[face]

I'm using my PC as a media server but am having an issue with hard drive noise heard through my HDMI connection. 

To begin, I've had this noise for a while whenever connected to my receiver...even using optical.  The strange part is the noise I believe is coming from my C: drive, which is solid state. 

The noise is very audible while running common tasks on the PC, but if I'm locked onto a signal(playing a game or watching a Blu Ray) it goes away. 

TIA,
Mike

[skunark]

As you use the computer, it will consumer more power and give off more heat, fans spin faster, etc.  It could be a fan or even the power supply causing the noise feeding back into your power circuit.  You could try a different HDD or isolate the power from the PC with the stereo to see if that helps.    If you have a DIY PC, then maybe the power supply is bad/small.

[face]

As you use the computer, it will consumer more power and give off more heat, fans spin faster, etc.  It could be a fan or even the power supply causing the noise feeding back into your power circuit.  You could try a different HDD or isolate the power from the PC with the stereo to see if that helps.    If you have a DIY PC, then maybe the power supply is bad/small.

It has occurred with my old fans and now hybrid water cooling setup.  As for the power supply, the issue occurred with my old PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750 and now Silencer 950 II.  I don't believe it's fan related as just moving the mouse around will increase the noise. 

I do have a spare SS drive that I could try out.  It's the same size/model, so backup my C: drive onto another disk then swap out my C: for the unused SS drive, would that be plug and play without having to manually reinstalling everything? 

Thanks! 

[skunark]

I'm not so sure I would recommend cloning a drive just yet, make sure you have the latest drivers, etc installed.  Perhaps boot using a linux live CD and see if you can get the noise to appear.  If noise appears here, then I would assume it's cable or some sort of issue with the hardware and then perhaps try your hunch about swapping the HDD.   If you don't hear the noise then it's possible it's still a driver issue and might need to perform a fresh install. 

Don't forget to backup any important data before you start your campaign.

[face]

Thanks for the tips.

I'm getting close, my ASUS AI software(over/underclocking) can manipulate the noise level.  In power conservation mode, the noise is below the noise floor from my listening position.  Meanwhile, on high, the noise is very audible.  Time to track down exactly what the program is manipulating. 

Thanks!

[JeffB]

The noise on the HDMI connection between my Sony TV and my cable box is awful.  It sounds like a grounding problem or major design problem.  That is my one and only hookup attempt with HDMI.  So, I am one for one with the suckiness of HDMI.  Either I was unlucky or it does indeed suck.  It is digital, there should be zero noise, unless the noise is being radiated into another component like a DAC.

[face]

This is not a ground loop as they're both plugged into the same UPS.  I also have a USB DAC hooked up to that PC and there is no noise whatsoever through the asynchronous USB connection.