Specific problem with my Creative Sound Blaster Live! Value. Any hint?

[Franklogus]

Hi all!

I am having a strange problem with the sound card of my back-up PC, and I need some technical help

The sound card of my PC is a Creative Sound Blaster Live! Value 1024 (that I bought in the end of 2001). So, it?s not a new device?

Anyways, I never had any trouble with it? Recently, I am having an intermittent sound when I play some (few) games, as F1 2002 and F1 Challenge (and its respective mods). ALWAYS, when I begin some race, the sound begins to fail, in an intermittent way, for a short time (from 10 seconds to 40 seconds), and, after this, no more any problem with the sound, until the end of the respective race ? The worst is that, while the sound is failing, the FPS decreases hardly, what is really odd!!? When I use the on-board sound of my MoBo, there is not any problem? Unfortunately, the quality of the on-board sound card is very worse than of my Creative card; that?s because I really would like to use the better device, if possible?

I can?t observe this kind of problem in any other racing game that I have (with all them, the sound works great, all time)?

As I have not changed any setting of these 2 specific games (this is a very recent issue), and the sound works normally with all others games, I really can?t believe that there is a hardware damage? In order to try to solve this weird problem, I have already re-installed it respective driver, but no success?

I am not an expert on these matters (far from this); so, I would like some opinions about what can be happening?

Any information / hint will be very appreciated!

Thanks in advance for any help !

As an information, my basic Back-up PC spec is:

- Processor: P4 2.8 533 MHz
- MoBo: Asus P4S800D
- RAM: 1.024 MB DDR 333 (Kingston Value Ram) - 04 sticks of 256 MB each one.
- Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Live! Value (WDM)
- Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon 9600 XT
- 02 HDDs: 01 Maxtor 120 GB, 7200 rpm, ATA-133 + 01 Seagate 40 GB, 7200 rpm, ATA-100
- OS: Win XP PRO SP1

 

[FlyingPenguin]

The SBLive is prone to all kinds of strange problems relating to PCI IRQ Channel sharing (NOT the same as an IRQ conflict). Although this article is dated, it accurately explains the problems and a workaround:
http://soldcentralfl.com/quakecoop/glfaq5.htm#5_9

In all honesty, I wouldn't even bother trying to troubleshoot it. l would recommend you lose the card (makes a dandy doorstop). The SBLive was cursed. Worst card Creative ever made. It's also dated now.

Your mobo has integrated AC'92 sound hardware that - frankly it's as good or better quality sound than the SBLive. If you don't like the sound or features of the AC'92 chipset, then for $12 - $25 you can buy a C-Media chipset 5.1 surrond card that will blow the socks off it.

This one for instance: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-117-105&depa=0

Or if you need a fiber connection: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-117-105&depa=0

Hope this helps...

 

[Franklogus]

Thanks a lot for your reply, FlyingPenguin.

Your links are very useful!

Concerning to my on-board sound card, the sound that I get from it seems clean, but VERY lower than that which I can get from my Sound Blaster Live! (for the SAME position of the level button of speakers..). Do you know why do this happens??

Many txs for your attention, FlyingPenguin!