[SOLVED] Can motherboard audio buzzing, crackling, popping be fixed?

Mar 5, 2022
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Hello,

Problem: There is silent buzzing, crackling, popping noises coming from the motherboards audio jack.
Motherboard: Asrock steel legend z490. It has Realtek ALC1200 Audio Codec if that helps.

My mother board was recently replaced by warranty (with a refurbished one), because the original one suddenly had sound issues (I tried to solve it here Loud static from motherboard audio jack), and now the replacement board has silent buzzing, crackling and (rare) popping noises, these noises are very quiet, but I spend quite some time at the computer with headphones on, and it gives me a headache. I guess it would not be noticeable for an average user, but it annoys me very much. The buzzing intensifies when I move the mouse (Razer Deathadder) but if I connect another mouse, the buzzing does not intensify.
Before the original broke, its audio jack was crystal clear. Now if I connect the headphones to the front panel audio jack, that use HD audio cable, the sound is clear as well, but it I would prefer the motherboard audio jack.

Is there anything I can do about it / fix it?
I really don't want a sound card.

Thank you.
 
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Solution
I was hoping there's a way to fix this without buying additional appliances / dongles, maybe changing some BIOS option or something. Because the PC is standing at the same place as it used to, and the wires are all the same, but there was no buzzing in the past. Even on my old motherboard, which was Asrock H97pro4, there was no buzzing.
I have tried disconnecting every cable and leaving only power and audio cables connected, but the noise is still there.
I guess if I can't fix it I will have to get the isolator dongle...
These type of problems occur due to signal interference and ground issues. The first link explains the details in depth and gives you some ideas to fix it.
These issues usually don't have BIOS fix. You will...
I was hoping there's a way to fix this without buying additional appliances / dongles, maybe changing some BIOS option or something. Because the PC is standing at the same place as it used to, and the wires are all the same, but there was no buzzing in the past. Even on my old motherboard, which was Asrock H97pro4, there was no buzzing.
I have tried disconnecting every cable and leaving only power and audio cables connected, but the noise is still there.
I guess if I can't fix it I will have to get the isolator dongle...
 
I was hoping there's a way to fix this without buying additional appliances / dongles, maybe changing some BIOS option or something. Because the PC is standing at the same place as it used to, and the wires are all the same, but there was no buzzing in the past. Even on my old motherboard, which was Asrock H97pro4, there was no buzzing.
I have tried disconnecting every cable and leaving only power and audio cables connected, but the noise is still there.
I guess if I can't fix it I will have to get the isolator dongle...
These type of problems occur due to signal interference and ground issues. The first link explains the details in depth and gives you some ideas to fix it.
These issues usually don't have BIOS fix. You will have to locate the interference if you don't want external device. That is a very tedious job. Even then sometimes its unfixable. Also, that device is not guaranteed to fix it, if the issue has a different source than what it fixes. There is a lot of trial and error involved in these kind of diagnostics.
 
Solution
These type of problems occur due to signal interference and ground issues. The first link explains the details in depth and gives you some ideas to fix it.
These issues usually don't have BIOS fix. You will have to locate the interference if you don't want external device. That is a very tedious job. Even then sometimes its unfixable. Also, that device is not guaranteed to fix it, if the issue has a different source than what it fixes. There is a lot of trial and error involved in these kind of diagnostics.
I have read the articles, thank you. Well, I did some experimenting and took the PC apart, and it seems that the motherboard is the culprit.
Would a dongle like this Mini external sound card fix the issue as well? It would be easier for me to get this type of adapter, because in my location I cannot find any shops that sell ground loop isolators.
 
I have read the articles, thank you. Well, I did some experimenting and took the PC apart, and it seems that the motherboard is the culprit.
Would a dongle like this Mini external sound card fix the issue as well? It would be easier for me to get this type of adapter, because in my location I cannot find any shops that sell ground loop isolators.
This just shifts the sound processing from the embedded codec to the external adapter, but still passes through the motherboard lanes to complete the throughput.
If the internal codec is the source of the interference, then this should ideally fix it. If the source is elsewhere, then this won't help. I can't say that for sure, you can give it a try if you want.