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Sound cards?

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No, but I ‘m using the S/PDIF optical out, not USB. Not sure if that makes difference or not.
It could, what receiver are you using? I remember back in the day Denons would have glitches, along with Sony TVs having HDMI issues where they would lose sound and power cycle brought it back. Those were DirecTV though.

Maybe try a new Toslink cable, since they are optical they have an angle on the end.
 
No, but I ‘m using the S/PDIF optical out, not USB. Not sure if that makes difference or not.

The Realtek 40xx codec chip is effectively a USB based device, that communicates directly with the host USB controller, not through the conventional HD Audio controller as previous HD audio codecs. Which means it is residing in the host USB hub/controller stack at some point or influenced by it. Though I'm not sure if that applies to straight digital pass-through to SPDIF, or whether it only applies to audio data that needs to be sent to the CODEC for any kind of audio processing, converter, DSP stuff.
 
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And then around 10th Gen Core, Intel has replaced its HD Audio controller with Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST). I'm not sure how that changes anything, since hardly any tech sites are doing the functional explainers or break downs of the various elements of the PC anymore. Gone the way of the "influencer".

I guess video killed more than the radio star. It got around to killing real tech writing, too.
 
It could, what receiver are you using? I remember back in the day Denons would have glitches, along with Sony TVs having HDMI issues where they would lose sound and power cycle brought it back. Those were DirecTV though.

Maybe try a new Toslink cable, since they are optical they have an angle on the end.
Connects to a FiiO K5 Pro DAAC/Amp. I don't have another Toslink cable to test with.

I think I mentioned it earlier in the thread...THIS is the Toslink cable I use:

I would try the usb, that should bypass the Realtek altogether.
The Realtek IS the USB output.
 
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So...let me ask this...(I hope I word it right) Does the motherboard process/output sound differently for the audio jacks than USB? That's to say, the audio ports use the built-in Realtek ALC 4080 chip and codec...is that still used for USB out to a DAC?
 
So...let me ask this...(I hope I word it right) Does the motherboard process/output sound differently for the audio jacks than USB? That's to say, the audio ports use the built-in Realtek ALC 4080 chip and codec...is that still used for USB out to a DAC?
I am not 100% sure, but the digital optical output would be the cleanest, with if it has a digital RCA output port.
I would believe there is more processing going on to send it to USB.

But there is also the GPU option using HDMI, if that still works. I know there was a driver option for hdmi audio in the adrenaline drivers. (I think)
 
I am not 100% sure, but the digital optical output would be the cleanest, with if it has a digital RCA output port.
I would believe there is more processing going on to send it to USB.

But there is also the GPU option using HDMI, if that still works. I know there was a driver option for hdmi audio in the adrenaline drivers. (I think)
Yeah, that's why I went with the optical S/PDIF optical to the DAC/Amp to begin with...cleaner with less chance of external noise. NO RCA-out, just the usual 1/8" stuff...and the optical jack.

My GPU has unused HDMI ports, but no way to connect them to my DAC/Amp.
My USB A-to-B cables are too short to reach from the PC to the DAC/Amp. Can't really move either one. I DO have an older (2005) USB extension cable...but I don't know if the throughput would be sufficient. They were used to reach printers back in the day.
 
Yeah, that's why I went with the optical S/PDIF optical to the DAC/Amp to begin with...cleaner with less chance of external noise. NO RCA-out, just the usual 1/8" stuff...and the optical jack.

My GPU has unused HDMI ports, but no way to connect them to my DAC/Amp.
My USB A-to-B cables are too short to reach from the PC to the DAC/Amp. Can't really move either one. I DO have an older (2005) USB extension cable...but I don't know if the throughput would be sufficient. They were used to reach printers back in the day.
Wouldn't hurt to try, audio alone doesn't take up a huge amount of bandwidth.

If it sounds acceptable, order newer cables from Monoprice. (Having hard time offering up Amazon ATM) I usually try direct to source.
 
Wouldn't hurt to try, audio alone doesn't take up a huge amount of bandwidth.

If it sounds acceptable, order newer cables from Monoprice. (Having hard time offering up Amazon ATM) I usually try direct to source.
Yep. I've been looking both places for a new Toslink cable as well as a USBC-to-B cable.

The thing is...I don't know if I need either one. As I've said before, when this works...it works GREAT...until it doesn't. No way to know.
 
Yep. I've been looking both places for a new Toslink cable as well as a USBC-to-B cable.

The thing is...I don't know if I need either one. As I've said before, when this works...it works GREAT...until it doesn't. No way to know.
Hrmm, have you tried just unplugging existing cable and reinserting?

Or, I had this issue with Sony TVs back in the early HD days, audio would cut out, and power cycling TV would fix it.
What would be the easiest to power cycle? Even changing inputs would work at times also.
 
Hrmm, have you tried just unplugging existing cable and reinserting?

Or, I had this issue with Sony TVs back in the early HD days, audio would cut out, and power cycling TV would fix it.
What would be the easiest to power cycle? Even changing inputs would work at times also.
Yes, tried the "un-plug and re-plug" several times. BOTH ends. When it stops working, ONLY a full power cycle of the PC fixes it.
 
You said a realtex driver?
Only if I dun a typo...REALTEK. I'm currently running 6.4.0.2404 That's SUPPOSED to be the latest/best one for this. took me some time to find it...then about a week later, MSI released it in their driver downloads.

How's the new ride? Scratch it yet?
 
Only if I dun a typo...REALTEK. I'm currently running 6.4.0.2404 That's SUPPOSED to be the latest/best one for this. took me some time to find it...then about a week later, MSI released it in their driver downloads.

How's the new ride? Scratch it yet?
Now yoou have me looking at this or the AE5. Which would leave my Z without a board to go into.
 
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