coelacanth

I am using 32-bit WinXP Pro SP3 fully patched, DirectX fully updated. My speakers are Logitech z640 5.1.

I've installed Windows clean now over a dozen times. Every time I put in my Audigy 2 zs sound card, my computer freezes during gaming. I've tried WHQL drivers for the sound card, the latest drivers, and all 3 different PCI slots on my mobo. When it freezes, if I leave my comp on, there will sometimes be weird feedback screeching sounds, random popping sounds.

I've installed windows clean again, and I use the onboard sound (Realtek ALC850) and everything is fine, no freezes.

I was wondering if there's an IRQ conflict, even though I don't even really know what that means.

I looked in Device Manager and it said that both my 8800GT vid card and Audigy 2 zs sound card are in IRQ 18. Could this be what is causing the freezing?

I googled around the net and searched the forums, but couldn't find anything concrete about this. Help appreciated.
-coelacanth

TwoCables

Check to see if the Device Manager is saying that there's a conflict. If there is, then you might be able to change the IRQ. I mean, as far as I know - and I don't know much at all - two devices like these should not be using the same IRQ. For example, my XtremeGamer is using 16, and my 9800 GTX+ is using 18, and I don't have any problems.

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jmacguire

On most motherboards, you have 3 to 4 pci slots. On your system you probably have your videocard, and then below that you have the 3 pci slots. Try making sure your sound card is in slot 2 of the the 3. With motherboard design in the last ten years, the first PCI usually shares IRQs with the video card, and the last shares with onboard NIC/USB. Have you tried it in its second slot? This is only my best guess based on experience with these cards. I always use PCI slot #2 of the three of four total. #2 for me is the second one away from the video card.

Cheers
jmacguire

blacklotusul

I´ve just upgraded my soundcard from extreme music to Titanium fatality.I´ve got the same problem.I´ve checked and my video is using the same IRQ16 as the sound card.Windows freeze and lot of troubles.I´m under Win7 and can´t manage to change IRQ, have searched on Google but no luch.Also I´m on Asus P5E3 Premium @Wifi and have not found such stuff IRQ in my BIOS.

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TwoCables

Then if it's possible, try using a different PCI slot.

You see, I thought that if the Device Manager listed a conflict, then it would also provide the option to choose a different IRQ for the device with a conflict.

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coelacanth

Thanks for the responses.

I solved the problem.

My Audigy 2 ZS is just broken. Like I said in my original post, I'd tried it in all 3 PCI slots and always got freezes. With the onboard sound everything is fine...I actually really like the Realtek ALC850 that my mobo comes with. Good sound quality and some nice features.

I also had a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz laying around and have had 0 problems with it.

So the culprit was a broken sound card...I never suspected it.

blacklotusul

I can´t use another PCI-E slot. The 9800GTX is in the 1st X16 Slot, the sound card is in the last PCI-E Slot.Beetwen this 2 still a free PCI-E slot but allmoust covered from the videocard,thats the problem!So I can´t move them from the actuall place...Have tried to play with the BIOS, I tested the memory, have pulled out the video card, runned without it, same problem.After 1 hour windows freeze!And I don´t know why...Thats 100% that both are on IRQ16 and I can´t change/assign another IRQ to one of them..Under Device manager everything fine, no conflict listened!


Just curious, I sold my ExtremeMusic that was PCI, not PCI-E sloted soundcard and that problem was there...It might not be that IRQ conflict.I have moved my pair of 2X2 Gb Corsair Kit memory to the other two places, same thing happenes.Also I have putted everything on Auto in BIOS, no more OC, maybe something was wrong there, the freeze still there with everything on Auto in BIOS!I don´t know what to do anymore, I´m out of ideas!

Also weird thing.When Windows freeze theres a sound..Not only freeze.A High Sound like tzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

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TwoCables

When did the problem start happening? I mean, did it start after switching to Windows 7? If not, then this is quite a conundrum.
I used to have an Audigy 2 ZS too. Coincidentally, it died just about a month before I completed my build last April or May. I mean, it didn't stop working, but thee was a bunch of static that sounded like a camp fire. But then it would fizzle out and may pop once every 5-10 minutes or so. But, I'm glad that happened because I otherwise wouldn't have ended up with the XtremeGamer. But, I admit that I do miss the Audigy 2 ZS even though the XtremeGamer sounds like 10x better.

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coelacanth

Wow frustrating problem.
I did some more reading and it seems like it's OK to have both vid and gfx card on the same IRQ in device manager.
I had the same problem with my freezes, sometimes there's be a high pitched sound.
But it sounds like it's not the RAM, not the vid card, not the sound card. I guess it could be your motherboard? And if that's not it then hard drive or PSU. It's a real pain trouble shooting this stuff, but just go 1 component at a time.

I swapped in a video card that I knew was good. Still froze. Tried a different hard drive. Still froze. Memtested the crap out of my RAM. Still froze. Swapped all of my SATA cables for cables I knew worked. etc. I finally swapped out the sound card, and tested with onboard sound and then my Turtle Beach PCI sound card. Finally discovered that my sound card is busted.

Good luck!