HEL80 - Strange noise through when using internal soundcard

Hello,

when I use the internal speakers of my HEL80 or plug in some normal speakers or headphones, I hear a kind of repeating, scratching noise. It seems that it gets worse when I activate W-LAN on the device.
The noise disappears when I use the digital output or an external soundcard. I am not sure how to locate the source of this behaviour since I don't know when it appeared the first time. I can say that it definitely wasn't there when I bought my notebook.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem or have any clue how to solve it?

 

I'd start by completely removing and reinstalling your soundcard driver, to discount it being a software issue. Try some sound tests from Safe Mode just to rule out any secondary programs messing with the sound. Test different types of sound output, such as Wave files, MP3s, a music CD, etc. If it happens regardless of the type of sound and inspite of reinstalling the drivers, look at the hardware. Does it happen whether the system is plugged in or on battery power? If it only happens on AC, it could be ground loop hum and there are adapters you can plug your laptop into that will help eliminate that problem. If it doesn't matter how the system is being powered, the noise still happens, I'd have to think there is some sort of shielding or grounding problem inside the laptop which is letting RF signals reach your speakers and headphone jack port. Since you mention the problem gets worse when WiFi is enabled, the latter may have something to do with it. In that case, you may have to get an RMA and have the factory take a look at the system.

 

I think it's a problem present in all HEL80s... is it relatively faint? Like a high pitched buzzing? Because I hear it too when I use my HEL80s internal sound card. Mine also has gotten worse since I got it, because of a motherboard issue my computer had (the usb ports stopped working.. that's fixed, but the buzzing remains). I don't know if it's fixable.

 

Thanks JoeNewberry for your tips, I will try to get through the list of tests during the next week. Right at the moment I would go for the driver since I updated it several times.

And no, it is not the high pitched buzzing - I experienced that one when I first installed gentoo linux on the device or when I wake it up from suspend in battery mode. The noise which bothers me now is more a scratching type. It is hard to find a similar one, perhaps rappling up a piece of paper or scratching on a pice of wood with your fingernail...