This is an old thread, but I thought I would post my own fix to resolve this issue in case it will help anyone who runs into this thread again some day.
I had this problem and I did some research from different forums.
I registered just so I can post how I fixed mine. Ravelli posted a good solution, but won't work with everyone.
causes: just like ravelli said, the audio and mic ports have ground wires shared with the usb ports in the front panel assembly. This is a design flaw by the supplier. I don't think Antec designed it to be this way, but their supplier or whoever makes it continues to make them this way. this is why you keep getting replacements with the same static and noise issue. you don't really receive broken front panel assemblies, but they are sending you the same unbroken ones, just that they are flawed in design.
The other cause of the static is your video card and other computer components in the case that emits the EMI (electrical magnetic interference). When you run a game, the video card will output more EMI from the engines used. like the 3D engine from the game. the soundcard you use will pick up the EMI quite easy, especially if it's next to the video card.
another cause of the noise is the front panel wire running from the soundcard to the front not being shielded from EMI. the wire will easily pick up the magnetic interference that is emitted by the video card and other components inside the PC.
So how did I fix my problem? I tried to get into the front panel assembly and cutting the plastic in half so I can cut the ground wire shared by the usb. I couldn't get very far as I was in risk of cutting other wires. so i gave up on that. I unscrewed the ground wire that was coming from the front panel box and attached to the metal part of the case. you can find this by taking the right side panel off the p182/p193 case, the side which is behind the motherboard. check near the front panel assembly and you'll see a wire screwed onto the case as a black ground wire. I unscrewed this and covered the end (or most of the whole wire) with electrical tape.
This still didn't fix the noise problem
. I decided to try and see if putting electrical tape on the front panel audio connector would shield it from the EMI emitting from the components inside the pc. I wrapped the whole HD audio front panel wire connector (connected to the soundcard) completely with electrical tape. I also tried running the wire from the soundcard to the back of the motherboard, and then into the front panel. I made sure to tape all around completely from the socket connecter all the way to the other end.
I did a test and now only 5% or less of the noise exists!!
I hope this info helps everyone.
other info:
Those soundcards that are expensive and have their own front panels. the X-fi titanium fatality soundcards that have a black encasing on them. those are not just for aesthetic looks. those are magnetic shielding covers against EMI from computer components like a video card. Quite expensive to buy those, but it's just to tell to you that Creative knows what makes their soundcards acquire static noise. If you plug your headphone or speakers into the back port directly to your video card and you dont' get static noise, your components are not putting out enough EMI to your soundcard. if you receive some static noise, then your soundcard is probably next to your video card and it needs shielding. you could reduce the noise also by moving your soundcard to a different pci express slot. a pci express soundcard will not fit on a pci slot, but will work on a full pci express slot despite the card having a smaller connector for pci express 1x.
