GA-H55-USB3: Noise from front panel headphones

[TShooter]

I'm getting a static noise over the front panel headphone port, which varies with the volume.  It begins at the windows loading screen, and happens whether there is audio being played or not.  It doesn't effect the rear audio sockets. I'm using the HD Audio plug.

GA-H55-USB3
Intel i5 Processor
4gb Ram
Win 7 x64
Nvidia GTX 460

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte forum.

I would say that the most likely cause of your unwanted sound is from crosstalk from other wiring. Check to see where the cables for the front panel port are running and see if you can change the route a bit. It is always better to have wires crossing at 90 degrees than running parallel if possible.

If that doesn't help I would check all your drivers etc and make sure they are up to date.

[bedrock445]

I am getting this noise too.  It is very annoying.  I have tried many things to alleviate the noise, with no success.  The noise is ony in the front headphone port.  If I connect the same headphones to the rear port, it is clear as a bell.  The sound doesn't start until about 5 sec after the win 7 "start windows" screen appears (I am guessing that is when the audio driver loads) and continues until about 4-15 seconds before the machine shuts off.  I originally built this amchine and installed the hardware using the standard windows drivers.  As a result, I had a driver for the audio that was made by Microsoft.

High Definition Audio Device
Microsoft
7/13/2009
6.1.7600.16385 

I replaced that with the latest and greatest driver for the GA-H55_USB3 on the Gigabyte website as of today, 2/26/2011. 

Realtek High Definition Audio
Realtek
7/28/2010
6.0.1.16167

It had no effect at all on the noise.

I have moved the cable that suns from the front panel to the socket on the back edge of the motherboard (near the I/O ports).  I have unplugged and rep[lugged the cable.  When it is plugged in, the noise continues unchanged.

However, I have an additional troubleshhoting advantage most do not have.  When I built this machine,. I built 2.  One for me, one for a friend.  Built at the same time.  Identical in ever way right down to software installed and versions.  The other machine does NOT have this noise.  Mine does. His never did.  Mine always did.

I am increasingly convinced this is a motherboard hardware problem.  It is VERY annoying.  Any ideas about what to try before I go through the hassle of RMAing this board?

Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

It could well be a hardware driven noise as it doesn't seem to be anything to do with the drivers. Have you tried running a Linux Live disk to see if the noise is there then ?

Of course your testing really only proves that it probably is a hardware issue but not necessarily a motherboard one, although I would agree that it is the most likely candidate.

[bedrock445]

Thanks for the response...  If I am reading things right, the realtec hd audio circuitry is in the H55 chip on the motherboard.  I checked and there are no wires near that chip.  Hence I am ruling out cross talk.

I have never had Linus on my machine.  However, I am not adverse to the idea of creating a Linux live disk as you call it for testing.How would I obtain one of those?

Thanks...

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Crosstalk can come from cables after they leave the motherboard to go to the front panel so check that they are not picking up any extraneous noise from another source.

Just Google for Linux live disk and you should find plenty of options.