Computer freezes whenever I use any audio

[Catz420]

This has literally been happening for a year and I don't even know what to do. It crashed no matter if Im gaming or if I am just chillin on a web browser. The freeze is accompanied by a nice buzzing sound. I have tried a lot of things. I can't remember exactly everything I've done but its been quite a few things.

 

I have uninstalled the audio drivers and let windows reinstall them.

I have tried using different ports on my PC. (Front, back, and keyboarad)

Ran memtest, nothing

Tested hard drive, nothing

Taken it to a PC place twice, they found nothing wrong. 

CPU and GPU temps are not hot. They sit at around 40 and 20 respectively

PC is super clean, basically only have games and some Adobe products on it. Antivirus finds nothing.

 

Not sure what else I could do.

 

[BubblyCharizard]

did you try a fresh windows install?

[Catz420]

Just now, BubblyCharizard said:

did you try a fresh windows install?

Oh yeah I forgot to say that, I have reinstalled windows 3 times.

 

[BubblyCharizard]

does the same thing happen if you use a different audio device (not just port on the case) like a USB headset, or the HDMI audio out on your Graphics card

[Master Disaster]

Buy a cheap PCIe sound card and see if it keeps happening after that's installed.

[Tech_Sport]

It's more likely that this is hardware related than software.

[Catz420]

3 minutes ago, josh22920killer said:

It's more likely that this is hardware related than software.

Like what part would be the problem?

[BubblyCharizard]

1 minute ago, Catz420 said:

Like what part would be the problem?

the integrated sound card on you motherboard

 

unless its a PCI-E based card

[Tech_Sport]

Just now, Catz420 said:

Like what part would be the problem?

Hard to say. Most likely a built-in component on your motherboard having a small short, but it could be something else.
Can't exactly Web M.D. those kinds of problems.

[Catz420]

1 minute ago, BubblyCharizard said:

the integrated sound card on you motherboard

 

unless its a PCI-E based card

Nope I don't have a sound card. Should I get one or what would fix this

[BubblyCharizard]

2 minutes ago, Catz420 said:

Nope I don't have a sound card. Should I get one or what would fix this

something like this might work

 

however, if you already have (or can borrow from a friend) a USB headset, or an HDMI capable TV (and obviously an output from the GPU) then testing that way should remove the integrated sound card from the equation, if the issue is fixed, then either pick up a sound card or a new motherboard, replacing should only be done after trying the other options

[Catz420]

2 minutes ago, BubblyCharizard said:

something like this might work

 

however, if you already have (or can borrow from a friend) a USB headset, or an HDMI capable TV (and obviously an output from the GPU) then testing that way should remove the integrated sound card from the equation, if the issue is fixed, then either pick up a sound card or a new motherboard, replacing should only be done after trying the other options

Oh well I have actually done the HDMI TV thing and it did still freeze. So what does that mean

[BubblyCharizard]

all depends on the Graphics Card

 

what are you using?

 

 

[Catz420]

1 minute ago, BubblyCharizard said:

all depends on the Graphics Card

 

what are you using?

 

 

GTX 960.

[BubblyCharizard]

8 minutes ago, Catz420 said:

GTX 960.

IIRC the 960 doesn't have its own audio chipset, rather relying on your integrated sound card

 

does it still freeze if you pull the 960, and use your IGPU for display (if you have one) if it still does, then you probably have a faulty sound card, if it doesn't then its possible you have a faulty GPU, or have some sort of power delivery issue.

[Catz420]

16 minutes ago, BubblyCharizard said:

IIRC the 960 doesn't have its own audio chipset, rather relying on your integrated sound card

 

does it still freeze if you pull the 960, and use your IGPU for display (if you have one) if it still does, then you probably have a faulty sound card, if it doesn't then its possible you have a faulty GPU, or have some sort of power delivery issue.

I don't have integrated. But I'll guess the sound card is bad. So new motherboard or what needs to go down?

[BubblyCharizard]

what are your full specs?

[Catz420]

13 hours ago, BubblyCharizard said:

what are your full specs?

MSI 970A-G43 motherboard 

AMD FX-6300 CPU

GTX 960

600 Watt EVGA power supply 

1 TB hard drive 

[LiquidTech]

Definitely sounds like a hardware issue. (No pun intended) Buying a cheap sound card to diagnose the problem would run you about 20-30 bucks. Since you don't have an expensive motherboard I would just suggest getting a new motherboard all together. If your tight on money you can get a sound card, but keep in mind this would only be to diagnose the problem (even though this is pretty likely the cause by the information provided). However, if the sound is going bad and the problem is deeper than just the sound not working now, who's to say something else wont break soon down the road on the motherboard.

[BubblyCharizard]

4 hours ago, XiuzSu said:

Since you don't have an expensive motherboard I would just suggest getting a new motherboard all together

its only  $70 USD

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130922&ignorebbr=1