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96451
May 29th, 2013 00:00
Why is there a high pitch hissing sound coming from the computer?
I have recently bought an XPS 8500. It has been with me for about 5 days since it was delivered. I notice that there is a constant high pitch hissing sound coming from the computer. At first, I wasn't bothered by it. But after having spent hours each day with the computer, I'm starting to find the sound annoying and disturbing to my ears. The only time my ear can have peace is when the computer goes to sleep or is turned off.
The sound is not the the whirling noise from the fans. The sound resembles the noises made by crickets but in a continuous rather than intermittent fashion. I cannot exactly figure out which part of the computer is producing that noise. I ran the Dell's system diagnostics test and the results returned that everything is in good condition.
I have recorded the noise and uploaded the file to this thread. The audio clip doesn't isolate the hissing noise very well. In it, other than the whirling sound from the fans, there is a hissing sound constantly humming in the background. You may have to raise the volume of your speakers to hear that clearly. http://en.community.dell.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/3514/1832.highpitchsound.mp3
At around 9th second in the audio clip, the hissing sound is more apparent, though the whirling sound from the fans gets louder too because I moved the recorder closer to the casing.
Is the noise normal? Why does the sound exist? Could the rotating axis of one of the fans become loose? How can I get rid of the sound?
Update:
I notice that when the computer power up from sleep or off, the high pitch sound doesn't occur immediately. The computer remains without he high-pitch noise for about 30 seconds before the sound gradually become louder again.
This is another record of the sound with the casing opened:
My phone might have recorded the sound too soft. You may need to turn up your speakers to hear if it is too soft.
Dell-Rajesh R
4 Operator
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3.3K Posts
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May 29th, 2013 01:00
Hi alatus,
It is very difficult to identify the source of noise. It might be fans or hard drive noise.
Determine the source of noise is from which fan (Power Supply, Heat sink, Cooling, Video card).
Clean the air vents of the fans.
Open the chasy and check which part makes abnormal sound.
http://dell.to/1571s5I
From the above link click Manual and Documentation and Service manual.
Before Opening the chassis, I recommend you to disconnect the Power cable, press and hold the power button for few seconds and release to drain the flea power.
Note: Open the chasy if you are comfortable in doing so.
** NOTE: Please ensure that the power cable of the computer is disconnected before opening the chassis. Refer to the Service Manual for assistance on removing or replacing the internal components of the computer.
Refer the link below for more troubleshooting:
http://dell.to/17qtnBO
Awaiting your response!
alatus
11 Posts
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May 29th, 2013 02:00
I have opened the casing and followed the instructions.
The air vents of the fans are very clean since this is a new system. I went on to download the BIOS update file. The BIOS update says that I'm running the same or lower than current BIOS version and so I can only quit the update:
I then ran the PC diagnostic test, which I had ran earlier as mentioned in my initial post, and everything returned fine.
Now, since the casing is already opened, I tried to listen for where the sound comes from. I seems like the sound is coming from the CPU. It could be from the CPU fan. I made another recording of the sound by having my phone close to the CPU. I have uploaded the audio clip to this post. This time, the hissing (the higher frequency) sound is much more apparent in the recorded audio: http://en.community.dell.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/3514/8816.hissing_2D00_from_2D00_cpu.mp3
Any reasons for this to happen?
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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May 30th, 2013 09:00
Power Supplies are the only Item that can produce audible hissing sounds.
Dell-Rajesh R
4 Operator
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3.3K Posts
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May 31st, 2013 10:00
Hi alatus,
Kindly private message the service tag of the computer so that I can take the case forward.
To send me a Private Message, click my User name, and then click Start Conversation.
Awaiting your response!
alatus
11 Posts
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May 31st, 2013 11:00
Hi Rajesh, I have PM'ed you the service tag of the computer.
alatus
11 Posts
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May 31st, 2013 11:00
I'm not sure if it is the power supply because it is difficult for me to narrow down on which of the parts actually produced the noise. I could only observe the sound by hear. Does the noise I recorded sound more from the power supply?
alatus
11 Posts
0
June 5th, 2013 04:00
I haven't gotten any solutions so far yet. I'm still living with that hissing sound. To other owners of XPS 8500, is your computer super silent like what some had mentioned on this forum? Or do you have the same hissing and humming sound but just endure it until you get used to it?
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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June 5th, 2013 08:00
Apple had a similar issue with POWERMAC G5's it was definitely the power supply.:emotion-3:
Power Mac G5: I hear buzzes, beeps, or humming - Support - Apple
alatus
11 Posts
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June 5th, 2013 17:00
Thanks for the link to the Apple's website. I have listened to the sounds but they sound a little different from the one I have recorded. Is the sound I have recorded likely come from the power supply too?
This is the sound coming from my computer that I have recorded:
http://en.community.dell.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/3514/8816.hissing_2D00_from_2D00_cpu.mp3
alatus
11 Posts
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June 9th, 2013 08:00
It has been 2 weeks. Any updates on this yet? The noise is annoying at night when the surrounding is quiet and the hissing sound appears louder.
speedstep
9 Legend
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47K Posts
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June 11th, 2013 11:00
Apple did Not replace or "fix" the issue. I'm too old and so I don't hear any noize from your recorded sound.
Unless its causing other issues there likely will not be a "fix" for this problem.
alatus
11 Posts
0
June 11th, 2013 19:00
The noise is not at a blaring level, but overtime, it gets very annoying to the ears. It is a combination of humming and hissing sound that is constantly produced in the background. You might just have to turn up your speakers to hear the recording because the microphone on my phone is not very sensitive.
I have heard that this XPS 8500 is a very quiet computer, but with this hissing sound, I don't know if I should suspect there is anything wrong with my dekstop.