G73 Creatve Driver

Where do I get it and what card is in my g73 exactly anyways?

 

I don't know where you get the Sound Blaster Audigy HD package, it's certainly not available through the ASUS website. The G73 uses Realtek hardware and there's no specific Creative, Sound Blaster or Audigy hardware inside a G73.

 

Does anybody know where I can get the software?

 

forget the software. I just spent all nite pissed off because of steam/creative conflict causing my PC to freeze. I even exchanged my G73 for another unit and as soon as I adjusted the base and launched steam....CRASH!!!

Just like Kalim has mentioned in other threads creative is a waist of time and defenitely NOT needed/wanted!!

 

I asked in another thread but no one seems to know anything.

 

The Creative software came on the recovery discs shipped with the early X1 units. I got mine when I ordered Feb 5th.
I use Steam and have the Creative software with the Bass boost enabled and have not had any issues at all.

 

Any problems with Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center?

 

The BB model didn't come with any discs. Mind uploading?

 

Greetings, my first post here.

I just picked up a G73JH from Best Buy. Seems to be a monster, albeit with some issues.

I too am experiencing issues with the computer freezing, anytime I try and launch Steam. Do I understand that this is due to a conflict with Creative software, and that uninstalling Creative software will resolve this issue?

Also, as per Kalim's question above, I just tried the Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center, and this too is causing the computer to freeze.

Would anyone who has experienced these issues, please confirm that removing the Creative software does in fact resolve the problems.

Thank you.

UPDATE: OK......so I went ahead and uninstalled every piece of Creative software. And I can confirm, that Ease of Access Center and Steam are both working perfectly, with no crashes whatsoever. I have lost Bass Boost through the Creative software, but this is a small price to pay for a bit more stability. I will monitor the situation for a few days, and report back.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, removing the Sound Blaster Audigy HD package will solve the crashing problem. You don't even need to reboot to see that the issue is fixed. Right now you know that just going into the Ease of Access Center the G73 will lockup. After the removal of the Sound Blaster Audigy HD package, go back to Ease of Access Center. Works now doesn't it.

If you want to read my experience with the Creative package, see the link in my signature. From the guide, click The Driver and Utility Disc section and look for the Creative description. There you will find another link, click that.

 

Thanks for the welcome. I must have been updating my post when you posted.

I will definitely go and read through your experience.

Cheers!

 

Check out Control Panel -> Realtek HD Audio Manager for a previously hidden tab which has some options to improve the sound. While there's no EQ or Bass enhancement option, only equalizer presets, you might find a preset you like that offers a better sound experience than using the default.

 

Actually, I just found the equalizer/Bass boost option!!

Bored at work, so I loaded the drivers. No great noticeable difference BUT... not sure if the option was there before, but I found the bass boost in the Realtek drivers -

Control Panel ... hardware & Sound ... sound... select speakers ... properties ... enhancements tab ... check equalizer ... then pick the Bass option in the drop down box. Plus, if you hit the '...' button next to it you can tweak the equalizer settings.

Now, I just downloaded and installed the latest drivers from Realtek (2.47) so I'm not sure if this was in the original shipping drivers or not. But it's there now, helps IMMENSELY with the sound.

And yes - the Creative drivers loaded my system so hard a power switch /hard reset was my only cure.

EDIT: never mind - you said there was equalizer presets so I guess it's nothing new
I thought I found a goodie...

 

Kalim, Thank you for all of the time you take to inform other G73 owners of this problem. It would have taken me forever and a few more exchanges before I would have removed the creative drivers. I'm almost certain that if you enable boost, install Steam and open the Ease of Access Center all G73's will eventually have this problem. I too thought my G73 was free of this problem until I tried the previously mentioned method of discovering this error.

 

curious, when you guys do the speaker test on the speakers in stereo mode, is the right side quite a bit louder than the left?

 

mine seem the same.

 

really? That's odd... on the little test, that shows the pictures of the computer sitting on the desk, and highlights the speaker side that is making sound... mine is atleast 50% louder it seems when it plays the right side compared to the left. Could this have anything to do with the subwoofer maybe? Or is mine just messed up?

 

is it loud enough for you? If it is I'd let it go. If you exchange it you may run the risk of getting another unit that is plagued with problems.

 

Good question! Tomorrow's my last day to exchange at Best Buy, thought the keyboard was my only problem and was ok fixing that myself, but now concerned a bit.

Testing it some more, when I move the L/R slider while playing a song, there is a huge difference. When moved to the Left, it sounds like it's all coming from the subwoofer on the bottom and is muffled, but when moved to the far Right, it's much louder and "tinnier", if that makes sense, as if it's coming out of a small speaker or tweater with minimal bass, ie, like a small computer speaker, exactly as I'd expect.

Also, from center to full Right, minimal difference, center to Left, huge difference...

Wierd, is that how these are wired? Or do I just have a busted or disabled Left main speaker, and all I'm getting is a Right main and the sub that is located on the bottom left?

EDIT: Ok, just to make sure I'm not crazy, I tested the same speaker test on my G51, and it did as expected, same volume and sound level on each side... so ears are still ok ha! So, truly seems I'm only getting sound out of the Right speaker and the Sub.... anyone else?

 

OK, not to beat a dead horse, but just spent the last hour trying differentsound drivers, settings, etc, and it's definitely hardware related. The left side is just much quieter and has a much different sound.

As a side note, the newest Realtek drivers seem to be working great without issue once all the Creative stuff is removed. As a note, there are two programs that need to be removed, and I missed the second one initially and was still getting the lockup problem on boot or whenever Steam started.

Must delete Creative and also Sound Blaster lower down the list. Thanks for the tip. And also, check your speakers for me if ya don't mind. Curious about this one.

 

Some claim that there are four speakers across the top and the sub-woofer underneath. I have yet to see a picture where this is true. So, you should have only two speakers across the top and the sub underneath.

Having said that, when I move the balance control from left to right and back the speakers across the top sound equal in volume. If you are hearing a difference, I would be suspicious.

Try this, with the balance control centered, play an audio file, but not to loud, the lower the better. Take a straw and place one end close to your ear. Acting like a stethoscope, place the other end over each speaker in-turn. This eliminates your hearing and sound source differences. If you hear nothing coming from the left speaker, then I would say there is a problem.

If it matters, every G73 driver that I'm using is stock.

 

Just a FYI but I have not had any crashes due to the Creative software. Nothing with Steam or any games I've run....

I have had a few bad G73 units though. 3 of 5 of the ones I've had were defective somehow. So make sure that the Creative software is actually the problem and if it's not return those notebooks ASAP.

 

Does anyone else get the feeling that one day that G73 owners are going to be part of a class action lawsuit? That, someone filed on behalf of all G73 owners and you will receive a letter in the mail stating that ASUS admitted no fault, but if you reply you'll receive $20 off your next ASUS purchase.

 

Won't happen .. asus forums full with problems .. lot of them never gets fixed they just come out with with new model

Like my old ex a2k with x64 amd cpu but blocked by bios support
They stopped bios and any support b4 they would correct the problem.

Loads of motherboards with ram compatibility problems ...

But it's generally same at all product makers these days .. new versions/hardware coming out way too fast.

ps.: Just uninstall creative crapware .. all problems solved ... eax was killed by w7 long time ago anyways .. they just install the softcrap to be able to put 1 fake sticker on

 

I checked my system and the speakers seem equal to me...

regarding the Steam lockups, I used my laptop for 3 days, all gaming on Steam, before I had ANY problems with it. Then a friend sent me a message while I was in game (I'd had a number before this one) and WHAM-O. Locked up, and from that point on every time Steam STARTED to load, it locked.

 

Yep, that was similar to my experience. A reinstall would fix the problem for awhile, then it would return. Once it started to happen, it continued until the next reinstall. The Ease of Access Center was the easiest way to trigger it.

 

I just tested it and I'd have to say all is well.
Did you resolve the problem? If not...and your up for it...take it back and exchange it. That is one of the perks about buying from Bestbuy. I wouldn't want to be stuck with something that obvioulsy annoys you. Your return policy would also reset with the exchange of your G73

Asus should get to work on new/updated drivers that control the subwoofer aside from creative or some bios fix that addresses the lockup. I would have to agree that Asus will probably make a G74 before they even consider fixing the problem.

Steam is to sick to avoid and is most likely installed by the typical owner of a G73.
I wonder how many G73's have been returned? I've returned 2 so far.

 

My right speaker wasn't working at all:

I opened playback devices, there were 2 speakers. I set it to the other one, both speakers started playing evenly.

Also there are only 2 speakers on top, I can see them.

 

well,gonna exchange it, as it's just gonna annoy me for as long as I have the machine ha... not that it's a huge deal, but as mentioned above, since all it takes is a trip back to Best Buy, I can deal with that... an RMA and a couple of weeks to a month of dealing with Asus and I'd probably think otherwise.

Fingers crossed for a good replacement!

 

Hi! I have G51, but it also has the same Creative package. That "bass" option as you've said is an equalizer preset, but I have a separate "bass boost" setting on mine. I'm not sure if it is true for G73, but you can try. Basically the way you get to that option is almost the same as you described, but besides "Enhancements" tab I also have "Dolby" tab and it has "Sound Space Expander" and "Natural Bass" option. If you enable Natural Bass check mark you can adjust the amount of bass boost with a slider.


Now, I also remember there was was a slider in Creative Audigy HD where you adjust CCSM (or surround emulation, or stereo base widening) with a slider. After removing Creative Control Pander you can go to "Dolby" to enable CCSM, but there is no option to adjust the level of CCSM. Does anyone know any workaround for this?

 

There are two audio settings in Control Panel. One is "Realtek HD Audio Manager" and the other is "Sound". Many of the options are duplicated between the two, it's how you go about adjusting an option that's different. I don't recall what tabs were added with Sound Blaster Audigy HD, but without it installed there's no "Dolby" tab.

 

Currently, I have G73 but my previous laptop was an Acer and as I remember I did not have to install any Creative soft to have access to Dolby and Bass options in Sounds settings. I always thought that Creative soft is only designed for Creative hardware. Why such soft is installed for Realtek? I do not see any connection betwen Reltek and Creative.

 

I suppose the inclusion of the Creative software can be boiled down to a couple of reasons.

First, brand recognition. Creative invokes a different feeling than Realtek. Notice there's no Realtek sticker, but there is one for EAX. There's an expectation with Creative, not so much with Realtek.

Second, the software is suppose to be more advanced. It allows more flexibility that the Realtek software lacks. Some people like exaggerated sound, I'm not one of them.

Third, reducing the cost of the laptop and providing an advertisement for your future purchases. Well, that partly worked out.

 

Hmm, in my case the "Dolby" tab actually appeared after I removed the dreaded Creative.

Also, I totally agree on your argument for Realtek vs. Creative. People go "OMG, Creative!" and this adds up to the decision about buying a certain laptop. Except that in this case with Asus and GXX laptops it's a gimmick

 

What audio codec do you have? I have ALC269.

 

Interesting. I don't know why the Dolby tab didn't appear here with Creative removed. Must be just one of the differences between the G51 and the G73.

 

Where should I go to look this up?

 

Control Panel - Sounds and Devices - Realtek Manager - I icon

 

Ok, my codec is different. It says my codec is ALC663 and audio driver version 6.0.1.6037. I guess that is why G51 has "Dolby" tab and G73 doesn't.

 

Has anyone found a workaround to adjust the subwoofer (+/- db) without the Creative software?

 

There's a bass boost under playback devices ->properties.

Haven't tried it.