Strong humming detected through the USB Audio Interface, linked to the video frame rate.
Strong humming detected through the USB Audio Interface, linked to the video frame rate.
Hello, I've invested a lot of time on this matter over months without success. Here’s what you need to know: The problem is that under load, my GPU emits an audible buzz. I suspect coil whine, though I’m not sure. It’s clear from my PC speakers and headphones through the USB connection, and it even comes through when I move windows or play 3D games and edit videos. The noise is steady, but it gets worse during gameplay—especially noticeable when frames lag briefly. When I lower the frame rate to 24fps, it sounds like an old projector, which matches the timing. It persists even with low settings (like 165fps), and I’ve confirmed this with a PCIE hub and fresh cables. The issue isn’t present on the headphone jack through my case, but overall audio quality suffers, and I can’t rely on just one output or mic.
I’ve tried many fixes: using an isolator, a power conditioner, adjusting USB ports, updating drivers, changing cables, and even switching to different RAM and BIOS settings. I’ve also tested different power sources and USB connections, but nothing fully resolves it. The noise disappears only when frames stutter for a split second.
I’m still working on major music projects and need the buzz stopped from reaching my headphones or speakers. I’ll keep sharing updates if anything helps. Thank you for your time and support!
The issue isn't about an analog sound card, as such devices require a DAC to transform digital data into analog signals with proper outputs and inputs. If that's the case, my connections are already handled outside the PC. Using another sound card could actually worsen performance because of its proximity to the GPU. I remember using a Soundblaster AE5 before production—it also emitted noise. It was more problematic, but I seldom relied on it in games since I had an optical-input gaming headset, which allowed me to bypass its DAC. In short, the best approach is to avoid analog altogether. Thanks for the response!
Ah, okay. It seems I didn’t type much beyond what you said. You mentioned the onboard audio wasn’t making noise but had poor sound quality. I was proposing an internal sound card with analog outputs to possibly match the quiet sound and improve clarity. Regarding noise in audio, I’ll admit I rarely notice it unless it’s extremely bad, since I mostly work with older computers rather than modern ones.
Completely clear on that point. The onboard audio is working just fine. I just had a quick idea—so far I haven’t used the Soundblaster with a ground loop isolator. I might keep it tucked away and check it out later to see what happens. It won’t solve everything, since the Soundblaster won’t accept my mics, but if it does, it suggests the DACs in my USB connections might be adding that buzz before grounding is applied. I’ll let you know once I’ve tried it.
I've fixed the problem for others facing similar issues. A power conditioner or USB hub didn't help because the GPU was feeding noisy power back into the PSU, affecting the whole system. I used a dedicated USB isolator which blocked the power rail on the USB line while keeping data transmission intact. It required a separate 5V power plug to replace the cut power from the PC. This gave me clean power for the interface without drawing from the main system. The total cost was around $100, but it was worth it if nothing else worked. There might be cheaper alternatives, but I went for this solution to ensure reliability.
I just wanted to send a big thank you, Sam. I'm still unsure if your fix will suit me, but I've placed the order and feel confident because my issue matches yours completely. Thanks so much again—have a great day!
I experienced the same issue and purchased an iFi Defender+ after reading this discussion—it functions effectively. The previous noise during gameplay or when using too many VSTs was quite bothersome; with the Defender it significantly reduced. Adjusting the volume or positioning my ears near the speakers still left a faint buzzing, but nothing like the constant hum I had before. The key improvement came from removing ground connections on the interface output. Now my monitors have no interference, regardless of whether the Defender is installed. I used a Palmer PLS-02 Line Splitter, though a dedicated Line Isolation Box (PLI-02) would also work. My setup includes: Interface—RME Fireface UFX+ Motherboard—CPU—AMD Ryzen 7, 3700X GPU—Gigabyte GeForce RTX 2060