Realtek Sound not working right

[Phaetos]

This mobo: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4807&dl=1#sp
This case: http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=706334&fid=5022054
This monitor: http://www.asus.com/us/Monitors_Projectors/VN247HP/

Latest Realtek drivers available from Realtek website installed.

Problem:
The monitor is connected via HDMI to PC. Apparently, this mobo sends audio via the HDMI as well, since the monitor as built-in speakers. Not the best, but they are fine for minor things. I finally figured out how to get sound to the monitor speakers by setting the Default device to the Digital Output in the Realtek manager. I get some Windows sounds, youtube plays, iTunes works. Some apps that have notificiation sounds, don't play at all. I look at the sound mixer and can see that System Sounds and the Asus monitor are the only things listed for volume sliders. Diablo sounds work fine.
When I plug in headphones to the front audio jack, nothing happens. Sound continues from the speakers, the Realtek manager shows a notice that a device was plugged into the audio jack, but no sound happens. I checked in the Advanced settings for the Realtek manager, and there is an option to mute the rear ports if something is plugged into the front ports. But that doesn't seem to work as I'm not using the rear audio port, as the sound is being passed thru the HDMI.

Anyone else ran into this problem? How'd ya fix it?

 

[Phaetos]

Update:

I switched monitor to the DVI output on the mobo with a DVI -> HDMI cable. Plugged in the speakers via the green audio cable and the sound works. I plug in headphones to the front jack and get sound, but the rear port doesn't mute. Checked the advanced settings, and the option to "mute rear port when device detected on front port" is selected, but it isn't working.

 

[lehtv]

While I have no idea if this is relevant to your particular problem, you should use the latest drivers from your motherboard manufacturer's website, not from Realtek.com. Quote from Realtek.com:

Audio drivers available for download from the Realtek website are general drivers for our audio ICs, and may not offer the customizations made by your system/motherboard manufacturer. To be sure you obtain the full features/customizations provided in your original audio product, please download the latest drivers from your system/motherboard manufacturer's website.

The correct drivers to use are here: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4807&dl=1#dl

 

[mvbighead]

Doesn't sound driven into HDMI get controlled by a different device. I disable different audio devices until you find the right one.

 

[Phaetos]

I started with the drivers from the mobo initially. Wasn't getting anywhere there, so I tried the device drivers.

 

[lehtv]

The drivers from Gigabyte are device drivers... And Realtek's "stock" drivers are also device drivers. If Realtek's own drivers aren't working any better, swap back to the Gigabyte ones.

Are your chipset drivers up to date?

EDIT:
If you go to Sound -> Playback, you should be able to see the HDMI audio device (or several). Mine are called Digital Audio (HDMI). This should be visible if you have HDMI connected, but you can also see it if you enable "Show Disabled Devices" and "Show Disconnected Devices". In this window, you can manually select the default audio device, and switch between Digital Audio (HDMI) and Speakers Realtek High Definition Audio. I suppose something similar should be shown in Realtek Audio Manager, but I haven't used that software so I have no idea, I just use the default Windows Sound control panel.

I don't know how to make it so it automatically recognizes which device to use based on whether you have headphones in the Realtek audio jack or not, while HDMI is connected.

 

[Phaetos]

The drivers from Gigabyte are device drivers... And Realtek's "stock" drivers are also device drivers. If Realtek's own drivers aren't working any better, swap back to the Gigabyte ones.

Are your chipset drivers up to date?

latest ones off the website, and I swapped back to the Gigabyte drivers. Same version numbers, just repackaged. This is just weird.