Buzzing sound!!!!

BenSeagrave

BenSeagrave

BenSeagrave

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16 Jun 2011
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I bought a Acer Predator G5900 from ****** around a month ago now and whenever I play COD4 or other games like Dead Space 2 I get a buzzing sound coming from my headset, I'm positive it's not my headset making this noise as before I had the headset my friend said he could hear the noise on Skype as a background noise. It sounds abit like a phone line noise. I rang up there customer support and he basically told me to restore the computer to it's factory settings which I did and it had no difference. I think it may have something to do with my sound card, I had a quick rummage on Google and found a few pages explaining the same problem as me and everyone was saying that it was the sound card. I'm wondering if I need to buy a new one as I'm pretty sure mine is integrated into my motherboard. I should also add that it seems to change tone when I do stuff in the games, maybe the harder the hard drive works the worst it gets?
Can anyone help?

Thanks!
 
Sounds like an EMI (electromagnetic interference) issue. It's a fairly common problem for onboard audio, as well as sound cards. The problem is that with so many electrical components in a PC case, it's common for the sound device to pick up interference. What can make it hard to eliminate, is that a certain combination of components can cause it. Not so long back, someone had to RMA a GFX card that had developed a fault. He received the same model of card, but a different manufacturer. The new card caused an interference issue, whereas the previous one was fine. The thing that makes it a real PitA is that it's not a fault, so RMA'ing it would incur fees. It can be the luck of the draw. You can take a perfectly working sound card, put in a PC, and get EMI problems. Put the same card in another PC, and it will be fine.

Your best bet is to buy a sound card, but there is no guarantee it will work trouble free. Many people who have EMI issues with onboard audio, buy a sound card, and it's fine, no problems at all. Some people still get issues though, even when buying a top of the line sound card. I'd get a Xonar DG personally, if you have a spare PCI slot. It's cheap, but it's great value. If you buy a £60-£90 card, and still get problems, you'd incur fees RMA'ing it, if it works fine, or you'd have to sell it. Admittedly, same would apply to a DG, but any loss is likely to be considerably less. Hopefully though, if you do get a sound card, there will be no problems. I think people have to be pretty unlucky to get problems with onboard audio, and a sound card as well.

Before you decide to get a sound card, if you do that is. Have you tried updating your onboard audio drivers? That could solve the problem. It's worth a go, and could save you some money. If not, then a sound card is likely the only option.
 
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http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18285872

Find the latest drivers for your soundcard then unistall everything including drivers via the control panel/ devices. Re-install the with the new drivers, maybe this would cure the problem, otherwise you could try everything else i did. Or buy a soundcard there not so expensive even for a mid range card.
 
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BenSeagrave said:
How would I go about updating my on-board sound card then? :S
Click to expand...

Well you would need to know what make and model your motherboard is. If you don't know, there is software that can detect it. I've never used software to detect what hardware is present, so someone else would have to advise you what to use. Once you know, you just go the manufacturers website and all the drivers for the board will be on there.
 
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i would sudgest checking if any magnetic stuff is neer by (speakers are the most likley source) also, and this may sound a little low fi...

Have you wiggled the connection. Also, the first thing to do would be to test the headphones on a different device as well as testing some you know to be alight on your set up. This will rule out a few possibilities.

Control panel > system > device manager should help you identify components to update drivers on. Also, check all electrical connections (socket/plug/power lead) and also clean your fans/check if anything is interfering with the fans operation - like a wire for instance.
 
In that case I'm going to buy a new sound card, I don't want a expensive one, just one that will work and isn't completely rubbish! Can anyone recommend one to me? I have a Acer predator G5900 if that helps.
 
PCI slots are a standard size, whereas PCIE is either 1x, 4x, 8x or 16x, which is usually the GFX card slot. On some motherboards PCIE slots vary in colour, whereas PCI is usually white. PCIE 8x is very close in size to PCI. If both are the same colour, the best way to tell is when you look at the slot, there is a separator. PCI cards have the notch on the right side of the slot, whereas PCIE is on the left.
 
Ok so I bought my new sound card and have followed the instructions, when installing the drivers I get asked if I have a HD Audio or AC'97 front panel, I have no clue. How can I tell? I have an Acer Predator G5900 if that helps. On the front panel I have 4 usb plugs and a mic and speaker plug
 
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