Medusa's playing up

[klarrix]

hey
I'm getting static crackling in my Medusa 5.1s that i got yesterday. I have downloaded all the sound drivers for my MB, but it still continues to crackle about once every 5 seconds, even when i have no music or other sounds running. Anyone know how i can fix this?

EDIT: If it helps, clicking on Links in firefox and IE cause the static to crackle for about a second...

I'm using a NF7-s mother board with built in Nvidia soundcard

[LayZeh]

Passive heatsink on the south? If not get one on there asap.

[SilentDeath]

yea, and mute mic, line in and cd audio (cd audio is done digitaly on win2k/xp so thats not needed anyway - it will be played through wave).
Also if you have EAX or A3d, or any extra effects it will probably crackle or distort after a few minutes of using it.

The heatsink definatly has the most effect

[klarrix]

OK, with the help of a quick google i've located the south chip (nforce 2, yea?) i'm not 100% on what I need and how much i must spend, although one site says to use thermal tape?

[yamangman]

Are these analog 5.1's? If so try muting what SilentDeath said as well as SPDIF and AUX, and pretty much any slider you don't use.

[klarrix]

Muting has no effect. seems like i need to do the heatsink thing. still not sure what i'm doing though?

[klarrix]

anyone? i need help here..

[LayZeh]

The southbridge on the NF7-S is located at the end of the AGP slot where the white clip mechanism to lock the card in is. What you need to do is either cut up an existing heatsink, or buy a suitably sized heatsink to cover it, i would recommend buying this cooling combo:

http://www.vantec.com.tw/iceberq_copper.html

It includes a Northbridge replacement cooler that resembles the existing one in all characteristics other than it's copper rather than aluminium. It also included two additional passive heatsinks, the smaller one fits the southbridge perfectly although the larger one fits aswell it protrudes over the edges of the chip.

I would as you've been recommended fit the southbridge using Thermal tape, the reason being Abit do not accept boards for RMA with modification, so if you permanently fitted the southbridge cooling and your board developed a fault you wouldn't be able to get it replaced. Always remove any modifications to your hardware before sending it off for replacement.

[klarrix]

Lovely, has everything i need
Hope this solves it..

[BUFF]

http://www.thecoolingshop.com/produc...roducts_id/907

edit: it has also been suggested on forums that using a USB keyboard rather than PS/2 reduces crackles.