Asus A7V333 And Audigy 2 Popping/Crackling......New Asus Board?

[SBLiveFordFE]

Hello all. I've had popping/crackling on my Audigy 2 card for too long now. I've tried EVERYTHING such as installing latest bios, flipping BIOS options around, drivers, windows updates, virus checks, video card drivers, PCI slot changes, 3rd party patches and drivers, ETC. Creative won't even help me.

I finally got so tired of it, I yanked the $200 card out last night. Now I'm using crappy Onboard AC97 sound. It will work for now, until I fiqure out what to do.

I'm reading that I am definitally not the first for this to happen. Seems like alot of people are having problems with thier AUDIGY and VIA Chipsets. I wanna keep this card (because its one of the better cards out) and try replacing my motherboard.

So I started looking into a new motherboard. I was looking at the A7V880 Board with the VIA VT8237 Southbridge Chipset. The board also has "Dual Memory Channels". Will I be able to use this with what I've got? I have DDR333 Memory, 2x 256MB sticks. I dont want to replace my memory. If anything, the only thing Ill replace besides the motherboard is the CPU, since the XP units are getting preety cheap - (2700XP for $74 bucks). My computer is already good-powered enough for my uses.

The Southbridge I have now is the VIA 8233. Should I even stay with via? HOw are the Nforce 2 Chipsets?

HOPEFULLY, Switching out to a $70 motherboard will resolve this issue. Otherwise, I'd be PISSED!

What do you guys think?

[Praetor]

I yanked the $200 card out last night

For starters the Audigy2 shouldnt be $200

Seems like alot of people are having problems with thier AUDIGY and VIA Chipsets. I wanna keep this card (because its one of the better cards out) and try replacing my motherboard.

I had some pretty messed up problems too but they were solved using the latest drivers

I was looking at the A7V880 Board with the VIA VT8237 Southbridge Chipset. The board also has "Dual Memory Channels". Will I be able to use this with what I've got? I have DDR333 Memory, 2x 256MB sticks.

You can use that board however the A7N___ series is a much more effective route

[SBLiveFordFE]

the Audigy II Platinum Was $200 When I baught it brand new. I should atleast get what I pay for.

So the Nvidia Chipset is better than Via's huh?

Also, What do you think about performance increase in the Athlon 64 Vs XP for Game purposes only? Worth the extra $70?

Nash

[Praetor]

the Audigy II Platinum Was $200

Well that would be the Audigy2 Platinum -- not the Audigy (no im not being difficult, just trying to make you dont get ripped off)

So the Nvidia Chipset is better than Via's huh?

By far. The KT8xx and KT6xx are just modifications to the KT400 series which wasnt that great to start with

Also, What do you think about performance increase in the Athlon 64 Vs XP for Game purposes only? Worth the extra $70?

If its only a $70 from AthlonXP to Athlon64 then either [a] you'd be paying way too much for the AthlonXP or [b] the Athlon64 is uber cheap (do realize you'll have to get an Athlon64 mobo)

[SBLiveFordFE]

Athlon 64 3000 MHz $130

My Old Radeon 8500 (still a mighty warrior IMO)

ASUS K8N nVIDIA nFORCE3 250 CHIPSET SERIAL ATA150 ATX FORM FACTOR 1xAGP(8X)/5xPCI/3xDDR W/SATA RAID,LAN,USB 2.0 & AUDIO (CPU TYPE:AMD ATHLON 64 - SOCKET 754) $86

(I suppose I'll still use my Thermotake Volcano 9 on this puppy)

My 333Mhz bus 512 MB DDR RAM

Still use FullTowerCase/DVD/Aud2Plat/80GBHDD/ETC.

Not a bad upgrade for $216? I'm mainly doing this for sound fixation. But dont you think it'l improve the games alittle? I still have hitman III to play....and ofcoarse HL2!

It should get some better FPS if the ol' 8500 aint too much of a bottleneck.

I'll decide once it's all together if I'm gonna need a better vid card. So far, This is the best card I've ever bought. It's lasted me so long, and it still holds up. It's been O/C'ed for 2 years

I remeber back in the olden days going to the store and buying a V1, V2 2000....how cool that felt. The the V3 2000, 3000's came out. Had them all. I remeber that horrid day with 3dfx went down...

I even baught the Voodoo 4. Never touched a Voodoo 5 because I was unsure of 3dFX's survival. I'd still like to buy one and put it on the wall.

I use to build machines all the time. Probably built about 40 for the community (businesses).

Left it for a couple years for car work now I'm jumpin back in to doin alittle upgrade.

ALOT has changed.....PCI Express, Athlon 64, New Bus/Chipsets, The whole ATI/Nvidia Graphic card models have gotten even MORE screwed up than before, ETC.

Thanks for the help. If that looks good to you, I think it'l make a good christmas present.

Nash.

[Praetor]

(I suppose I'll still use my Thermotake Volcano 9 on this puppy)

If it fits the new form factor (which I dont think it does)

Not a bad upgrade for $216?

Not at all. Try to get the Hammer version of the Athlon64 rather than the Newcastle

It should get some better FPS if the ol' 8500 aint too much of a bottleneck.

Its a bottleneck. Relatively of course. It depends on the budget