Rawr...

Odale

Odale

Active Member
So my [mostly] new computer sends a crackling noise through my Logitech g35 headset and its stupid crazy annoying.

The crackling is random, happens in all programs (D3, SWTOR, Ventrilo, youtube...) and mostly seems to occur when something is happening on the screen. It happens also when I shake the cord but the occurrences of the crackling are much less frequent. I plugged the headset to my laptop and the crackling went away completely.

My [mostly] new computer consists of these parts:

Gigabite GA-990FXA-UD3
AMD FX 4170
AMD Performance 8GB ram

I have an HD 6670 that I used in the Dell I used to game on and this headset never crackled in that computer. I am also reusing a hard drive from my old gaming PC.

I have tried all of the USB ports to no relief from the crackling and I have updated ALL of the drivers.

Should I RMA my motherboard?
 
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Odale said:
So my [mostly] new computer sends a crackling noise through my Logitech g35 headset and its stupid crazy annoying.

The crackling is random, happens in all programs (D3, SWTOR, Ventrilo, youtube...) and mostly seems to occur when something is happening on the screen. It happens also when I shake the cord but the occurrences of the crackling are much less frequent. I plugged the headset to my laptop and the crackling went away completely.

My [mostly] new computer consists of these parts:

Gigabite GA-990FXA-UD3
AMD FX 4170
AMD Performance 8GB ram

I have an HD 6670 that I used in the Dell I used to game on and this headset never crackled in that computer. I am also reusing a hard drive from my old gaming PC.

I have tried all of the USB ports to no relief from the crackling and I have updated ALL of the drivers.

Should I RMA my motherboard?
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's the headset. Usually on a motherboard there are at least 2 sections of USB connections. They can't really both go bad or even act up without everything between them doing so as well. So I highly doubt it's the motherboard.
 
That's really weird...obviously a bit of a conundrum with the headset acting fine in another computer.

As far as I can tell, it's not the USB ports. USB is both digital and serial. Digital means you wouldn't have crackling - data is "lossless". Serial means they're all the same - they all are in line with each other and all go to the same place, like electrical outlets.

I really don't believe the mobo is bad. In theory you could be hearing something similar to what a video card does when it overheats (artifacts), but I don't believe it's possible. If your sound card overheated, your case probably would've melted...

Troubleshooting ideas:
  1. Before doing anything, try a different headset or speakers on the computer, IMO. Really needed help isolate the issue with wonky problems like this.
  2. Are drivers updated?
  3. Have you played around with sound options in the control panel?
  4. You're not using Vista, are you? O_o
  5. Are you sure you aren't getting wireless interference? Wireless signals can create crosstalk on lines and cause static. This might explain why you didn't get the problem on your other computer, or why you might not have a problem on a different, better-shielded set of headphones.
  6. Have you googled "<motherboard name> crackling sound"? There could be a super specific issue you could have that no one would be able to guess.
  7. Up for dropping $10 on an el-cheapo sound card?
 
Well in USB headsets the sound-card is in the headset no? I don't think the MB or a discrete sound-card would have any influence on a USB set.

You said it happens when there is load on the system? Could it be feedback due to a fan that is shorting? I might open up the PC and re-seat every PCI card, the ram, and all fan connections, blowing out with air as well.

I also agree it is not the MB nor the USB ports. They symptoms you describe would not be caused by that as far as I am aware.

I would make sure you have the gaming software for those, there should be one that has a 10bar equalizer, play around with that and see if you can manipulate the cracking with the EQ. Might just be a compatibility with the default windows drivers and crappy EQ settings.
 
rawr means i love you in dinosaur....

anywho, do you have an actual pci- usb card?
 
RyanB said:
Troubleshooting ideas:
  1. Before doing anything, try a different headset or speakers on the computer, IMO. Really needed help isolate the issue with wonky problems like this.
  2. Are drivers updated?
  3. Have you played around with sound options in the control panel?
  4. You're not using Vista, are you? O_o
  5. Are you sure you aren't getting wireless interference? Wireless signals can create crosstalk on lines and cause static. This might explain why you didn't get the problem on your other computer, or why you might not have a problem on a different, better-shielded set of headphones.
  6. Have you googled "<motherboard name> crackling sound"? There could be a super specific issue you could have that no one would be able to guess.
  7. Up for dropping $10 on an el-cheapo sound card?
Click to expand...

I don't think some of these steps apply to my headset. The Logitech G35s are their own sound card so I don't have a PCI sound card installed (I do have an on-board sound card, but the G35s crackle when its both enabled and disabled). Also, these headphones are corded, and cost the better part of $130... they better be shielded well!

ewoksrule said:
Well in USB headsets the sound-card is in the headset no? I don't think the MB or a discrete sound-card would have any influence on a USB set.

You said it happens when there is load on the system? Could it be feedback due to a fan that is shorting? I might open up the PC and re-seat every PCI card, the ram, and all fan connections, blowing out with air as well.

I also agree it is not the MB nor the USB ports. They symptoms you describe would not be caused by that as far as I am aware.

I would make sure you have the gaming software for those, there should be one that has a 10bar equalizer, play around with that and see if you can manipulate the cracking with the EQ. Might just be a compatibility with the default windows drivers and crappy EQ settings.
Click to expand...

Apparently I'm not the only person who is having this trouble. Many of these people are posting about the same, exact symptoms I am posting about. ...so I made a post too!

I did notice that sometimes when a crackle happens the screen will temporarily pause... I mean like a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a millisecond pause. It's short, but still noticable.

Like I [think] I said - I've updated all the drivers (except bios), updated the G35 drivers, reverted to old G35 drivers, new motherboard drivers, new USB driver drivers... I'm out of ideas. All the other cards in there are set properly. Additionally I went back and tried every USB port on the computer - they all crackle.
 
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I sometimes get a crackle in my headphones as well but only when the force feedback is turned on. The force feedback is powered thru the USB connector while the headphones and mic are jacked into the appropriate jacks.

It might maybe possibly be a power use issue. I'd check what type of usb connector you have and what type of usb outlet you have them plugged into. If possible, I'd also check your power useage on the usb outlet as well.
 
Hah that would be interesting if that was the answer. Do the game you play have an option to turn on/off force feedback?
 
Na. It's force feedback Headphones. They vibrate with the sound. Getting shot by a heavy or exploding a rocket under your feet is really cool. Basically they just vibrate off the base level. The more base, the more vibration. I can turn the feedback off using a switch on my headphones however. Turning the feedback off which is powered thru USB port removes the crackle completely.
 
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