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8800 GTS 640 MB - SLI Enabled - Makes Sound pop and crackle - Solutions?

Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
edited August 2009 in PC & Technical Issues
I am having issues with SLI that is affecting sound. I will give you system information and three scenarios that might help determine what could make the game work correctly.

NOTES:
Graphic Drivers Updated
Sound Drivers Updated
Direct X Up to Date

-=- Scenario ONE -=-
1) One Installed – EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB Video Card
Mother Board – ASUS M2N32 – SLI Deluxe
The graphics, sound, and mouse all work as intended!

-=- Scenario TWO -=-
2) Two Installed – EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB Video Card (SLI *enabled*)
Mother Board – ASUS M2N32 – SLI Deluxe
The graphics Works
The sound ( Crackles and pops )
Mouse Works

-=- Scenario THREE -=-
3) Two Installed – EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB Video Card (SLI *Disabled*)
Mother Board – ASUS M2N32 – SLI Deluxe
The graphics Works
The sound Works
Mouse cursor invisible (Even after restart in Champion’s Online)

MINIMAL REQUEST

I could probably pull out the video card and reinstall the drivers to make the game work like in Scenario one, but at the least I would like to be able to simply disabled SLI and have the mouse be visable in Champion’s Online, so I an use SLI in other games that it does work with.

Ideally I would love for SLI to work correctly and not effect sound, but I am out of ideas. Tech Support from the video card maker has made me update drivers for sound and graphics. I also reinstall windows, but now from scratch Hard Drive.

I have read some posts online from around 2006 that mention and issue with SLI 8800 GTS video cards having the crackling and popping affect on sound.

SOLUTIONS?
Post edited by Archived Post on

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited August 2009
    http://forums.champions-online.com/showthread.php?p=855985

    At least it'll fix the mouse problem.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited August 2009
    Thank you, Captain_Fabulous for a possible workaround for the cursor. I might give it a try if I want to take advantage of SLI with other applications.

    I took out the second video card and just going to run my system and the game in scenario one and pray someone has a solution so I can enjoy the game with SLI, cursor, and no sound issues.

    If anyone or tech support in the forums can help please help, because it is awesome to play in SLI without the audio issues.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited August 2009
    Sound issues may have to do with a bad motherboard slot. You could check that by doing things other than Champ O and seeing if the artifact persists.

    It could also be power related. Like, sometimes when overclockers are on on-motherboard sound the extra voltage causes issues. It could also be that you are pushing minimum on the PSU and the extra card is drawing enough voltage to cause an issue. (Are you near minimum with the PSU in dual card form?)

    Do you have any cables that are crossing when you are running dual card? It could be that the voltage is being carried across lines and causing an issue. (I had an issue once with this with power lines across speaker wire causing a kind of buzzing.)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited August 2009
    It could also be an interrupt issue. Nvidia cards are notorious for not liking to share interrupts. If the sound card and one of the video cards is using the same interrupt it could result in clicking and popping. One solution might be getting a cheap add-on sound card.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited August 2009
    Captain_Fabulous, another good suggest and possible work around, but there is no telling it would really work or just result in the same issue. I am unsure if I can fit an inexpensive sound card in the case with two video cards. I will look and see how much room I have to work with if any. >_>

    From some old old forum posts in regard to these exact same video cards with SLI enabled, the issue seems like some sort of interruption issue, but it likely was corrected years ago. I guess sort of like the video cards are taking priority and not allowing the sound to get through fluidly, which causes crackle and pop sounds of absent sound gaps.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Posts: 1,156,071 Arc User
    edited August 2009
    MadHatDragon wrote:
    Captain_Fabulous, another good suggest and possible work around, but there is no telling it would really work or just result in the same issue. I am unsure if I can fit an inexpensive sound card in the case with two video cards. I will look and see how much room I have to work with if any. >_>

    From some old old forum posts in regard to these exact same video cards with SLI enabled, the issue seems like some sort of interruption issue, but it likely was corrected years ago. I guess sort of like the video cards are taking priority and not allowing the sound to get through fluidly, which causes crackle and pop sounds of absent sound gaps.

    There is no way to fix interrupt issues. Interrupts are hardwired to internal components. If one of your PCI express slots shares the same IRQ as your on-board sound, you're hosed. There is absolutely no way to fix it. Your only solution would be, as I suggested, to get an add-in PCI sound card. I don't know what else you have in your machine but you should have at least one accessible PCI slot.

    If you're unsure if it'll work you can either borrow one from a friend who's willing, or buy one from a retailer that will let you return it without a restocking fee (like Wal-Mart).
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