Sound card and video card conflict, only on w7

brreaker · 29 Aug 2013

First of all, hello!
I have kind of a big problem here. I have an nVidia Geforce GT220 video card and a Creative SB Audigy SE sound card (PCI)
They both work fine under windows XP, however, on windows 7 I have a problem with a conflict. The thing is, the video card has integrated Audio (for HDMI) so my sound card doesn't show up in device manager at all. If after a clean install of Windows I remove the GPU and restart, Windows will see my Sound card and I can install and use it, however, after restarting to finish the sound card install and plugging my GPU back in, as there is already an audio driver installed (The creative one) windows doesn't recognize my GPU anymore (not showing up in device manager, can't install the driver because it is not detected as connected)
After running device manager with set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 I can see that my GPU is in the device manager list, but it is listed as not connected to the PC (Error 45). I contacted nvidia, they told me to contact Creative, I did so, and they told me to talk to nVidia. I am sure this is a windows 7 problem, considering they both work just fine under windows XP. Is there any way I can disable this device priority thing under windows 7 so I am able to use both my cards?
Sometimes, after I restart, windows would see my video card and stop seeing the sound one, then other times it would see the sound one and stop seeing the GPU. It's very annoying.
Thank you in advance!
Best regards,
Manu Andrei

fireberd · 29 Aug 2013

You would be better off using the Integrated VIA HD audio on the motherboard. It is newer and just as good as the old SoundBlaster. But, if you want to use the SoundBlaster, make sure the integrated audio is disabled in the BIOS so it does not conflict. Also, make sure you are using the correct SoundBlaster driver for Vista/Windows 7.

The HDMI audio should not conflict and should not set itself as default audio playback device unless there is an HDMI cable connected.

brreaker · 29 Aug 2013

Not quite so, considering that my onboard is 2.1 while my creative is 7.1
I am using a surround system, so I kinda need my Creative board.
It is set as default for some reason, that's my problem. The onboard audio is disabled via BIOS, when I boot up windows, it installs 4 High Definition Audio Devices, after installing my GPU driver they turn into nVidia Audio. I checked the hardware IDs, my soundcard is nowhere to be found. I am not using a HDMI cable, and they don't show up in Control Panel under "Sound". The list is empty, my sound icon has a red x on it, troubleshooter doesn't find anything. I am using the correct driver, but I cannot install it. As the windows does not see my sound card, I get the error that "Setup could not find a compatible hardware".

fireberd · 29 Aug 2013

According to the ASRock specs for that motherboard it is 5.1. It also shows Integrated video. Have you tried just using the integrated video? I show multiple HDMI entries in my Sound Playback panel so that is not the problem.

The PCI slot on most newer motherboards is not a true PCI slot and only a "bridged" slot from the PCIe bus. As the PCI sound card, apparently, is not being detected this could be part of the problem. Reinstall the NVIDIA all in one driver from the ASRock downloads and see if that helps the SoundBlaster. CLICK ME

Audio, Video and NetworkingGraphics- Integrated NVIDIA® GeForce 7025 graphics
- DX9.0 VGA, Pixel Shader 3.0
- Max. shared memory 256MB
- Supports D-Sub with max. resolution up to 1920x1440 @ 60HzAudio- 5.1 CH HD Audio (VIA® VT1705 Audio Codec)

brreaker · 29 Aug 2013

I cannot use the integrated video as I use my computer both for gaming (such as Battlefield 3, which has quite the requirements) and video editing, so I need a good GPU. The integrated GPU takes memory off my RAM, which I also need during some operations. I installed all of those, no help. Also, the integrated audio has a total of 3 audio jacks, if I were to use it in 5.1 mode I would have to plug in all 3 of my jacks in one of the 3 holes, thus leaving me unable to use a microphone or a line-in (like my electric guitar)
I tried installing the nVidia GT220 custom install, without installing the audio driver, but still doesn't help. All I have in control panel-sound, at the moment, are 4 High Definition Audio Device (HDMI).
Edit: I installed the nVidia drivers for the HD Audio and now they disappeared from cPanel, I installed them in order to try and use the hotfix, but no success.

fireberd · 29 Aug 2013

Using the integrated Video, for troubleshooting, is something to consider. I understand you need higher Video for gaming, but for troubleshooting and testing it is an option. Same way with removing the SoundBlaster and enabling and installing the drivers for the VIA HD audio. You have to get it down to "minimum" configuration and if all works there, then start adding the extra hardware, such as the Video card, and progressing from there. If the VIA HD Audio still works with the Video card, then disable the VIA Audio in the BIOS and reinstall the SoundBlaster and try. I know this is all a lot of trouble, but you have to establish what does or does not work on the motherboard before continuing on.

BIOS V1.40 is the latest. http://www.asrock.com/mb/NVIDIA/N68C...wnload&os=BIOS

If you already have 1.40, reset the BIOS/CMOS Memory back to defaults (disable the integrated audio in the BIOS) and see what happens.

brreaker · 29 Aug 2013

I had already tried that, as I said in the first post, I removed my GPU, disabled onboard audio, booted up, w7 saw my Soundblaster, I installed it, restarted, put back in my video card, just that after windows booted nor my GPU nor my Soundblaster were anywhere to be found. They were not in device manager, when I enabled the "show nonpresent devices" they were under code 45 (hardware not connected to the PC) so I had to format, as removing all the drivers and cleaning with driversweeper and CCleaner didn't manage to make my windows see my GPU again.
Also, after installing the nVidia sound drivers, they disappear from the Sound panel in control panel. If I uninstall them, they pop right back up as HDMI.

fireberd · 29 Aug 2013

Have you tried updating the BIOS? I don't usually recommend BIOS updates, but in this case it is something to consider, especially with the code 45 errors. If the BIOS isn't seeing the devices or not recognizing them correctly, Windows will not see them either.

brreaker · 29 Aug 2013

I did flash the latest version of BIOS yesterday.
It does see it on XP, it sees it on w7 as well if I remove the GPU (but then makes it impossible for me to reinstall the GPU)
I contacted nVidia, the one I talked to had no idea what I can do, apparently he sent it for further investigation, so I kinda doubt I will receive any more replies. Should it be needed, I can paste the conversation over here.

fireberd · 29 Aug 2013

The SoundBlaster works OK, with just the integrated video? Correct? If this is the case and it doesn't work with the GT220 installed it mostly puts the problem on the GT220. The GT220 is a relatively "low end" Video card, I don't understand, other than memory, why the Integrated Video wouldn't be just as good? I've used the built in Intel Video in an i5 CPU and I have no problems with my recording studio DAW program, Sonar X2 64 bit Producer, which is fairly graphic intensive.