So this is a long-term problem. I've had it for literally years! I feel sometimes it fades but I think I just get used to it and tune it out for months at a time.
Basically, I can hear interference of all sorts from my PC on my speakers. Hard drive access, mouse movement, scrolling a web page, etc etc.
Things I have tried, that haven't helped:
- disconnected CD audio
- removed CD drive entirely
- tried front port
- disconnected front port
- tried headphones
- new power strip
- moved house
- tried an internal soundcard instead of the onboard one
- tried a USB soundcard - I was certain this would be a suitable workaround, and gobsmacked when even this didn't help
- moved my graphics card to a different slot
- unplugged my mouse and keyboard
- unplugged all SATA hard drives (system is on an SSD - but this problem existed before I added the SSD)
- replaced PSU (it died one day)
- disconnected all fans bar the CPU fan
- reinstalled drivers (not that I believed that would help)
All to no avail.
I'm basically down to it being a problem with the case, graphics card or the motherboard, I guess. I'd really like to fix this without buying a new motherboard though, so any thoughts are very welcome! (Unless they're in the list above...)
PC spec:
- Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 board
- Core 2 duo E6750
- Sparkle 8800GT fanless
- G.Skill 4GB DDR2
- Vista ultimate 64bit