Final Edit: I was unable to find a satisfactory workaround for this issue and am returning the card. I opted for a JDS Atom DAC and Amp instead.

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2nd Edit: Issues continue :(

I get in about 30 minutes of gameplay or listening to music before the audio dies again, and now it's killing all audio devices and the sound settings panel in Win 11. There is also a random drop in music almost like a CD skipping when you jogged the player too hard.

Edit: Solution found!

After doing a good bit of digging on u/kachunkachunk's suggestions, I found the solution!

Setting the PCIe lane to Gen2 wasn't enough on it's own. While trying to find the 10 bit setting he was talking about I came across PCIe Clock Gating, by disabling this it started working!

PCIe clock gating skips 3 pcie cycles to down convert to PCIe Gen 3 from 4. the skipped cycles were causing the issue.

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TLDR: After launching a game I lose all sound through the AE-9 until a full powercycle of the system. Functions normally prior to launching a game. (I suspect anything that causes the CPU turbo mode to engage would do it as well.)

Good Afternoon all,

The system is stable through extended benchmarking tests (50 hours after final OCing). I have no system wide crashes, and I do turn this machine off each night (even at idle its munching 218w of power).

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Relevant Specs:

CPU: 13900KS with multiplier OC but no bclk OC

Board: ROG Maximus Apex with latest bios for 13900KS

RAM: 48GB GSkill DDR5 8000MHz

GPU: Zotac 4090 OC

Case: Corsair 7000X

NVMe: 2x 4TB Crucial T700

PSU: ROG Thor 1200W Platinum II

SB Command version: 3.5.9.0

AE-9 driver version: 6.0.105.0065

Windows Version: Windows 11 Pro Version 22H2, Build 22621.2134

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Use case:

AE-9 in direct mode, flat eq, with a pair of Sennheiser HD800s headphones connected to the 1/4" headphone port. Output selector set to High, SBX off, Quality in SB Command set to 32bit@384kHz.

When I go to use this with tidal before doing anything else on my PC everything works great!

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Problem:

As soon as I start to play any game windows event viewer starts spewing PCIe resets and I get no sound at all through the headphones. Switching to any BT or using the audio connectors built into my mobo continue to work.

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Games tested: Warframe, Wayfinder, Starfield, Star Citizen, Baldur's Gate 3

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Troubleshooting:

Note: each of the steps below was done after a full power off and letting capacitance drain not just a reboot.

Removed bclk OC settings

Removed all voltage increases used when initially OC, (only RAM and CPU were changed during the OC process)

RAM dance

Tried a 3090ti GFX Card from another machine

Uninstalled all ROG audio programs, drivers, and registry entries (added back so I have sound for gaming after it made no difference).

Base config boot: CPU, 1 Stick of RAM, 1 NVMe, GPU, AE-9

Turned direct mode off

Turned off all enhancements while not in direct mode

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Observations:

When firing up a game the PCIe slot where the AE-9 is starts spewing PCIe resets.

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