Busted desktop headphone jack

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

Hi,

I think I broke the headphone jack on my desktop PC (components list for reference): https://www.digitalstorm.com/configurator.asp?id=1279521

I was playing last night and someone tripped over the headphone cord. The headphones themselves are fine (I've tested them in other devices and they work). I've tried plugging in different headphones into the port on the front of the case, and the motherboard doesn't register that headphones are plugged in. (Sometimes it will if I gently wiggle the headphone cable, but a half-second later the motherboard will register that headphones have been unplugged).

I suspect that I can pack up the machine and send it back to the manufacturer for a free repair, but is this an easy fix for an idiot like me?

I'm thinking another potentially easy fix would be to buy an external USB sound pod (like this: ), but does anyone have any experience using those for gaming?

Also, I guess I'm just bummed that my new toy is broke and I'd rather just fix it than throw money at the problem.

 

[Couperin47]

You undoubtedly just busted the bog-stock headphone jack. It's an item any computer/ electronics store has dozens of lying around, and you can get at any Radio Shack (those that remain) for $2. The problems: Looking at that case, if the entire front bezel comes off (decent chance) then you can see the whole jack, how to dismount it and you need just very basic soldering skills and an iron to replace it in 10 mins. If that bezel does not remove, then it's in a very cramped location at the very top of the case and getting in there to dismount and resolder a new jack could be damn tricky. If the bezel does remove and your local computer store wants more than $20 tops to repair it, they are really ripoff scumbags.

Option 2: there is undoubtedly a headphone jack on the back of the case, spend a few bucks at Walmart or online at Monoprice and buy an audio extension cable m/f 3.5mm.

 

[Scott Cooper's Grand Slam]

Thanks Coup! Option 2 works. Found the headphone jack on the back of the case, problem solved. For option one: the whole bezel comes off; this looks like an easy fix. Thanks again.

 

[saintnick912]

If you have good headphones you may benefit from an outboard DAC/Amp. This one is on sale today, and is the new revision of the one I use. http://www.adorama.com/FIE17K.html

It plugs into a USB port and shows up as a sound adapter in Windows.