USB bus overheat?

**Jamil20** · 05-19-2007, 08:12 AM

Hey guys,

Looking for some input on this issue I'm having.

I've got an MII 10k mobo with what appears to be a dead sound card, so when I did my install I used a USB soundcard. Everything was working fine until the warm days rolled in, especially the sunny ones. My audio quality would gradually fade until it would just start to cut in and out and there was a noticible burning smell from the trunk. If it was sunny, the sound would drop out in a couple seconds of use, all of the other functions of the computer work fine. If I don't play any sound for a while it works fine for a bit then acts up again.

So I've tried feeling around my computer, the USB soundcard isn't hot, the case isn't hot, I've got 3 fans in there so airflow should theoretically be good. What I'm starting to think is that the USB bus is what's overheating. I'm not sure what I can do in that instance. I've never heard of anything like that before...

I'm just going to open this thing up again and mess with the wires to try to achieve better airflow and make sure my fans are working. If anyone can recommend anything, please let me know.

Thanks!

**Jamil20** · 05-24-2007, 04:26 PM

Bump. Help me out guys.

Anybody know why my USB sound won't work on hot days but USB touchscreen, GPS receiver, and keyboard work flawlessly?

**pate60** · 05-27-2007, 01:42 AM

maybe dry joints

**Jamil20** · 05-27-2007, 09:47 AM

I'm going to try putting the soundcard on a powered USB hub so it's not sucking a minimum of 3.3V off the USB bus.

**shotgunefx** · 05-27-2007, 11:54 AM

Well, with a lot of electrical components, some characteristics change with temperature (like resistance). Could be you are just hitting some threshold that causes everything to go to hell.

Burning smell probably isn't good

, maybe a transistor in something? Might be something to do with the combination of your audio+pc. Maybe try not hooking it up to your amp/hu but instead a pair of headphones and see if it still drops out/smells.

I'd be suprised if it where the USB bus. IIRC a good deal of the hassle of the USB specs is managing power. Though I suppose one of your components could be drawing more than it advertises to the bus.