Ex5.. System Noise - Interference - Over-Powering :(

Suggestions most welcome

I have just prior to Xmas bought and now set up an Ex5-320n but it has
a couple of problems.

Setup:
=======

It's presently running an AMD 2100+ (1.7Ghz) CPU with 512 MB Ram and a
60GB IDE drive.

I have near all the latest updates software wise but have two
(possibly hardware) problems that maybe you folks can give suggestions
on.

I have set the BIOS to 'optimised' and then altered it to run the CPU
at it's proper (non clocked) state..

In terms of basic computation it's an odd looking little runt but
works well.. but it has a couple of major problems as a media machine.



My two issues:

1. Audio noise on this machine is terrible:
===============================================

If I plug the thing into an amplifier the problem is not so great but
using a good pair of earphones directly connected there is an extreme
amount of system level noise.

Partly I suspect this is unavoidable but it will mean I will not be
able to record anything at a low level and wearing earphones is just
too painful.

Every time I move the mouse,.. Every time i use the LAN., Every time
there is a video redraw I get high pitched digital noise...

.... Short of placing an external physical filter (inline capacitor &
resistor or otherwise) between the computer and my headphones is there
anything I can do programatically to reduce this?

It is probably the worst level of system noise I have heard in years
on a PC


2. Second problem - TV-Out is blurred:
============================================

I still need to get an S-Video out cable to test but 'composite' is
just plain rubbish.

This is the first time I have used TV-out so am not 'au-fai' with what
it should look like but everything is slightly blurry., fonts are not
sharp and there seems to be a faint line just off centre of the
screen..

Except for watching a movie the TV-Out function would give me an eye
strain headache to use as a normal PC. (I'm using with a 21 Inch TV
via the AV in.)



The Ex5-320n functions fine in most non media respects except these..

Any solutions? or is this as good as the EX5 gets?

I see from the manual there are a few tweaks in the BIOS that are
supposed to reduce RF transmitions from the CPU.. As I'm not a
specialist does anyone know if these help or whether they reduce
overall responsiveness?

Any ideas?

Pete

Which audio Drivers are you using for the on board audio set?
Also I know that the frount audio jacks are a little bit noiser then the
rear set.
Then again going from on end to the other does help with the noise.
I use Real 5.10.0.5890 Drivers. Also make sure in the AC97 Audio
Configuration panel.
Sound Effect tab that the Voice Cancellation isn't turned on.
A windows update turned that on for some reason.
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/
AC'97 Audio Codecs (Software)

hmm last I check NV Tv out has always been like that.
Powerstrip could help a little bit. Or any of the other NV tweaking tools.
TV out is ok for pictures but, Reading text will end up with a head ache
from that.

"Pete" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
>
> Suggestions most welcome
>
> I have just prior to Xmas bought and now set up an Ex5-320n but it has
> a couple of problems.
>
> Setup:
> =======
>
> It's presently running an AMD 2100+ (1.7Ghz) CPU with 512 MB Ram and a
> 60GB IDE drive.
>
> I have near all the latest updates software wise but have two
> (possibly hardware) problems that maybe you folks can give suggestions
> on.
>
> I have set the BIOS to 'optimised' and then altered it to run the CPU
> at it's proper (non clocked) state..
>
> In terms of basic computation it's an odd looking little runt but
> works well.. but it has a couple of major problems as a media machine.
>
>
>
> My two issues:
>
> 1. Audio noise on this machine is terrible:
> ===============================================
>
> If I plug the thing into an amplifier the problem is not so great but
> using a good pair of earphones directly connected there is an extreme
> amount of system level noise.
>
> Partly I suspect this is unavoidable but it will mean I will not be
> able to record anything at a low level and wearing earphones is just
> too painful.
>
> Every time I move the mouse,.. Every time i use the LAN., Every time
> there is a video redraw I get high pitched digital noise...
>
> ... Short of placing an external physical filter (inline capacitor &
> resistor or otherwise) between the computer and my headphones is there
> anything I can do programatically to reduce this?
>
> It is probably the worst level of system noise I have heard in years
> on a PC
>
>
> 2. Second problem - TV-Out is blurred:
> ============================================
>
> I still need to get an S-Video out cable to test but 'composite' is
> just plain rubbish.
>
> This is the first time I have used TV-out so am not 'au-fai' with what
> it should look like but everything is slightly blurry., fonts are not
> sharp and there seems to be a faint line just off centre of the
> screen..
>
> Except for watching a movie the TV-Out function would give me an eye
> strain headache to use as a normal PC. (I'm using with a 21 Inch TV
> via the AV in.)
>
>
>
> The Ex5-320n functions fine in most non media respects except these..
>
> Any solutions? or is this as good as the EX5 gets?
>
> I see from the manual there are a few tweaks in the BIOS that are
> supposed to reduce RF transmitions from the CPU.. As I'm not a
> specialist does anyone know if these help or whether they reduce
> overall responsiveness?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Pete

Audio is good with the drivers from Realtek. Hmm there was some noise in the
frount inputs but, with a real video card I don't hear that type of noise.
Might be something with the onboard video? Never had noise of any kind out
the rear audio jacks.. The digital ones are nice but, don't work in the DJ
OS mode. Ah well a pain to setup play list with that and to skip around.
Using an FX5200 card kinda close to the limit maybe for the 250Watt Power
Supply.
Anyway I installed with the NF2 Driver pack from Nvidia 5.10
http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/nforc...inxp_5.10.html
As for video Drivers the 84.21 work pretty well. Then again you said you
went with the latest drivers?

As for having to use the Power controll in the BIOS for the correct
voltages.
Yeah had to do that with the Barton XP2600 and the Ram that I run tag was
volting higher than what it is speced for.
Highest temp readings seen have been 56 C but, never gone higher than that.
The bios setting to reduce RF noise most of the time is to pass an FCC test
for the class?

Ah well been pretty happy with my 300NR unit.
XP2600
512MB ram 400DDR
80GB HD
DVD Burner
BFG FX5200 128MB
46c temps Idel 42c

"Pete" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Suggestions most welcome
>
> I have just prior to Xmas bought and now set up an Ex5-320n but it has
> a couple of problems.
>
> Setup:
> =======
>
> It's presently running an AMD 2100+ (1.7Ghz) CPU with 512 MB Ram and a
> 60GB IDE drive.
>
> I have near all the latest updates software wise but have two
> (possibly hardware) problems that maybe you folks can give suggestions
> on.
>
> I have set the BIOS to 'optimised' and then altered it to run the CPU
> at it's proper (non clocked) state..
>
> In terms of basic computation it's an odd looking little runt but
> works well.. but it has a couple of major problems as a media machine.
>
>
>
> My two issues:
>
> 1. Audio noise on this machine is terrible:
> ===============================================
>
> If I plug the thing into an amplifier the problem is not so great but
> using a good pair of earphones directly connected there is an extreme
> amount of system level noise.
>
> Partly I suspect this is unavoidable but it will mean I will not be
> able to record anything at a low level and wearing earphones is just
> too painful.
>
> Every time I move the mouse,.. Every time i use the LAN., Every time
> there is a video redraw I get high pitched digital noise...
>
> ... Short of placing an external physical filter (inline capacitor &
> resistor or otherwise) between the computer and my headphones is there
> anything I can do programatically to reduce this?
>
> It is probably the worst level of system noise I have heard in years
> on a PC
>
>
> 2. Second problem - TV-Out is blurred:
> ============================================
>
> I still need to get an S-Video out cable to test but 'composite' is
> just plain rubbish.
>
> This is the first time I have used TV-out so am not 'au-fai' with what
> it should look like but everything is slightly blurry., fonts are not
> sharp and there seems to be a faint line just off centre of the
> screen..
>
> Except for watching a movie the TV-Out function would give me an eye
> strain headache to use as a normal PC. (I'm using with a 21 Inch TV
> via the AV in.)
>
>
>
> The Ex5-320n functions fine in most non media respects except these..
>
> Any solutions? or is this as good as the EX5 gets?
>
> I see from the manual there are a few tweaks in the BIOS that are
> supposed to reduce RF transmitions from the CPU.. As I'm not a
> specialist does anyone know if these help or whether they reduce
> overall responsiveness?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Pete
>