MSI 7411 Motherboard Sneak Peek (share your thoughts!) - Page 51

Originally Posted by JoeWPgh

The no sub problem went away for me when I switched to Win7. But soon after I switched back to Vista (BD issues with TMT and PDVD8), the mobo crashed and burned before I could test if the new D2 drivers fixed the problem in Vista. I'm still awaiting my (2nd) replacement amp card, so I'm not getting any channels! Have you tried the D2 audio drivers?

Originally Posted by tvarad

I am assuming it's the first one on the MSI drivers page for this board, which I did:

D2Audio Audio Driver for Windows Vista 32bit Ver 6.0.1.0

Originally Posted by gkjonas

I have the nMedia 1000B chassis with this motherboard running Win 7 and am very pleased. One of the last things I would like to get working on my HTPC is the headphone and microphone jacks on the front panel. This should be simple but I can't get it to work no matter what I try. Can anyone tell me how I should be connecting it and or what settings to use to get this working?

Thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by tvarad

Also, I am experiencing the problem of no bass from the sub-woofer in stereo mode, even if I uncheck the full response speakers box and check the bass enhancement mode. Was there any solution to that problem that others alluded to some time ago? And would this be moot because a stereo signal would only be fed to the left and right speakers and the sub-woofer even when I select the 5.1 channel mode? I don't hear any sound from the center and surround channel when I do this.

Originally Posted by vladd

2 channel sources are played in 2 channels (left and right) unless you specifically enable bass redirection.

1. Right click the speaker icon in the toolbar.
2. Select the D2 Audio device and click "Configure"
3. Set the number of speakers to 5.1 or 7.1 (You can disable any speakers that you don't have connected after clicking "Next".)
4. Uncheck the front speakers in the "Full range" screen.
5. Close the "Configure" wizard and select "Properties".
6. Go to the "Enhancements" tab and turn on "Bass Management".

The default cutoff is 80hz but you can adjust it to your liking.

Originally Posted by JoeWPgh

The Xover frequency doesn't make any difference, if no (or almost no) signal is reaching the sub in the first place. That's the problem I had with the Vista drivers, and the same problem Tvarad seems to be having. It's not a setup issue, because when you put a BD in, the low end is so thunderous as to make you dive for cover. Also, the sub always tests out OK in setup - it just disappears with 2.1 playback.

The next thing I'll try (When MSI so kindly returns my amp - GRrrrrrrrr) is to delete my music software and reinstall it over the D2 drivers. The problem is definitely a software disagreement.

Also, I am experiencing the problem of no bass from the sub-woofer in stereo mode, even if I uncheck the full response speakers box and check the bass enhancement mode.

Originally Posted by vladd

The steps that I outlined worked fine with Windows Media Player when I tested it (I even physically disconnected all speakers except the sub so I know the sub was playing). What playback software are you using? I'll try it on my setup.

Also, tvarad said:

Bass redirection is completely different and is what he actually wants and it is not available in 2 channel and quadratic modes, both of which do not have a sub in the setup. So I was under the impression that he had his speakers set to 2 channel, in which case Windows does not know that there is a sub even present on the system.

Alternatively, one could use a filter like ffdshow with the mixer function to matrix the sub in but the sound device would still need to be set to 5.1 or 7.1

Originally Posted by Infamous_panda

To Java Jack (or anyone really)
If anyone has any experience with this I am curious to how readable/usable the vista media center interface is on older standard def tube tvs. How does full screen video look? Eventually I will get an big modern lcd, but I will have to do this piece by piece this year.

Originally Posted by vladd

The steps that I outlined worked fine with Windows Media Player when I tested it (I even physically disconnected all speakers except the sub so I know the sub was playing). What playback software are you using? I'll try it on my setup.

Originally Posted by blueskais73

I am sorry but I still don't understand what the limitations of the audio configuration are presently. I haven't purchased the speakers yet, however I would like to use a sat/sub-system. As the satellite speakers are rather small they depend on the sub for stereo music as well. Could someone please explain again if music playback is possible with two of the satellites being powered from the amp-card together with an active subwoofer (and how)? I intend on using Windows Media Center, Windows 7 preferably...

Originally Posted by blueskais73

Thank you, tvarad. Good to hear that it can be done. I'd love to try it myself right now...
However it must be done manually each time if I do understand correctly. What comes to my mind now is to have automatic switching depending on the source, at least between movies and music. Has anybody an idea how to achieve that?

Originally Posted by blueskais73

Thank you, tvarad. Good to hear that it can be done. I'd love to try it myself right now...
However it must be done manually each time if I do understand correctly. What comes to my mind now is to have automatic switching depending on the source, at least between movies and music. Has anybody an idea how to achieve that?

Originally Posted by vladd

You shouldn't have to switch anything. If you have your speakers set to 5.1 with all of them enabled, no sound will come out of the center and surrounds when playing two channel music. If you have the bass redirection enabled, you will get sound from the sub and front left and front right when playing 2 channel sources. 5.1 movies will still play in all speakers. If you want to matrix 2 channel sources to play from all speakers, you can enable "Speaker Fill" in the Enhancements tab of the device properties.
....

Originally Posted by blueskais73

Thank you for clarification. I was just a little hesitating in buying a quite expensive satellite/sub system when reading about the lack of bass that has been reported.
Hopefully I'll be able to give some feedback about my build in the near future, I think it will be quite interesting...

Originally Posted by Iteki

I'm up for building one of these systems...very excited!

• Antec New Solution NSK2480 Black/Silver 0.8mm cold-rolled steel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 380W Power Supply - Retail $119
• Seagate ST3640323AS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $69.99
• MSI Media Live DIVA 5.1 AM2+/AM2 AMD 780M HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $189.00
• CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail $44.99 (plus $25 rebate, total of $19.99)
• AMD Phenom 9650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD9650WCGHBOX $119.99
• LG Black Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20L - Retail $109.99

Shipping: $28.72
Subtotal: $654.94

What do you think? Any way to shave some of that off? I'm just looking for HD playback and general media duties, not gaming.

Originally Posted by Iteki

What do you think? Any way to shave some of that off? I'm just looking for HD playback and general media duties, not gaming.

Originally Posted by JoeWPgh

As someone who has had this board burst into flame, I'd shy away from pushing this board to it's limit - ie a 95W CPU. The 9350e comes in at 65W and is a full quad. Your memory is cheap enough, but check it against the compatibility list, as this mobo is rather fussy about memory. Aside from that, with 4 gigs of RAM, I assume you're looking at a 64 bit OS. If not, cut it back to 2 gigs.

Originally Posted by ericbsmith

For the processor, any Phenom x3 or x4 should do you fine if you don't want gaming. You might be able to get away with a non-phenom for HD playback if you don't care about SD playback (Phenoms are necessary to get best deinterlacing out of SD sources). A low end Phenom x3 should save you $40-$50.

For the case, make sure it's one you want on your media rack. I spent a little extra to get one that was visually appealing to me. I also made sure it came with a good quiet power supply and case fans - I got an Antec Fusion 430W, and I believe the case you're looking at has the 380W version of the same power supply, so that should be good & quiet, but make sure if you're not buying a HTPC case.

For about the same price or maybe $5 or so more you can get a 750GB harddrive, which would probably be worth the upgrade. Make sure it's gotten good reviews as a quiet drive, as it'll probably be the noisiest part of the system.

Also, think good & hard about what wireless keyboard & mouse you'd like, as well as a MCE remote.

Originally Posted by Iteki

I'm still torn on the OS (32 or 64). Are drivers still an issue with 64bit? I was hoping for a WIn 7 beta install (I have keys for both 32 and 64 bit). I was going to keep all my media on another network drive, so I don't mind wiping it out when the office Win7 is released.

Good tip about not overpowering the board/psu. I'll also double check the memory against the list. On the MSI website I presume, but I'll check it out.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by SukitTrebek

i just assembled everything and i currently can't get any sound via the wiring harness. i am using the d2 driver on vista32.

i can get sound via the rca audio cables out to my receiver. also, the sub gets sound in the d2 configuration speaker test.

any ideas?

Originally Posted by shayking

- turn off system
- Unplug from AC outlet
- try to reseat your Amplifier Card. be sure it is in straight and snug. the fit is a little tight / tricky.

hope that helps.

Originally Posted by Java Jack

Agreed, check the molex power connector on the amp card...I have forgotten to plug that in several times.