Question About Unwanted Audio Sounds During Silence
Question About Unwanted Audio Sounds During Silence
I recently assembled a new PC and noticed a buzzing or humming sound coming from the speakers connected to the onboard audio jack. It resembles the noise you hear when touching the 3.5mm audio jack, but it’s significantly quieter. The sound is barely perceptible yet loud enough to be bothersome. It remains constant regardless of adjusting the volume through software, though it intensifies when using the volume knob on the speakers. (This doesn’t seem to depend on the operating system.)
The noise disappears when audio playback is active. Once the audio stops, everything seems normal for a short time before the buzzing returns. My guess is that the audio chip enters sleep mode, cutting off the signal and causing the pickup to capture random noise. Does that make sense?
I’m using a 3.5mm audio jack splitter to route audio to both my PC speakers and stereo. If I disconnect the splitter and connect only the speakers or stereo directly, the noise vanishes. This strongly suggests the splitter is the source of the issue, correct? Not quite—this exact configuration (same splitter, same speakers, same stereo) has functioned perfectly on my previous PC for years.
I’m curious if this might be connected to the motherboard lacking a ground connection. The board doesn’t appear to have a GND pin, or it’s not clearly marked. Additionally, the case seems to lack a proper grounding point. Is this typical for modern PCs?
Here’s the pin layout from the motherboard manual:
I believe this isn’t related to the operating system, but since I’m running Linux, no drivers are available for reinstallation. I’ve updated to the latest (non-beta) UEFI without success. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
System details:
- CPU: AMD 5600G
- Cooler: Alpenföhn Ben Nevis Advanced
- Motherboard: ASRock A520M Pro4
- RAM: Corsair DIMM 16 GB DDR43200 (2x 8 GB) Dual-Kit
- Storage: Crucial P3 SSD 500 GB, M.2 NVMe
- GPU: None
- Power Supply: be quiet! Pure Power 12M 550W
- Case: Fractal Design Define 7
- OS: Debian testing
- Monitor: Iiyama ProLite XB3270QS-B5
Has been functioning perfectly for many years... If feasible, consider using a different reliable splitter.
As a point of exclusion.
These devices are produced at the lowest cost and may not last long.
Some of those splitters are very cheap, while others are quite expensive. I believe this particular one cost around 14 bucks when I purchased it a few years back. I recently used one of the cheaper models that I still have and now recall why I invested so much in such a basic component. There’s no genuine connection here. Once everything is connected, you have to force it until the loud buzzing and crackling becomes manageable, after which you can’t move or breathe normally, or it will start again. I don’t have another costly splitter, and I’m not sure this one is faulty. It would be odd if it broke right when I bought a new PC. Also, a broken splitter doesn’t clarify why the noise disappears every time there’s a signal and then returns after about three seconds.
There could be more to the situation. Check the audio plugs and ports carefully. Review the guide at cablechick.com.au for understanding TRRS and audio jacks. Also, create a diagram of the new PC and all connected devices, cables, and power sources. Search for any potential "loops".
Also note: Ground loop issues may be present. You can find more related information in similar links.
The splitter and all connectors are TRS, each with three contacts. The ground loop link supports my concern about a grounding problem. Without a GND cable, I might create one. The ground pin on the motherboard should be the lower rightmost pin to the right of the reset pins, and it’s safe to connect it anywhere on the case. It shouldn’t damage anything if done correctly.
I would be quite cautious about "just make one". It’s possible something could be harmed. The situation needs to be confirmed through the PSU.
For reference, you can check other similar articles online about grounding and related topics.
Do you own a multimeter and understand how to use it? Or do you know someone who does?
Have you used only the cables that came with the PSU?
You can find more details here: https://superuser.com/questions/183...ro...a-wooden-p
https://www.lifewire.com/atx-24-pin-12v-...ut-2624578
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-manually...er-2626158
Two recommendations:
1) Consult the motherboard manual you shared, focusing on Section 2.6 to verify all connectors and cables are properly installed and securely placed. Check for any damage.
2) Test the PSU yourself. Verify that all voltages match the specifications and fall within acceptable ranges.
The goal is to locate or confirm the issue without creating a ground that wasn’t intended.
Assuming there’s an oversight or mistake in the assembly.
The motherboard should also be grounded to the case through the PSU connection, yes? I recall GND connectors on my previous build joining with the front panel connectors—usually a single pin near the power, reset, etc. pins. That was a long time ago. Could be I got it wrong.
I might be able to use a multimeter and follow the linked tutorial to verify. It should take some time, though.
I’ll also re-examine all connections. I was very careful before, checking everything multiple times, but a final check wouldn’t hurt. One thing that confused me is whether the polarity matters. The manual doesn’t specify + or - signs on the board, the connectors, or the cables. Online sources suggest polarity isn’t important for power, reset, and power LED. Is that accurate?
Thank you very much for your assistance. I truly appreciate it.