... again. Thanks in advance for your input!

04-18-2008, 11:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodenhead Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Okanagan, BC, Canada Posts: 128 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate (64) SP1 My System	Re: New mobo, xonar card install issues SOLVED! After a lot of banging my head off the desk, re-installs, tweaking, reconfigs, checking hardware, double-checking previous double checks, and general chaos, I stumbled upon the problem. A cracked wire in the floppy drive power connector head. (which is needed to power the Xonar) Must've been a factory defect - it's the first time I've used it, and it clicked together effortlessly the one time I connected it. It was one of the grounds. I imagine that one of 'em was for the card's main power & the other was dedicated for the onboard amp, which would explain why the card powered up fine & (other than the low volume) functioned properly. I fixed it, & everything's fine. :-) * For those fo you who have your own similar problems, here's how I installed everything (yours may be neccessarily different: 1. Install SupremeFX II riser card in black PCI slot (which is dedicated for it) & hook up front panel connector 2. Install Xonar sound card in PCIe x16 slot (just to give breathing room between it & my vid card - it'll prolly work in any other slot) 3. BIOS - HD Audio = Enabled; Front Panel = HD (your panel may differ) 4. Install fresh OS (vLite-ed Vista Ultimate in my case) 5. Install chipset/mobo drivers 6. Vid card drivers 7. Lan drivers 8. Updates 9. Installed Xonar audio drivers only - no SupremeFX drivers installed at all 10. Profit! That's all, folks!