Audio on Win 7 64 bit and a few games

[rwest]

Dragon Age Origins, Neverwinter Nights Complete

Win 7 Pro 64 bit
Gigabyte 880GA-ud3h rev. 3.1
GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM3+ - GA-880GA-UD3H (rev. 3.1)
HIS 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161389
Logitech 506 5.1 Speakers
Newegg.com - Logitech Z506 75 watts RMS 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers
It's the system in my sig

I'm getting a med pitch (squeal?) along with some audio. I get music and voice. Sound effects seem to be there also. Its like a buzzing squeal. Its coming thru the speakers along with the audio. Weird, the tone changed a bit at a different resolution. i'm sure its not the vid card. It runs plenty of games just fine.

I almost think it's the Enviromental Audio or EAX not functioning right. I'm not real sure. I tried a different driver. No luck. Maybe I'm not getting the right driver?

Games are not crashing. Just annoying. That's not fun.

[pam123]

Try reinstalling/updating the video card drivers.
That card has an integrated audo HD controller so if the squeal changes in pitch when you change the resolution yes it could be the card.

[glc]

It could also be bad RF shielding in the computer - are all covers on and is the I/O shield installed correctly?

[rwest]

Lots of good ideas. i was lost, but I did figure it out. I woke up this morning and thought to eliminate the audio out from the tv to the speakers.

My dvd player, u-verse, and the pc is connected by hdmi cable it the tv. I had ran the audio out from the tv to the analog inputs on the speakers. I had done this to use my speakers for the dvd player and u-verse also. The tv speakers were off but I must have been getting some type of feedback or pickup from the multiple audio sources.

Now i just have to figure what's the best way to get sound from my dvd player and u-verse. i could play the dvd from my pc, but i lose the better control with the dvd remote. Although; a huge benefit is the cost to replace a dvd drive is half the cost of a dvd player.

It's probably best to add home theater functions to the pc at this point.

[David M]

Are you using a home theater receiver/amplifier?

I find that running all the sources into a receiver and then running the receiver outputs to the television and speakers makes controlling everything easier. Receivers can also convert and clean up the sound and video properly, if necessary. Attempting to run your sources directly to the TV and speakers can be a PITA. I have a Denon which I am happy with.

[rwest]

Thats the problem. I need an AV reciever. The motherboard puts out amazing sound and the speakers do a great job of converting the stereo analog audio input, but apparently not very good at being connected at the same time.

Temporary fix... i disconected the speakers from the mb and am using only the audio out from the tv.

I lose true 5.1 for my games, but gain simulated 5.1 for everything.

I have spdif in on my pc and will order this:
Gigabyte 7.1 Channel Audio cable 4 G41MT-D3 G41MT-ES2H | eBay
That wil give me one digital audio in.


I will probably connect u-verse to the digital audio in, since its already in digital format.


I can play dvds from my pc, but I'm wondering if I can get a remote for the playback; as opposed to using the media keyboard.

Also open to any and all suggestions.

What software do you guys use for playback? I'm not real fond of Media Center.

[pam123]

I use VLC.

[rwest]

Pam I guess I'm going to have to download it and see how I like it for dvd playback. I just keep getting codecs for media player for everything else. Media player's been fine for what I use it for. For dvd's I've always liked the remote for control.

I did see a remote made specifically for Windows Media Center on newegg:
Newegg.com - Rosewill RRC-126 Windows 7 Certified Media Center Infrared Remote Control with Netflix Function
Anybody know much about it?
The thing I didn't like about Windows Media Center is it's lack of functions. I'm wondering if the remote's software adds any.

I'm really curious as to what software people use when putting an HTPC together? Or is Media Center pretty much the general choice for use? I've never even followed along on those bulds.


Now it appears I will be migrating my system towards HTPC. with over 700 movies on dvd I spose I could load 'em to a few hdds...Yeh, that'll happen.

Instead of putting new backups on disk though, I could be put them on a drive. Of course none of this is going to happen soon anyway. My pc funds have been put on hold. Cept maybe a spit or two now and then. I wont be buying any drives for a while and by that time they should be down in price again anyway. I notied we're already seeing some go on sale at reasonable prices. Yay.

I am ordering my input device tommorow. I may get that remote for Media center on payday. My goal will be to use the 5.1 onboard sound for playback, since it is a feature on my Gigabyte board and I bought the speakers to take advantage of it.

I could even kick out a $50 spot for the right software. Maybe not right away, but I'm willing to spend the money if it's the better choice.

I just figured out the right question I need to ask: What do I need to add to my system (besides hdd's) to add or set it up for htpc?

specs are in my signature and some links are in my first post

[jdeb]

About | XBMC

[rwest]

Thanks for the link jdeb, I'll check it out.

[birddog_61]

https://market.android.com/details?i...toclient&hl=en
If you use android there is a free app to turn your device into a WMC remote, it even allows you to watch the stuff on your phone if you would like. If you use iphone there should be something comparable.

[rwest]

Birddog, thats pretty cool. But, my phone is 5 years old and is just a phone. Well it has more, but I dont use it. I am getting more use to texting, although I still hate it.

I loaded Media Browser to Media Center and have been playing with that. I've downloaded XMBC and am going to try it next.

[birddog_61]

Originally Posted by rwest Birddog, thats pretty cool. But, my phone is 5 years old and is just a phone. Well it has more, but I dont use it. I am getting more use to texting, although I still hate it. I loaded Media Browser to Media Center and have been playing with that. I've downloaded XMBC and am going to try it next.

I have an older media center remote, I only used it a little before I got the app for my phone. However it worked just fine, it was a rosewill if I remember correctly.

If you still like the phone control idea, you could tape it to it and tell everyone your phone has a media center app.

[rwest]

You miss understood me. All I really want my phone to do, is be a phone.

Originally Posted by birddog_61 If you still like the phone control idea, you could tape it to it and tell everyone your phone has a media center app.

If I taped a sponge on top of that, I could tell them I have Cloud.

Actually my new MB supports Cloud. The wife did say I was up for a new phone. I could look into that.

Here's the drawback; This is my phone:
Yellow Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 AT&T Phone

From the desciption:
is a Military Standard MIL-STD-810F certified........Able to withstand extreme temperatures, solar radiation, rain, dust, altitude, and shock

My wife got it for me cuz I kept going thru(breaking) phones. I cant hold onto them, I drop 'em constantly. Little buttons are near impossible for me, and I cant feel for them. I have very little sensation in my fingers and less patience for it than a six year old on Christmas. I really dont see me going that way. She got that phone for me so I couldn't break it. She's a smart lady.