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Topic: Can changing video cards change audio properties? (Read 2355 times) previous topic - next topic

Can changing video cards change audio properties?

I have just changed my video card from an i740 intel 2D/3D to a Riva TNT2a-based one. Strangely enough the audio properties have also changed! Each set of instruments is heard with greater clarity and definition, however there seems to be less "glow"/resonance at the time. Does this makes sense?

Re: Can changing video cards change audio properties?

Reply #1 –
The only thing that might make sense is that your new video card is radiating less electrical noise than your old one. That's one of the problems with having sound gear inside a box containing very fast circuitry; it's inevitable that some of it will get picked up. Video circuitry is especially nasty in that regard. That's why, whenever possible, you should put your sound card in the slot furthest away from the video card. (Of course, if your sound and video are included on the main board, you don't have much of a choice...)
 

Re: Can changing video cards change audio properties?

Reply #2 –
One other possibility: are you sure that you did not have any resource conflicts when the old video card was present. If you did have them, once it was removed, the resource conflict could have disappeared, allowing Windows to detect the conflicting hardware, and subsequently allow you to use it (where you may have been using a differenbt synth on the card prior to the change).

Sometimes adding new hardware causes the BIOS plug-n-play to reassign IRQ and other settings. This might also have the effect of making a sound card device work fully, where maybe it only worked partially before the change.