Solved Quick question

BunnyJ · Jan 3, 2024

When I install my sound card, should I uninstall the current drivers first? I plan on doing it but I just want to see if there's a better way.

1. Uninstall the drivers and install the new ones when the new card is installed.
2. Just overwrite the existing drivers with the new one after I install the card

TIA
Jeff

The Sound card is this
ASUS XONAR SE 5.1

Berton · Jan 3, 2024

A look at that motherboard on the 'net shows it has onboard sound adapter, my thought is it would be best to disable or uninstall that first. Might even check if the BIOS has a place to disable it. My experience started back in mid-'90s with AT-style boards and everything was an add-in card.

BunnyJ · Jan 3, 2024

Berton said:
A look at that motherboard on the 'net shows it has onboard sound adapter, my thought is it would be best to disable or uninstall that first. Might even check if the BIOS has a place to disable it. My experience started back in mid-'90s with AT-style boards and everything was as add-in card.

Ok.. that was the plan I just wanted to double check.
Thanks..

Ghot · Jan 3, 2024

BunnyJ said:
When I install my sound card, should I uninstall the current drivers first?

Doesn't really matter. It's not like it's the display, which is necessary to even operate the computer.

Q: Oh no. What happened to the sound?
A: Do you need it to operate the computer?
Q: Well, no.
A: Then you can fix it later.

antspants · Jan 3, 2024

Hi Jeff. I would remove the current drivers and disable the on-board sound in your BIOS (as Berton mentioned)
Most of the ROG BIOS are the same or similar:

Goto ’Advance Mode’ which is in the top right corner of the BIOS (If the BIOS doesn’t already boot to Advanced Mode)
Goto to the ’Advanced’ tab and select ’Onboard Device Configuration’
Then disable ‘HD audio Controller’

BunnyJ · Jan 3, 2024

antspants said:
Hi Jeff. I would remove the current drivers and disable the on-board sound in your BIOS (as Berton mentioned)
Most of the ROG BIOS are the same or similar:

Goto ’Advance Mode’ which is in the top right corner of the BIOS (If the BIOS doesn’t already boot to Advanced Mode)
Goto to the ’Advanced’ tab and select ’Onboard Device Configuration’
Then disable ‘HD audio Controller’

Thank you very much.. that's a huge help!
Jeff

Ghot · Jan 3, 2024

@BunnyJ

You can do all that stuff after you install the sound card.
Do all the settings and drivers before you connect the speakers to the sound card though.

This is your current Audio driver... Realtek Audio Driver V6.0.9411.1

This should be the BIOS manual, for your motherboard...

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/Manual/PRIME_TUF_GAMING_B550_Series_BIOS_EM_WEB_EN.pdf?model=TUF%20GAMING%20B550-PLUS

I also have an ASUS motherboard and it seems ASUS put all the motherboard BIOS manuals, under the TUF motherboard support page. Mine is the same way, as per ASUS.

BunnyJ · Jan 4, 2024

Ghot said:
@BunnyJ

You can do all that stuff after you install the sound card.
Do all the settings and drivers before you connect the speakers to the sound card though.

This is your current Audio driver... Realtek Audio Driver V6.0.9411.1

This should be the BIOS manual, for your motherboard...

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/Manual/PRIME_TUF_GAMING_B550_Series_BIOS_EM_WEB_EN.pdf?model=TUF%20GAMING%20B550-PLUS

View attachment 83067

I also have an ASUS motherboard and it seems ASUS put all the motherboard BIOS manuals, under the TUF motherboard support page. Mine is the same way, as per ASUS.

Thanks.. I'll review all of this later on today

antspants · Jan 4, 2024

BunnyJ said:
Thanks.. I'll review all of this later on today

I’ll save you the trouble

antspants said:
Goto ’Advance Mode’ which is in the top right corner of the BIOS (If the BIOS doesn’t already boot to Advanced Mode)
Goto to the ’Advanced’ tab and select ’Onboard Device Configuration’
Then disable ‘HD audio Controller’

Is basically all that the manual says.

BunnyJ · Jan 4, 2024

antspants said:
I’ll save you the trouble

Is basically all that the manual says.

Thanks.. it went well and I love the sound card.

This PC,, it is perfect

antspants · Jan 4, 2024

BunnyJ said:
Thanks.. it went well and I love the sound card.

This PC,, it is perfect

That’s great, Jeff.
Now to play some Orchestral classics, pump up the volume wooop wooop
For full effect, may I suggest Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
Or if you just want to chill, some smooth Jazz, Maybe a bit of Miles Davis?

Have fun.

BunnyJ · Jan 4, 2024

antspants said:
That’s great, Jeff.
Now to play some Orchestral classics, pump up the volume wooop wooop
For full effect, may I suggest Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
Or if you just want to chill, some smooth Jazz, Maybe a bit of Miles Davis?

Have fun.

I love jazz. I also have this installed so I can really fine tune the sound

https://equalizerapo.com/

antspants · Jan 4, 2024

BunnyJ said:
I love jazz. I also have this installed so I can really fine tune the sound

https://equalizerapo.com/

That looks promosing, Jeff. I have never been fond of any Windows supplied equalisers. I might download it.
But I use AIMP music player which has some pretty in-depth equaliser settings.
Let us know how it goes?

BunnyJ · Jan 4, 2024

antspants said:
That looks promosing, Jeff. I have never been fond of any Windows supplied equalisers. I might download it.
But I use AIMP music player which has some pretty in-depth equaliser settings.
Let us know how it goes?

So far I really like it. I've set the baseline with the eq that comes with the driver, and I've been fine-tuning it.

It's free, so it's worth a try. The sound from the MB was muddy and this is so much cleaner and that's what I wanted.

Ghot · Jan 4, 2024

BunnyJ said:
So far I really like it. I've set the baseline with the eq that comes with the driver, and I've been fine-tuning it.

It's free, so it's worth a try. The sound from the MB was muddy and this is so much cleaner and that's what I wanted.

One of the few good things about getting old... my ears aren't as picky as they used to be.

BunnyJ · Jan 4, 2024

Plus I have great speakers and I want to get the most out of them.,

Ghot · Jan 4, 2024

BunnyJ said:
Plus I have great speakers and I want to get the most out of them.,

Yeah... I have the same speakers if your specs are up to date.

antspants · Jan 4, 2024

Ghot said:
One of the few good things about getting old... my ears aren't as picky as they used to be.

Very true. My wife's screaming and playing punk music pretty much sounds the same to me.

BunnyJ said:
Plus I have great speakers and I want to get the most out of them.,

What are the speakers, Jeff?

EDIT: Ghot prompted me to look.
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1

Ghot · Jan 4, 2024

@BunnyJ

Now that you got a sound card... "you're gonna need better speakers"

A5+ Home Music System — Audioengine

You won’t hear any enhanced super-mega-hyper-monster boomy bass from these powered speakers. The low end from the A5+ Powered Speakers is real bass, very near to the originally-recorded music. From rap to classical to movies, you’ll get tight, punchy bass with an awesome growl that will make you...

audioengine.com

Or these, which are probably impossible to find anymore...

Swan M-50WMKIII

Swans origins from China and has worldwide reputation. After 33 years fast growth, Swans is now one of the renowned high-end audio manufacturers in the world and is highly acclaimed for its so many remarkable loudspeaker products.

www.swanspeakers.com