IDEQ Squeals Like A Pig :(

[moonhunter]

The mic port is soldered too closely to the sound port and giving off interference.  Have you tried muting your mic output(s)?  Also it could be a grounding issue.

[deepblue2]

Quote
Originally posted by: moonhunter
The mic port is soldered too closely to the sound port and giving off interference.  Have you tried muting your mic output(s)?  Also it could be a grounding issue.

mic is muted. problem still persists. i read about the shuttle boards facing grounding problems. but apparently the ideq uses a different pcb design so i'm not sure how to go about grounding it.

any advice?

[prgeno]

Add to the PSU squeal, the noise of the CPU & case fans, plus the fan of the ATI 9600 I put in there, and this thing sounds just like a cement mixer.  One of the loudest boxest I've experienced.  I think the reviewers of this box were all hard of hearing.

I did receive a prompt return email from BioStar support.  They stating they are very willing to replace the PSU, which is very nice.  But after playing with the fan control app, and trying several ways to quiet the thing down, it's still way too loud to be considered for my HTPC platform.  It is far louder than my HP D530 UltraSlim, currently puling my HTPC duty.  The 530 actually does a good job, but simply isn't flexible enough with expansion, and has very limited video options.

I think I'm throwing in the towel early on the BioStar.  Obviously I made a mistake, in the interest of saving some money.  As usual, and especially when putting together an HTPC, you get what you pay for.  

I'm going back to my first choice, albeit twice as costly, and ordering a Hush ATX for my HTPC replacement platform.

PG  

[prgeno]

Just to be fair, I wanted to give an update to my situation.  I want to let everyone know BioStar tech support has been pretty responsive to my problem.  While they will only communicate via email, as they try to avoid giving out their phone number, but they have responded promptly to each of my emails.  

That is more than I can say for PCUSA.com (PC Source) from whom I purchase the unit.  PCUSA.com phone tech support told me to send an email stating the problem, rather than dealing with it directly on the phone.  So I did, and got no response.  I called back and they said they would find the email and respond shortly, but again did nothing.  Meanwhile BioStar's tech support was stepping up and dealing with the problem.  Therefore, I simply gave up on PCUSA.com, which I got the feeling they were really hoped I would do.  So screw them, and give points to BioStar.

BioStar very quickly, without any extra prodding from me, agreed to swap the squealing PSU.  Unfortunately they insisted I send the bad one back first, before they would send out the replacement.  I offered to give them a credit card number to hold, as collateral, but they still wanted the bad one back first.  In the end, that's not a big deal, since this isn't going to be my HTPC after all, and therefore I'm not doing anything with it now anyway.  We'll see if the new PSU is any better, or if this is simply an inherent flaw in the Enhance PSU's design.  

I'm still going to get my Hush ATX for use as my HTPC, as even if the PSU didn't squeal, the IDEQ is still just too loud for an HTPC.  But if the new PSU keeps quiet, I'll keep the 200T for some other use.  It is still a pretty cool unit otherwise.

PG

[SeaDonkey]

Thats really to bad Prgeno. It must be the luck of the draw. My IDEQ200N is DEAD silent. I have added two extra fans and it is still the most silent rig I've ever owned. I hope everything works out for you.

[johnrr6]

Discovered something when I pulled apart my PSU because of whining/howling.

3 things:

The metal grill over the fan is fairly restrictive
The fan needed oiling badly
There is a gap between the bracket that holds the fan in place and the metal wall the fan should be sealed against.

pretty shoody design-----but fixable

Pull the PSU

Dremel out the metal fan cover-----easier flow of air----much more efficient
Pull the fan and peel back the sticker----oil it with some 3-1 or white lithium workbench grease
use some silicone sealant and seal the gap between the fan itself and the wall of the PSU

All the above makes for a much more efficient and quieter PSU

Dropped my howl to almost nothing----barely perceptable-----it appeared to be a wind noise-----

PSU stays cooler to boot.  

[halfin]

Johnrr6,

I oiled the fan in the psu also and will attest to the fact that the noise from the psu is just gone.  Didn't fix the airflow or the gap situation, but I'm happy with the psu now.

Now the noisiest thing in this 200N is the hard drive, a barracuda 4 which is supposed to be quiet.  Apparently the bearing is gone, it makes a high pitched whistle.  Listen close enough and you can hear the bearing grind.  But WD is sending a replacement so that should be fixed shortly.

BTW, now the howl from inside is the cpu fan.  Have you had that problem?  Tried oiling mine, but not much help.  I notice that the cpu fan and the case fan behind it are the same model.  Planning on switching them and see if that will quiet it down, since the case fan always runs at 'slow' according to system control utility.

[johnrr6]

I've built 3 200Ns and 1 200V

In every one of them the fans were always different-----not in make and model-----but in noise level produced.

I got a couple of 60 mm thin fans from Directron that are nice replacements for the biostar Fans

The Directron fans were a YS Tech model NFD1260153B-1A

Great idea about switching fans----I used that trick as well-----strangely enough----it seemed to make a difference with noise

Best cooling noise eliminator thing I do to mine is a trick I got from another member of the forum (was it you halfin???).

Using two Zalman 80 x15 fans----think they are model OP-1-----place one on the leftside toward the front and one on the right side toward the rear.  Set them to low speed----they are soundless.  Superb cross ventilation with no add on noise.

Also----if you can get smart fan to work properly----it REALLY eliminates noise!

It works perfectly on my 200V----the darn thing is DEAD SILENT!  

[brianlipinski]

Johnrr6

i just got a 200t last week, it squeals. also, it makes noises when i type, scroll the mouse, pretty much anything. does oiling the fan eliminate this noise as well?

[johnrr6]

Quote
Originally posted by: brianlipinski
Johnrr6



i just got a 200t last week, it squeals. also, it makes noises when i type, scroll the mouse, pretty much anything. does oiling the fan eliminate this noise as well?

Oh boy-----this sounds much more serious than a wind howl or a bearing howl.  And I've been hearing this same story about the T model.

Try oiling the fan and making sure no wires in the PSU are caught in the PSU case---stripping insulation, etc.

Can't hurt----but I doubt this is the problem.

Also try a different keyboard and mouse----if you are using a wirless setup or USB----try a standard OS-2 keyboard and mouse.

I'd call Biostar USA Tech Support----(626) 581-1055----ask for Jerry----he's very knowledgeable.

See if he has some fixes.

If none------RMA the PSU----next try a new board.

Good luck-----John

[KingNic]

So can I assume that if I get a 200N then the suggested mods to the PSU will eliminate any 'squealing' problems? This is the only thing that's stopping me from getting an iDEQ.

Also, what are the sizes of EVERY fan in the iDEQ so I can order silent replacements straight away. This system is not gonna go the way of my rattling, loud, hot mega pc...

[johnrr6]

The 200N is great and if you run into a problem with the PSU----try the mods then RMA if necessary.

I've had 4 Biostar SFFs

In all of them----any problem with the PSUs were easily fixed-----never had to RMA any of the PSUs.

If you are going to run onboard video----vice an AGP card-----pay extra attention to the RAM used.

When running onbord-----you need to use DDR 333 (PC 2700) and stay away from overclocking.

The onboard is VERY picky about RAM/settings.

John

[KingNic]

I'm gonna be sticking a 9800 pro in there.

[johnrr6]

Quote
Originally posted by: KingNic
I'm gonna be sticking a 9800 pro in there.

No problemo----I have a waterblocked 9800pro in mine

GREAT card!!

John

[KingNic]

Most certainly - and since the XT's have come out the prices for pro's have dropped like hell. I can get a 9800pro now for £175

[brianlipinski]

biostar told me to RMA the whole unit back to newegg. i sent it back tuesday, hope to get one that does not squeal/make noises every time i type on the keyboard or scroll the mouse. i will post a response about whether the new 200T makes the PSU noise when i get it early next week.

[edssf]

brianlipinski, Have you received your new system yet?  Is it better?

Ed.

[eseow]

On my 200T, I had to flash to newest Bios and set the gain for the sound card lower. Haven't had any noises since

[halfapie]

AUDIO NOISE FROM HEADPHONE JACK!
(BUT not from the box itself--only through speakers/headphones)

Hello

I just bought a 200N and found this thread online because I also have the problems with audio noise from the headphone port. Actually I notice that I get a small noise from both the front headphone jack AND from the rear speaker out jack. But the noise from the front is worse than from the back.

I believe this is more of a combination of software & hardware issue.

This is why I think so: The noise starts when WINDOWS XP boots up. There is NO noise from the headphones when I start up the system, for example while I'm in the BIOS menu.

Now obviously, BEFORE windows boots up, the sound card's sound output level is probably set to zero, and that's why there is no noise. When the sound card is "turned on" as the windows xp's drivers boot up, the noise begins because the volume is being set to some value at this point.

However, the noise is persistent in my system (and at the same constant level) from ZERO volume to FULL volume settings in windows.

I would have agreed that it was a power supply issue, but after investigating I think it is something else. In fact when I play medal of honor with my overclocked Athlon XP 1800+, there is NO noise.

If it is a power supply issue, how come there is NO noise when the system is under MAXIMUM stress??? It has to be something else!

And here's something interesting--a new noise I found. (This is not through the sound card, but just with bear ears) When using Biostar's System Control Panel (Fan speed utility) a high pitch noise is produced in "Quiet" or "Fuzzy" settings. In the "Normal" setting, that additional noise disappears. This is regardless of the fan speed.


Now for my question: Does anyone know how to fix the problem with the headphone jacks?


Here's my setup:
IDEQ 200N
Integrated Video
Athlon XP 18000+
2 sticks of Generic PC3200 ram in Dual Channel mode
80GB Seagate drive
Samsung Combo drive
*Overclocked FSB to 145Mhz
*Overclocked CPU to 1.67Ghz