Do I need a sound Card?

[mia389]

My new PC I had built at the pc store is giving my problems with my mic. I never had them install a sound card and I am thinking that is my problem. All my sounds work great but I just bought a new headset thinking my old one wasnt working but I am still having problems with my mic. Lots of static and I can barley make out my voice. My head sets have the jacks to them and are not usb. I have been playing with the volume settings and it doesnt really make any difference. Any ideas?

dxdiag

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/6/2009, 20:57:26
       Machine name: USER-ED130CB0E8
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.080814-1233)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: NVIDIA
       System Model: 132-CK-NF79
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E8500  @ 3.16GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 685MB used, 3248MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 9800 GTX/9800 GTX+
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0612&SUBSYS_C8743842&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7824 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 6058112 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: n/a
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 10/7/2008 13:33:00, 6133856 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4552-11CF-6245-7FE803C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0612
        SubSys ID: 0xC8743842
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio output
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10DE0175&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5548 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 1/15/2008 19:17:58, 4652544 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Standard
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: The tests were cancelled before completing.

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio Input
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5548 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 1/15/2008 19:17:58, 4652544 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x0
           Format Flags: 0x0

            Description: Realtek HD Digital input
  Default Sound Capture: No
  Default Voice Capture: No
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5548 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 1/15/2008 19:17:58, 4652544 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x0
           Format Flags: 0x0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
        DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
     DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
    Acceleration: n/a
           Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
                  Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
        Registry: OK
     Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Saitek Magic Hotkey Device
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x5081
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: CH PRO PEDALS USB
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x1
Vendor/Product ID: 0x068E, 0x00F2
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Saitek X52 Flight Control System
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x075C
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No
         Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x10DE, 0x036C
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 57600 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 4736 bytes
|
+-+ USB Human Interface Device
| | Vendor/Product ID: 0x068E, 0x00F2
| | Location: CH PRO PEDALS USB
| | Matching Device ID: usb\class_03
| | Service: HidUsb
| | OEMData: 01 00 00 10 00 00 00 00
| | Driver: hidclass.sys, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 36224 bytes
| | Driver: hidparse.sys, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 24960 bytes
| | Driver: hid.dll, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 20992 bytes
| | Driver: hidusb.sys, 8/17/2001 14:02:20, 9600 bytes
| |
| +-+ HID-compliant game controller
| | | Vendor/Product ID: 0x068E, 0x00F2
| | | Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_game
| | | OEMData: 01 00 00 10 00 00 00 00
| |
+-+ USB Human Interface Device
| | Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x075C
| | Location: Saitek X52 Flight Control System
| | Matching Device ID: usb\class_03
| | Service: HidUsb
| | OEMData: 03 00 88 11 22 00 00 00
| | Driver: hidclass.sys, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 36224 bytes
| | Driver: hidparse.sys, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 24960 bytes
| | Driver: hid.dll, 2/28/2006 04:00:00, 20992 bytes
| | Driver: hidusb.sys, 8/17/2001 14:02:20, 9600 bytes
| |
| +-+ HID-compliant game controller
| | | Vendor/Product ID: 0x06A3, 0x075C
| | | Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_game
| | | OEMData: 03 00 88 11 22 00 00 00

[Skuzzy]

Check to see if the IRQ of the onboard sound chip is being shared with another high data usage device.

[Delirium]

You may want to try the newer drivers for that onboard sound as well, I had a tremendous amount of popping noises and delayed sound on my old system until I updated drivers.

[Chalenge]

Just had a squad mate return after a long time away. He said he had not changed anything but had a problem as you describe. He updated his driver for the sound card and everything straightened up. You might try that.

EDIT: Del beat me to it.