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.

Didi you try to reassign IRQs ?

Is it with onboard sound or with a soundcard (cant make it out in startpost)?

The P5B(-DEluxe) has also a problem with onboard sound.
Just as you mentioned, in BF2 and bf2142 ( especially: artillery, and when titan is destroyed).

I (and other p5b-d owners on this forum) havent found a solution. The only thing you can do is lower the volume a bit to get rid of the crackling, or buy a sound card.

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Originally Posted by Kakulukia

The only thing you can do is lower the volume a bit to get rid of the crackling, or buy a sound card.

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It does it with sound cards as well, from everything being reported.

I reported this problem a ways back, mic/game audio plaback are on the same channel or monitoring is crosswired causing the audio problems.

I stopped playing BF 2142 for the moment as I cannot connect to ventrilo and caht with friends correctly.

To better describe the problem. When you play the game, the game audio is being routed to the mic and holding the mic open and audio is played back through the audio system horribly.

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Originally Posted by Cooper

Didi you try to reassign IRQs ?

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Yep...no joy.

I even left the IRQ assigned at default (IRQ22) then set the priority of the IRQ to 1 (by adding the dword IRQ22Priotity=1 in the registry). Still no Joy.

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Originally Posted by Kakulukia

Is it with onboard sound or with a soundcard (cant make it out in startpost)?

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I had the same problem with three different solutions. Onboard sound, Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, and X-Fi. They all had the problem.

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Originally Posted by FUGGER

I reported this problem a ways back, mic/game audio plaback are on the same channel or monitoring is crosswired causing the audio problems.

I stopped playing BF 2142 for the moment as I cannot connect to ventrilo and caht with friends correctly.

To better describe the problem. When you play the game, the game audio is being routed to the mic and holding the mic open and audio is played back through the audio system horribly.

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FUGGER, are you saying this is mic related then? Right now I'm not even using a mic:confused:

Also, did you find any releif from the issue when SLI was disabled? As soon as I disable SLI all the sound problems go away completely.

You did try moving the SLI arrangement like this person did? http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...26&postcount=1

Its causing problems for many people. I found it to be mic related on mine. I have not tried the middle slot yet to fix.

I will update Nvidia tomorrow to escalate the problem.

If you use a chat program, the people listening will hear the mic audio being held open with garbage noise.

Another thing could be it is using the speaker output as the mic input at the same time. That could explain the monitoring of speaker output on the mic port and then played back as wave audio.

Swithing to single card did not resolve the audio problem for me.

I wonder how did it manage to escape NV's attention prior to releasing 680i. This is BIG!
I hope that bios revisions should fix it and it won't require new chipset revision...

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Originally Posted by Blue078

You did try moving the SLI arrangement like this person did? http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...26&postcount=1

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Not yet. I don't have an available sli bridge on hand at the moment.

Even so, that's only a temporary work around at best. Not only does that config kill airflow completely to card 1, but it no longer runs 16 x 16. I know that running 16 x 8 wouldn't be a big deal performance wise, but its simply a BS way of having to deal with such an obvious design flaw.

FUGGER, thanks for additional escalation. Googling around the net is turning up more and more of these reports. Its going to be a HUGE problem. I'm up to 5 games (out of 10) that are now un playable.

Sound works fine here.
Games tested so far are:

1. Battlefield 2
2. Dark messiah
3. COH
4. Titan Quest

Rig tested

C2D E6700
Evga 680i SLI
2 x XFX 8800GTS
2GB Corsair Dominator 8888

Cheapo Optical lead with onboard sound.

i cant duplicate any problems of the sort with my 680i and dual 8800 GTx's in sli. I have tried FEAR, 3dmark06 demo, and BF2142 Demo and have found no problems with the sound. rig is x6800 @ 3.8, evga 680i, 2 raptors in raid0. i have multy @ 13. Could it be the problem occours when system is more overclocked?

I think this problem is related to the PS2 Mouse/Keyboard issues that people(myself included) are having. Definately an IRQ issue. Under full load, the board is not giving periferials enough cpu time. I would bet a USB based soundcard would fix the issue similiar to how a USB key/mouse fixes that problem. This is obviously not a solution for some, as I am quite happy with my Audigy2 and PS2 keyboard.

I havent even tried any gaming goodness yet (still benching) but I'm hesitant to even try a game because the keyboard stuttering I've experienced under load while even trying to compose a post is unbearable.

Moving the GTX to the second slot = the FIX!!

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7610/680ifixan7.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by X.T.R.E.M.E_ICE

Sound works fine here.
Games tested so far are:

1. Battlefield 2
2. Dark messiah
3. COH
4. Titan Quest

Rig tested

C2D E6700
Evga 680i SLI
2 x XFX 8800GTS
2GB Corsair Dominator 8888

Cheapo Optical lead with onboard sound.

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Need more specifics:

OS and SPs
platform driver
audio driver
video driver

The evga rep mentioned he duplicated the issue using the 97.02 vid drivers.

Other possible differences??? I have a TV Tuner card in the middle PCI slot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vett95wLT4

i cant duplicate any problems of the sort with my 680i and dual 8800 GTx's in sli. I have tried FEAR, 3dmark06 demo, and BF2142 Demo and have found no problems with the sound. rig is x6800 @ 3.8, evga 680i, 2 raptors in raid0. i have multy @ 13. Could it be the problem occours when system is more overclocked?

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I have zero overclock on the system right now. Also, the problem does not occur in every game. i also have no trouble with FEAR or 3Dmark. Also, no truble with any Source engine games. BF2 is the big culprit. Same with COH.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LexDiamonds

I think this problem is related to the PS2 Mouse/Keyboard issues that people(myself included) are having. Definately an IRQ issue.

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Not using any PS2 here. USB KB and Mouse.

ASUS ROG is no problems because ROG use PCI-E 1X sound card.:)

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Originally Posted by tombman

Moving the GTX to the second slot = the FIX!!

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Not a fix!

At best a temporary workaround. Not only is the vid card spacing ridiculous for a real 24/7 rig that's fully enclosed, but we should not have to resort to 16x and 8x. I know the performance is minimal, but the product should work as advertised at this basic level. Not too mention I don't have a spare short SLI bridge lying around :)

If your suggestion is the only "fix" the board will be going back.

No offense...I appreciate your suggestion!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tombman

Moving the GTX to the second slot = the FIX!!

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Taking all the credit I see.... 8)

It works for now, in fact I just cut a new 120 mm Blow hole for the vidcards. 58'c load now.

@mdzcpa-- I wasnt saying that PS2 was part of the root cause, just adding that they share the same issue because of the fact both things (PS2 and sound) actively use IRQs to communicate. The distortion in sound is basically the same thing as a keyboard stutter...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LexDiamonds

@mdzcpa-- I wasnt saying that PS2 was part of the root cause, just adding that they share the same issue because of the fact both things (PS2 and sound) actively use IRQs to communicate. The distortion in sound is basically the same thing as a keyboard stutter...

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Gotcha! Thanks for the input. I'll keeping working on the config. There has to be something different with my set up (and other with problems) versus others who are working fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mdzcpa

Not a fix!

At best a temporary workaround. !

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Of course, but good enough for me until they really fix it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CodyDewey

Taking all the credit I see.... 8).

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Nono, just helping ;)

In fact i had tried this method myself wth the P19 Bios earlier but it didn't work, because booting to windows was not allowed. Only with P20 Bios it works.

So we had the same idea, but used different Bios Versions...but of course, all credit to you :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mdzcpa

Need more specifics:

OS and SPs
platform driver
audio driver
video driver

The evga rep mentioned he duplicated the issue using the 97.02 vid drivers.

Other possible differences??? I have a TV Tuner card in the middle PCI slot.





I have zero overclock on the system right now. Also, the problem does not occur in every game. i also have no trouble with FEAR or 3Dmark. Also, no truble with any Source engine games. BF2 is the big culprit. Same with COH.





Not using any PS2 here. USB KB and Mouse.

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OS and SPs = XP home SP2
platform driver = ?
audio driver = 1 from the cd
video driver = 9702

OC = 3.6GHZ

After the 8800 recall, now we have the 680i sound crackling....

Great ....