680i + 8800 SLI = Sound problems -Confirmed!
Okay, sound problem confirmed!!
I did not notice the problem at first based on my game preferences. All the Source based games run fine. Most older titles do as well. However, as soon as BF2 went in (and BF 2142) the problem occured. Then a few more late games like Dark Mesiah and COH.
And, the problem IS seriously nasty. We aren't talking about a little cracking and popping here, but a nasty full on crackle, hiss, pop, and screech that renders the system totally un playable.
The only fix is to disable SLI. PCI latency tools do nothing. All latest available drivers and BIOS do not help. All combinations of Windows Updates for HD sound and SP2 fixes do not help either.
Optical cable helps...but only a little. Still un playable.
The problem configurations are any 8800s in SLI with any sound solution. Whether its X-fi, Turtle Beach, or on board sound, the problem is there. Surprisingly, on board sound is the WORST.
What I want to know is how in the hell did Nvidia and its partners miss this issue? Shocking to say the least.
Sorry I don't have more benches of my 24/7 rig right now, but I am now full time trying to resolve this sound issue.
Anyone considering 680i + 8800 SLI for any gaming beware.
Overclocking with BETA BIOS
Has anyone else had experience of previous memory overclock from P20 bios and after BETA bios upgrade now the memory overclock fails? Also now with BETA bios I'm limited at 2.5v which is what I had it at before but I'm wondering if the vdimm is drooping now as I have 2.48v reporting.
I've had to resort to DDR2-1132 @ 5-5-5-15 2.2v, my previous overclock I could top out around 1200 @ 5-5-5-15 2.5v or run 1167 @ 4-4-4-12 2.5v
Ran 3dmarks06 for 10 hours straight (looped advanced version) and it was still running flawlessly. Only game I'm testing currently is BF2142 and I had it lock up on me last night where video froze but pressing power I heard windows shutdown music and PC actually shut off.
Any advice?
PS: I seems the BETA bios did correct the sound and SLI issue for me.