Disturbing Sound

[h90]

when I play movies/music/games I get some disturbing sounds, up to what my computer is doing at the moment. Like some rests of other signals end in my amplifier.

They are not adjustable in their volume, that means I get less if I turn on the volume on the computer to 100 % and reduce on the amplifier.

System: WinXP

Sony Amplifier

very long cable to the amplifier, which is mixed in the mess of cables I have near my computer, but it should be shielded (ground arround the signal line). Computer case open.

It happens with all software.

sound on board Asus motherboard

is it the cable, does it help to use a shorter cable, or is it a mainboard problem and I should go for a sound card?

thanks if anyone can help me....

[autonomous_unit]

What kind of noises? You might want to make sure the shielding in your cables is only grounded on one end or the other to avoid ground-loops between the computer and stereo. I've seen as many advise either way, and it seems like "black magic" to me as to which kind of shielding is best in a given situation.

If you are going to go the route of a new soundcard, you might consider an external USB sound device. This helps isolate the analog portions from the noisy environment of the computer and also would put the device nearer your amplifier (at the end of the USB cable). You might also want to put the cover back on your computer if you care about RFI... the whole thing acts as a shield.

I actually had an adapter like this that put out optical digital audio (toslink) which I could plug into an A/V receiver and let it do the DAC work. Using a laptop, that was the best computer audio I have ever heard, and the adapter only cost me about $80 US from a place specializing in accessories for minidisc players.

And it is generally true that you want the computer audio levels set near the top, so that you get the best signal-to-noise ratio in the source signal. Just make sure the computer audio isn't getting clipped either digitally by having mixer levels set too high or in analog by overdriving the soundcard outputs.

[h90]

difficult to describe the sound. When I turn on the amplifier full, I have background sound which sounds with a lot phantasie like a steam train.

When I move the mouse I get something which remembers me to a moskito flying.

And if I use the wheel on the mouse I get a taktaktak sound.

when the graphiccard is working hard, I also get some sound...

With shild I meant that for each side of the sound (stereo) there are not two wires, there is one wire and arround it a metal fabric which contains the GND (I think so I am not an electronic specialist).

are these the small japanese guys, they squeezed into the chips, who are talking while working??

will try with housing and shorter cable first

What kind of noises?  You might want to make sure the shielding in your cables is only grounded on one end or the other to avoid ground-loops between the computer and stereo. I've seen as many advise either way, and it seems like "black magic" to me as to which kind of shielding is best in a given situation.

If you are going to go the route of a new soundcard, you might consider an external USB sound device. This helps isolate the analog portions from the noisy environment of the computer and also would put the device nearer your amplifier (at the end of the USB cable). You might also want to put the cover back on your computer if you care about RFI... the whole thing acts as a shield.

I actually had an adapter like this that put out optical digital audio (toslink) which I could plug into an A/V receiver and let it do the DAC work. Using a laptop, that was the best computer audio I have ever heard, and the adapter only cost me about $80 US from a place specializing in accessories for minidisc players.

And it is generally true that you want the computer audio levels set near the top, so that you get the best signal-to-noise ratio in the source signal. Just make sure the computer audio isn't getting clipped either digitally by having mixer levels set too high or in analog by overdriving the soundcard outputs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[stumonster]

couple more question...

when did this start occuring? any changes made in that time?

first step is start to isolate the problem - you will need another source , walkman , cdplayer mp3player etc.

using the same cable try out another device and see if the sqame prob occurs , if so move to a shorter cable and see if its the cable - try and test the longer cable while it is still in your twisted rats nest.

the other thing that could be causing your problems is the actual electrical earths on your power system - are both the power outlets earthed ( a rarity in thailand )

[h90]

stumonster:

no idea when it started, but I think it did not happen in the far past.

Between I changed the place a few times (due to water coming into my office, some fans were broken and replaced in my computer (but pretty sure they are not the reason), a couple of software installed and removed.

I put a portable CD player (running on batteries) in that rats nest, without changing the position of the cable and it plays clear sound, very perfect.

earthed power

What is that???

In thailand?

No we are brave here, no safety bells, no earthed power, just pure function, two pins 220 and 0 volt (and that only approx).

When you thouch the computer and the land you have a nice constant voltage in your body.

I don't have a possiblity to get ground here, I even checked the water tupes, but they are also PVC so not a help.

if that is a help I have here 5 more PCs and 1 (if I remember right) has the same mainboard) and one (not sure if it is that with same mainboard) does not has disturbing sound.

sure I can run some test, but how to do with as less as possible moving of the computers?

Maybe my staff does not like if I take their computer while they are writing an invoice

thanks

couple more question...

when did this start occuring? any changes made in that time?

first step is start to isolate the problem -  you will need another source , walkman  , cdplayer mp3player etc.

using the same cable try out another device and see if the sqame prob occurs , if so move to a shorter cable and see if its the cable - try and test the longer cable while it is still in your twisted rats nest.

the other thing that could be causing your problems is the actual electrical earths on your power system - are both the power outlets earthed ( a rarity in thailand )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[stumonster]

I put a portable CD player (running on batteries) in that rats nest, without changing the position of the cable and it plays clear sound, very perfect.

if that is a help I have here 5 more PCs and 1 (if I remember right) has the same mainboard) and one (not sure if it is that with same  mainboard) does not has disturbing sound.

this sort of indicates the problem is with your comp as the check with the portable device and the other comp sort of puts the amp and the cable in the clear.

because of the sound you say that you are getting with the mouse wheel I am wondering if you PC power supply is talking to you - it might have some underlying problems - it may well be the onboard sound on the MoBo so maybe you could try a sound card.

power supplys are a very neglected part of the computer - if you are ever building your own comp box , a few extra dollars spent on the power supply will save you over the comps lifetime

[h90]

the power supply, hmm

I remember that my power supply broke some time ago and I replaced it.

so that would make perfectly sense, if before the sound was good and after not anymore. could be possible for the time.....

But how can the power supply make my mouse and graphiccard talking to me??

And how shall I fix that? Add some capacitors to make the power more smooth?

by the way the mouse is connected on USB.

Thanks for your help!

I put a portable CD player (running on batteries) in that rats nest, without changing the position of the cable and it plays clear sound, very perfect.

if that is a help I have here 5 more PCs and 1 (if I remember right) has the same mainboard) and one (not sure if it is that with same  mainboard) does not has disturbing sound.

this sort of indicates the problem is with your comp as the check with the portable device and the other comp sort of puts the amp and the cable in the clear.

because of the sound you say that you are getting with the mouse wheel I am wondering if you PC power supply is talking to you - it might have some underlying problems - it may well be the onboard sound on the MoBo so maybe you could try a sound card.

power supplys are a very neglected part of the computer - if you are ever building your own comp box , a few extra dollars spent on the power supply will save you over the comps lifetime

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[stumonster]

the power supply, hmm

I remember that my power supply broke some time ago and I replaced it.

so that would make perfectly sense, if before the sound was good and after not anymore. could be possible for the time.....

But how can the power supply make my mouse and graphiccard talking to me??

the short answer is noise

it may not be the power suppy - it still could be the MoBo , so as you say you have a few comps in the office you might want to do a power supply swap first to check.

what caused the first power supply to die - and was it lingering or did it just pass away peacefully in its sleep.

Do you run these office computers off a couple of UPS's

And how shall I fix that? Add some capacitors to make the power more smooth?

you possibly could - though it would be quicker and cheaper to buy a new one.

[h90]

the short answer is noise   

it may not be the power suppy - it still could be the MoBo , so as you say you have a few comps in the office you might want to do a power supply swap first to check.

what caused the first power supply to die - and was it lingering or did it just pass away peacefully in its sleep.

Do you run these office computers off a couple of UPS's

I'll do the swap....

The fan died, and than the started smoking, but I detected it in before the super gau happend. The inside did look overheat so I not replaced the fan, I bought a new power supply.

No UPS in my office. I had once one on my computer and it failed and gave some weired voltage to my computer and also smoked. Together with another faulty power supply in my former job (housing on voltage). I decided better not have them.

And how shall I fix that? Add some capacitors to make the power more smooth?

you possibly could - though it would be quicker and cheaper to buy a new one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yes but how do I know if the power supply I buy is good or not good, are there any better brands? Or shall I ask the well educated and honest salesguy if his power supply is good ?

Else I might replace a bad one with worse.

[stumonster]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=p...elp&btnG=Search

check out some of the links - much more knowledgable people than me around - though basic rule of thumb is you will get what you pay for

there is still a chance that the old power suppy might have damaged your motherboard during its death throes - though when you do a swap you should know.

Edited May 11, 2005 by stumonster

[Abandon]

The problem is that you are using a 386 hooked up to your Granny's old Gramophone for sound.

hehehe

[waldwolf]

h90 - You may want to try the following:

1 - Shutdown system completely including any external amplifiers, USB devices or the like.

2 - Disconnect all external wires, plugs, etc. from the computer, except for the following:

. Main AC power cord

. Computer to Monitor cord

. Keyboard cord

. Mouse cord

3 - Plug a pair of earphones (the set which came with your cd player are OK) into the jack in the back of the tower labeled "Earphones".

4 - Turn computer on.

5 - Put music or audio CD in DVD/CD ROM drive and using the Windows audio volume control slider (lower right) adjust to see if you hear any sound.

6 - If no sound is heard, then shut down computer, remove main AC plug from wall, and check ALL cables inside computer to make sure their connectors are properly seated. Now plug in main AC cable and repeat items 3 thru 5 again.

If sound in earphones appears normal, then plug previously removed cables back into their original sockets ONE-AT-A-TIME, checking after each re-connection for any earlier noise problem. If the noise reappears, then the last item you plugged in is likely the culpert and will need further investigation and/or possibly replacement.

Report back findings in detail.

cheers