New build, very low sound

Dark Jedi · 02-07-2009, 07:34 AM

I just put together a new machine with an Asus m2n68-am motherboard running Vista home basic. I do not have a sound card, although I am not opposed to getting one. In the meantime, though, I would like to get some sound from my machine. I don't need high tech surround sound or anything like that, just basic sound. The onboard sound is Realtek HD. I have tried the troubleshooting tips in the sticky. I have been into BIOS and all seems to be properly enabled there. I do get sound, but even with the volume on the computer and on the speakers all the way up, I can barely hear the sound. I have tried different speakers, which were only a little better (and the quality was poor). On the control panel there is an icon for Realtek HD audio manager, but it doesn't open when I click it. I can choose update driver from the device manager, but of course, Windows says I have the most up to date driver. Any help is appreciated.

**manic** · 02-07-2009, 12:18 PM

Sound volume is a common problem if your not using powered speakers.
A cheapo set of powered speakers will cure the problem. If you are using
powered speakers, you have another problem, and a sound card will
probably fix it.

**Pauldo** · 02-07-2009, 06:41 PM

A lot of onboard sound problems can be fixed by getting a dedicated sound card and often times it is the cheapest solution (if your time is money).

However before you do that, if you allowed Windows to install a driver for your Realtek audio than that is were the problem is.

Try uninstalling the drivers that you have on there now and re-installing the drivers provided by Asus. I would use the drivers found on their website and not off of the CD. Do this even if you haven't let Windows update your audio drivers as there is a problem if you can't open up the Realtek software.

If that doesn't fix the problem than I would try re-installing the chipset drivers, then reinstalling the audio drivers. Even though it is an nForce 600 series chipset it still could be buggy as most of the newer nVidia chipsets are.

Lastly, I would turn on some music then start fiddling with the speaker cable. Move it around, start slowly pulling it out or push it in farther. I have answered some question lately dealing with faulty jacks and it may just be that. I know that on my Asus P5K Pro I can get a hum going if I don't have the cable in there just right.

Hope that helps.

Pauldo

Dark Jedi · 02-08-2009, 06:17 AM

I am using powered speakers, Manic. Interesting - the other set of speakers I tried, that were a bit better, were not powered. Go figure. (Other than games sound effects and streaming video, I do listen to Pandora and XM radio online regularly.)

I'll try your driver suggestion today Pauldo. I do recall installing drivers off the CD that came with the motherboard, but Vista likely also did some stuff - you know how Vista is. Thanks for the suggestion about getting drivers from the website - I probably wouldn't have done that. You're right thsat something must be amiss in that I can't open the Realtek GUI.

Dark Jedi · 02-09-2009, 07:30 AM

I did manage to download updated drivers from the Asus website and I can now enter the Realtek GUI. However, whatever tweeks I try, the sound is still very low. I do plan to try some other different speakers today (borrowing from a friend) as my speaker are older.

Any other ideas out there?

Dark Jedi · 02-09-2009, 03:10 PM

Solved! New speakers, it seems, will do the trick.

**Pauldo** · 02-09-2009, 03:45 PM

Glad to hear it!

Pauldo

02-07-2009, 07:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dark Jedi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 61 OS: xp	New build, very low sound I just put together a new machine with an Asus m2n68-am motherboard running Vista home basic. I do not have a sound card, although I am not opposed to getting one. In the meantime, though, I would like to get some sound from my machine. I don't need high tech surround sound or anything like that, just basic sound. The onboard sound is Realtek HD. I have tried the troubleshooting tips in the sticky. I have been into BIOS and all seems to be properly enabled there. I do get sound, but even with the volume on the computer and on the speakers all the way up, I can barely hear the sound. I have tried different speakers, which were only a little better (and the quality was poor). On the control panel there is an icon for Realtek HD audio manager, but it doesn't open when I click it. I can choose update driver from the device manager, but of course, Windows says I have the most up to date driver. Any help is appreciated.

02-07-2009, 12:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: New build, very low sound Sound volume is a common problem if your not using powered speakers. A cheapo set of powered speakers will cure the problem. If you are using powered speakers, you have another problem, and a sound card will probably fix it. __________________

02-07-2009, 06:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: New build, very low sound A lot of onboard sound problems can be fixed by getting a dedicated sound card and often times it is the cheapest solution (if your time is money). However before you do that, if you allowed Windows to install a driver for your Realtek audio than that is were the problem is. Try uninstalling the drivers that you have on there now and re-installing the drivers provided by Asus. I would use the drivers found on their website and not off of the CD. Do this even if you haven't let Windows update your audio drivers as there is a problem if you can't open up the Realtek software. If that doesn't fix the problem than I would try re-installing the chipset drivers, then reinstalling the audio drivers. Even though it is an nForce 600 series chipset it still could be buggy as most of the newer nVidia chipsets are. Lastly, I would turn on some music then start fiddling with the speaker cable. Move it around, start slowly pulling it out or push it in farther. I have answered some question lately dealing with faulty jacks and it may just be that. I know that on my Asus P5K Pro I can get a hum going if I don't have the cable in there just right. Hope that helps. Pauldo __________________ SystemSpec \| Power Supply Info \| How to Post a Screen shot \| Speedfan[/center]

02-08-2009, 06:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dark Jedi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 61 OS: xp	Re: New build, very low sound I am using powered speakers, Manic. Interesting - the other set of speakers I tried, that were a bit better, were not powered. Go figure. (Other than games sound effects and streaming video, I do listen to Pandora and XM radio online regularly.) I'll try your driver suggestion today Pauldo. I do recall installing drivers off the CD that came with the motherboard, but Vista likely also did some stuff - you know how Vista is. Thanks for the suggestion about getting drivers from the website - I probably wouldn't have done that. You're right thsat something must be amiss in that I can't open the Realtek GUI.

02-09-2009, 07:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dark Jedi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 61 OS: xp	Re: New build, very low sound I did manage to download updated drivers from the Asus website and I can now enter the Realtek GUI. However, whatever tweeks I try, the sound is still very low. I do plan to try some other different speakers today (borrowing from a friend) as my speaker are older. Any other ideas out there?

02-09-2009, 03:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dark Jedi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 61 OS: xp	Re: New build, very low sound Solved! New speakers, it seems, will do the trick.

02-09-2009, 03:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: New build, very low sound Glad to hear it! Pauldo __________________ SystemSpec \| Power Supply Info \| How to Post a Screen shot \| Speedfan[/center]