GPUs are excellent to use for high-quality display. However, an increasing number of applications and games can take advantage of GPUs to improve performance significantly. There are some GPUs with built-in sound chipsets to provide you with quality audio.
In some cases, after installing the GPU, some issues like no sound or distorted audio can occur. This article examines why it happens and how to get your audio working again after installing a new graphics card.
Why Audio Not Working After Installing Graphics Card/GPU
There could be several reasons, like outdated or faulty drivers, hardware issues, misconfigured BIOS settings, using two GPUs, and GPU audio conflicts. All these reasons could also cause other fatal errors in your system. Here are why these issues cause the problem in the first place.
Outdated driver: An outdated driver is one of the most common reasons for audio issues after installing a new graphics card. Drivers allow your computer to communicate with your hardware and must be kept up-to-date to ensure everything runs smoothly.
If you’re using an older driver, it’s possible that it’s not compatible with your new card, which can lead to audio problems.
Two sound cards running into conflicts: Another possibility is that you have two sound cards installed in your computer, and they’re both trying to use the same resources. It can cause conflicts and lead to audio problems. In this case, you must go into your BIOS and disable one of the sound cards.
Misconfigured BIOS settings: If your BIOS is not configured properly, it can cause all sorts of problems, including audio issues. Ensure that you check your BIOS settings and everything is configured correctly.
Hardware issue: In rare cases, the problem may be with the hardware itself. If you’ve tried all the solutions mentioned above and nothing has worked, there may be a problem with your sound card, speakers, or GPU. In this case, you’ll need to replace the hardware.
Update The Audio Driver
As we mentioned, an outdated driver is one of the most common reasons for audio problems after installing a new graphics card. Drivers are constantly updated to keep up with the latest hardware, so you must use the latest version.
There are two methods to update the audio driver: automatic, where your system will do all the work, and manual.
Automatically Update the Driver
In this method, Microsoft’s automated tools will scan your system and try to update the drivers automatically. It is the easiest method, but it doesn’t always work.
- Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
- Locate the “Audio inputs and outputs” section and expand it.
- Right-click on your audio device and select “Update Driver.”
- Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.” Windows will then search for and install any updated drivers that are available.
- Restart your PC and ensure that the problem has been resolved or not.
Update The Driver Manually – Via the Manufacturer’s Website
If the above method doesn’t work, you can update the driver manually. You must go to your sound card or motherboard manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver.
- Go to your sound card or motherboard manufacturer’s website.
- Find the section for drivers and downloads.
- Download the latest driver for your sound card or motherboard.
- Install the driver and restart your computer.
Roll Back the Driver
If you’ve recently updated your driver or Windows and you’re now having audio problems, the new driver may be causing the issue. In this case, you can try rolling back the driver to the previous version.
- To open Device Manager, click the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
- Scroll down and expand the “Audio inputs and outputs” list.
- Right-click on your audio device and select “Properties.”
- Select the “Drivers” tab and click “Roll Back Driver.”
- Windows will then roll back the driver to the previous version.
- After the rollback, restart your computer and ensure the problem no longer exists.
Check The Audio Device.
You should check whether the audio problem is with your speakers or headphones. Unplug them from your computer and plug them into another device, such as a phone or MP3 player. If they work fine on another device, the issue is likely with your computer.
If they don’t work on another device, the problem is with the speakers or headphones; you’ll need to replace them.
Configured the BIOS settings
One of the potential causes of audio problems after installing a new graphics card is misconfigured BIOS settings. So, you should first go into your BIOS and check that everything is configured correctly. To enter your BIOS, restart your computer and press a certain key as it boils up.
This key is usually F2 and F12. You can also search on Google, which is the BIOS key for your motherboard. Once in the BIOS, navigate to the audio settings and ensure everything is configured correctly. If no audio device is visible, select any device from the list you want.
Check The Connections
If you’re sure that the drivers and BIOS are configured properly but still have audio problems, the next step is to check the connections. Ensure that all the cables are plugged in correctly and that there’s nothing loose. Also, ensure that the audio cable attached to the GPU is not damaged.
In some cases, you may need to replace the cables. If you’re using an HDMI cable, try a different one. Try plugging speakers into a different port or device if you’re using speakers. It will ensure their working.
Two sound card conflicts
If you have two sound cards installed on your computer, they may conflict. Some computers already have a built-in sound card, and an additional card can cause the issue. Check by disabling one of the sound cards. And check if the audio is working fine.
- Go to the sound settings. Right-click on the taskbar’s sound icon and click “Sound” from the list.
- Go to the “Devices” tab and right-click on the sound card you want to disable. Select “Disable” from the list.
GPU Crossfire Conflict
GPU crossfire is a technique many gamers use to enhance the overall GPU performance. In this technique, two GPUs are connected first and then to the computer system. Both GPUs sometimes have audio chipsets and can send audio signals via HDMI or an external audio jack.
These GPUs may conflict while sending audio signals, so no audio signal is received from the system. If you use a GPU crossfire, check which GPU works or which device is selected for output. Here’s how to check,
- Open sound settings by right-clicking on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of your desktop.
- Now select “Sound” from the list.
- Once in the new windows, go to the “Playback tab.”
- You must disable two devices with three audio output devices, one default system audio, and two GPUs.
- Disable the other GPU and the default device if you want audio from the GPU.
- To disable the device, right-click on that device and select “Disable” from the list.
Run the audio troubleshooter
Audio troubleshooting resolves 90% of audio errors. Audio troubleshooting is Windows’ built-in program. It will help you identify and fix any issues that may be causing the audio problems automatically.
- Press your keyboard’s “Windows + I” keys to open the Settings app.
- Click on “Update & Security.”
- Click on the “Troubleshoot” tab.
- Here, select the “Additional Troubleshooter” option.
- Another window will pop up; find the “Playing Audio” and click “Run Troubleshooter.”
Tips To Avoid This Issue In The Future
You must be careful if you are using or trying to use two GPUs or if your GPU is often making issues. Here are some tips that you can use to avoid this issue in the future:
Use the latest drivers: Always ensure you use the latest drivers for your graphics card and sound card. It will help to ensure compatibility and avoid any potential conflicts.
Check for BIOS updates: A BIOS update may occasionally solve audio issues. Be sure to check for any BIOS updates available for your motherboard.
Use one sound card: As mentioned above, using two can lead to conflicts. If possible, stick to using one sound card to avoid any issues.
Avoid installing multiple GPUs: If you’re not using an SLI or Crossfire setup, it’s best to avoid installing more than one GPU in your system. It can lead to all kinds of problems, including audio issues.
Check for hardware compatibility: When buying a new graphics card, ensure it’s compatible with your motherboard and other hardware. It will help to avoid any potential conflicts.
Conclusion
These are a few different solutions that you can try if the audio is not working after installing the graphics card/GPU. Following the mentioned tips can also stop these issues from occurring again. We hope that one of these solutions was able to fix the issue for you. If not, you may need to replace your sound card or speakers. Thanks for reading!
Hey, I’m Hammad. I have been writing for several years now and have amassed a wealth of experience within my field. My focus is on technology and gaming, two areas that I am highly knowledgeable about. Also, I’m writer for iPhonEscape.com and CPUGPUnerds.com as well and where I have written over 350 articles.