High pitch noise when CPU throttles down (battery only)

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ninepoundjammer · #1 Post by **ninepoundjammer** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:37 pm

Anybody else experiencing a high-pitched noise when running off battery? This only happens when the CPU throttles down. If I'm do something to put the CPU under load (compile, launch an application, etc), the noise briefly stops, then reappears when the CPU throttles back down. If I turn off CPU power management in the bios, the noise does not appear. Strange thing is that it doesn't occur under AC power, regradless of CPU load, and according to x86info, the CPU throttles down to about the same clock rates.

Also seemed to get a slight screen flicker this morning when running off battery, but I can't seem to reproduce that at the moment. Seemed to go away when I plugged the AC back in.

Other power management settings (speed step, PCI) have no effect. Closing the lid (powering off display, I assume) has no effect.

Doesn't happen in BIOS setup, is that useful info?

Not a terribly load noise, but enough to get on your nerves. I have a feeling this machine is going on a voyage.

phoenixz · #2 Post by **phoenixz** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:57 pm

I have this problem. I mentioned it in reply to eepeep's post on random beeping. My solution: turn up the music so I can't hear it...

CHoPSTICK89 · #3 Post by **CHoPSTICK89** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:18 pm

same thing happens to me, but it only happens right when I unplug the power. Meaning its only making that noise for 2-3 seconds. Afterwards it just stops.

CannedCorn · #4 Post by **CannedCorn** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:32 am

I have the same issue, and had the same problem with a t43p... i think all newer chipsets do this, sucks...

truefalse · #5 Post by **truefalse** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:45 am

I have this noise too and that noise makes me crazy!!!
It is an X60 (1.86Ghz T2400).

I have written to IBM/Lenovo support..

It is definetly an "electric" and not mechanic noise, something like the CPU on ~900Mhz interferate with something.

It is present only when CPU is not loaded at all (1%), and gone if you load cpu a little, like open a web browser with some flash programs in it what increase CPU busy 2-3%

"ninepoundjammer": Could you find any workaround?

christopher_wolf · #6 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:18 am

The search button is actually very useful but under-utilized. Anyway...

All of the laptops I have come across have a slight amount of buzzing associated with them; this is inherent. The buzzing changes as the processor gets scaled on battery.

The few times it has occured to me, I simply toggle the power schemes in the power manager and it goes away; barring that, it will go away after you have been using your system for a tad.

HTH

yao · #7 Post by **yao** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:07 am

christopher_wolf wrote: All of the laptops I have come across have a slight amount of buzzing associated with them; this is inherent. The buzzing changes as the processor gets scaled on battery.

My x60 and t43p have that buzz but the t40 is as silent as death as soon as the fan and HD stops. Not even the slightest buzz in completely silent room during the middle of the night with my ear on it.

Cheers

Niraya

truefalse · #8 Post by **truefalse** » Tue May 23, 2006 2:24 pm

"simply toggle the power schemes " : it does not help here, that sharp high pitch noise remains.

I know that laptops have "some" electrical noise and not completly silent, but this was is recognisable from 5 meter distance and disturbing. (and disturbing for other peoples in the room

)

I have seen a newer BIOS, I will use, I hope this helps

Ponch · #9 Post by **Ponch** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:42 pm

Some users in germany have the same problem. But most of them(include me) only when a USB mouse is used on battery.
When a USB HDD is connected there is no noise. And if you connect a mouse and a HDD there is also no noise.

So please try this out and report.

christopher_wolf · #10 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:58 pm

yao wrote:
christopher_wolf wrote: All of the laptops I have come across have a slight amount of buzzing associated with them; this is inherent. The buzzing changes as the processor gets scaled on battery.
My x60 and t43p have that buzz but the t40 is as silent as death as soon as the fan and HD stops. Not even the slightest buzz in completely silent room during the middle of the night with my ear on it.

Cheers

Niraya

I have heard a T40 with a pretty monstrous buzz once, it had it for about a month or so...then it went away.

This buzz isn't something that should be heard from 5 meters away either.

truefalse · #11 Post by **truefalse** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:02 am

"But most of them(include me) only when a USB mouse is used on battery."

Man, you are right! it is when my USB mouse is connected!
If I remove USB mouse the noise will gone.

But with an USB pendrive there is no noise at all..

I have tried it with an non wired USB mouse (Trust MI-4550xp), the same result..

And the noise is even present when I scale up cpu(s) to 1.86Ghz..

truefalse · #12 Post by **truefalse** » Wed May 24, 2006 1:17 am

upgrading bios (1.05) did not help

truefalse · #13 Post by **truefalse** » Wed May 24, 2006 4:17 am

"Ponch": with using both pendrive and USB mouse the noise will be gone. If I use only one

One USB mouse without an other USB device -> there is noise
One USB device without the USB mouse -> there is NO noise

Can somebody find out why is it for?

Ponch · #14 Post by **Ponch** » Wed May 24, 2006 5:33 pm

truefalse wrote:"Ponch": with using both pendrive and USB mouse the noise will be gone. If I use only one

One USB mouse without an other USB device -> there is noise
One USB device without the USB mouse -> there is NO noise

Can somebody find out why is it for?

You are right. That's the point. But I don't know why

Since I regulary don't use a mouse when I am running from battery I don't care that much.
Maybe a new Bios will or a little software update will fix this. Cause when you put a little stress on the CPU the noise will go too....

truefalse · #15 Post by **truefalse** » Mon May 29, 2006 1:27 am

<1.06>
- (Fix) Acoustic noise may be heard when a USB1.1 device is
connected to the system in battery mode. (BIOS)

Problem solved

delilah · #16 Post by **delilah** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 5:39 am

My X60S still has the high-pitched noise after I update the bios to 1.06. [censored]!!

amgdoc · #17 Post by **amgdoc** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:45 pm

I get the high pitched noise only when the extended battery is plugged in (the battery that goes underneath the notebook).

Also, when using the extended battery and something is put into the USB (left side) like a hard drive (self powered, not USB powered), the sound is gone.

my bios is 1.04.

just wanted to include my experience in case someone else is curious or trying to solve this issue.

mlli4 · #18 Post by **mlli4** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:09 pm

I have seen similar problems on thinkpad and other machine for a few times.

It seems old problems pass from generation to generation.

I once had a Toshiba M2, has the same problem. I returned it for a T42.

I think the problem comes from some low quality part, possibly design flaw.

High pitch noise when CPU throttles down (battery only)

High pitch noise when CPU throttles down (battery only)

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