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Aurora R7, F_Audio bypass, add sound card
Anyone figure out how to bypass the front audio panel connector on the motherboard to eliminate the bios startup error? I installed a XFI card, works great (moved the front panel cable from motherboard to XFI card), but the dang bios/start up flags a 'failing component' each time I boot. Can you use a splitter or jumper to connect the front panel audio controls to both the motherboard and the add-on sound card? I can't seem to find a female/female/male splitter, nor a female/female jumper to try. I only see female/male/male splitters and that wont work. Suppose I could just forget about the front panel and plug my headphones into the back of the PC - but, it would be nice to make use of the front door :)
fireberd
9 Legend
9 Legend
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33.3K Posts
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January 16th, 2019 03:00
Dell has those proprietary functions locked. You can't use a "Y" adapter.
I have a recording studio and use high end recording studio audio equipment but I use the Realtek PC audio for other uses including checking my mixes. I considered a separate sound card but really don't see a need as current Realtek does as good as a SoundBlaster for audio reproduction. I have high end Klipsch speakers for PC audio.
FWIW, non Dell fans will also cause the POST error notice and require pressing an F key to continue the boot.
C3-DaddyO
44 Posts
2
January 16th, 2019 09:00
Thanks for the replies. The onboard audio isn't as crisp and the 5.1 spatial sound is also fairly soft. I have a 5.1 setup in my office and the XF-I Titanium with THX in my 730x was awesome. The Realtek interface is limited and the effects fall flat for me...
I'm going to simply give-up on using the audio jacks on the front and switch to a USB headset (I rarely use headsets anyway).
Still think the R7 bios should have an option to disable the on-board audio - even if some people do think it sounds good... Having the option is nice.
Aurora R7/i7 8700k/32GB 2666/512GB M.V2 SSD/2TB HDD/RTX 2080... + XF-I Titanium THX sound :)
22GREEN
1 Rookie
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229 Posts
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January 16th, 2019 09:00
Just curious why do people modify a $2000+ PC? I got my R7 and had a real nice Creative SB card in previous Windows 7 machine but I stayed with Realtek with my 5.1 speaker setup and it sounds great. Then I just bought a pair of SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Gaming Headset with 7.1 and it sound amazing.
Just thinking out loud you might wanna keep the default sound the R7 is a really nice rig imo :Yes:
fireberd
9 Legend
9 Legend
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33.3K Posts
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January 16th, 2019 10:00
A "gotcha" with the USB headset. USB headsets get digital data from the PC, the same digital data any sound card gets and the USB headset converts the digital to analog audio internally. Thus if you are using a USB headset the PC sound card is not involved.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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January 16th, 2019 11:00
Right.
Install whatever sound-cards you want.
Just because a sound-card device is installed, doesn't mean it must be used.
Just don't try to use the front-panel audio ports for anything other than the on-board audio.
C3-DaddyO
44 Posts
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January 16th, 2019 13:00
Wow, so - when I set the XF-I as the sound device in Windows and use a USB headset the PC still pumps out sound from the on-board audio processor? Or, is it just coming from the CPU? I'm going to have to give that one a try and see if manipulating the controls on the XF-I (like balance/tone) make any difference to what I hear.
I thought that once the sound device was set that all audio processing went through the device you designate - in this case the XF-I card. Something's process the audio - so, when using the USB headset I just get an unprocessed signal from the MB/CPU... Hmmm...
Regardless, I listen mainly through the speakers, so either way I feel pretty good about it.
Cheers.
PentatonicSteel
240 Posts
1
January 23rd, 2019 09:00
C3-DaddyO
44 Posts
0
January 29th, 2019 16:00
Agreed - Realtek onboard audio is no comparison to a real sound card. I pulled the front panel connector from my XPS 730x and just threw it in the R7 case connected to the motherboard. The R7 front panel pin connector is now connected to the TXH XF-I SoundBlaster Titanium and I'm happy as a camper - I can now use the front paned audio jacks on the R7 without that annoying 'component failure' message from the bios.
Just wish they'd add a bios option to disable the onboard audio (and video) - not sure why they don't.
My 2008 XPS 730x had more options/expandability than this R7 which is 10yrs newer. Weird. But, the R7 is nice - enjoy the performance upgrade and super-quiet operation.
Aurora R7, i7 8700k, 32GB DDR4, 512GB M.V2 SSD, 2TB HD, RTX 2080, Killer Ethernet/Wireless, X-FI THX Titanium :)
Cheers!
PentatonicSteel
240 Posts
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January 30th, 2019 01:00
Not sure where this "quiet operation" comes from, because my r7 with the 8700k aio water cooled cpu sounds like a jet taking off (when gaming and using custom fan curves). But never the less, I still love my pc. Even though I worry every time I reset it or update drivers etc due to it being a "fragile Dell oem pc"...