Question Did I burn out onboard sound? MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX

[phytaz]

Hello everyone - first post here! I am in desperate need of help:

Question: Did I burn out the onboard sound on my MSI Tomahawk B450 MAX?

PC Specs: I upgraded my PC recently with the following parts:

-MSI Tomahawk B450 MAX

-3700X CPU

-GSkillz Trident Z 16gb (2x8gb) 3600mhz

-MSI Geforce 1070Ti

Situation/Problem:

-I have built this PC 5 days ago

-Initially - the audio was working when I plugged in my Logitech 2.1 sound

-Yesterday - I received my HyperX Cloud Alpha headsets - plugged the audio + mic into back of motherboard (unplugged Logitech audio jack) - SOUND STOPPED WORKING

-Logitech sound no longer works

-I hear static/buzzing only when I plug audio cables in

-The front panel audio doesn't work either - same static/buzzing noise

Steps Taken:

-I uninstalled existing Realtek audio drive

-I reinstalled the same latest Realtek driver from MSI support page for my motherboard - no change

-I uninstalled the MSI Realtek Audio Console - no change

-I used my old USB Steelseries headset - audio/microphone works

Is it possible there was static on the headset plugs for the HyperX Cloud Alpha headset which led to breaking the soundchip on the motherboard?

Motherboard is less than 1 week old - any suggestions? I am considering purchasing PCIe sound card.

Thank you all for your input and assistance!!

Kind Regards,

phytaz

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Basic things to check before escalating the troubleshoot -

1. Check the device manager for hardware issues
2. Click on the speaker icon on the task bar, click on the audio output device displayed, you should see other output devices listed. If so, choose the appropriate one. There will be one from Nvidia, one that says speakers when they are plugged in, the same for headphones. Post back with results.

 

[ArisVer]

Some people (including me) had trouble with the sound of MSI boards, usually after updating driver. Follow the thread listed below and try some of the suggestions.

Question - Sound not working and not sure what drivers to keep

Built a new computer last year based off an MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC. When I did the install, it came with the Nahimic app, and I’ve used the app presets of gaming and music with no problems. I play through headphones. Today, the Nahimic app auto launched. I don't know why. I had just...

forums.anandtech.com

 

[phytaz]

Basic things to check before escalating the troubleshoot -

1. Check the device manager for hardware issues
2. Click on the speaker icon on the task bar, click on the audio output device displayed, you should see other output devices listed. If so, choose the appropriate one. There will be one from Nvidia, one that says speakers when they are plugged in, the same for headphones. Post back with results.

Hi DAPUNISHER,

Thanks for your reply.

1. No hardware issues noted on device manager.
2. When I plug-in my headphones into onboard audio - it is detected as "Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio".
-My other choices are "NVIDIA High Definition Audio" - but indicates not plugged in

I just wanted to clarify that both my motherboard audio and FRONT PANEL audio expressing exactly same static/HISSING noise - this noise increases depending on volume setting.

Any other suggestions?

 

[phytaz]

Some people (including me) had trouble with the sound of MSI boards, usually after updating driver. Follow the thread listed below and try some of the suggestions.

Question - Sound not working and not sure what drivers to keep

Built a new computer last year based off an MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC. When I did the install, it came with the Nahimic app, and I’ve used the app presets of gaming and music with no problems. I play through headphones. Today, the Nahimic app auto launched. I don't know why. I had just...

forums.anandtech.com

Thank you for your reply!

This seems like a great video - I tried all of the options - unfortunately none of them worked.

So both my audio AND microphone does not work. The headsets are new and both work on my other PC.

If both audio + microphone + front audio/mic does not work - has the onboard sound been fried? This is my most likely probability.

I have read other users having issues with B450 Tomahawk MAX onboard audio - some people have gone through RMA...but this seems like a tedious process.

Any other suggestions of what is possibly happening? The sound was working until I unplugged my speaker cable and plugged in my new headset audio/mic.

Many thanks again in advance!

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Just to be clear: You are choosing the Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio as the output device and get only static, correct? Given that the audio worked initially, it is very unlikely it is a UEFI setting issue.

Did you install the realtek audio controller from the Microsoft store? I have the non Max version of this board in a system, but did not install the controller app. I have had no issue with audio from any of the jacks, front or rear. If you have not used it either, now might be the time to give it a go, could not hurt at this point.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't know if my recent experience is relevant to the situation that the OP is going through, but I'll share it anyways.

I (a few days ago) got in a shipment of some webcams, something cheap from a China-seller on Newegg Marketplace. (I ranted about them before, but I did finally get everything that I ordered... after like a month and a half.)

Anyways, these particular cams, have a USB for video, and a 3.5mm MIC plug for audio. (How low-tech.)

So, I plugged my cam into my front-panel audio MIC jack. I have a Rosewill Stryker M ATX mid-tower case, and an Asus B450-F ROG STRIX Gaming ATX mobo. RealTek ("SupremeFX") audio.

I hooked it up, did a Skype test call, it could tell I was saying something, but it was all static.

I then realized that I didn't have the mobo audio drivers installed, I was just using the default "MS HD Audio" drivers for the mobo onboard audio chipset. Which, often don't quite work right, especially the MIC.

So I downloaded and installed the drivers, rebooted, clicked on the control panel, worked out that I needed to disable the "Auto" on the MIC setting in Skype,. and turn the MIC up to 10 in Skype, or 100% in the SupremeFX control panel, and then ... it worked!

So, to me, this initially sounds like a software / driver issue. I would investigate that FIRST, before assuming that the hardware is just simply hosed. I mean, it could be, static can be a real B*, but most audio jacks have some form of protection on them, or should.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Did you check out the thread and video linked Larry? OP says he tried every one of them. If what we have suggested are a no go, I would do a fresh reinstall of windows. If that does not work, RMA time.

Of course the most expeditious solution is buy a USB or PCIe sound card.

 

[phytaz]

Did you check out the thread and video linked Larry? OP says he tried every one of them. If what we have suggested are a no go, I would do a fresh reinstall of windows. If that does not work, RMA time.

Of course the most expeditious solution is buy a USB or PCIe sound card.

Thank you for your generous input! I have gone ahead and purchased a PCIe sound card. If this was a high-end X570 motherboard I think I would have definitely pursued RMA.