Sound barely audible all of a sudden. Out of ideas, PLEASE HELP

Saintzer0 · 07 Jan 2013

Removed Video Card to clean w/ air, replaced now sound very very low w/ some static/interference/buzz/hazzyness

cpu always had 2 entries for sound under device manager, 1 realtek 1 ati/amd

Things I have tried so far:
- backup cpu to day before sound went
- uninstalled, deleted sound drivers + software, let Windows find and install new
- uninstalled all sound drivers, installed latest Realtek driver
- installed latest ATI HDMI Audio Device driver
- BIOS at defaults. (Always was) Onboard audio shows enabled.
- uninstalled video card drivers and software, ran driver sweeper, installed latest.

When trying to play music, levels in in Volume Mixer respond (up+down movement)
Speakers work just fine when plugged into anything else

In Playback Devices Speakers are default, enabled, green checkmark, bar graph responds to music playing.
All volume sliders at full.
In Volume Control options all boxes are checked.
In Realtek Sound Manager main volume is full.

Rear speaker jack, front headphone jack both are very quiet. Can barely hear whats playing at full volume.
Im not sure if there is a short, a conflict

Sound is onboard audio Asus M4A89GTD PRO/USB 3
Video ATI Radeon 5770.
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc, 2301, 7/18/2011
Realtek audio driver version 6.0.1.662
Audio Controller: HD Audio
Audio Codec: ALC892.

There is as much info as I can offer. Hopefully someone can see an answer to this problem bc I sure cant.

fireberd · 08 Jan 2013

Check the sound connection on the motherboard for the front panel headphone/mic. The cable and or connector could have been accidentally moved during the video card removal and reinstallation.

Barring something on the motherboard that was damaged during the removal or install, that's about the only thing I can think of. I always wear a grounded wrist strap when I work on the inside of a PC to minimize any static electricty zaps that can damage components.

Saintzer0 · 08 Jan 2013

Thank you for replying.

I checked the connections for the audio and they looked fine, just to be sure I unplugged them and plugged them back in.

Same result. Audio IS WORKING but is really really low, barely audible. Again ALL levels are full, green responding.

My BIOS menu doesnt really have an onboard audio selection. All it shows under Onboard Devices Configuration is: HD Audio Azalia Device [enabled], Front Panel Type [HD or AC 97] and SPDIF OUT type. I have tried both HD and AC 97 for the front panel type to the same result.

I wonder if something in the Video Card is causing this? Could plugging in the Video Card causing some kind of Software conflict in the audio?

BTW, I don't have HD audio at all, speakers are left/right green headphone jack and Monitor doesn't even have an HDMI or headphone outlet.

fireberd · 08 Jan 2013

Reseat the Video card (with the PC powered off) - unplug then plug back in, see if that makes any difference. There is nothing in the BIOS that would cause low volume level. There is an option in the BIOS to disable the on-board (on the motherboard) audio but thats the only thing there.

The HD audio connection for the front panel is the correct type. The AC97 is for older types, but neither one should have any affect on the sound. However, you can unplug the front panel connection from the motherboard (with the PC powered off) and the power the PC back up and see if that makes any difference.

Check the Device Manager and see what is listed in the Sound section. You should have one entry for your sound module and one for the HDMI Audio (if your Video card has this). If there are other entries, such as the generic HD Audio Codec that Windows could install, uninstall them and then restart the PC and check audio.

In the Sound panel, Playback section, your "speakers" should be set as the default playback device.

Saintzer0 · 08 Jan 2013

Re-seated the Video card, nothing.
Unplugged front panel connection, nothing.
Device manager shows AMD High Definition Audio Device and Realtek High Definition Audio.
in Realtek Speakers are Default device, volumes max.

There is sound coming from the back panel and front, just insanely low. I think maybe the extra sound I can hear coming from the speakers is only there because they are turned up full.

Tried using drivers from Motherboard CD that came with it. Same result. I'm at a loss .

fireberd · 09 Jan 2013

Sadly, it sounds like something got zapped on the motherboard. And, if this is the case you will have to install a separate sound card (or replace the motherboard).

Saintzer0 · 10 Jan 2013

There are 2 entries in Device Manager for Sound. Realtek (updated to latest R270) and High Definition Audio Device. Not sure what the last one is, how it differs from the the realtek or if it even needs to be there.

Any thoughts on this?

fireberd · 11 Jan 2013

The High Definition is a generic Windows installed sound driver. Uninstall it and then restart the PC. Check to see if Windows reinstalled it. If not, check the sound. If Windows did reinstall it, disable it in the Device Manager and see if that makes a difference.

You should have an audio entry for the HDMI from the video card (if it has this function).

Saintzer0 · 14 Jan 2013

Uninstalled the driver and Windows found the same thing again. Found the proper HDMI driver that the card needs. Still no sound though and I think you are right about the Motherboard's onboard sound component being damaged.

Looks like I'll be getting an alligator strap when I get a sound card

mmkarimi · 14 Jan 2013

hi, that you have two audio device is alright,
try to boot with win live or Ubuntu live cd, which is free to download from the site: Download Ubuntu Desktop | Ubuntu

also i remember once i updated my bios and my audio got louder.