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Resolved Sound card not recognized

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by LarryB, 2014/07/04.

  1. 2014/07/04
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I have a new Win 7 64-bit computer and wanted to upgrade the audio on a budget. My last XP computer had a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz and loved it. So, I picked up a used TB Montego DDL. TB has a Win7 64 bit driver that I downloaded and installed. As expected, it asked to have the board installed. So, I turned off the computer, installed the board, it does not recognize it. I then repeated the process using another PCI slot. Nothing.

    So, before I declare this board DOA and return it, is there something else that I should know? More importantly, anything that YOU need to know? Thanks
     
  2. 2014/07/04
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Is not compatible with Windows 7

    http://support.turtlebeach.com/entry/588118183/
     
    Arie,
    #2

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  4. 2014/07/04
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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  5. 2014/07/05
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Definitely some conflicting information posted on TB's website - a fact I would grip to them about.

    I suspect the problem is you apparently installed the driver before installing the board. As with most hardware installs, that is backwards! The correct order is hardware first, then drivers - as shown in your installation/user manual.

    If me, I would totally uninstall the driver using the TB uninstall option in your Start menu then exit Windows and power down the computer and (after unplugging the computer from the wall - which I hope you did during install) remove the sound board. Then connect power and fire up the computer and make sure all is good.

    Then exit Windows and power down the computer again, unplug from the wall, and while carefully observing ESD control, install the card. Then power up the computer and when "New Hardware" is detected, do NOT let Windows find it, but rather point Windows to your downloaded driver file, then install the drivers.

    Note typically you do not have to disable on-board sound when installing a sound card as the chipset should know how to do that, then do it for you. But you can do this manually if you like, BEFORE installing the TB card and TB drivers.
     
    Bill,
    #4
  6. 2014/07/05
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi Bill,

    I tried every order of installing this critter. Nada. I used Revo to uninstall the driver after every failed attempt. There are apparently many like me that have been unsuccessful in this scenario.

    I have decided to send it back and, if I decide to continue with the sound card option, go new or newer. Turns out that even if it did install, it may have been a bit buggy. Don't need buggy.

    Thanks to you and Arie for your ever-present helpfulness. See ya soon!!

    Lar
     
  7. 2014/07/05
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I don't recommend Revo unless the product's own uninstaller or the Windows installer (from the Control Panel applet) fails.

    BTW, you said this was a "new" computer. Note that the integrated audio on the current crop of motherboards is actually excellent. This is because these systems are often integrated into home theater systems as HTPCs. And they work well there, even with speaker systems that cost many $1000s (and that may be just for the two front speakers). And remember, those are unpowered speakers.

    Computer speakers, on the other hand, rarely cost more than a couple $100 and include all the amplifier stages too stuffed in the subwoofer.

    What I am saying is what has been true forever - the speakers are the key factor in high fidelity reproduction. And to that, unless you already have a small fortune invested in your computer speakers, you might do better with a new set of speakers instead.
     
    Bill,
    #6
  8. 2014/07/05
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Bill. I will take your thoughts into consideration. I do know that speakers are the centerpiece of any audio system.

    My impression with the speakers being equal, is that they sounded better with the TB Santa Cruz in place in the prior XP system. I am in no hurry. I will play a little more with the settings on this one.

    The cautionary comments on Revo were unexpected. I have it set to create a Restore Point before any uninstall. Thanks again.
     
    Last edited: 2014/07/05
  9. 2014/07/06
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    No doubt!!! XP era motherboards were primarily designed for "production" machines - that is, not entertainment. Audio was for "Windows sounds" and low volume background music. Integrated sound and budget cards did not use quality DACs. But as more and more high-end games started incorporating hi-fidelity surround sound, and as DVDs and BluRay players became commonplace, computer users started to use their computers more and more as entertainment systems - watching movies and actually "listening" to music via their PC systems, motherboard makers started integrating better audio - at least on their better boards.

    That said, I am NOT saying a decent audio card from TB, SB or M-Audio will not improve your audio - but I am saying to take advantage of that ear-candy, you need quality speakers (and amplification). And that means forget about those little tiny lousy speakers that come integrated into more and more monitors these days. :(

    Revo is a crowbar - designed to remove programs by force should the "application specific" uninstaller fail. Setting a Restore Point before making changes is good, but a Restore point is not a panacea for all that can go wrong. I am not saying Revo is bad - it is in my toolbag too. I just don't recommend using it, unless a crowbar is what you really need.
     
    Bill,
    #8
  10. 2014/07/06
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    My 'puter station is in a large, closeable piece of furniture that is very utilitarian yet attractive when closed with a high WAF. It is our "office ". My speakers are an old 2.1 setup from Labtec that sound pretty good and take up little space. Maybe I should look around for a better 2.1 and I can stick the sub on the floor. Hmmmm.... At least the onboard does have an EQ. Any suggestions for a good, cheap-ish 2.1? Lack of midrange is my usual complaint as the main speakers tend to be little drivers that are, in effect, tweeters. My old ones are a bit larger for a fuller sound.

    Funny you mention monitors with speakers. My new Asus monitor just happened to be on sale and have speakers. Their SQ reminds me of an old transistor radio except that they are really inefficient. With my Realtek onboard audio at max, the spl is very low. Seems illogical.

    Regarding Revo, let me ask you something. My rational for using it is that OS's just get slow over time and I "assumed" that the reason for this was at least in part all the bits and pieces left over from prior uninstalls (registry, dll, etc). A more complete uninstall could keep the OS running fast for a longer period of time. Are my efforts misplaced?

    Thanks again!
     
  11. 2014/07/06
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Not if you just use sound for Windows sounds and low background music - like in an office environment. Then you can typically feed the audio to the monitor, along with the video, with a single HDMI cable resulting in less clutter and more desk real estate. Monitor speakers work fine for voice chats too.

    Why? I mean if looking for quality sound, going "cheapish" with your speakers is not the solution. That said, "cheap-ish" to you may mean $100, but $300 to someone else, or maybe $30! Considering computer speakers can cost $700 - $800 or more, we need a budget. At any rate, Labtec has never been known for quality audio reproduction. And considering the most expensive 2.1 Labtec system I can find is less than $100, it is no wonder. I am not criticizing because for many computer users, that's all they need. But if looking for "HiFi" quality sound, you are not going to get it with a $100 3-speaker system with integrated electronics.

    I note high SPLs is not an audio "quality ", but rather a "capability ". There are many speakers capable of eardrum bursting volume levels, but the high distortion levels that come with them would be objectionable to any discerning listener.

    In full disclosure, I've been into computer hardware since the mid 70s but my first consumer electronics love was, and still is audiophile quality audio reproduction. While certainly there have been huge advancements in small speaker technologies in recent years, there is no computer speaker system in the world that can compete with a 1/2 way decent home audio system - not when you consider a single, unpowered, front speaker can cost $1000 (and that is "cheap-ish" - compared to what's out there. Add another front, a center, and two surround (rear) speakers and the prices soar - and again, you still have to buy the electronics (amplification) to drive them.

    And I should note that "1/2 way decent" is also subjective. You can easily spend $10,000 on just the speakers in a home theater system - not counting the self-powered subwoofer. But you can also spend $100,000 or more. Sadly, I am not sure my 62 year old ears could discern the difference. :(

    That said, $2000 for your home theater would buy you some pretty decent sound.

    I paid about $300 for my 5.1 Logitech computer speakers and I have to admit, they sound pretty good - at least until I fire up my home theater system where my two main fronts cost 3 times that - each. A lot money for me but still considered "cheap-ish" for many purest.

    As for your sub-woofer's placement, I would definitely put it on the floor to minimize vibrations through your desk and free up desk space.
     
  12. 2014/07/06
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    When I get a chance, I will look into a new 2.1 system. Maybe an HK Soundsticks or Logitech Z623.

    Thanks for the insights, as always.

    Larry

    BTW- our computers look pretty comparable!! Our audio systems are not. :(
     
  13. 2014/07/07
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Very similar. I have been a Gigabyte motherboard fan for more than 10 years - ever since they replaced a 4-year old board with leaky caps for free - that was a full year out of warranty! How a company handles their mistakes has a great influence on me and whether I will do business with them again.

    As for our audio - for audio playback, they are very similar - assuming you are talking about computer audio. Similar and excellent for listening to music. If you will be manipulating or making music, then a card would be warranted.

    And remember, if you are using a digital output from your computer's sound device, then the device's codec is by-passed anyway - and it is the codec where a sounds devices quality suffers, or shines. This would be the case if your speakers accept a digital input, or you feed the digital audio to a receiver. Then the speaker's or receiver's (hopefully high quality) codec does the dirty (or, hopefully very clean) work.

    BTW, there are several models in the Speedsticks line.
     
  14. 2014/07/17
    LarryB

    LarryB Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Bill, thanks for the tips on speakers. Sounds like the Soundsticks are highly though of. They just look so gimmicky. Just for playing music.

    On a side note (aka- threadcrapping my own thread!), my SSD is 3/4 full. On a std HDD that would be a problem but is that true with SSDs? It is used only for programs.

    Thanks.
     
  15. 2014/07/17
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Yes it is true, ESPECIALLY if the operating system is on that drive. It has nothing to do with being a SSD or a HD. An OS needs room to work in, to temporarily store data, open files, PF operation, and more. So lots of free space (some say 30Gb or more and I think that is a safe amount) on the boot drive is important.

    For programs, it is less critical, but still important. Remember, any time a "program" file is opened, temporary files are written to the disk. Plus program files (including OS files) are frequently updated and the update process involves saving the new version BEFORE deleting the old. So extra space is needed for that.

    Data files, to include music and video files, generally are not modified so they present less a need for extra free space.

    As for speakers, my first set of audiophile quality speakers were a set of AR-3a speakers. They were just plain wood boxes with a plain cloth "grill covers" and I did not care a bit. Why? Because I don't watch my speakers! I listen to them. And the ARs sounded so very nice. :D

    It is the same with some of computer cases out there. They have flashy lights and fancy façades. But fancy facades go out of fashion and flashy lights do nothing for performance, consume power, generate some heat, and do nothing for performance (worth repeating). I want my case to cool the innards and to sit quietly and discreetly off to the side, and NOT draw attention to itself.
     

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