Sound Blaster Z - random sound changes?

[MNO]

Sound Blaster Z - Buzzing/dialup noise

Update



12th Post in this thread is my latest problem with the SBZ, help is appreciated!
12th Post Link




OLD PROBLEMS

Back again, my 3rd thread in this subforum so apologies but I don't think it would get noticed as a reply!

So I have this new soundcard, the Sound Blaster Z OEM, and it's great, I've got the profiles sorted out how I like them, the problem is that occasionally the sound changes, for example:

-Occasionally I get intermittent 'clicking' sound while watching youtube videos, films or listening to music, the best way to describe it is if you stuck a playing card in a fan, sometimes I have to restart to get rid of it.

-Sometimes some sporadic static crackling

-While watching films sometimes the entire soundscape changes, like the Surround becomes more noticeable, or the volume will suddenly change - I do NOT have "Smart Volume" on, and it's not a change in profiles or turning ScoutMode on/off, all the settings stay exactly the same in the control panel but it sounds different.

I've no idea what the hell it could be? This is the first time I've had a soundcard in years so troubleshooting it isn't easy. I've reinstalled the drivers, messed with settings but to no avail, and I'm wondering if it's time to RMA

Cheers in advance

 

[MNO]

Okay I've done a few things.

Originally I moved my GFX card down a slot so my Soundcard could comfortable fit above it, but I've switched my GFX card back up as I read on the mobo that for best performance it should be in the top slot which works at x16 as opposed to x4 (though I didnt really notice any difference).

I also moved my Soundcard from the x4 slot to the x1 slot above my GFX card, I've disabled onboard sound in my bios (or atleast I think so, I disabled 'Azalia Codec' which was the only audio-related thing I noticed), and uninstalled the drivers.

So far the most notable difference is that I don't have to keep my volume at 8% (I guess at x4 it was being overvolted or something?..)

I'll check back and see if this has done the trick or not.

I built my first PC at 14 and have been upgrading and building new PC's since, but I'm still a hardware fool.

 

[MNO]

In games I still have a buzzing sound, like a "zzzzz" that changes when I turn around, so I assume it's related to the surround...

 

[MNO]

Mine never did anything like that, no weird noises, clicks, buzzes or anything else. It does sound like something is trying to use the same resources, ie. a conflict.
Try going into Windows / Control Panel / Hardware and Sound / Devices and Printers / Device Manager and select "Sound, video and game controllers" and right click on your sound card. Select Properties and then select the "Resources" tab. At the bottom there should be a window showing any conflicting devices.
That's how to look for conflicts in Windows 8, it may be different in your OS.

Nope no conflicts. The clicking and such seems to be gone (though it may show up again..) after the changes, but the buzzing is worse.

 

[MNO]

Are these noises happening with headphones, speakers or both?

Headphones, dont have any speakers to test.

The noises seem to have stopped since I changed it to PCIEX1 as opposed to PCIEX4 which it was in. But it's just the loud buzzing in my ears now when I play, which I didn't have most of the time before.

 

[MNO]

Okay I still have this REALLY annoying high pitched sound playing games especially - but also watching films and music (though it's ridiculously hard to notice in the last two). I honestly can't tell if I have it on the desktop, sometimes I think I can hear it really faintly, other times I can't hear it at all. Here's a soundbyte of what I could record in an empty map of a game, you'll notice the sort of dial-up sound, and the pitch changes as I turn my mouse around, if I stand still the pitch stays the same. -Edit- Yep I can hear it right now in my earphones but so faintly I can barely notice it unless it's really quiet-Edit-

The Link to the soundbyte which can be played in the browser: http://vocaroo.com/i/s0sPGZ0NjaKp

Help!


Troubleshooting so far/Stuff that might help:

-I thought it was Mic interference, so I unplugged it - nope.
-Thought it was CrystalVoice, turned it off, nope.
-I've changed settings, turned off SBX altogether, still happens (I thought it was the Surround at first but it's not). Tried different profiles etc, nothing.
-Didn't have this problem before I changed the soundcard into the PCIEX1 slot (It was in the PCIEX4 slot before, as in same connection but running at a different speed/voltage or something). But it's a PCIEX1 device and I think my other problems stemmed from being in the PCIEX4 slot.
-In Audacity when I switch the Recording Device in preferences to "What U Hear" and start recording while doing nothing on the desktop I can instantly hear the buzzing/high pitched sound faintly in my headphones, but once I stop recording, so does the sound.
-Onboard sound is disabled in the BIOS, and drivers are uninstalled.
-Sound is particularly prominent when in game Menu's (especially Steam overlay).
-Reflashed my BIOS

 

[MNO]

I've had buzzing when moving the mouse before which was due to an earth loop but I don't think it's the case here.
I have read one weird account of someone having the same problems as you and it was due to the sound card sharing an IRQ with something to do with the USB. All I can suggest is to go into device manager, select View and then Resources by Connection. Open up the "Interrupt Request (IRQ) list and scroll down until you see your sound card's entry and see what is sharing the same IRQ number.

The slight "beeeeeep" whenever I move my mouse is a bit odd, and I've no idea if that's even a new thing or if I've just noticed it.

 

[MNO]

Mine is on 18 so it misses the PCI Express Root Port. I don't exactly know what that port does but it's possible that it's affected by the graphics card, so as usage goes up so does the noise. It's total guess work but I'm flying pretty blind here.
I wonder if you could somehow get the sound card to be allocated another IRQ if you uninstalled the drivers then removed the card. Check to see if the IRQ has cleared and then put it back in the PCIEx1 slot - it's worth a try at least.

The IRQ explanation does sort of fix the bill, hence why pitches would change as I moved my mouse around within a game, putting load onto my GPU. Reading on the Creative site it does recommend not placing the card near a GPU as it can cause IRQ conflicts.

From the little I've read, it seems trying to force it to change by reinstalling the card is pretty unlikely, which is a pain as it's the only PCIEX1 slot I have, the other slot (PCIEX4) is the one that gave me all the initial problems with changes in volume and generally weird things happening so I'm reluctant to try that again

Generally is it okay to put a PCIEX1 card into a PCIEX4 slot? I tried searching "Sound Blaster Z PCIEX4" but didn't find much other than a review saying that a Zxr 'didn't work' in PCIEX4.

 

[MNO]

Yes, you should be able to put it in any PCIe slot.
If you have on onboard video, you could try removing the graphics card and seeing if it cures the problem. I don't know what the solution would be if it is the case but at least you'd know. From memory, the guy who had the same kind of problem could only get his working properly by disabling the USB controller but that's not really something you can do if it's the graphics card.

The problem is that the only other slot I have to put it in is the PCIEX4, and the GPU has a downward facing fan so the soundcard completely blocks it because there's literally like a few centimetres of space between them.

If I move my GPU down, it won't be in a x16 slot which I read is bad for performance?

 

[MNO]

I've been looking at your motherboard and I'm amazed you can't fit it in the 3rd PCIex1 slot, a 7850 shouldn't be taking up three slots. You don't need much of a gap between cards, they are built to be used in crossfire after all.
You can't really move the graphics card but you can see if it's causing the problem by simply removing it and using the on board video for a few minutes.

I can fit it, as seen below.

The problem is the SBZ practically completely blocks the GPU intake fan, and I can only assume that's a very bad thing?

In PCIEX1_3 the buzzing is still there, but probably worse. Even though the IRQ changed to 19 which shares with PCI Express Root Port 8 - 1C1E, Intel 82801 PCI Bridge - 244E, PCI-PCI Bridge and Standard ACHI controller.

I would test if it's the GPU, but I don't have the cable for it. I've got fan splitters and SATA cables coming out of my arse, but no cable for the onboard sound.

 

[MNO]

I returned the SBZ... Though they took a month to send me a replacement (it wasn't overclockers.co.uk), and I had to throw a few emails to get them to remember it. I've just installed it and THE BUZZING IS STILL THERE So either it's the same card or the problems on my end.