Onboard Sound Output has gone Very Low

**whatsinaname** · 14-08-2010

Hi,

My problem is that one fine day the sound output on my desktop computer went very low without any reason or warning. I did everything I could, tried with different speakers, even with my stereo system, but the sound was low in all of them, so I figured this had to be a hardware problem inside the computer - or specifically on the motherboard, since I use the onboard sound output of my Intel DG31PR.

I think it started after - or just around the time - I changed my power supply unit (my computer had begun to restart by itself, esp when I tried to use the cd-rom drive, I checked and saw the power supply fan had stopped turning, so I replaced the PSU and all the problems went away, all except this one!)

So I exchanged my new power supply for another unit, but the sound problem is still there.

I've been struggling with this a long time, so all the obvious explanations are ruled out. (I've attached a few pics to illustrate!)

Realtek.gif
levels.gif
levels 2.gif
vol mix.gif

There are no hardware conflicts, I have tried with all the new and old drivers for the device, but nothing works. In fact, now I think the sound is getting progressively lower!

devicem.gif
driver.gif

I'm also attaching the details of my dxdiag log, which also shows no problems with the sound:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Machine name: DESKTOP
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: INTEL
System Model: DG31PR
BIOS: BIOS Date: 01/23/08 15:53:32 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 2036MB RAM
Page File: 1546MB used, 10668MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)
-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_8086D608&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6167 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 7/28/2010 18:23:36, 3154920 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX™ 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2™ Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura™ ZoomFX™: No

Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_8086D608&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6167 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 7/28/2010 18:23:36, 3154920 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX™ 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2™ Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura™ ZoomFX™: No

The only explanation is that some component of the onboard sound has gone belly up, and the question that I want to ask is that is there some way this can be fixed (some small component/IC replaced?) Or if I get a separate new sound card will it fix the problem or will it be the same since the new card will after all go on the same motherboard?

Thanx in advance for all your replies.

**Balamani** · 14-08-2010

There are two jack provided for speaker connection on in the front and one in the backside. Try to change the same. If you have any sound mixer or sound manager installed on your system then just remove that. If still nothing works then from device manager right click on the realtek system and then click uninstall. Reboot your system and Windows will ask for the driver. If you have the drive disc for the motherboard then insert the same or else let Windows search online.

**whatsinaname** · 15-08-2010

Hi, thanks for your reply. I've already done all that you suggest, but nothing worked. I've tried it from the output jack in the back and even from the line in jack (you can change this to line out in the Realtek Control Panel) I've tried the front jacks, tried older drivers and then the latest driverslet windows search for drivers online and installed those, but sound is still low.

**ApPy10** · 16-08-2010

It seems that it is a major problem with the Onboard Sound of the motherboard Intel DG31PR in Windows 7. Have you tried checking the onboard sound in Windows XP? Sorry to ask you about this -> did you make sure the Windows Volume control is turned up AND not mutted? Have you checked the silly obvious things like power cables being plugged in, sound cable in the right port?