MSI Z87 mobo audio not working

[Ketchup]

Also, while in device manager, does the system show it recognizes your video card yet?

 

[tren001]

OK, so: are there any other devices in Device Manager that are "yellowed out": that don't have operational drivers?
If audio works with the "default MS driver", just revert to those until a still newer Realtek driver update fixes the problem.

There are still 4 devices yellowed out:
1. Ethernet
2. USB controller (I think it is the 3.0 ports)
3. PCI communication
4. "Unknown Device"

Not sure about the 4th one, but last time all the yellowed out devices dropped off once I installed all the MSI mobo drivers.

As to the graphic card, it is just listed as "VGA graphic adapter" since I've not installed the Radeon Catalyst drivers yet.

I'm thinking of just picking up an ASUS Xonar audio card from Newegg instead of waiting who knows how long for a possible Realtek solution. The 5.1 card would be less than $20 after rebate and my promo code, and it has an spdif port too, in case in the future I decide to retire my home theater receiver to the computer.

 

[vailr]

There are still 4 devices yellowed out:
1. Ethernet
2. USB controller (I think it is the 3.0 ports)
3. PCI communication
4. "Unknown Device"

Not sure about the 4th one, but last time all the yellowed out devices dropped off once I installed all the MSI mobo drivers.

#4 could be the Intel Management Engine feature (?)
What would be so bad about: just using the working "default MS audio drivers"? If you only have 2.1 audio, instead of 5.1?
Meanwhile: email MSI tech support, and see what they say.
You've obviously tried to economize with a less expensive motherboard. So why would you want to waste another $20 buying a discrete audio card, when the onboard audio already works.

 

[tren001]

#4 could be the Intel Management Engine feature (?)
What would be so bad about: just using the working "default MS audio drivers"? If you only have 2.1 audio, instead of 5.1?
Meanwhile: email MSI tech support, and see what they say.
You've obviously tried to economize with a less expensive motherboard. So why would you want to waste another $20 buying a discrete audio card, when the onboard audio already works.

I have 5.1 speakers though, which would be half nonoperational if the onboard audio never gets fixed.

Otherwise, the motherboard seems very nice and I got it for $60 after rebate on a black friday deal. Having a cheap(er) audio card won't be too bad I guess. I can always keep using it on my next PC upgrade cycle. I never though a mobo's onboard audio would have such issues!

In the meantime, I'll try emailing MSI. Maybe they have some secret setting/solution for me to try.

 

[tren001]

Success!!!

I was about to email MSI and their website required all this info about the motherboard and my PC in order to send tech support email, so I went and dug out the box the mobo came in, and out popped the installation CD. So I thought to try installing the audio drivers on that before emailing the company, and lo and behold it works. I've remapped the 3 ports on the back and now my 5.1 speakers are connected and working well!

It's so strange that the drivers MSI has on their OWN website for this model of motherboard doesn't work!! I'm sure glad I don't have to shell out another $20 for a sound card.

Now on to install their so called onboard embedded "Soundblaster Cinema" sound, so by the time I'm done I will have Realtek, AMD, AND Soundblaster audio processing. Knowing my luck, it's going to break my audio again!!

Thanks for everyone's help on this matter!

 

[vailr]

Great!
So: which Realtek driver version (in Device Manager) ended up being the one that works with your board?

 

[tren001]

Great!
So: which Realtek driver version (in Device Manager) ended up being the one that works with your board?

Apparently, Driver Version 6.0.1.6959 dated 7/2/2013. God only knows why the latest drivers totally fail.

System has been working like a charm ever since. I've installed my steam and origin clients so can start putting some games and other programs onto the SSD.

Looking forward to running the 7870 on some nice new games, although just from running some PCMark tests, those reviews about the loud fan on the XFX weren't kidding. As soon as the GPU core temp hits about 50 C or so (got up to mid 60s in Furmark), the fan goes into ful bore 100% and sounds pretty loud. Hopefully it doesn't get that loud all the time in real gaming settings.

 

[Ketchup]

Glad you got it worked out. Strange issue indeed.

 

[vailr]

DriverVer=01/13/2014, 6.0.1.7154
http://www.station-drivers.com/inde...audio-x64-v6-0-1-7133-ms-update?start=12#1775