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The CPU whine problem - any fixes that don't create more problems??? Please read...

post #1 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:16am
Thread Starter 
I recently posted a thread about a buzzing/whining noise issue in my computer and thanks to the replies I received, and replies to a similar post dealing with the same issue on an e1505, I have narrowed down the source to the CPU and it's low power states. Basically, I ran SuperPi to bring the processor to the highest state (as monitored by CPU-Z) and the noise disappeared. Question is, how do I fix this? Do all laptops have this issue?

There have been a number of solutions discussed including disabling the USB ports, turning on Bluetooth, and undervolting, with varying degrees of success for each method. However, those "solutions" solve one problem by creating another. That's not what I consider a real solution. There has been mention of some type of XP patch for this issue, but I'm unclear if it already exists or it's being worked on. Is there any real solution for this? If not, should I ask for a replacement (I'm still within the 21 days). Do other manufacturer's computers have the same issue? If this issue is across the board that's one thing, but if it's a quality issue then that's another. Please offer any insight/advice. Thanks.

BTW, if anyone cares, these are my SuperPi scores:

1 million = 30 sec.
2 million = 1min. 14 sec.
4 million = 2 min. 40 sec.
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post #2 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:02pm
I've got either this issue, or some variation of it. I've got a really annoying high pitched whine from the CPU area. Running SuperPi will make it much quieter while calculating, but doesn't get rid of it entirely.

Dell Tech support was extremely friendly, and tried very hard to narrow down the problem. It was actually about the best tech support experience I've ever had. Well, aside from not actually fixing the problem. But this is a tricky one to explain to a tech, I'll admit.

After ruling out the optical drive, the hard drive, the memory, the battery, the AC adaptor, and a few other things, my e1505 is going in for service. Hopefully it'll be relatively quick.

None of the suggested fixes I found in the forums here made any real difference in the sound for me.

Too bad, because aside from this noise, this laptop is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I'm really impressed. Just gotta get it to stop whining!
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post #3 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, I know how you feel. I really like my D820 and want to keep it but I can't live with that whining sound all the time. Nor do I want to have SuperPi running to 33 million digits all the time to keep it quiet. I too worked with tech support to narrow down the problem with the same exculsionary method you mentioned and it came dowd to the motherboard. The posts on this forum helped corner it to the CPU power states. I'm not too keen on sending my computer in to have them take it apart and fiddle with the motherboard. I'd rather just get a new one if I could just determine that this problem does not exist on all the computers so that there might be some hope with the new one. I just wish there would be more replies so I could get a better assessment of this.

BTW, what were your SuperPi scores? My scores are for a T2500 on a D820.
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post #4 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:15pm
my has a very quiet one, but it's there. i can hear it at work but not at home - which seems odd. i don't think that i ever noticed it before reading threads about it here. it's from the left/right sides and not while sitting directly in front.

i listen to a lot of MP3s at work, and if i keep a WinAMP visualization running when idle, i don't hear it at all.
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post #5 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:15pm
Have you guys tried my method?

http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=109365
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post #6 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:32pm
Thread Starter 
I read the thread about the solution you found. I haven't tried that yet, however, I have some questions. Just like I stated in my orignal post, is this solution creating new problems too? From what I read in the thread, it seems that increased heat is one side affect, and I would assume battery life too as the fix keeps it from going into the 2 lowest power states. I mean, is this noise supposed to be there or can better quality control during manufacturing eliminate the problem? Wouldn't ALL the new laptops have this issue if it was "designed" to make the noise? I guess I'm just trying to determine if there is a physical (hardware) way to fix this or not. If all the computer out there have it then I conceed that I'm f'cked. However, I know that my D600 did not have this problem. I appreciate your help.
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post #7 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
BTW, Kheavy, my computer is just like yours. You hear it more from the sides because there are air vents there that let the sound out. High frequencies are very directional, so when you are in front it's harder to hear it as the sound is eminating laterally. I hear it most at work because when I'm not using the computer I am sitting to the side of it doing my work. that's when it really drives me crazy because it's real quiet in my office.
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post #8 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:50pm
Your idle temperature does increase as the CPU will always be awake. However, this increase isn't too significant. Battery life would be impacted slightly. I, myself, do not that solution. Any sort of USB bus-mastering device that is plugged in will able to do the same thing. I have a USB external hard drive, so I don't need to use that. When I do go on battery, of course, everything gets unplugged and the CPU throttles with Speedstep. I don't hear the buzzing at all running on battery.

As for the cause of the problem, ultimately it is quality control and the quality of the components Dell chose to use.

Here is what Dell has to say about this problem and how to fix it:

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...=us&l=en&s=gen
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post #9 of 15
6/15/06 at 1:52pm
Hi,

The only 'solution' that doesn't have any side effects (is far as I know) is undervolting. You even get lower cpu temperatures.
I don't think there is a hardware solution.

Tom
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post #10 of 15
6/15/06 at 2:51pm
Thread Starter 
Tom,

Doesn't undervolting cause the computer to run slower?
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post #11 of 15
6/15/06 at 3:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cronin
Tom,

Doesn't undervolting cause the computer to run slower?
No, it does not.
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post #12 of 15
6/15/06 at 3:05pm
Thread Starter 
What a crock of sh!t that Dell Support response is. Writing about the piezoelectric effect? Well that may be the scientific phenomenon causing the noise, but I gather from the Prona's post that the REAL cause is poor quality in manufacturing that leads to the piezoelectric effect, otherwise ALL computers would be buzzing. Even their "turn on Bluetooth" is crap because if you don't actually need it you are only generating more heat and reducing battery life. Ok, so I'm going to request a new computer. If it has it too, I'm going to look at other manufacturers. Any idea if Lenovo has the problem? What about Asus? Not to many choices for business computers out there. What about the Precision M65? Is it manufactured to a "higher standard" and less likely to have the whine? Money is not an issue, any suggestions are appreciated.
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post #13 of 15
6/15/06 at 3:53pm
So, can I assume that if I send my laptop in for this sound, they won't change anything because it's simply the piezoelectric effect? They'll call it within specs, because it's documented?

That's absolutely what's going on with mine. Plugging in a USB drive will almost eliminate the sound. And prona's directions will lessen the sound also. Neither one makes it go away entirely.

I guess I can learn to live with it. And if they're not going to fix it, I'm certainly not sending my laptop in for a couple of weeks, just to have it return in the same shape.
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post #14 of 15
6/15/06 at 4:28pm
how do you undervolt the d820? bios?
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post #15 of 15
6/16/06 at 12:09am
You can undervolt by using either RMClock or Notebook Hardware Control.
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