Onboard audio crapping out?

[superspud9]

Hi,
i have a DFI Lanparty DK p35 motherboard with the realtek ALC885 codec.

Recently ive been having problems with it, the first thing that happened is when i installed GTA4, every couple times i would try to play i would get a no sound card detected error and i would need to reboot my machine to get my sound back.

Now this is also happening in CSS, but while playing in CSS i can still use my microphone and talk to a friend through steam friends and i can hear what that friend is saying to me, but in game i have no sound at all nor can i hear what other people are saying.

this is kind of weird.

ive tried updating the drivers but the problem still presists.
im using headphones and a microphone plugged into the onboard sounds 3.5mm jacks.

any ideas?

thanks