RealTek HD Audio clashes in CS:Source

Hey, just a few days ago I built a new system. I downloaded the RealTek HD Audio Driver and installed it, now I get sound and i'm quite happy with it. I have a PLANTRONICS Gamecom 777 headset and before I built the system, it worked fine with CS 1.6, so I know the mic is good. To prove the fact that the mic is working, I go into Sound Recorder and record my voice, it does record. One problem is that it comes out very, very low. This is one problem I need help with.

Another problem is when I go into CSS's options' voice tab, after hitting the "test microphone" button, all I can hear is a screeching and static sound. I play around with the "Boost microphone" and transmit volume but you can't even make out my voice. I'll go in game and they say they can't understand anything i'm saying and it's all static.

When I go into the window's Volume Control properties, I make sure that microphone is checked, but when I go to adjust it, it's grayed out. The bar is just underneath the second line for Mic Volume. Both the fact that it records low outside of CSS and that it is irritable in CSS are very annoying and I need them fixed asap. The stupid Realtek HD Audio Manager couldn't be any more pointless than it already is. Sure I like excess noice canceling and echo canceling, but my mic is supposed to do that. it's an amazing headset.

I don't know if I should reinstall the driver, or find a different driver. I think i'm going to test this out with other Realtek drivers, because I think there's more than one for this mobo. anyway, i've read on the internet that Realtek drivers have a history of known but unsolved microphone issues.

thanks for the help guys.