- Apr 28, 2013
- 3
- 0
- 10,510
Inside the Box...
AMD FX(tm) - 8120 Eight Core Processor 3100MHz
Asus Motherboard M5A78L/USB3 rev 1.01
PCI NVIDIA Geforce 210 graphics card
Kingston Hyper X DDR3 Ram (2 x 4G Kit)
Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKX-221 500GB Harddrive
PCI M-Audio Audiophile 192 soundcard
PCI TC Electronic Powercore MK2 DSP card
Zalman Fan
OCZ 750W PSU
Extra information
Windows 7 64 bit
Cubase 5
KRK Rockit Powered 6 Speaker Monitors
2 x LG 19" Monitors
Roland A-800Pro Midi Controller
Dave Smith Tetra
Western Digital 500GB External USB HD
I use my computer for music production and have just started to record audio in via an M-Audio Soundcard (PCI).
Problem is when I open any program/sequencer, even documents, I can hear high frequency loading/processing noise through the speakers. The noise is not amplified and is still presant when the output and input channels of my soundcard are muted. This results in anything I record having the changing high frequency sound on it.
I'm getting pretty confused with the problem, because at first, I thought it had something to do with the current drawn by the processor/computer and a possible ground loop in the system. But as you can see below I have investigated, to my knowledge, what the problem could be.
I welcome any thoughts on the subject and will value any help at this stage.
Start of investigation...
When doing necessary checks to ensure all PCI cards etc where in correctly, and the computer systems 0V is common on the chasis and various 'cans' on the motherboard, I have noticed the same interference/loading noise is coming directly from the processor (when listening with my speakers turned off and my head next to the motherboard).
Things I have tried…
1. Soundcard, Video card and Powercore PCI DSP card in different slots. No Change.
2. Ran system without Powercore PCI DSP card. No Change.
3. Unplugged my PCI soundcard and tried a friends Firewire soundcard. I can still hear the loading. I am connecting the Firewire connection to a PCI card I have installed just to try this scenario.
4. Tried RAM in different slots and tried 1 stick at a time. No change.
5. Replaced Video PCI card for my old Radon one. No change.
6. Tried running the computer system off another AC loop of the house. No Change
7. Unplugged the processor fan (very briefly) to eliminate it. No change.
8. Unplugged the front USB ports and audio ports from motherboard. No change.
9. Checked 0V continuity from case to relevant areas of the motherboard and PSU.
10. Removed motherboard and ran system out of the case to listen and analyse areas of the motherboard/processor. When listening with a cone, I can confirm the hi Frequency noise is coming directly from the processor. The noise can be heard from the top and the bottom of the motherboard.
11. Changed the PSU for another. No Change.
13. Updated bios and all drivers. No Change.
12. Checked audio cables Balanced and Unbalanced states are correct to eliminate ground loops. M-audio has balanced outputs, KRK speakers have balanced inputs. TRS to XLR balanced cable checked. No Change.
Lifted the chasis ground from the audio cable at the KRK end so the grounds were not interconnected too. Seemed to make things different. but not better.
13. Turned Processor Cores 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 off, to run at minimum load. Made high frequency load noise quieter but still present.
14. RMAed Processor with AMD, No Change.
14. Tried a friends Quad core processor. No Change.
15. New Motherboard installed. ASROCK 990FX Extreeme3. Drivers Updated. No change.
Between the motherboard and processor change, noise has reduced from inside the case but still present through the speakers.
16. Tried different RAM. No Change.
17. Imaged windows drive to a new Hardrive. No Change.
18. Tried various Bios settings to do with power management. C States and Cool and Quiet. No change.
18. Took computer Tower to a friends studio to run on his monitors, screens, mouse and keyboard. No change.
19. Removed all component peripherals from the computer and unplugged their power supply so only the speakers and the Tower are connected when a process/program in running (so the noise is present). No change.
20. Checked all mains connections are connected in cables. No change.
21. Tried speakers powered from a different Loop in the house.
I accept that that I may have missed something as I havent found the problem yet. Some of the processes were performed in an unorderly manor. This was due to the cost of parts and the help of various friends.
Hopefully you can help.
Michael
AMD FX(tm) - 8120 Eight Core Processor 3100MHz
Asus Motherboard M5A78L/USB3 rev 1.01
PCI NVIDIA Geforce 210 graphics card
Kingston Hyper X DDR3 Ram (2 x 4G Kit)
Western Digital WDC WD5000AAKX-221 500GB Harddrive
PCI M-Audio Audiophile 192 soundcard
PCI TC Electronic Powercore MK2 DSP card
Zalman Fan
OCZ 750W PSU
Extra information
Windows 7 64 bit
Cubase 5
KRK Rockit Powered 6 Speaker Monitors
2 x LG 19" Monitors
Roland A-800Pro Midi Controller
Dave Smith Tetra
Western Digital 500GB External USB HD
I use my computer for music production and have just started to record audio in via an M-Audio Soundcard (PCI).
Problem is when I open any program/sequencer, even documents, I can hear high frequency loading/processing noise through the speakers. The noise is not amplified and is still presant when the output and input channels of my soundcard are muted. This results in anything I record having the changing high frequency sound on it.
I'm getting pretty confused with the problem, because at first, I thought it had something to do with the current drawn by the processor/computer and a possible ground loop in the system. But as you can see below I have investigated, to my knowledge, what the problem could be.
I welcome any thoughts on the subject and will value any help at this stage.
Start of investigation...
When doing necessary checks to ensure all PCI cards etc where in correctly, and the computer systems 0V is common on the chasis and various 'cans' on the motherboard, I have noticed the same interference/loading noise is coming directly from the processor (when listening with my speakers turned off and my head next to the motherboard).
Things I have tried…
1. Soundcard, Video card and Powercore PCI DSP card in different slots. No Change.
2. Ran system without Powercore PCI DSP card. No Change.
3. Unplugged my PCI soundcard and tried a friends Firewire soundcard. I can still hear the loading. I am connecting the Firewire connection to a PCI card I have installed just to try this scenario.
4. Tried RAM in different slots and tried 1 stick at a time. No change.
5. Replaced Video PCI card for my old Radon one. No change.
6. Tried running the computer system off another AC loop of the house. No Change
7. Unplugged the processor fan (very briefly) to eliminate it. No change.
8. Unplugged the front USB ports and audio ports from motherboard. No change.
9. Checked 0V continuity from case to relevant areas of the motherboard and PSU.
10. Removed motherboard and ran system out of the case to listen and analyse areas of the motherboard/processor. When listening with a cone, I can confirm the hi Frequency noise is coming directly from the processor. The noise can be heard from the top and the bottom of the motherboard.
11. Changed the PSU for another. No Change.
13. Updated bios and all drivers. No Change.
12. Checked audio cables Balanced and Unbalanced states are correct to eliminate ground loops. M-audio has balanced outputs, KRK speakers have balanced inputs. TRS to XLR balanced cable checked. No Change.
Lifted the chasis ground from the audio cable at the KRK end so the grounds were not interconnected too. Seemed to make things different. but not better.
13. Turned Processor Cores 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8 off, to run at minimum load. Made high frequency load noise quieter but still present.
14. RMAed Processor with AMD, No Change.
14. Tried a friends Quad core processor. No Change.
15. New Motherboard installed. ASROCK 990FX Extreeme3. Drivers Updated. No change.
Between the motherboard and processor change, noise has reduced from inside the case but still present through the speakers.
16. Tried different RAM. No Change.
17. Imaged windows drive to a new Hardrive. No Change.
18. Tried various Bios settings to do with power management. C States and Cool and Quiet. No change.
18. Took computer Tower to a friends studio to run on his monitors, screens, mouse and keyboard. No change.
19. Removed all component peripherals from the computer and unplugged their power supply so only the speakers and the Tower are connected when a process/program in running (so the noise is present). No change.
20. Checked all mains connections are connected in cables. No change.
21. Tried speakers powered from a different Loop in the house.
I accept that that I may have missed something as I havent found the problem yet. Some of the processes were performed in an unorderly manor. This was due to the cost of parts and the help of various friends.
Hopefully you can help.
Michael
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