Digital Audio Dying on Asrock x58 Extreme Motherboards

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Dustin Salsberry

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Apr 24, 2013
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I realize this is a bit of a shot in the dark, but I figured I'd throw it out there. I've had two entirely separate ASRock Extreme x58 motherboards, and both of them, at some point, completely stopped sending a digital signal. They still send an analog audio signal, but the audio to the coax, optical, and HDMI headers has simply stopped working on both of them. Unfortunately, I've ruled out any software causes, so I was wondering if anyone had any intimate knowledge to know which area on the mobo might be the culprit and how I might go about repairing them?
 
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TenPc

TenPc

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Jul 11, 2012
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Not really sure, it might be a heat problem, the x58's were well known for overheating, particulay the cpu and Northbridge. You might try reseating the CPU cooler, it can't be movable or even wobble the slightest. You need a few internal fans as well. The PSU would need to be in excess of 600 watts.

Some audio programs can affect the quality of the sound, what are you using?
What's your OS and are the audio programs suited to the OS?

Sometimes if you adjust the volume in the software app (also in some PC games), it changes the global setting, look in your Volume dialog, you might find the wav slider set to zero. You should be using an audio utility whereby you set the audio jacks to your own preferences, check their settings.

Not sure about the "coax, optical, and HDMI headers ", I've never used them. I just use the stereo out to an amplifier with its own speakers.


 
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Dustin Salsberry

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Apr 24, 2013
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Thanks for the quick reply! I think I will use some of my XBox repair skills on this thing and reflow the area around the processor and make sure that heatsink is on there as tightly as I think it is. It's no surprise to me that it overheats, to be honest. The two I've had never really worked 100% correctly, but their issues were minor enough that I was able to persist with them.

As for which software I was using and with which OS, when it worked, it was always used as my primary audio source globally is Windows 7. I was using the HDMI passthrough from the HDMI headers on the board to my graphics card, and while listening, it suddenly just stopped. I suspected it was a graphics card issue, maybe something as simple as a driver, even. But the the problem extends to the coax and optical outs, as well, which in no way involve the graphics card.

I've attempted getting the most updated Realtek HD Audio drivers and tinkering with those settings, I've even attempted clean installations of the OS in order to eliminate potential registry corruption and whatnot.
 
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TenPc

TenPc

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What are your hardware specs? PSU, ram, etc..brand/model etc
If you only got 4gb of ram, that could slow things down a bit, a low end PSU would impact on the graphics card, however all of those things don't usually have much to do with audio but it would be good to see what you have, anyway.

You can't utilize all of the audio ports with different cables, you have to choose then make your selections in the Realtek utility. It has a jack sensor so it will choose whatever cable you have inserted but you might be confusing it with all the audio ports connected. Also, if you use the graphics card audio out, you can't use the onboard audio out, it becomes disabled. Basically, the drivers for audio rely on a set of system files that can only be used for one type of audio hub.


How much free space is on the OS hdd? You need about 25% free space for best performance.

OS? Windows 7 or 8? x32 or 64?

Your video card might be PCIe 3.0 and your motherboard is only PCIe 2 .0. that would slow the video card down somewhat and could affect the audio, perhaps the requirements of the video card needs the PCIe 3.0 for all of the features to work properly.

http://www.asrock.com/MB/overview.asp?Model=X58%20Extreme
 
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Dustin Salsberry

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Apr 24, 2013
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Well, unfortunately, I am right next to positive that it's not a performance or software issue. But in the interest of full disclosure, here goes :)

I am running with 18GB of RAM (lots of AE and Premiere usage) in triple channel.
The OS hard drive has 676 GB free of 931 GB.
The PSU is 720W.
CPU is Intel Core i7 930 (no overclocking used on either RAM or CPU, for the record).
Running SLI with two Nvidia GTS 250 cards. (if you're curious, I have attempted to use just one to see if it would resolve the issue, obviously to no avail)
When it was working, I simply used the Windows 7 "Playback Devices" to choose my active device, though most of the time (including when it failed) I just had the digital audio connected.
And finally, just a reminder, it's not simply the digital audio passed through the HDMI on the video card that quit working, but the onboard coax and optical outputs as well. Incidentally, you might be surprised to know that all those outputs (the HDMI header, the coax, and the optical) are all considered the same device by Windows or the Realtek utility, and they WILL all output a signal simultaneously (when it worked, I used this function so that I didn't have to have my HDTV on in order to hear audio, and could simply switch my AV receiver input over to the optical).
 
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TenPc

TenPc

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Jul 11, 2012
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http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/product_geforce_gts_250_uk.html

I don't really know except a few things that might end up being unrelated.

Windows Playback, I think that is the problem, download a free audio program or use the Realtek Demo utility to test your sound.

Distance can affect the sound, anything over 5 metres will corrupt the sound output, causing distortion or only one speaker or ear phone to give audio.
The connection between the PC and the speaker device might require an adapter of some sort.
Increased volume does increase the amount of power required.

The HDMI cable socket might be one that is not identical to the socket on the video card, there are variations.

Is there some type of variant that you have not said?
http://www.te.com/catalog/minf/en/88

I hope someone else will reply, I'm floundering :(
 
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