First post, by SSTV2
- Rank
- Oldbie
Not too long ago, I got a working sample of AWE64 Gold (CT4540), which I've decided to test today more thoroughly. Installed card into the P1 MMX system with Win95C and tried to test all available MIDI synthesizers under the MIDI tab in Multimedia settings, with MIDI file playing in the background. The moment I switched to a different synth, an error message popped up, stating, that a MIDI device cannot be changed while it's in use (or something like that) and at the same time - midi file would stop playing.
After clearing error message, I've set MIDI settings back to defaults, but after that, no midi file I played would output audio, games included. Shortly after, I realised that MIDI music got nothing to do with it, card simply no longer outputs audio.
Reinstalled drivers and all CT related software - still no audio, then changed ISA slot and cleanly reinstalled drivers, still, card would not output any audio.
To completely rule out software related issues, I've installed card into SS7 system with Win98SE. Included Win98 drivers were automatically installed and AWE would still not output any audio, only then I realised that things had gone awry with it...
Started inspecting ICs on it and instantly noticed, that negative voltage regulator appeared unusually hot. Measured its input and output voltages, input was in range, but output was only -4.6V instead of -5V (at least voltage regulator is functional), but such voltage drop on the output indicates that something draws way more current than it should. After some poking, I found another IC that was unusually hot, it was 33079 quad OP amp IC (U16) right next to mixer IC. Every other SOP IC next to the audio out connectors were at normal temps.
It's the first time something like this had happened to me, no sound card ever died on my watch. Prior to that MIDI device switching in control panel, card was working perfectly. I find it difficult to believe, that software related action like that could cause such damage, could anybody explain to me what the hell happened here, was it mere coincidence or something in posibility with these cards (never owned one before)?
