Crosshair VIII Dark Hero - Speakers popping on windows start up and shut down

[xinay999]

I used a Crosshair VIII Dark Hero with an hx850i psu, and I have powered edifier speakers. Recently, I just changed the psu into an rm1200x shift. With the older psu (hx850i), everything was fine, and I have been using the pc for around 2 years now. After changing the psu to the rm1200x shift, my speakers pop loudly (around 3 times) on boot, even when it's muted, and the speakers also pop once when shutting down the pc. Initially, the speakers would also pop when I insert or remove a usb device, before the notification sound plays, as well as when playing some youtube videos, but this seemed to be gone now, hopefully it won't come back. So it seemed like the popping thing comes up whenever the onboard audio communicates with the speakers? Does anyone else have this issue? And have you ever been able to fix it? 

I was trying google this issue, but it doesn't seem like it has been talked about much. I ended up scouring one of the discords johnnyguru is in, and I saw him mention that this is because corsair removed the -12v rails on their newer psus, (or at least newer than my old hx850i), which includes the rmx shift series, among others, although the rme series still has the -12v rail I think. The problem now, he suggested, is that Asus, and no other motherboard company, use the -12v rail on their motherboards' onboard audio, and the lack of this -12rail on the psu side causes this audio popping thing, specifically on post. So, if it's a hardware thing, can this ever be fixed with drivers or whatnot? I might just have to return the psu if I get too annoyed by this issue.

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @xinay999 

Could you please confirm the current BIOS version? 
Have you attempted to clear the CMOS or check if the related drivers have been up-to-date to troubleshoot the problem after changing the PSU and encountering the described issue?
To gain a better understanding of your current setup and address potential issues, could you please provide the following information:
- are your Edifier speakers connected to the front panel case connectors or to the rear I/O port on the motherboard?
Have you tried testing with other ports or connecting different speakers to see if the issue persists?
If the connection is through the rear panel's audio I/O connections, please specify the port you are currently using.

- the images of the setting in BIOS, or whether it is the default
- the brand and model name of the CPU, GPU, and DRAM (part number as well) currently installed
- the OS version and OS build
- the current audio and related driver versions
- a video that completely records the problem, including abnormal sounds when the hardware is changed

Thank you.

[xinay999]

Hi,

- I've installed the latest bios for Crosshair VIII Dark Hero, 4602.

- Yes, I've cleared CMOS.

- Clean uninstalled Realtek and Sonic drivers, then installed the latest versions on my motherboard's helpdesk download page.

- Edifier speakers are connected to the rear I/O port (tried the front port, only produces static). They're connected to the lime colored 3.5mm port (line out).

- After clearing CMOS, bios settings are set at default.

- CPU: 5900x; GPU: MSI 4090 Suprim X; DRAM: Crucial Ballistix Elite 32gb BLE4K8G4D36BE.

- Windows version: 22H2 (OS Build 19045.3448)

- Audio drivers installed from this package: Realtek Audio Driver (SSIII) V6.0.1.9359 For Windows 10/11 64-bit, on the helpdesk_download page.

- Video with sound on startup: https://imgur.com/WRcRp7d

- Video with sound on shutdown: https://imgur.com/qc1N6Mg

Thank you

[xinay999]

Additional info:

So, another thing I noticed is that, after a cold boot, the popping sound from the speakers are more frequent. They pop (although not as loud as the 3-4 pops on startip) when audio is played, like playing youtube videos, or when a usb device is plugged or unplugged and it plays aa notification sound. But after restarting the pc, after the initial cold boot, only the 3-4 pops at start up and the 1 pop at shut down remain, no popping when audio is played (youtube videos, usb device plug/unplug, etc.).

Another consistent issue is that the speakers also pop when I change the speaker configuration in the realtek audio console, regardless of cold boot or not. As an example, here is the link to a video I took:

https://imgur.com/a/PS5tVpb

It’s as if it’s happening when the motherboard, specifically the onboard audio, is communicating with the speakers. This is weird and unsettling as these issues never happened when I was using the older hx850i.

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @xinay999 

I apologize for the delayed response.
Based on your description, we would recommend trying cross-testing with different speakers, headphones, or using an adapter for the connection. Additionally, if possible, you can cross-test with different system disks to confirm any differences in the system.
Please refer to the links below if needed:
[Desktop PC/Motherboard] Troubleshooting for abnormal noise from player device
[Notebook/Desktop/AIO/MiniPC] Troubleshooting - Sound (Speakers/Microphones) problems
Fix sound or audio problems in Windows
If these hardware and software troubleshooting steps do not assist in resolving the issue, we would suggest sending the motherboard in for diagnostic testing. 

Thank you.

[xinay999]

Hi,

I’ve basically tried everything I possibly could on my end and with what I have. I plugged the speakers into the monitor, and through that, no popping speakers on boot and shutdown. When I plug it back in to the line out jack of the motherboard, the popping is there. I’ve since switched the psu back to the old hx850i and there are no popping issues at all. I can’t for the life of me resolve this issue, and the store I bought it from is not acknowledging the issue since through their own testing, components undisclosed, they say no popping happens. It’s frustrating since if I don’t get it resolved, the rm1200x shift I bought will just be an expensive brick I can’t use. They won’t allow return/refund/exchange as well as there is a minor scratch on the unit which I frankly don’t know how it originated, since my hx850i doesn’t have scratches, so it shouldn’t have been from my installation. The loud popping is a concern for me since one, they are indeed very loud, two, there are melting concerns with the 40 series, and three, I’ve had a gold 850w seasonic psu explode on me.

Thanks

[Jiaszzz_ROG]

Hello, @xinay999 

Thank you for providing the information from the cross-testing.
We have further relayed and consulted with the relevant departments.
To better confirm your specifications, could you please provide your motherboard's serial number via PM?
As serial numbers are considered personal information, we do not recommend disclosing them in public comments.
Therefore, I have PM you, please check the inbox in the upper right corner.

Thank you.