Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

I have fitted an Intel SSD (ssdsc2ct120a3) to my X201, and it sounds as if there is still a regular hard disk present ie head seeking sounds. Could it be the flash or the chipset making similar sounds?

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum!

Try removing the SSD and booting from a live linux USB flash drive to confirm that the noise is no longer there.

Brad

I just installed new SDD's in my W520 and my X220 (replacing smaller SDD's with Crucial 512GB). The W520 makes HDD-like sounds, the X220 does not. The sound does come only via an external speaker, not the internal speakers, so I suppose it could be electrical interference of some kind. Yes, I find it curious.

IIRC there was a setting for microphone that could be responsible for noises similar to what you are describing. Have you tried disabling the mic or adjusting its sensitivity?

Update:

I removed the SSD and booted Fedora Live from USB and the noise is still there. I also removed the audio device with device manager and there was no change. The sound seems to come from underneath the Fn key at the bottom left corner of the keyboard.

How about trying a BIOS-level microphone disable to rule it out even further.

Boot into BIOS>> Security>> I/O Port Access >> disable Microphone >> F10 to save and restart.

Boot back into your OS and report back.

My mic is off and I continue to get the sound. Strange but true.

alex_83 wrote:Update:

I removed the SSD and booted Fedora Live from USB and the noise is still there. I also removed the audio device with device manager and there was no change. The sound seems to come from underneath the Fn key at the bottom left corner of the keyboard.

Not sure what the sound is. Doesn't sound like its the SSD though.

Brad

emeraldgirl08 wrote:How about trying a BIOS-level microphone disable to rule it out even further.

Boot into BIOS>> Security>> I/O Port Access >> disable Microphone >> F10 to save and restart.

Boot back into your OS and report back.

Still there

I have to replace my cracked LCD at some point and will update the thread then.

Thanks.

Power states? If you have Lenovo Power Manager have you tried cycling through the preset power profiles and observing, if any, sound changes?

You may be hearing the processor. They do make small sounds sometimes, though which ones will and won't seems pretty random. I had written a test program that had many nested loops, and there was an audible noise that went lower in pitch through iterations, which was very interesting.

Hello!

Haven't you changed anything with the audio drivers? Few months ago I've been expedimenting with unofficial Dolby Audio on my X220. Let's miss the fact that it screwed my audio settings and sounded like a cover of dust-bin, it caused very similiar problems! In a silent room, I expedienced the same (I have my SSD from just from factory).

Try replacing Dolby with Lenovo official drivers (Conexant I guess), let me know if it worked!

On my X200s I also hear noises from around the front left of the laptop/ Fn key. I find that disabling the Wi-Fi card (hardware switch on front left of machine) stops the noise, though normally I need the Wi-Fi on. If disabling Wi-Fi works for you at least it would explain the noise.

Static-like sounds through the speakers / headphones, due to electrical interference on the PCI bus is not so uncommon, unfortunately.

USB data noise is also very common. Plug in an external mouse, move it about, and on many less shielded systems you'll hear noise as you move it.

I get this on my X201 as well. It's the voltage regulators around the CPU. They oscillate very slightly as data is pinging around the CPU and the power fluctuates. It's slightly annoying but completely normal.

For ref, I have unplugged the speakers in mine.