Slow Sound

[kevincaley]

I have two Novatech PC's and they both have the same problem. I'm posting this note in the hope someone can help me because I couldn't get through to them on the phone and they haven't replied to my request for assistance. Both computers have AMD 64bit processors both run Windows XP Proffessional SP2 with all updates. Both have Winfast motherboards with on-board sound.
My problem is that sound files and audio CD's play at what sounds like half speed! There are no apparent problems with the drivers or sound settings. Can anyone please help?
Thanks

[Taxation]

Have you installed any new hardware/software
done a virus scan yet

[Chewie]

Both have Winfast motherboards with on-board sound.


Kev
When did the problem first occur? had you just installed some software ?

you say you have all updates, have you updated the motherboard drivers?
if the problem occured whenyou updated a driver or part of windows, try roling back to a previous version.


Also, please let us know your exact pc spec (somethin like in my sig below) so we may take a better guess at solving your problem.

[kevincaley]

Thanks for your reply. As far as I know both computers have had the slow sound problem since they were first set up. I have tried updating the sound drivers and the motherboard drivers. Both computers now have quite a bit of software on them including MS Office, Paint Shop Pro, Roxi CD copy software Norton Utilities etc and they are connected via a small network which has two other computers on it and broadband (behind a hardware firewall as well as the Windows XP software firewall). They have also had hardware added - extra DVD writer in both (from old computers), the latest computer now has a Freecom DVB-T fitted (which I can't use because of the sound problem), a webcam (in new one), scanner, printers, USB connections to cameras, phones etc. All this stuff worked fine on the old computer.

The spec's are:
(1) Bought last August - MATRIX ELITE AMD64 3000 512MB DDR 200GB SATA HDD GEFORCE 6200 PCI-E DVD/CD COMBO.
(2) Bought a couple of weeks ago - Matix Elite AMD64 3700 512mb DDR 300gb SATA HDD GeForce 6600 128Mb GT PCI-E Graphics DVD Burner, Winfast Foxconn NF4UK8AA motherboard.

My Laptop which is connected to the same network and has much of the same software works fine - even though I recently upgraded the hard disk and re-installed everything. The new Novatech replaces an AMD 2400 that I had built myself a few years ago but had started to become a bit unreliable - 'blue screen of death' every couple of weeks - just when I had a really important job on! That had all of the peripherals and a DVD writer that I have since transferred to the new computer and there were no problems with it's sound. I also transferred the second HDD from the old computer to the new one because it had data I needed.

All of the hardware and software appears to work fine - like it did on my old computer and there are no apparent problems in 'Hardware Manager'.

I realised that I had a problem when trying to set up my Freecom DVD digital TV tuner so that I can record programmes whilst on holiday next week but unless I can fix the problem in the next few days I will not be able to do that.

As you can tell, I have built a few computers from components in my time and I'm used to solving problems like this - but I'm stumped. I'd be very grateful for some help.

Kevin

[Chewie]

On looking into this, it shows that while they are both nForce 4 boards, you seem to have basic ac97 audio.

first step, are you using winfast/foxconn NF4 based drivers for the board?
If so, get the latest nVidia ones and see how she goes then.

http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

Not being an nf4 user, i can't point out which of the nvidia platform drivers to use, as they have 2 sets, standard NF4 AMD and NF4 430/410

That should cure the problem.

If not then try the realtek drivers themselves, current version of A3.84
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dla ... tware=True (http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlac97-2.aspx?lineid=5&famid=12&series=8&Software=True)

Its beginning to sound like, as the sound has seemed to be poor since you got the machines, that the makers drivers aren't all that good.

You answered my next question already, about the hardware manager and any conflicts, so for now, its pointing to a driver fault for sure.

Give it a try and let us know how you do.

[kevincaley]

Thanks Chewie
Unfortunately your suggestions did not work. I installed all the options you suggested in turn and even used System Restore to just try the Realtek drivers by themselves but still no good.
One interesting thing that I did not mention before is that the sounds that Windows itself makes - the tunes on start up and shut down for example, work fine.
Thanks for trying. Do you have any other ideas?
Kevin

[Chewie]

Hmm
I'm missing something, but can't think for the life of me what it is.

Not being at my machine, i cant even tinker with my control panel to see if there is any sound options that can be changed to see if it afects the sound quality.

My only other thought is this, do you know someone with an SBlive 5.1 or similar soundcard they wouldn't mind letting you borrow, which you can install and then turn off the onbaord sound in the BIOS and see if theres a difference (willing to bet there is).

If thats not an option, i stumped for now.

Googling there are a few cases with sound type problems, but i can't access them from my works machine so can't check on what exactly they had wrong.

My only option at this time is to try a seperate sound card.

If that cures it, then its 2 options.
1 buy seperate sound cards.
2 dropit in the suppliers lap see if they can solve it.

All the reviews on this board are suggesting that for its price and such, its apparently quite a good board (budget performer in the NF4 based mobos)

Sorry i cannot be of more help at this time.

If I think of anything else, I'll get back to you.

[Danno]

this is a very odd problem. as the windows sounds are ok it suggests the hardware is ok.

what software are you using when playing back audio files and cd's? have you tried other playback software?

i normally deal with allot of the aftersales emails. i have found you email sent on the 8th. i did not have a clue what would cause this problem so i forwarded the email to one of my colleagues in another department, however i did not know he was off last week. when i her back i will let you know if he has any ideas.

when i know what software it is that you are using i will look into the problem more.

[David T]

I've had a bit of a think about this one, its not the first time I've heard of this sort of thing but it was the drivers that fixed it last time but thats not the case here.

The hardware does -seem- fine, and I would say that its more then likely software related so as you have tried all of the usual driver updates already I would recommend updating all of your audio codecs and software plugins (if any)

Some of these can be found below, some of them are 3rd party so are run at your own risk.

http://www.free-codecs.com/Audio_Codecs.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... nload.aspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/format/codecdownload.aspx)

http://www.divxtotalpack.org/

http://www.xvid.org/

http://www.k-litecodecpack.com/

Sorry I can't be of more help, if you do have any other information such as what software you use for audio playback that would be great.

~David.

[kevincaley]

Hi
I've just got back from holiday and I have been through it all again, re-installing the drivers, disabling the sound in the BIOS and re enabling it again. All with no success. I have tried playing an audio CD in both DVD drives, using Windows Media Player, Roxio disc copying software and a DVD using WinDVD software - always the same problem.
Unfortunately, I can't just ignore the problem because I want to use the computer for video editing and TV recording. I also need to buy another PC for work and was planning to order another Novatech - but I'm worried now...!
I think that the only way forward is to disable the on-board sound and buy a separate PCI sound card and see if that works. However, I would still be VERY grateful if anyone can come up with a suggestion that works!

[Danno]

this is a really odd problem. would it be possible to upload or email a few sound clips that have been recorded on the pc?

if possible i would like to hear something thats been recorded / created on the pc that has problems playing back.

what would be good is something recorded through a microphone or some sort of capture device like a tv card. also if the sound card supports it something recorded through the "what you hear" record option (play something and record it).

what i want to find out is if the problems is just a playback problem on your pc or if its a capture problem as well. i should be able to tell this if i play the sounds here.

[kevincaley]

Hi
Thanks for the prompt reply, In the meantime I have just ordered a new Novatech PC and 2 sound cards!
The problem only appears to be when I play back things (although I have not actually tried something I have recorded on this PC on another machine yet). The reason I say that is that I have just tried playing back a video clip I recorded on holiday with my new digital camera and the sound problem is there - BUT it plays fine on my laptop.
How can I send you a sample file? can you send me an email address?

[Danno]

please can you send it to customer.services@novatech.co.uk. can you put something like slow sound and you order number in the subject line.

cheers

Danno

[kevincaley]

Hi Danno
I have tried (without success) to record a file and email it to you. For excample; when I tried to record something with my webcam I couldn't find where the file was stored! I had a few other problems as well and I'm short of time. However, when trying to transfer files to my PDA and play them - and also trying to record on my PDA what the PC was playing (again without much success because of getting the wrong file formats!) I have come to two conclusions that might be significant:

(a) it's only when playing back files that I have a problem, NOT recording them and
(b) although I said that the Windows sounds played OK I now realise that they are slower than normal and therefore sound very 'laid back' - I thought that that was just a Windows option to have a more relaxing version of the sounds but I now see that I am using the default sounds.

Interestingly, the Windows sounds are at the right frequency, although slower than expected but when I play CD's or voice recordings, or TV recordings it sounds like Darth Vader speaking! - i.e. the FREQUENCY is much lower as well as the time taken. Whereas the Windows sounds take longer but are at the right pitch.

This means that any file I could send you would probably sound fine on your PC.

[Danno]

i have been speaking with a few colleagues and everyone has ran out of ideas. i think its time to give up and try the new sound cards. i have checked your customer account and i see that your new order has been dispatched and it should be woth you sometime tomorrow.

hopefully the two new sound cards will solve the problem, before installing them dont forget to disable the onboard sound in the bios.

please can you let me know how you get on with the new cards.

[kevincaley]

Hi
I've just received the sound cards I have purchased and installed one in one of the two PC's withs 'slow sound', having first disabled the on-board sound system. I'm pleased to say that it works!!!
It's a great relief, although I'd be much happier if I hadn't had the hassle of trying to solve the problem and having to spend extra on new sound cards! The new PC I ordered arrived as well, so my next job is to set that up and see if it suffers from the same problem!
Kevin

[Coops]

I must admit this is a most interesting problem and one i have not heard of before on the NF4UK8AA Mainboard.
I am going to look in to this issue for you, however i need some information from you please.

The two PC's that have this issue, could you please post the serial numbers from each one.
they should be on a sticker on the back of the system and are laid out like

xxxxxxx-***

With these i will be able to tell the systems entire setup included driver version and OS Install if you bought system from us with Windows Preload

[kevincaley]

I bought both systems without software and installed it myself. The serial number of the latest one (which now works with the PCI Sound card fitted) is 7081833-001. I don't have the time to dig the other one out from under its desk at the moment to check its number because several of the cables are short and the whole thing will need to be unplugged but I will do so in the next couple of days to fit the new soundcard and I will post it then.

Meanwhile I have just finished setting up the PC that was delivered today - as far as possible in the same way - and the sond on that works fine!

[kevincaley]

I have just fitted the new sound card to the other computer (Serial No. 7075037-001) and that now works fine as well.