Skip the mobo disk: Find out the exact audio chip and download it from the chispet manufacturer. So if you've got a Gigabyte board with the Realtek ALC888 chip, go to Realtek's site and download the drivers from them.

You can also check your BIOS to see if there are any audio related settings that may have been disabled.

Finally, you can get an inexpensive sound card like an Asus Xonar if all else fails.

Good luck,

Boz

You know what I like about Back to the Future II? It had the most reasonable vision of the future I'd ever seen, outside the whole flying cars concept. People still go to movies, have trouble with appliances, watch too much television, play an instrument: Life doesn't really change all that much, though technology certainly does.

So in 2050 while I expect the world will have more "stuff," people are probably going to be doing all the things that they've been doing: Eating, sleeping, drinking too much, a war or two here and there, complaining about taxes, fighting over political nonsense, getting married, having kids, etc. etc.

Boz

If you're not concerned with volume or quality and you're just looking to improve your TV sound you might be a good candidate for a Sound Bar. It will not give you the surround sound effect of the movies, but it will produce superior audio clarity to what you're getting from your television. Definitive Technologies, Polk Audio, and Boston Acoustics all make decent bars.

A full-on home theater may actually not work well for you if you have difficulty discerning voices, since a high-end audio system increases the dynamic range of the content (meaning loud sounds are louder and soft sounds are quieter). Try visiting a home theater store in your area with a sound room - most modern Best Buys have a high-end section where you can listen to home theaters in a simulated home environments - or a Sony store for an idea of what your various options will sound like.

And make sure you buy somewhere with a decent return policy.

Good luck,

Boz

I've been doing some research on soundcards for a forthcoming update to the sticky. My understanding is that the Xonar Essence STX has superior EMI shielding for its DAC section, so it may solve your issue.

Before you go and make the change, though, you can try the following:

• Move your sound card to another slot, if available.
• Remove one of your video cards if you are using a two-card setup, or if you have on-board video.
• Disable on-board audio if it is still enabled in the BIOS.
• Disable on-board video if it is still enabled in the BIOS.
• If you have a rear case fan, unplug it, you know, just to see. If it solves the issue, try another fan header.
• Move your power wires. Power wires are very noisy, and if you have any near your card they may be causing the buzzing.
• Change the power cables you are using for your video card(s). It's worth a shot.

Good luck,

Boz

Happy gaming,

Boz

I wonder how good I'll get in the next two nights of practice?

Boz

Bozanimal

Are there any instructions or guidelines on how to connect to the correct server (will a server be set up tomorrow, then)? Anything I should be reading prior to trying to get in tomorrow? I made the mistake of waiting until the night of for Unreal Tournament III to my detriment.

Happy gaming,

Boz

...isn't outrageously priced.UFC_Guy7234

I'd like to expand on this. I will have a comment total listed in a blog, but only be able to see a limited number of subsequent posts. It might say, "15 comments," yet I can only see nine.

I'm not sure if this is related, but when I'm posting "instant" comments, such as in the news section or comments in other user blogs, I notice that my comment no longer appears instantly below the box like it used to. I believe this is not isolated, either, as I'm seeing more double-posts than usual in the past 48 hours.

Happy gaming,

Boz

I wonder how good I'll get in the next two nights of practice?

Boz

Hi, I currently use the Turtle Beach X11 on my PS3 but I want something better. My tv is a Panasonic TC-P50S1 (no sound system) with a optical digital out only and I need 12 feet of cord. After reading the sticky here, I am thinking about taking a pass on the Tritton Pros and the TB DPX21s. What would you guys recommend? I want something with excellent sound quality and also want to be able to locate enemys by sound. After doing some reading here I understand that surround sound in gaming headset isn't what it's hyped up to be. So I checked out the AKG K-240 and the Audio Technica AD700 on amazon and they look impressive based on the reviews. I am leaning towards AD700s and the price seems like a steal on amazon. My one concern is that will I be able to control sound level with either of the above headphones. I have a cheap pair of stereo headphones that work through the PS3's AV cables but there isn't a way to control the sound level. Also will I be able to use these headphones when watching tv programming (I have a Dish Network receiver) and blu-rays on PS3. This isn't a priority but if they do I can kill two birds with one stone. I will be primarily using the headphones for gaming and the two biggest priorities are sound quality and being able to locate enemys by sound. Thank you in advance.

EDIT: Paragraph didn't break for some reason.mchelo777

You have several options. You can:

• You can use a cheap headphone amp like the Fiio E5 with a RCA to 3.5mm converter from the RCA output of your PS3 as a volume control
• Use the Fiio E7 as a DAC and headphone amp (it connects via USB, I believe)
• Use a NuForce Icon uDAC-2, which will connect directly to your RCAs or USB (ceonvenient)
• Use a DAC from Parts Express, though if you're buying a set of headphones that nice, you might want to get a headphone amplifier (all of the above) as well
• Use your television's headphone jack, if available

Good luck!

Boz