High pitched whine X31???

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ozone · #1 Post by **ozone** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 1:09 am

Well, after a week or so, I'm getting to know my X31. Nice machine, but in the last two days, the unit has developed a high pitched whine. I don't know if it's the hard drive as it doesn't change when the computer is running. It sounds more like the hum of a transformer. My wife can barely hear it and it doesn't bother. But I really notice it: I don't know if this is a recent development, but I'm quite sure I didn't notice the noise from before when I first powered up the machines.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

OnePointFour · #2 Post by **OnePointFour** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 2:46 am

The sound may be caused by the internal power source of the LCD background lighting. There's an inverter operating at a high frequency. Those tend to develop the sound you're describing when getting older.

Try to disable the LCD (use an external display only) to determine.

Best regards,
One

ozone · #3 Post by **ozone** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:45 am

Hmmm... interesting point. I'll give it a try using an external monitor. This is a new "refurbished" machine: the more I think about it, the less I can recall hearing the whine when I first got the machine. Ah well... such is life.

hkhalil · #4 Post by **hkhalil** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 1:41 pm

I'vew noticed this too. It seems to happen when I use the mains and not battery - it's not too loud; but you can notice it when the machine has been quiet and then it kicks in.

ozone · #5 Post by **ozone** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 1:56 pm

hkhalil wrote:I'vew noticed this too. It seems to happen when I use the mains and not battery - it's not too loud; but you can notice it when the machine has been quiet and then it kicks in.

Well, I'm glad to know it's not just me! For my machine, I noticed it when it was on battery. It's not really noticeable with background noise (music, fans, etc.), but when it's just me and the X31 in a quiet room, it's definitely there. In fact, it might be less when the main power is plugged in.

I tried the previous suggestion of using an external monitor, but I'm quite sure the whine is still there even with the LCD blank. The noise seems to be always present.

I think I'll let it sit for awhile and see if I get used to it or if it's really bothersome. If it's the latter, I guess I'll be calling IBM.

ozone · #6 Post by **ozone** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:49 pm

Actually, if anybody else has any other suggestions or comments, that'd be appreciated. The whine seems to be there whether I'm running on main power or battery.

Thinker · #7 Post by **Thinker** » Mon Dec 20, 2004 3:47 pm

ozone wrote:Actually, if anybody else has any other suggestions or comments, that'd be appreciated. The whine seems to be there whether I'm running on main power or battery.

Hi Ozone,

I just got a new X31 this morning and I haven't noticed any high pitched whine, whether on AC power or on battery.

I know this is a long shot, but maybe you could try disabling the wireless hardware under device manager and see it that helps. Wireless operates on frequencies that are obviously beyond the range of sounds audible by the human ear, but you can give it a shot. It sounds like it could be the LCD as well.

Hope all ends up working out for your X31

Ruben

mpcook · #8 Post by **mpcook** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:30 am

I've had my X31 for about 9 months, have never noticed any whining sound whether on or off battery, on or off wireless, etc.

-Mike

ozone · #9 Post by **ozone** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:27 am

Well, maybe it's just my X31 then. I'm sitting in a quiet room and I can definitely hear the whine. It's more like a high pitched hum I guess. I can hear the fan, but there's another noise above that, even at a foot or two away. I suspect it's the fan or power supply because it almost sounds like a vibration when I put my ear close to the laptop. Maybe a bearing or mount is loose.

Guess I'm calling IBM.

mpcook · #10 Post by **mpcook** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:57 am

I should make a disclaimer...my wife tells me I am hard of hearing. Maybe I should ask her if she hears a whine (other than from me and the kids)

-Mike

ozone · #11 Post by **ozone** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:54 pm

Yes, my wife says the same thing: hard to distinguish me from the usual whining of the machine. Actually, my wife can also hear it, but finds it not annoying or particularly loud, and my grad student cannot hear it really at all. I could be going crazy.

On the plus side, I got a used Dock off of EBay and my office set up is nice and pretty now! Very functional.

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