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    Audio in bootcamp under windows xp very poor...

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by dmitrip, Aug 16, 2009.

  1. dmitrip

    dmitrip Notebook Guru

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    hey guy, I have a new 2009 macbook pro 15 inch, and I have no complaints whatsover but! when I installed windows xp using bootcamp, whenever I run games, the sound quality is rather poor and the volume is very low... is there anyway to fix this? or should I sux it up?

    thank you very much.
     
    dmitrip, Aug 16, 2009
    #1
  2. OTACORB

    OTACORB Notebook Consultant

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    I find when I switch to XP via bootcamp that I have to turn the volume down big time. I have no such poor quality sound at all.
     
    OTACORB, Aug 17, 2009
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  3. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

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    Well, sound volume and quality are two different animals...

    @dmitrip: what exactly do you mean by sound quality being rather poor?

    Did you update the drivers from the realtek website?
     
    cdnalsi, Aug 18, 2009
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  4. OTACORB

    OTACORB Notebook Consultant

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    I found the ones that came with Bootcamp to be rather crappy myself, but did upgrade to the latest ones on Realtek's web site. No issues with SQ or volume!
     
    OTACORB, Aug 18, 2009
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  5. S.SubZero

    S.SubZero Notebook Deity

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    For the realtek chips, I found with both my Sager 5793 and Macbook Pro 17", setting the equalizer to "Powerful" tends to kick up the volumes a little and makes a noticeable improvement in sound quality. (it's still awful on the Sager compared to the MBP tho)
     
    S.SubZero, Aug 18, 2009
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  6. eeperman

    eeperman Notebook Consultant

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    The Realtek chipsets have been replaced in the 2009 MBPs with a god-awful Cirrus chipset. Sound quality has been ok for me although Battlefield 2 has been stuttering somewhat.

    The volume problem has been addressed although not by Apple. Have a look here:
    http://www.stuffedcow.net/macbook_audio
    There are two versions of the modded driver; One just raises the volume while the other also turns off the red light constantly shining out of your headphone socket.

    Hopefully Snow Leopard will bring some improved Boot Camp drivers from Apple, but I am not holding my breath.

    Oh and the microphone seems to be useless in Boot Camp also.
     
    eeperman, Aug 18, 2009
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  7. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Never had a problem with audio in xp bootcamp , Battlefield 2 sound is fine also.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Aug 18, 2009
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  8. eeperman

    eeperman Notebook Consultant

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    The 17" MBP (2009) still has the Realtek chipset, only the 13/15" got the Cirrus.
     
    eeperman, Aug 18, 2009
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  9. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Has the OP tried downloading their own Cirrus audio drivers if possible, instead of relying on the current bootcamp versions, here`s hoping snow leopard has new bootcamp drivers.

     
    Tinderbox (UK), Aug 18, 2009
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  10. eeperman

    eeperman Notebook Consultant

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    Here is the thread from the Apple Support forums:
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2037093&tstart=0

    Cirrus do not produce drivers, they merely refer you back to the manufacturer. There are a lot of pee-ed off people out there, although the work of enthusiasts has modded the drivers so they are a bit more functional.

    As you say, let us hope Snow Leopard improves the situation.
     
    eeperman, Aug 18, 2009
    #10