Asus Formula III Issue

shinester184 · 3 Jan 2011 at 21:56

Hey,

Ive just built a new system today on an Asus Formula III

(http://overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-339-AS)

We are having issues with getting the audio drivers installed for the X-fi card. Basically, whenever we try to install both the X-fi Utility Drivers and Soundblaster drivers, the warning messages run something along the lines of:

"These drivers do not support your hardware".

This is really wierd cos we are getting all the drivers from the Crosshair Formula III direct from Asustek :S

Anyone got any help they can offer?

Basically we have a pc with no sound!!

EDIT: We follow the steps of the Formula III section when installing the audio drivers, it says;

"Please install the SoundMax audio driver then X-Fi utility under "Utility" item to drive the audio "

But we cant! It just says this driver is not compatible with the hardware, and yes we have selected the right operating system

alex24 · 3 Jan 2011 at 22:01

My advice - get a better sound card. This isn't a real Creative card and just steals some of the software functions. The Asus Xonar DG will outperform it for less than £20.

I have the board in question and was running the onboard card - you need to install the card drivers first, then the x-fi ones iirc. The readme with the package should say something to that effect, or it's on the driver download site, that's how I found out.

shinester184 · 3 Jan 2011 at 22:36

Ok mate, that will probably help. Thing is now we may have narrowed the problem down a bit.

In device manager, the soundcard isnt being picked up under any category. Doesnt turn up under "Sound, video and game controllers" where I would expect it to be.

Do I need to have the drivers installed before I am able to see the soundcard showing up as a device in Device Manager? If so, we can narrow it down to a software issue.

If it should be showing up anyhow, then theres something not right with the card. I only have the front panel HDA going into the rear sockets of the soundcard, does it require more? (I was only cursory with the manual and it seemed it didnt need any external power etc..)

EDIT: And the X-fi sign on the side of the card does light up, but doesnt show itself anywhere!

alex24 · 3 Jan 2011 at 22:43

Have you enabled onboard sound in the BIOS? You need to enable that for the slot to work properly I think.

CraigN · 3 Jan 2011 at 22:48

you might also need to install a microsoft KB Update it enables HD audio codecs or something along those lines its usually packaged with the driver and installs first.

shinester184 · 3 Jan 2011 at 22:50

alexhull24 said:
Have you enabled onboard sound in the BIOS? You need to enable that for the slot to work properly I think.

You could have solved out problems

Didn't think to try that, bit of an odd requirement isn't it? Thanks a lot, we will try it tomorrow!

alex24 · 3 Jan 2011 at 23:14

It is the onboard sound in effect, so that's how it's enabled. Did you get a printed manual with yours? Should be in there I think.

shinester184 · 3 Jan 2011 at 23:18

alexhull24 said:
It is the onboard sound in effect, so that's how it's enabled. Did you get a printed manual with yours? Should be in there I think.

Yeah, came with a printed manual. Thing is I built the system today for a friend who isn't so confident on the hardware side of things. Can you remember roughly where in the BIOS I should be looking so I can guide him over the phone? I also have an Asus board so I might be able to get some clues by looking in my bios.

Thanks for the help