Static noise and static... graphics?

Julmust · 08-09-2008, 01:40 PM

I have this static noise in the background all the time, it is almost impossible to hear while not wearing headphones (since my speakers are pretty bad) and it is still very low even with the headphones.
But it is there, and if you do something, like scroll down in a window, you can hear it clearly.

One can also hear it very well while sitting in the quiet menu screen of a game.
It's like this buzzing, beep-piIiiip-ing, brumming sound, in different tones.

Anyway, today when I was playing World in Conflict while speaking with a friend over Ventrilo, I noticed the following:

While transmitting sound to my friend (he can also hear the static noise) I saw what appeared to be static "graphics" on screen, black lines that moved along the ground in no specific pattern, and it looked like it was made to fit the sound, sort of.

So my question here is, what might cause these lines to appear, aswell as the static sound?

I've heard that it might be the sound card drivers, and when disabling them in the Device Manager, the static sound disappeared, but the latest sound drivers didn't change anything.

I've also heard that it might be electrical interference?

I'm not really sure what I should do to find the source of this problem, so if someone could guide me in the right direction I would be very happy.

mlabre20 · 08-09-2008, 03:34 PM

Oh wow that sounds like the same problem I have. I still haven't figured out how to fix it :( (sorry to get your hopes up lol).

For me, the sound only comes out of my headphone jack, so if I wear headphones I hear the sound, and like you said, it is always when you do something, like scrolling or playing a game. But I managed to partly reduce it by opening up my computer, and finding the audio wire that was connected to the motherboard, and just moving it around to other positions. As I moved it, the loudness of the static changed, and I just found a position where it was the quietest. I never was able to pin-point the problem that was causing it though.

Sorry I couldn't help more

EDIT: Actually, if your speakers are just a single 3.5mm jack, try plugging your speakers into the headphone jack (the headphone jack on your computer).

Julmust · 08-09-2008, 10:54 PM

Forget anything I said about static graphics, that was supposed to be there... strangely enough.

Heh I guess it's as you're saying, related to the hardware in some way.
I'll try what you said, hopefully it will change it for the better.

EDIT: Well well, I tried putting my headphones in the "Line Out" jack (no idea what that means) and that seems to have reduced the static to almost non existant, I can still hear it in one specific game, but that might be a problem with the game itself, I'm not sure yet.

The scrolling sound is gone though (for now), but I think the overall sound is different aswell?
Hrm.

Thanks alot though, atleast it did something

08-09-2008, 01:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Julmust Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP Home, SP2	Static noise and static... graphics? I have this static noise in the background all the time, it is almost impossible to hear while not wearing headphones (since my speakers are pretty bad) and it is still very low even with the headphones. But it is there, and if you do something, like scroll down in a window, you can hear it clearly. One can also hear it very well while sitting in the quiet menu screen of a game. It's like this buzzing, beep-piIiiip-ing, brumming sound, in different tones. Anyway, today when I was playing World in Conflict while speaking with a friend over Ventrilo, I noticed the following: While transmitting sound to my friend (he can also hear the static noise) I saw what appeared to be static "graphics" on screen, black lines that moved along the ground in no specific pattern, and it looked like it was made to fit the sound, sort of. So my question here is, what might cause these lines to appear, aswell as the static sound? I've heard that it might be the sound card drivers, and when disabling them in the Device Manager, the static sound disappeared, but the latest sound drivers didn't change anything. I've also heard that it might be electrical interference? I'm not really sure what I should do to find the source of this problem, so if someone could guide me in the right direction I would be very happy.

08-09-2008, 03:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
mlabre20 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 145 OS: Windows 7	Re: Static noise and static... graphics? Oh wow that sounds like the same problem I have. I still haven't figured out how to fix it :( (sorry to get your hopes up lol). For me, the sound only comes out of my headphone jack, so if I wear headphones I hear the sound, and like you said, it is always when you do something, like scrolling or playing a game. But I managed to partly reduce it by opening up my computer, and finding the audio wire that was connected to the motherboard, and just moving it around to other positions. As I moved it, the loudness of the static changed, and I just found a position where it was the quietest. I never was able to pin-point the problem that was causing it though. Sorry I couldn't help more EDIT: Actually, if your speakers are just a single 3.5mm jack, try plugging your speakers into the headphone jack (the headphone jack on your computer). Last edited by mlabre20; 08-09-2008 at 03:36 PM.

08-09-2008, 10:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Julmust Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 13 OS: Windows XP Home, SP2	Re: Static noise and static... graphics? Forget anything I said about static graphics, that was supposed to be there... strangely enough. Heh I guess it's as you're saying, related to the hardware in some way. I'll try what you said, hopefully it will change it for the better. EDIT: Well well, I tried putting my headphones in the "Line Out" jack (no idea what that means) and that seems to have reduced the static to almost non existant, I can still hear it in one specific game, but that might be a problem with the game itself, I'm not sure yet. The scrolling sound is gone though (for now), but I think the overall sound is different aswell? Hrm. Thanks alot though, atleast it did something Last edited by Julmust; 08-09-2008 at 11:09 PM.