Phaenius

Off topic Bruce Almighty can deflect lightnings. On topic OK, did some testings. Card sounds the same as before and this time tested only from the rear, since the front panel isn't working now. But I suspect to be a power related problem of some kind, because I did the following test: I generated 2 sine wave forms, from 2 different sources. When low frequencies (who I don't know why, but it seems are eating a lot of power compared to mid and/or high frequencies) are generated, medium and high frequencies are proportionally reduced to the amount of bass I am generating. I left white noise on one source and varied the bass on the other source. The lower the frequencies and the bigger the volume, the higher the reduction on white noise. This is true for single sine wave forms generated above 1 KHz. The total dB from the two outputs seem added on the VU-meter, but low frequencies are there, the mid and high ones are heavily reduced. That explains why on "heavy" music passages, with a lot of instruments, channels and powerful bass, the mids and highs are reduces and thus the "capping". It's annoying because it I have a classical guitar with a dude singing, everything is ok. If bass is outputted on top of that, the guitar and voice is greatly reduced. Some music are like that and I can't do nothing to avoid it. In your opinion, why is this happening ? Is it a power problem ?

Risking responding off topic, but that would be the worst decision on all accounts. They will only advice me to replace the sound card, physically abuse the unit, look in my data on HDDs, keep the PC for weeks in the service and me not been able to use it. And on top of those inconveniences, I will be charged top bucks. And for what ? I build the PC, I definitely know how to replace the card. They won't do more.

I was referring as both could be dust in the eyes of potential buyers so that various companies to make a buck or two.

Isn't the statement also true for cleaning and protection of electronic contacts ?

Yeah right, my home is in the middle of a WWII battle...

Some 5 years ago lightning stroke and blew out the tv. Needless to say, cable company refused to pay the blown equipment, although experts from electric company came in and said the thing that blew the electronic devices wasn't their own fault, but it came through television cable. At that moment, we had CATV from analogue equipment, now we have optical fiber.

So, that galvanic thingy is not good in my case ? By how much i jumped up and how bad the released curse. You get the idea. It was an unpleasant thing to touch.

I've been a subscriber of the first two major companies from Romania, RDS and UPC. They both supply high voltage through the cable, don't know why. Later: I did some search through Romanian forums and it seems that voltage on the cable might be from the neighbours' tv's. But the fact remains, there is high voltage on the cable. I think in any case, cable companies should assure their network and their cables are well isolated from any power drain. So, I might have been mistaken in stating cable companies do supply the voltage, but they are not in the clear, since it seems they don't properly shield their cables and equipment. Normally, I believe they should insert protections through the line. Another edit: I found this. Will it work ? It says it cuts low frequencies voltages. http://www.decibel.bizoo.ro/vanzare/1990407/Separator-galvanic

Nitroshift Don't sigh. You know only too well cable companies' cables have 220 V ac travelling inside the cable (75 ohm). submix8c You don't quit, do you ? I disconnected everything, but there is 220 V ac power on the tv cable. There is nothing to prevent it, that's the situation in Romania. They do have that voltage, don't know why. Cable is inserted into a tv STB decoder and that is connected via HDMI to TV and monitor. But the 75 ohm cable is connected to STB. When I take computer out of it's place (again, tight space), I must disconnect and remove a lot of other equipment, to have access, including the STB. When I take out the STB, I have to plug out the cable from it. And that cable has 220 V ac running through it. I don't know why, but that's the case. I do have LCD on both monitor and tv, but I can't do nothing about the cable. That's within cable company. They do supply HDTV through that cable, but still, it has than stupid voltage. I must be very careful when pulling out the cable, not to touch the metallic part of the plug, but sometimes, in the line of fire, it happens. I know they shouldn't supply that voltage, but they do, it happens here in Romania. That high voltage inside of CRT tv's is to lighten the screen, it's about 27 KV at a standard 61 cm wide color screen and varies according to screen size, but it has very low current, it has nothing to do with this voltage through cable. I have 5 ways of outputting sound from my computer: - Creative analogue - Creative digital (via SPDIF) - Realtek analogue - Realtek digital (via SPDIF) - AMD HDMI (connected via video card) AMD is disconnected, I have other ways to output and it can only go along with video, it's a bit more complicated. Both Creative outputs are active, but only the digital Realtek output is available. But, although present inside chip and recognized by driver, motherboard doesn't have a SPDIF plug on it (they went cheap) and I can't connect on that plug. So, it leaves me the analogue at Realtek. But it says "Not plugged in", driver is recognized, it says it's working perfectly, but it doesn't detect anything on it. It worked fine before, now it doesn't, don't know why. I tried to plug the case front panel (not the Creative front panel) to the Realtek card, but it turned out Realtek has Azalia specs and case has AC '97 specs, so I abandoned the idea. But I didn't plugged anything, just a visual inspection. Of course it's enabled in BIOS, do you think I am an id*** ? It was enabled before, it is now. It's working, but it reports nothing plugged in. It should work normally. Only AC '97 must have a short between pins 5 & 6 and 9 & 10 to work, Azalia doesn't. The 80 pin cable provides link from Creative sound card to Creative front panel. It is a normal 80 pin cable (IDE), with a few non standard keys (missing holes) to ensure the original is used. I found a cable without any keys, twisted cables, shielded and grounded, very good. Yes, front panel needs 5 V to operate. The voltage must be supplied via a Floppy Disk plug. Creative sound card (not the front panel) has an external 5 V socket on it as well, but it's not required. You can plug if you want, but normally it drags enough current from the PCI BUS.

I did clean the contacts of the board, blow the dust away. I have to do some tests now. In my clumsiness, I left the power supply connector out and put the pc back in place. Not an easy task to do the job again now, I electrocuted twice today (with the tv cable - don't know why, but there is high voltage running through that **** cable), I tangled the wires badly and nearly fell off as an effect of tripping, dust everywhere, that G-22 thingy is smelling like s***, I could die in the room by intoxication - could have put some rose smell or something in it, i lost 2 pounds and 2 liters of sweat doing the job and I swore I will NEVER do it again unless I move to a bigger and more spacious place. But it looks like I have to do it soon, since I don't have the front panel working, because of the missing power cable, I have the speakers connected at the back. I replaced the ribbon with a twisted 80-pin, shielded cable and I grounded to the case. It's long, but the shield and twisted wires, plus grounding, I am sure do a better job than a shorter, unshielded ribbon. I checked the capacitors. They are so small, couldn't see anything obvious, like electrolyte, top cap open or anything, they look ok visually. Contacts were surprisingly clean and neat. No signs of oxidation or corrosion, not even scratches from the other connectors being plugged in. So, soon there will other electrocutions, tripping into the wires, blood pressure lifting from lifting the computer, fingers smashed, liters of sweat pouring and lots of curses from me. At least I won't be having dust, since I cleaned it today. Edit: And oh, the built-in sound card from the motherboard is kaput now. Don't know what happened. It worked when I opened the computer. It doesn't now. It says it's not connected. Connected to what ?

I have no option but to report you, submix8c. I asked you several times to stop your attacks towards me, but you took them too far. I don't deserve this.

The link you posted is not mine ! Also, the cited quote is not mine. You are wrongfully quoting me. And why are you calling me full of myself ?

What ?!? Now you totally mixed up things.

I bought G-22 today.

Do you mean police is watching me ? Ouch !

Sadly, your statement is totally wrong. But this is more of a religious and philosophical debate and won't insist. I've been to Dedeman yesterday. In the whole store (which isn't small btw) they do have just one product, designed for car use. I don't go to Praktiker, because they never (NEVAH !) have anything I look for and Bricostore I am sure is the same. All three are not electronics specialized stores, but house and gardening. So, unless I need to clean my shovel or plant some seeds, there's no reason to go there. It's easy to point fingers without knowing the whole story and all the facts. The REAL point is I can only use G-22 because that is the ONLY thing I could get at a reasonable price. I cannot spend close to 10% on cleaning products the price of a new card who is suppose to be working perfectly. Another point is obstacles can be found in any step you take, some have more, some have less, you can't avoid them all and you can't wrestle the mountains (in Romanian it makes more sense ).

I'm getting the feeling that you are resisting any form of advice given. A quick google search revealed that WD-40 actually costs less than a pack of cigarettes. Your move... nitroshift https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsZd3bgvFI8 Min: 1:40 So: WD-40 (from your link) 11.99 lei + 23.46 lei (p&p) = 35.45 lei Pack of cigarettes 12 lei (since I don't smoke, I thought a pack is 5 lei). Anyway, it's 3 times a pack of WD-40, ordered from internet and lower if you buy it from the local store, but still costs more than a pack of cigarettes. Jaclaz: In my Vitacom store, they only have G-22. G-20 doesn't say it's anti oxidation. Besides, it's not in stock. So, I should buy G-22. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walther_G22

Correct.

If true, he is awfully misinformed about the prices of cigarettes here.

So far, I can get this: - a generic (presumably Kontakt-U) from online order in Romania (mivarom) - G-22 from local (in my town) - WD-40 (from anywhere, you practically stumble on it) - but I thought this is used in stuck mechanical joints, I had one when I had my last car. Not sure if it's good for my job. I am not cheap, but I can't afford to invest too much money (bear in mind in Romania salaries are very low) on something that has close to 0 percentage of success. I thought of spending (with air can, cleaning clothes and cleaning solution) about 10 euros (which is about 5% the price of a good card that will solve the problems close to 100%). With online shopping, transport is quite expensive here, especially from abroad, so it could end me spending 20-30 euros, and this is too much in my opinion. Nitroshift WD-40 I thought is a water displacement solution. It contains a greasy substance and isn't it something we try to avoid and displace, grease (along with corrosion) ? I don't smoke , I don't know how is it in your country, but here the smallest can of WD-40 is the price of 5-6 packs of cigarettes. If cigarettes are bought from black market (since again, few money here), price of the smallest WD-40 is about 20 packs of cigarettes. I don't know where I can buy Isopropyl 90. I found this from internet http://www.elfast.ro/shop/produse/88-diverse-accesorii-baterii-intretinere/84-intretinereprotectiecuratire/2548-spray-alcool-izopropil-kontakt--ipa-200ml.html , but it costs about 16 euros with transport included, too much. Are you sure this solution can be found on pharmacies ? Thank-you all. I will buy what I can find, I wasted a lot of your time already. Anyway, not matter what I will buy and do, I am sure plenty will say I bought the wrong thing and did everything wrong.

But it's not polite first to bully one person and second to continue when respective person asked you to stop. It's like in sound, a parasite noise, can't be ignored all the time.

That's the problem. I don't know many, otherwise I wound have bought one. One cheap online store is http://www.mivarom.ro/ They have http://www.mivarom.ro/catalog/product_info.php/spray-contact-300ml-p-2913 which appear to be Kontakt U from the picture. Website design is crap, but they do sell cheap stuff. Other site is http://www.vitacom.ro/ They have a local store in my city (that's where I found today the G-22) They all tried to sell me universal electronic cleaning car products everywhere I went, but don't know if that's the correct product. We have WD-40, but I don't think is the right stuff to clean the contacts. That won't do me any good. That's not the site I can buy from, I suspect is producer's site. I googled just to put a link to the product. submix I told you to stay out of it. So, I'll say it again. Do you want me to report you ?

By local store, I mean from my country, ordered from internet. Now I searched on the store and found only G-22. I can order from abroad, since it will cost too much. I can't spend a lot of money on something that has little chance of succeed. Jaclaz, maybe your wallet is a high-end one, mine isn't. I haven't found your recommended products, jaclaz.

Blast the city I'm living in! I spend a whole day looking for Kontakt S and Kontact U. All I found in just one store is G-22. http://www.duecielectronic.it/index.php?lang=eng&menu_1=prodotti&menu_2=070+-+G-22&k=6 It also has chemical formula downloadable on that page. Is it good ? Shall I buy it or order a Kontakt U from the internet ? Even online I haven't found anything else. Any advice ?