Low volume from 790FX-GD70 onboard audio(Realtek ALC889)

I recently purchased a number of computer parts from Newegg because I wanted to build a new computer. You can see the parts in my sig. I installed the audio driver that came with the motherboard(R2.21). I noticed immediately that no matter how I configured the audio manager, the volume was not very loud even with all levels turned all the way up. I have the headphones connected to the rear green jack. In the audio manager, I have the jack configured for stereo, headphones. I downloaded the latest driver, R2.29, installed it, and the volume dropped significantly. I then went back to the R2.21 drivers. I tried front audio as well. Same thing. I tried toggling "Virtual Surround" and "Loudness Equalization". It doesn't matter what I adjust, the volume isn't loud. I can hear it "good", but it's not loud. Could someone who has experience with this motherboard and/or onboard audio chipset shed some light as to what I can do to make the audio louder?

Adding sig:
Raidmax Smilodon case
Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU
MSI 790FX-GD70 MB
AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE
4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM
HIS Radeon HD 4890
Seagate Barracuda 1TB
Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit

Message edited by Terry1212 on 08-16-2009 at 08:38:50 AM

------------------------------ Raidmax Smilodon case, Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU, MSI 790FX-GD70 MB, AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE, 4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM, HIS Radeon HD 4890, Seagate Barracuda 1TB,Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit

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Try the following:

1) Go into your control panel and open the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties.
2) Make sure the Master Volume is turned to High.
3) Click on the first Advanced button (directly under the main volume slider) and make sure all the sliders are all the way to the top.
4) Click on the second Advanced button (in the Speaker Settings section) and make sure Headphones is selected.
5) Click on the Speaker Volume button and make sure everything is turned up to High.

Message edited by outlw6669 on 08-03-2009 at 10:48:46 AM

Reply to outlw6669

All sliders are maxed out. Headphones is selected.

------------------------------ Raidmax Smilodon case, Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU, MSI 790FX-GD70 MB, AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE, 4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM, HIS Radeon HD 4890, Seagate Barracuda 1TB,Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
Reply to Terry1212

Most onboard audio does not have a 'hot' enough signal for headphones.
That said, if you have a speaker system with the headphone jack on it you'll get lots of output from that.
I take it that you're running hi-end headphones......
Do you have a speaker system?

------------------------------ Intel C2D E8400 @3.0GHZ, Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L motherboard, 4GB OCZ vista platinum DDR2-1066 , Seagate320GBsataII 16MB HDD, BFG GTS250oc 512 GDDR3...3Dvision glasses and samsung 120HZ screen.
Reply to johnnyq1233

No speaker system. The "headphones" setting is actually the loudest. If I set it to something else, the volume isn't as high.

------------------------------ Raidmax Smilodon case, Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU, MSI 790FX-GD70 MB, AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE, 4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM, HIS Radeon HD 4890, Seagate Barracuda 1TB,Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
Reply to Terry1212

Wel, as I see it you have two choices....
1) get a creative sound card....about 80.00

2) get a speaker system with the headphone jack....30.00 to 80.00

Other then that I don't know of any other fix for your issue..if anyone else has an idea maybe they could post it...

Maybe you know someone with a set of speakers for the comp that might let you try them out..hope this helps.

JQ

------------------------------ Intel C2D E8400 @3.0GHZ, Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3L motherboard, 4GB OCZ vista platinum DDR2-1066 , Seagate320GBsataII 16MB HDD, BFG GTS250oc 512 GDDR3...3Dvision glasses and samsung 120HZ screen.
Reply to johnnyq1233

No, I think you pretty well covered it johnny.

Onboard sound is pretty basic and I doubt the amp is strong enough to power anything substantial.
Your options are really as laid out above.
A new sound card, a powered speaker system with a headphone jack (which may or may not work depending on how it is wired up) or less substantial headphones.

Reply to outlw6669

I found this Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102006

Do you think that would be a good choice?

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ Raidmax Smilodon case, Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU, MSI 790FX-GD70 MB, AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE, 4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM, HIS Radeon HD 4890, Seagate Barracuda 1TB,Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
Reply to Terry1212

Terry1212 wrote :

I found this Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102006

Do you think that would be a good choice?

I have the same Mobo and CPU as you and i have that sound card, its a good one.

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to yannifb

yannifb wrote :

I have the same Mobo and CPU as you and i have that sound card, its a good one.

Thanks. I'm glad I'm looking at a good one. If you don't mind, could you tell me your opinion of the 790FX-GD70's onboard audio? I found the quality to be very good, it just wasn't very loud, at least through headphones. I haven't tried speakers yet. Is this something you can relate to?

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ Raidmax Smilodon case, Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU, MSI 790FX-GD70 MB, AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE, 4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM, HIS Radeon HD 4890, Seagate Barracuda 1TB,Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
Reply to Terry1212

Terry1212 wrote :

Thanks. I'm glad I'm looking at a good one. If you don't mind, could you tell me your opinion of the 790FX-GD70's onboard audio? I found the quality to be very good, it just wasn't very loud, at least through headphones. I haven't tried speakers yet. Is this something you can relate to?

Well my mic has it's own adjuster to make the volume even louder, so the onboard was decent however with that sound blaster it can get very loud

Reply to yannifb

I picked up the XtremeGamer at Best Buy yesterday, installed it today. It's a lot louder! Thanks!

------------------------------ Raidmax Smilodon case, Antec TruePower New TP-750 Blue 750W PSU, MSI 790FX-GD70 MB, AMD Phenom II X4 955 BE, 4GB Mushkin DDR3 1600 RAM, HIS Radeon HD 4890, Seagate Barracuda 1TB,Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer, Windows Vista Ultimate 64 bit
Reply to Terry1212

Glad to hear it worked!

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
Reply to outlw6669

Focus On

Forum Motherboards & Memory : MSI-Microstar - Low volume from 790FX-GD70 onboard audio(Realtek ALC889)