Advise with sound cards.

[1031982]

First off, I checked my system out with AVG Anti-Virus 8 Free, SpyBot S&D, and Ad-Aware. Everything was clean (Except a few cookies) and recently re-installed my system for a direct SP3 system and the yearly clean up.

I am getting tired of the issues popping up with my sound card. It's the Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (hardware is great, it seems to always be a driver problem)
Now, usually it wouldn't bother me to reset the speaker settings. It only happened when I rebooted occasionally (I use speaker guard with partial luck)
Recently, the started to just “loose” communication with the system. Basically, I would not hear any sound not played already, and the Creative software said the card was simply not there. (Ya, right, because I went in and ripped it out of the PCI slot...) The fix, reboot. Now if I am doing something important, I can't exactly reboot any time it decides to loose the card. If I am using the SPD/IF input or anything with a high quality digital audio (I use the card hardware decoding for DD and DTS) I get the BSOD. Always pointing to the driver files either ctdvda2k.sys, emupia2k.sys, or wdmaud.drv.
As far as I can tell, the first 2 deal with the ability to tell the card to do hardware decoding. The last one is obviously the generic Windows driver, and relies on the rest of the driver files for the card to work. (I could be wrong, but it's what I think)
I am running all the latest versions of the drivers and software, and previous versions had other issues that were a lot worse. Creative tells me to buy a new card every time, and that it can't be their drivers. (Ya, right, because it works perfectly in Linux builds.) Now I can't use the hardware decoding in Linux above stereo because it needs to be enabled through the driver. But I ran a lot more through it and it never flinched.

So, does anyone know what I can do about this? If it's worth it to get a new card to avoid the problems, below are the list of things I do with my card that I want to keep.

Dolby Digital and DTS hardware decoding (If possible DTS Master audio and other formats used on HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, not needed, but would like )
SPDIF Optical and coaxal in/out. Mostly I will use the optical, so if I can't get both optical is a MUST.
Ability to record everything. IE : I can record the Wave out, and “everything you hear”
Also, I have a 5.1 speaker setup, kinda need that.
I do use the CMSS 3D feature with music. I would like to have that (or something comparable), but it's not needed if the card handles stereo signals well on surround systems.
I will need to either have the card automatically send LFE signals that go out of range to the sub-woofer, or offer a manual setting. I have my Xbox 360's audio going into the card, and in Gears of War the Locusts voices are exceptional low, causing clipping in the sound if I don't use the cut off frequency. Anything from the PC directly is fine, as well as movies.

If it's best to get a new card, I won't be able to for some time. Also, it HAS to be PCI. (Unless you want to donate a new PC to me.)
Need more info, just ask.

[Adrian Wong]

Regarding the popping sounds, it could be the PCI Latency Timer - Tech ARP - PCI Latency Timer

Try using a longer value.

[Mac Daddy]

On Creative drivers have always been an issue. I have lost touch with some old friends working on them but you could check here ...

Official kX Project Site -- News

On the popping issue check what Adrian mentioned I don't think your card is affected by capacitor leakage the X-Fi cards were. Easy to check just check the electrolytic caps .. mylar, tantalum, polystyrene and ceramic caps use a solid dielectric not electrolyte so they can't leak

[1031982]

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

Regarding the popping sounds, it could be the PCI Latency Timer - Tech ARP - PCI Latency Timer

Try using a longer value.

Tried that earlier on, nothing changed. But again, it only happens with extremely heavy bass sounds in games from my XBox that (for some reason) the card sends to all speakers. With the cut off frequency, it sends it to the sub woofer properly. Also, I recently cleaned my PC out of dust, removing all contents. And I am glad to say nothing has a single problem with faulty capacitors. And yes, I had these problems before I cleaned my PC out.
So if anything, I think it's a speaker issue, either configuration (from sound card) or the speakers themselves.(Doubtful, as they are fairly high quality. Last thing listed in my signature.) Regardless, using that, I can max things out with crystal clarity.

[Mac Daddy]

Thats really strange I am still thinking a driver issue

But it hasn't always done this has it ?

[Rraven]

Most likely it is a driver issue. There have been many known problems with Creative and their drivers. I do note that you are using a NF2 board and many of the Nforce boards have had issues with Creative products mainly because of the drivers. Neither Creative or Nvidia have stepped forward to resolve this they just keep pointing fingers at one another.

I had a NForce board and was using an Audigy SE for sound. There was often a lot of crackling and popping noises coming from the system. Take the card out put into a board with Via chipset and it works fine. Use the onboard sound from the MB all works fine. Put the 2 back together and be back to the same issues with popping and crackles.

[Rraven]

On a side note. I know there were several folks working on drivers for Creative products. One of these I know for sure got a very curt letter from the Creative attorneys issuing a cease and desist or we'll sue the hell outta you.

Many folks responded in public forums with statements of well tell your coders to fix your drivers and other wont find in necessary to do so.

[1031982]

Ya, these problems have been going on ever scene I had the card. It's not all the time, just when it matter most.

I knew about the NF2 chipset compatibility issues, and set it up for optimum configuration. Went out of my way for it, and it fixed a stupid problem. Basically, it was random if the driver would load up, because the card was not always identified.

Ravin, I do understand your input, but again it's only with high bass output coming from my 360 when playing a game. If I watch a movie with my 360 or do anything on my computer, there is NO popping, clicking, or distortion.

In any case, I will try out the driver linked by Mac Daddy. I will report after I had some time to properly use it and so on.

[Mac Daddy]

Cool let us know on the driver Bro

[Lacus]

Yeah, do let us know whether it works or not