Sound Card Problems??

The computer I have has an intergrated sound card:

VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP (64MB) Intergrated Sound card
VIA AC"97 Enhanced Audio Controller
VIA VT1617A Intergrated sound card

This sound card does not record or have any microphone capablities. Do I have to replace it with another sound card?? Is anyone familiar with this sound card?? Thanks for all post in advance.

AMD Athlon
MSI K8mm-V( MS-742)
VIA VT8380 K8M800, AMD Hammer
512 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
VIA/S3G UniChrome Pro IGP (64MB) Intergrated Sound card
VIA AC"97 Enhanced Audio Controller
VIA VT1617A Intergrated sound card
VIA SATA RAID Controller
Floppy Drive
Seagate 80 GB 7200 Rpm SATA
BENQ CDRW 52X32
VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter
Monitor - Dell E77os (17" CRT)
WD 8o GB External HD
Seagate 20 GB External HD

 

If you want the capabilities to record sound then you will have to "replace" it. To do it you would buy whatever card you want (most creative labs come w/mic support) and simply move a jumper on your mobo to disable the integrated sound. The mobo manual should have a diagram of where the jumper is and what to move it to in order to disable the integrated card.

A decent CL Soundblaster can be as cheap as $30-$50.

 

So your card has no mic or line in? Because its not a matter of the card recording, its a matter of software to record, i prefer audacity, available here at mg's http://www.majorgeeks.com/Audacity_d4427.html

 

Rmanoo99: Thanks for your post. I have a Sound Blaster Live 5.1 sound card and downloaded driver to install. The 90 page manual has only 15 pages in English. The mobo diagram is vague as to where the sound card is. Which slot?? As to the jumper for the sd card, where will look for it?? Someone told me that I have to uninstall the intergrated sd card in BIOS then install the driver for the new card. I don't want to attempt to make the change until I am sure of what I am doing.

 

Colemanguy: I downloaded Audacity on this computer. Audacity would not record on this sound card. I used Audacity on another computer which has a Sound Blaster card a it worked fine. Mic line is there but does not work w/ this card.

 

If your computer has a line in you can record. Its a matter of finding the right software/mixer control. Make sure any sound line in or mic in isn't muted.

 

I've NEVER seen a sound card (built-in or PCI) that could not record, unless something is physically wrong or damaged. It's usually a matter of drivers and software. If you're determined to use the SoundBlaster, you can put it in any open PCI slot. Be sure to disable the built-in onboard sound in the BIOS before booting to Windows and loading the SoundBlaster drivers.

hopperdave2000

 

Hopperdave2000: Thanks for your post. So your thinking is that something physcial is wrong w/ the mic jack must be concidered. And installing a new card might not correct the problem. I have to consider that. Someone posted JUMPER settings must be done w/ the installation of new card???? I was hopeing that someone at MG might have had a similar problem. I'll agree that the Sound card should be fuctioning completely. Anybody have any suggestions??

 

First off- if you install a PCI sound card, it will work as long as you install all the correct drivers and software for that card, and you disable the on board sound in the BIOS before installing the card. Secondly- jumpers have nothing to do with any of this. Third- the pink jack in the back is for a microphone, green for speakers/headphones, blue is auxiliary line in. To test your recording capabilities, plug a mic into the pink jack. Go to Control Panel > Sounds & Audio Devices and click on the Audio tab. Under Recording, make sure that your sound card is listed as the default device. If not, select it from the drop down menu, click Apply. Now click on the Voice tab, click on Test Hardware. It'll go thru a test with the green progress bar. When that's done, you'll have a window where you can test the mic by speaking into it and the window will show if it's working or not. Be sure everything is enabled, turned up to about half or two-thirds, and nothing is muted before doing this test. You can adjust volumes for everything and check the mute status under the Voice tab > Advanced or by right clicking on the little speaker down by the clock and choosing Open Volume Controls. Do all this before installing a new sound card. That way you can test everything and see if the sound card is even needed.

hopperdave2000

 

Hopperdave2000: Thanks for your post and info. I did a similar test yesterday w/ only the front side bus (not the the rear pink jack). I'll try and do it again with the rear jack. I'll post you again in a couple of days. I'm not going to make any changes till I'm sure I am dooing the right thing. Thanks again.

 

Hopperdave2000; I just finished a test on the frontside bus and all i got thru the earphones was some clicking sounds. No Voice prompt at all. I'll try it again on the back outlets tommorrow again.

 

The front jacks may not be the most accurate way to perform audio tests; they can be hooked up incorrectly or not at all. And with some PC's, you can only use the front or the rear jacks, but not both at the same time; if something was plugged into the rear jacks while you tried to use the front jacks, the rear jacks might 'override' the front jacks....

hopperdave2000

 

Hopperdave2000; You are correct in your assesment. The rear is working fine. Sound test worked fine. All is well. Thanks again for your help. I added a 1gig memory card. It is faster now and does not bogg down. ODIE