Vista Sound Problems

Hmm, hope this is the right section, seems liek t could go in a couple differnt forums.

OK, So I have recently upgraded my machine both the hardware, and the OS (Vista).  My biggest issue seems to be audio.  I have a Asus P5B-E Motherboard  ( http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=307&l4=0&model=1347&modelmenu=2 ) with the  ADI 8 channel soundchip. 

The No stereo and SPDIF issue has hit me hard, as it seems to have other a couple other people as well.  I had heard that the x-fi soundblaster card may have offered some workaround, can anyone running vista confirm that, and what card did you get?  I was thinking about getting an Auzentech soundcard, but it doesn’t seem like they can do stereo and spdif at the same time at all.  my needs are pretty modest, 5.1 sound, sound good, and be able to output both stereo and SPDIF at the same time.  The decision to get a soundcard is actually a very expensive one for me, as I have to replace 2 vbox cards with either 1 dual vbox card, or a HDHomerun unit due to lack of free PCI slots.

The real killer though, seems to be that some programming on some channels, KILLS spdif audio output on the motherboard, forcing a restart.  The offender seems to be WMPT, the baltimore/annapolis area PBS station, esp. the HD substation…  Sometimes it’s OK and SPDIF will come through, but if it’s ever a ‘bad’ program, it cuts the audio and once it’s gone, it’s gone until a reboot.  but switching the playback to stereo it will play audio again (but not over SPDIF).  I also am seeing occasional video ‘chugging’ on this station, while all the other channels are playback fine.  Is this a vista issue, a audio driver issue, a codec issue, or a station issue?  It sorta is a dealbreaker as I watch alot of stuff on the PBS HD station.  When using Digital audio as well, I am seeing a random bluescreen crash when I change channels between the HD stations.

I am frustrated at this point because my hardware should be more then double what my XP system was in every way, and I am getting basic playback issues with content that was no problem before.  The XP drivers and purevideo hit a sweetspot for me.  even when playing back 1080i  CPU utilization was low and smooth and problemfree.  Now, CPU is at 50% to 80% with the 1080i programming, 50%with SD, some programs stutter, and the audio shutting off situation.

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

THanks
Sun Ra