Problem with Sound Card

**DrIstvaan** · June 06, 2007, 09:06 AM

I'm speaking on behalf of my brother (he's no TWC member), and I'd need help with a weirdly working sound card.
He has a ForteMedia FM 801, and while playing certain games (p.e. Warcraft III or Neverwinter Nights), or playing RealMedia audio, it leaves out sounds. The duration of the hiati is very short (~0.5 seconds) but in the long term it gets very annoying.
He's tried changing to a Genius Soundmaker Value 5.1, but he can't even install the driver for that one, as then Windows inevitably freezes, and after a reboot, not even his mouse is operational (he has to reboot in safe mode, and uninstall the driver).
These two cards have in common only that both of them use C-Media chips. May it be the cause that his motherboard (Asus A7V8X-X) is incompatible with that chip? If not, does anyone have an idea what could cause the ForteMedia's weird behavior?
Thanks in advance for any help.

**Exidus Maximus** · June 07, 2007, 01:50 PM

sounds like ur drivers are bad. make sure ur BIOS is up to date, and reinstall ur drivers for the card, and all ur audio codecs. also inspect the card for any defects or damage...

so, do that and then let us know how it goes!

**DrIstvaan** · June 07, 2007, 02:05 PM

Well, drivers shouldn't be causing problems, as we've tried both the one found in the package (on the supplied disk) and which is available from the maker's home page for both cards, but the results are always the same.
About BIOS... I don't know if that's up to date... but I doubt it is.
Audio codecs seem to be all right.
Cards are in good condition, I haven't found any defects on any of them.

**Exidus Maximus** · June 07, 2007, 02:35 PM

well, have these cards always done this? if so then the cards might just suck.

also, exactly what are u talking about when u say its "leaving out sounds"? like, is it just muted, or does it just COMPLETELY stop all noise?

**DrIstvaan** · June 08, 2007, 02:26 AM

The FM801 worked fine for a time. When I say it leaves out sounds, I mean it misses them COMPLETELY, there isn't even a pause instead of the sound. It goes on as if there were nothing between the two surrounding sounds.
The Genius has been malfunctioning practically since we've bought it (the very first time it was good, but then after the first reboot it acted up).
Anyway, thanks for trying to help

.

**Exidus Maximus** · June 09, 2007, 10:44 PM

just get a new one. the card is a slacker. :-P

**DrIstvaan** · June 10, 2007, 01:54 AM

That's what we'll do... We'll get an Audigy, that's got a very reasonable price, and doesn't have (AFAIK) C-Media chip.

**DrIstvaan** · June 14, 2007, 12:43 PM

Loooool... Seems we've mistreated the poor FM-801 card with some not-100%-compatible driver the whole time. Having installed the driver supplied on the CD coming with the card, it works very well now.
But thanks for your efforts!