|
Gumby
Fishnologist



Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
|
Issues with audio on PC
#7448335 - 09/24/07 04:50 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
My computer/speakers seem to have developed a problem and for the life of me I can't figure it out.
First off, some info: -Sound card: SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio -Speakers: Logitech Z3 (2.1) -OS: XP Pro, SP2
Now for the problem. For some reason my right speaker will randomly stop working all together or it will produce sound at a much lower volume than the left. In order to remedy the problem I have to move the output to the right channel, physically unplug the audio jack from the back of the computer, and slowly (for some reason) plug the audio jack back in then move the output back to both channels. Sometimes I have to plug/unplug the jack multiple times.
Any clue whats going on here? Hardware issue? Software issue? I'm inclined to think that it's a software issue because this seems to have happened when I installed some new software. I would just remove it and see if that was the case, but: 1) this problem happens randomly 2) either way I need the software that I installed.
I'm going to attempt to find and reinstall drivers for the integrated sound card and see if that fixes it. I have my thoughts though.
Additional question: If the only thing I use my sound card for is listening to music/gaming... is there any real reason for me to by an actual sound card? What benefits are there?
|
automan
blasted chipmunk


Registered: 09/18/03
Posts: 8,272
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: Gumby]
#7448496 - 09/24/07 05:47 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
check with another set of speakers. if the problem stops, it's the old speakers. if you still have the problem, it is the input jack.
-------------------- No, no, you're not thinking, you're just being logical. ~ Niels Bohr
|
Gumby
Fishnologist



Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: automan]
#7448512 - 09/24/07 05:53 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Alright, that works. I'm sure my roommate wouldn't mind trading his shitty tin can speakers for some nice speakers with a woofer. I'll let you know the results within a day or two.
|
windex
old hand
Registered: 06/27/01
Posts: 1,293
Last seen: 9 years, 7 months
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: Gumby]
#7449019 - 09/24/07 07:59 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
These new fangled sound cards and their auto-detecting when an item is plugged in was one of the worst ideas ever.
Also may want to try upgrading your sound driver because now that would actually effect what happens when you plug things into your sound card because of that nonsense. I've had sound cards not work through the front inputs using the driver on the cd that came with the system. The DRIVER had to be updated to DETECT that the speakers were plugged in... fucking brilliant I say...
|
Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
Last seen: 2 months, 20 days
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: windex]
#7450581 - 09/25/07 05:24 AM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
> These new fangled sound cards and their auto-detecting when an item is plugged in was one of the worst ideas ever.
Agree completely. Coupled with cheap Chinese plastic audio jack ports that tend to fail in the "there is something plugged in" mode, but with zero impedance load (i.e. nothing plugged in), and all sorts of interesting problems start to occur.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
|
Gumby
Fishnologist



Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: Gumby]
#7456242 - 09/26/07 03:51 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Alright, I think I found the culprit and this makes absolutely zero sense.
I seemed to remember having a similar or perhaps the same problem last year. I installed a seizure inducing screen saver last year to annoy my roommate(it worked:)). I seemed to remember that if the screen saver was on for too long I'd lose sound in one of my speakers. So I checked, and sure enough there was a screen saver set. It was just a blank screen, but I turned it off anyway. I turn on the speakers this morning and everything is working fine.
How in the hell could a screen saver make me lose volume in my right speaker?
|
windex
old hand
Registered: 06/27/01
Posts: 1,293
Last seen: 9 years, 7 months
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: Gumby]
#7456860 - 09/26/07 06:17 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
That is pretty strange.
|
Gumby
Fishnologist



Registered: 06/13/01
Posts: 26,656
|
Re: Issues with audio on PC [Re: Gumby]
#7494211 - 10/07/07 12:18 PM (16 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Son of a bitch!
It's happening again, but much more infrequently. I'm pretty damn sure it's not the speakers too.
I had a weird observation the other day while doing some trial and error with overclocking. Every time I would kill the power switch on the PSU, you could hear this static in the speakers that started out loud and faded as the PSU lost power. I think my MOBO might be having some issues =\
|
|