Member Avatar for Danniboy

hi all,

just wondering... my sound card (the 1 thats built into the mb) is making strange hummin noises n stuff, and its really annoying, i wonder if anyone knows how to fix this? or if not then do u kno why it happens? have i done somthing to it? :S me is confused, but its ok though cos i use a pci soundcard instead now (cheap crap one) but hey lol, just a lil question to keep ya busy

cheers,
Dan :mrgreen:

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Dani AI

Generated

Short, practical checklist to track down the hum and fix it without guessing.

Two things cause most speaker hums: a ground loop (mains-frequency 50/60 Hz buzz that gets into the analog cable) or hardware vibration/electromagnetic noise from components on the motherboard (often called coil whine). The following ordered tests will separate those quickly and safely.

  • Try the speakers on another source (phone or MP3 player) and a different short, shielded cable. If the hum stays with the speakers, the speaker/amp or its PSU is suspect.
  • Plug the PC and the speakers into the same wall outlet or the same power strip. If the hum drops or stops, it’s very likely a ground-loop.
  • Plug headphones into the PC. If the hum disappears on headphones but is in the speakers, the speaker amp or its wiring is suspect.
  • Move the audio cable away from the PC’s PSU, video cables and transformer bricks; try a different audio jack (front vs rear). Interference coupling into the cable can cause a hum.
  • If hum remains with battery-powered or isolated speakers and with headphones, it’s likely coming from the motherboard (coil vibration) rather than the cable.

If it’s a ground loop: use a low-cost inline ground-loop isolator (transformer-based), use optical/SPDIF if available, or power the speakers from the same outlet as the PC. If the motherboard is the source, an external USB DAC or a different audio card usually cures it — test first with a cheap USB headset before buying. Do not attempt “fixes” with tin foil or by shorting grounds; that risks damage and shock.

For reference to the thread: follow the isolation steps above first (addresses ’s speaker checks) before replacing hardware (a sensible follow-up to ’s hardware route).

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

Member Avatar for caperjack

Did you try uninstalling the unboard sound in device manager and rebooting reinstalling the drivers

Member Avatar for Danniboy

yea i did try that, no effect, mabe its sumthin to do with electric flow?, i heard somethin about using tin faoil to solve it but thats rubbish surely, i mean wont it short sumthing?? i remember the guy who told me that.. ah how lost he was...

Member Avatar for caperjack

no comment sorry !

Member Avatar for ampthetex

If I was you I would just turn off the onboard audio in your bios and buy a soundblaster live value or something, they are cheap enough now, and are excellent quality.

Member Avatar for Thong_Ispector

You have an onboard sound that is disabled in bios and a plug in pci cheapie sound card. Is there a speaker attached to the onboard sound controller?
If not where is the sound comming from? The built in speaker?
If the buzzing is not from a speaker on the onboard sound, and not comming from the built in speaker and is a chip or device on the motherboard that is buzzing I would back away from the keyboard, way back from the keyboard...
All joking aside...
Built in sound IS disabled in the CMOS?
No Speaker is attached to the onboard sound connector?
The PC Speaker is Not the source of the buzzing?

Just to keep you busy..
Happy Thanksgiving

Member Avatar for Danniboy

it is coming out of my speakers, the speakers are plugged in to the onboard sond card on the motherboard (integrated), im buying another soundcard now tho cos i need to buy 1 4 better speakers tht i want too :P

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