Question Sound BlasterX AE-5 PLUS not found in Windows 11 Device Manager or Sound Blaster Command ?

[Christophe516]

I was given that sound card for my birthday back in May since my Sound Blaster RX was failing.
I do a lot of ZOOM n' video appointments. I had already checked if the new card would work with my PC and It is compatible. Now I need to figure out why it is not being recognized ?

 

[thestryker]

First thing to do would be to check and see if the card is being detected in the BIOS (assuming your system has that capability). Changing the PCIe slot it's in would be another potential option if the above isn't possible. Is there anything at all showing up in Device Manager (even question/exclamation marks)?

 

[Christophe516]

First thing to do would be to check and see if the card is being detected in the BIOS (assuming your system has that capability). Changing the PCIe slot it's in would be another potential option if the above isn't possible. Is there anything at all showing up in Device Manager (even question/exclamation marks)?

The RX did work in that same slot for several years. I made the change this week.

 

[Christophe516]

Check connections Make sure the card is properly seated in the PCIe slot.
Enable in BIOS
Ensure the PCIe slot is enabled.

I checked to see if the card was seated right.

I didn't disable the slot.

See the edge-connector on the left, it's shorter than the other two so It doesn't fit in the PCIe slot ?

 

[Christophe516]

I contacted Creative Tech Support. They sent me a diagnostic app., via e-mail. I ran the app and sent the log report back to them. Now it is a waiting game to hear back from them with the results.

 

[Christophe516]

I have an OS question. I have Win11 for my OS. In May I asked for(and received). The Sound Blaster AE-5 PLUS( a high-end card) for my birthday. I had the Sound Blaster Audigy 5/Rx(a basic soundcard). I have never been able to get the Sound Blaster AE-5 PLUS recognized in the Device Manager. Could one or more Win11 updates be overwriting the soundcard drivers?

 

[Lutfij]

Please stick to one thread. Opening multiple thread don't help apart from confusion.
Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

 

[Christophe516]

Please stick to one thread. Opening multiple thread don't help apart from confusion.
Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

With all due respect. Look at the date of the most recent response, I didn't make. That is why I thought I should start another one.

As for the system specs per the original Lenovo build:

• Processor: Intel Core i3-8100 (Other configurations may include Intel Core i5 or i7 processors).
• Memory: 8GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 16GB in some models).
• Storage: 1TB Hard Drive (additional storage options may be available).
• Optical Drive: SuperMulti DVD Burner.
• Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630.
• Form Factor: Tower.
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit).
• Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.1.
• Ports: USB 3.1 (Gen 1 and Gen 2), USB Type-C, VGA, HDMI, audio jacks, and an SD card reader.

BIOS: Lenovo 03QKT3DA 5/29/2020
Don't know the make n' model of the mobo
PSU:180W

I have upgraded:

1. RAM: 32GB
2. Graphics: MSI GeForce GT1030
3. Audio: Creative Labs Sound Blasterx AE-5 PLUS
4. OS: Win 11 Pro
5. USB: 13 USB strip
6. Storage: (2)2TB Passport drives
7. Video: Samsung 24” T35F FHD IPS 75Hz AMD FreeSync 3-Sided Borderless Monitor

​

 

[Lutfij]

With all due respect. Look at the date of the most recent response, I didn't make. That is why I thought I should start another one.

Forum Tips & Best Practices

Forum Tips & Best Practices Online forums are a great place for people to meet up and share thoughts on things they love. Forums have been around quite a while, but it can be very helpful to learn a few important things that can substantially improve your experience here. Steps you can take to...

forums.tomshardware.com

Your thread was created 9 days ago, which is less than 3 months.

Lenovo build
Might want to see if you're prebuilt is pending any BIOS updates. You could try and source a spare drive, then install Windows 10 on it and see if you fair any different. Sadly, there are cases with Windows 11 throwing out perfectly functional hardware while they were on Windows 10.

Considering you have an iGPU, remove the discrete GPU and see if placing the discrete sound card in it's slot changes things for you. Is the molex power input for the sound card connected?

PSU:180W
+
MSI GeForce GT1030
Creative Labs Sound Blasterx AE-5 PLUS
Is that PSU what came with the prebuilt from the factory? If so, how old is the unit? IMHO, you're probably overwhelming the PSU so it's unable to power two PCIe slot devices.

 

[Christophe516]

With all due respect. Look at the date of the most recent response, I didn't make. That is why I thought I should start another one.

Forum Tips & Best Practices

Forum Tips & Best Practices Online forums are a great place for people to meet up and share thoughts on things they love. Forums have been around quite a while, but it can be very helpful to learn a few important things that can substantially improve your experience here. Steps you can take to...

forums.tomshardware.com

Your thread was created 9 days ago, which is less than 3 months.

Lenovo build
Might want to see if you're prebuilt is pending any BIOS updates. You could try and source a spare drive, then install Windows 10 on it and see if you fair any different. Sadly, there are cases with Windows 11 throwing out perfectly functional hardware while they were on Windows 10.

Considering you have an iGPU, remove the discrete GPU and see if placing the discrete sound card in it's slot changes things for you. Is the molex power input for the sound card connected?

PSU:180W
+
MSI GeForce GT1030
Creative Labs Sound Blasterx AE-5 PLUS
Is that PSU what came with the prebuilt from the factory? If so, how old is the unit? IMHO, you're probably overwhelming the PSU so it's unable to power two PCIe slot devices.

That PSU came with the PC. The PC is from 2020. The graphics card I put in the PC, was a limited upgrade due to the limitations of the PC. Afterwards, the integrated GPU went bad around 2021.
I can't get any BIOS updates because Lenovo no longer offers support for my PC. The PSU has no Molex connector.

It is one of those 'restricted architecture' PCs' that you can't do much in the way of upgrades. I could still upgrade the CPU, RAM(again). But, the biggest PSU available for my PC was 200W. I looked at other PSUs'. But, I would probably end up frying the mobo if I got a PSU above 200W, and It would have to fit in the case.

I want so bad to do a build where it doesn't have 'restricted architecture', doesn't 'break the bank, and I choose all the parts.