Thinkpads Forum

I have owned a Carbon X1, X200s's, an R60, an X220 and have tried out T420s and a later model X200s.

What I have found is that all of the later Thinkpads create a sound that without one minute of operation causes severe ear ringing in my ears. The ear ringing can last for a day or more.

I have used an X200s and an X220 that did not create ear ringing noises for roughly a year or so of use but then suddenly started creating ear ringing sounds.

Sometimes the high pitched noise that creates the ear ringing is audible, but usually it is not audible. I only know it is occurring because my ears start ringing right away.

Based upon my Google searches, I believe this is cause by cheap capacitors or coils on the motherboard. (I have ruled out the CPU fan by observing TPFancontrol. Even when the fan is not running the damage can occur.)

Does anyone have any advice on avoiding this problem in newer Thinkpads? I would like to get a T420s as an upgrade but the one I tried was merciless on my ears. It took days for the ear ringing to go away. I'm hoping that a T60p will not cause the problems but this is all very old tech relatively speaking.

Even though I have had this problem with Centrino TP's, I think that the Intel core i5s and i7s are consistently the worst culprits.

Any advice or suggestions? Should I just continue using the ones I have and hope they don't develop the problem over time?

tallclassicTPuser wrote:I have owned a Carbon X1, X200s's, an R60, an X220 and have tried out T420s and a later model X200s.

What I have found is that all of the later Thinkpads create a sound that without one minute of operation causes severe ear ringing in my ears. The ear ringing can last for a day or more.

I have used an X200s and an X220 that did not create ear ringing noises for roughly a year or so of use but then suddenly started creating ear ringing sounds.

Sometimes the high pitched noise that creates the ear ringing is audible, but usually it is not audible. I only know it is occurring because my ears start ringing right away.

Based upon my Google searches, I believe this is cause by cheap capacitors or coils on the motherboard. (I have ruled out the CPU fan by observing TPFancontrol. Even when the fan is not running the damage can occur.)

Does anyone have any advice on avoiding this problem in newer Thinkpads? I would like to get a T420s as an upgrade but the one I tried was merciless on my ears. It took days for the ear ringing to go away. I'm hoping that a T60p will not cause the problems but this is all very old tech relatively speaking.

Even though I have had this problem with Centrino TP's, I think that the Intel core i5s and i7s are consistently the worst culprits.

Any advice or suggestions? Should I just continue using the ones I have and hope they don't develop the problem over time?

Hard drive perhaps? Have you tried a newer laptop with an SSD in it? I have never had this issue with any of my Thinkpads.

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

High frequency ringing can be caused by inductors (i.e., coils or transformers) on the motherboard when operating in specific power modes. AC adapters can also be a source. Noise can also be audio feedback caused by having the microphone active and speaker volume up enough. Check your Volume settings and disabled (mute) the microphone if you're not using it.

It's not the hard drive. This is a very high, inaudible electronic noise that is so high in frequency that I cannot hear it while it causes my ears to ring.

I think I was not always sensitive to electronic noise, but now I am. This probably was due to prior exposure to the noise.

Based on what I have read online, I suspect that this is due to capacitors or coils on the motherboard. I also suspect that it is due to the growing use of cheapo, Made-in-China capacitors and coils on motherboards. Sadly, I think all PC makers are using these components so I have no where to run.

I use an R60 without any issues and a X200s without any issues. Every newer one I have tried recently caused the ringing immediately. And it's not my imagination since the ringing can take more than a day to dissipate.

The only possible fix I have come across on the internet is to apply glue or fingernail polish to the tops of all of the capacitors in the hope that they will stop vibrating -- if that is what is happening. It makes sense that it is a bad capacitor or coil since I have had two machines function without any issues but then go bad later on and cause the hearing issues.

Am I the only one that has noticed this on newer machines?

While it's possible that a bad or defective capacitor could be the root cause of the noise, what actually will be making the noise is an inductor. Putting nail polish / hot glue on the capacitors won't make a difference; you need to apply the glue to the inductor or find the capacitor(s) which are bad and replace them.

However, before you resort to tearing your system apart, you may want to explore some power management solutions as mentioned in these links:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/29291 ... oming-area
http://www.overclock.net/t/1205263/high ... lease-help
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Problem_w ... tch_noises
http://atominnovation.blogspot.com/2010 ... aling.html

Thank you for the above. Since I have obsessed over this issue, I have a feeling I have come across these threads but will read them nonetheless.

Generally ThinkPads use surface mount tantalum capacitors-- which means they're hard to screw up (whereas when electrolytics are used-- quality is a huge deal as low quality ones are ineffective and fail prematurely). Also unlike electrolytics, they don't really have a gradual failure-- they'll just suddenly short and/or explode if there's a failure.

I opened up a new ThinkPad power adapter and saw that it had Checmicon capacitors inside, so, it looks like Lenovo is still sourcing decent components.

I'd wager that the inductors/filtering is the cause for the ringing. Bad capacitors do ring however, but they're generally audible. I'd check your power adapter to make sure it's not ringing as well. Oh yeah, LCDs with CFLs can ring too: I noticed the 701CS emits a high pitched ringing sound from the passive matrix display.

The only two solutions would be to track down which component is causing the ringing and replace it, or get an older thinkpad with good filtering.

We have a grocery store in these parts I don't dare go into because my ears ring for hours afterwards. I have no idea what causes it but suspect the lighting. I thought I was the only one.

That's most likely the buzz from some neon-tubes.
If you need to do shopping, try some earplugs or earphones...

This is what fixed it for me (other systems, but similar high pitched sound)

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/image/serve ... bl-1&px=-1

DRobinson wrote:This is what fixed it for me (other systems, but similar high pitched sound)

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/image/serve ... bl-1&px=-1

Aha, that would do it. The VRM for the CPU is under heavier load when slowing down the CPU.