Integrated audio horrors

[Bludd]

The cable (detachable) to my main set of headphones is busted and I have to look tomorrow to get a new one, but in the mean time I am stuck with using some random headphones I found in the house. They have a short cable (main has 2-3m of cable) so I have to use the front panel on my case, which of course means I have to use my integrated sound card instead of my X-Fi.

I am aghast. How can people stomach this? The noise is horrible, I can hear the HDDs whir when I load a video file. Of course the noise is subtle, but I have pretty good ears and it is driving me insane.

Any ideas how to limit this kind of noise or do I just have to live with it until I can get a new cable?

 

[Zaphod]

Try the direct output on the motherboard. Any better? If no, crap motherboard; if yes, a ferrite ring or other shielding on the cabling to the front ports could help.

 

[Bludd]

Try the direct output on the motherboard. Any better? If no, crap motherboard; if yes, a ferrite ring or other shielding on the cabling to the front ports could help.

It is only on the front panel ports. I have to look at how I have routed the front panel audio cable. I suspect it is my graphics card which interferes with it.

Edit: Ok, it has to be my graphics card since I am using a GPU assisted video renderer in my video player and since the clicking sound is constant when playing a 3d accelerated game.

 

[Grall]

Turn your PC around temporarily so the audio cable you're using can reach the rear output from your x-fi card...

 

[Bludd]

Turn your PC around temporarily so the audio cable you're using can reach the rear output from your x-fi card...

My case is too long, there ain't no space.

 

[Blazkowicz]

I've seen worse : one of those endless sound blaster 128 PCI cards. (i.e. Ensoniq cards, back when Creative Labs bought them to get a monopoly on sound blaster emulation under DOS)

it was a very special one as it had seemingly no capacitor whatsoever. actually there are, only surface mounted ones. I couldn't help but test it, it gives you clicks or noises when changing the volume, advancing playback or well, anytime . headphones is the worst case, you pick up the faintest parasitical noise.

 

[Blazkowicz]

can't plug in the front speaker output on the X-fi instead of motherboard?

 

[Bludd]

can't plug in the front speaker output on the X-fi instead of motherboard?

Only if I dismantle the plug and mod the X-Fi, yes. It has a proprietary connector which doesn't match the pin-out of HD Audio or AC97.

It isn't worth it.

Fuck, the cable to my headphones goes ad undas just when BF3 comes in the post.

 

[Mize]

My last non-integrated audio was a first gen Audigy. Since Aureal passed into oblivion and I don't use my PC for music, I just haven't been motivated enough to wrestle with Creative's drivers and bloatware. That said, I don't get any interference on my front audio jack. Either the cable run is well shielded or the routing (immediately under the motherboard tray) keeps any EMI from being picked up.

 

[Blazkowicz]

creative is the Adobe or Microsoft of the sound card arena.. only it's interchangeable with any other sound card make.
they hanged on sound blaster pro/16 legacy then on EAX but it's all moot now.
I run a retailer branded card with c-media chipset, it isn't terribly good but was cheap and works. would have got an Asus if I had more money to spend.

 

[Bludd]

I routed the cable away from the power cables and the noises are a bit better, but my sensitive ears can still pick it up.

 

[Mize]

I routed the cable away from the power cables and the noises are a bit better, but my sensitive ears can still pick it up.

Is he cable shielded at all?

 

[Bludd]

Is he cable shielded at all?

Well, it can't really be now can it. It isn't a cheap case, so it is weird they have skimped on this feature.

 

[Bludd]

Update: Ahhhhhhhhh, I have proper audio again.