I have a very similar sounding problem. I have a brand new 1720 with the Audigy HD Audio.
A pulsing white noise can be heard through any speakers or headphones plugged in to the headphone jack. This can be heard all of the time. During boot up before Windows is running, whilst no media is running, whilst the sound is muted. It is also heard and rather annoying whilst media is playing.
I'm not very happy that my brand new laptop has a problem. I really hope a solution can be found very soon, or a replacement which doesn't have the problem is sent. I have been happy with my previous 2 Dell's, but it doesn't take too many problems to drive someone away from a brand.
I have the same problem on my Inspiron 1720. I've spent countless hours with text support. So far we've replaced:
1. motherboard.
2. the audio jack assembly (part #wk345) including the wiring harness
3. the wireless sniffer switch (part #tx618) because Dell sent it in error... might as well.
4. wireless antennas (different problem, the wires were found to be exposed)
5. the cover, as part of the wireless antenna problem (part #wk988)
The problem persists. Changing out the hardware did not solve the problem.
The problem was reproduced with the display disconnected. The problem is worse when windows are being opened and closed, and/or the touchpad is being used, or the mouse is being used. The audio ALWAYS has a high-pitched hiss / noise and generally sounds like there is some sort of interference.
For audio I have part #313-4783 "Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0", whatever that means for actual hardware. I did not upgrade the audio package.
Let's face it. I have talked to many tech people at Dell (also seniors), and there seems to be some consensus:
(1) The problem exists with any 1720. I was told "...the noise is caused by the way the machine is built..." Tech people agree replacing motherboards does not help. Replacing anything does not help. You can exchange all parts all day long, it won't help - or if it does, it's by accident. Maybe some configurations (processors, hard drive, etc.) have less noise than others.
(2) I was never told any cause. My best guess is still interference. Is there any engineer here who could tell us something about that hypothesis?
(3) Dell denies it's a real problem. They agree the noise exists, but deny it's a malfunction.
I finally agreed with Dell to accept the machine with this problem in exchange of another power adapter.
I think there are two practical ways to deal with the problem:
(1) Accept it, use USB headphones. (I was told there is no noise in USB headphones, but never tested that.)
or
(2) Sell the 1720 and buy another model. If you are very insinstent they might agree to exchange it for another model, but I didn't go that far, after all.
Can anyone from Dell (support or whatever) confirm or deny something about what Torisha has just posted ?. His logic I think is "right in the money" but I need someone from Dell to accept it (not replying is accepting it) . So I can sell this this machine to the first fool I can find, buy another laptop (from another brand of course) and talk to everyone I know about how bad a Dell laptop can be!
I'm not in a position to make any statement at this time as the issue is still being investigated. That said, I would like to capture your system
(CDeSousa) in order to replicate the issue you are seeing. Check your
Private Messages for more information.
torisha: Sorry for the delay, but yes, the 250gb drives being offered are Seagate.
I understand this issue is frustrating. And what makes it even more difficult to troubleshoot and identify, is the fact that the type of noise being reported is heard by some and not others. Which again, is why I would like to capture a system.
This thread has provided valuable information and I thank you all for you patience in this matter.
My motherboard was replaced as the first step too. The HDD was replaced as well, but this was mainly due to an unrelated clicking noise problem from the drive itself.
Also my 1720 is supposedly the only one that has ever shown this problem ...................
Next plan was to replace the power adapter as we have found out the noise goes away when we unplug the power adapter. Would have been done already but they sent a Malaysian adapter which doesn't fit our Australian power points, so hopefully the next service call (the third) will fix the problem. I'm not certain though as I have recently noticed I can sometimes hear a sound which sounds very similar if I put my ear near the battery at the back of the laptop. Don't know if that is related or not. Maybe the battery is related to the problem?
Overall I've been pretty happy with Dell's response so far (apart from the wasted visit due to the wrong adapter being sent). As long as this problem is resolved shortly by either fixing this laptop or sending me another 1720 which doesn't have the problem then I will be happy and will continue to buy Dells in the future.
After yet another 2 hours on the phone with Dell Tech Support and Customer Care, I've packed up my laptop to be sent to the depot to be 'fixed'. I'll provide an update when I get it back.
Presumably they will be looking at the internal modem to see if it is causing any interference. Removing the wireless network card had no affect.
Running on the battery versus running on the power supply has no affect on the problem.
The problem is not as easy to hear when playing a CD or listening to web content, essentially because the audio drowns out the problem. However, that's really not the issue. I'm often got my headphones on when I'm queuing up audio from various sources, and the hissing and squealing is extremely annoying. The hissing and squealing can even be heard from the built-in speakers, although not as loudy or noticably.
As for buying USB headphones... no offence, but I see no reason why I should have to spend more money to essentially mask a fault that Dell appears to have been designed into the 1720. I've got two, no wait, three other laptops here at home (at least one of them an old Dell) and none of them ever had a problem with sound. Considering a couple of them don't even have USB ports, you can guess how old they are. I should think that Dell would have IMPROVED on the technology, not taken a giant step backwards.
I am considering buying the Inspiron 1720 and happened to venture onto this forum. I use the laptop very often for streaming audio and video purposes and this issue is a critical deciding factor in my buying decision. Chris (Dell Liason), have you been able to get anymore insights into the problem and/or a solution?? After looking at this thread, I am really disappointed and considering dropping my plan to by this laptop...
We replaced the external AC Adapter with another 3 prong one, and there was no change to the noise. Then we changed to a 2 prong AC Adapter (no earth) and the noise was instantly reduced by 95%. You can still hear it if you REALLY listen hard, but it is no longer obtrusive.
As long as the noise doesn't get any louder, and I don't expect it to, then I am happy enough.
Stigy, this is encouraging news indeed! If I am not mistaken, you are in Australia, right? (mentioned in one of your earlier posts) Can you share with us the Input/Output ratings of the 2 prong AC adapter. That would greatly help in trying out this option in other countries if possible (I am in the US).
Others, kindly request you to try out Stigy's solution and post your findings.
I just talked to an electrical engineer who knows his business. According to him it's not interference. The noise is caused by the fact that the differnet components in the computer need very different amount of power, and if the supply lines are not well decoupled, starting from the adapter, there is noise. Inferior decoupling is the cause of the noise according to him. No way to fix it - defective by design. Happens with several brands and several models, it's a well known phenomenon.
If you need to be sure to have a machine with no noise, you will have to test it beforehand. Sorry for the bad news. I'm sure Dell would only be too happy to fix our machines if they only could.
Sorry bo12b, we carefully checked the specs of both adapters and they were both exactly the same in every rating we could see on them. We simply couldn't understand it ourselves, but we repeatedly swapped between the adapters and the three prong with an earth continually produced the noise, and the two prong with no earth continually was 95% quieter.
Several days later and my laptop is back from the Dell Repair Depot in Newmarket Ontario Canada.
The problem still exists.
According the repair manifest, they:
1. Replaced the wireless sniffer switch (part #tx618).
2. Cleaned and Tested
Somewhere in Dell's "system" they have it such that replacing the wireless sniffer switch is supposed to fix this problem. They've provided us two of them to change out when tech support was called, and now replaced it again at the depot. Dell's knowledge base clearly needs to be updated.
Obviously, they didn't TEST the system for the problem which required the laptop to be returned to them, since the problem was clearly evident as soon as we booted the laptop.
From what I've been reading here, there doesn't seem to be much hope in getting it repaired, since it appears the audio problem seems to be an unfortunate "motherboard design feature".
Now, from my numerous dealings with Dell, it's clear to me that they couldn't care less, and I've nothing but another several hours of time on the phone with "tech support" and "customer care" to look forward to. I truly wonder if Dell's goal is simply to wear you down so that you just give up and stop calling them...
I have a 2 prong adapter (It came with the laptop) and I hear the buzzing all the time. My roommate also bought this laptop, also have a 2 prong adapter and he also hears a buzzing sound.
I don't think this is the solution, at least not for me.
Can you gave us more details about the adapters you are usign ? Because this is not working for me. I'm usign a 2 prong adaptor that came with the laptop
Stigy
5 Posts
0
March 10th, 2008 02:00
I have a very similar sounding problem. I have a brand new 1720 with the Audigy HD Audio.
A pulsing white noise can be heard through any speakers or headphones plugged in to the headphone jack. This can be heard all of the time. During boot up before Windows is running, whilst no media is running, whilst the sound is muted. It is also heard and rather annoying whilst media is playing.
I'm not very happy that my brand new laptop has a problem. I really hope a solution can be found very soon, or a replacement which doesn't have the problem is sent. I have been happy with my previous 2 Dell's, but it doesn't take too many problems to drive someone away from a brand.
nltlowe
3 Posts
0
March 18th, 2008 21:00
I have the same problem on my Inspiron 1720. I've spent countless hours with text support. So far we've replaced:
1. motherboard.
2. the audio jack assembly (part #wk345) including the wiring harness
3. the wireless sniffer switch (part #tx618) because Dell sent it in error... might as well.
4. wireless antennas (different problem, the wires were found to be exposed)
5. the cover, as part of the wireless antenna problem (part #wk988)
The problem persists. Changing out the hardware did not solve the problem.
The problem was reproduced with the display disconnected. The problem is worse when windows are being opened and closed, and/or the touchpad is being used, or the mouse is being used. The audio ALWAYS has a high-pitched hiss / noise and generally sounds like there is some sort of interference.
For audio I have part #313-4783 "Integrated High Definition Audio 2.0", whatever that means for actual hardware. I did not upgrade the audio package.
nltlowe
torisha
8 Posts
0
March 21st, 2008 12:00
Let's face it. I have talked to many tech people at Dell (also seniors), and there seems to be some consensus:
(1) The problem exists with any 1720. I was told "...the noise is caused by the way the machine is built..." Tech people agree replacing motherboards does not help. Replacing anything does not help. You can exchange all parts all day long, it won't help - or if it does, it's by accident. Maybe some configurations (processors, hard drive, etc.) have less noise than others.
(2) I was never told any cause. My best guess is still interference. Is there any engineer here who could tell us something about that hypothesis?
(3) Dell denies it's a real problem. They agree the noise exists, but deny it's a malfunction.
I finally agreed with Dell to accept the machine with this problem in exchange of another power adapter.
I think there are two practical ways to deal with the problem:
(1) Accept it, use USB headphones. (I was told there is no noise in USB headphones, but never tested that.)
or
(2) Sell the 1720 and buy another model. If you are very insinstent they might agree to exchange it for another model, but I didn't go that far, after all.
CDeSousa
12 Posts
0
March 21st, 2008 13:00
DELL-Chris B
2 Intern
•
1.1K Posts
0
March 21st, 2008 13:00
I'm not in a position to make any statement at this time as the issue is still being investigated. That said, I would like to capture your system (CDeSousa) in order to replicate the issue you are seeing. Check your Private Messages for more information.
torisha: Sorry for the delay, but yes, the 250gb drives being offered are Seagate.
I understand this issue is frustrating. And what makes it even more difficult to troubleshoot and identify, is the fact that the type of noise being reported is heard by some and not others. Which again, is why I would like to capture a system.
This thread has provided valuable information and I thank you all for you patience in this matter.
Stigy
5 Posts
0
March 21st, 2008 23:00
My motherboard was replaced as the first step too. The HDD was replaced as well, but this was mainly due to an unrelated clicking noise problem from the drive itself.
Also my 1720 is supposedly the only one that has ever shown this problem ...................
Next plan was to replace the power adapter as we have found out the noise goes away when we unplug the power adapter. Would have been done already but they sent a Malaysian adapter which doesn't fit our Australian power points, so hopefully the next service call (the third) will fix the problem. I'm not certain though as I have recently noticed I can sometimes hear a sound which sounds very similar if I put my ear near the battery at the back of the laptop. Don't know if that is related or not. Maybe the battery is related to the problem?
Overall I've been pretty happy with Dell's response so far (apart from the wasted visit due to the wrong adapter being sent). As long as this problem is resolved shortly by either fixing this laptop or sending me another 1720 which doesn't have the problem then I will be happy and will continue to buy Dells in the future.
nltlowe
3 Posts
0
March 23rd, 2008 13:00
After yet another 2 hours on the phone with Dell Tech Support and Customer Care, I've packed up my laptop to be sent to the depot to be 'fixed'. I'll provide an update when I get it back.
Presumably they will be looking at the internal modem to see if it is causing any interference. Removing the wireless network card had no affect.
Running on the battery versus running on the power supply has no affect on the problem.
The problem is not as easy to hear when playing a CD or listening to web content, essentially because the audio drowns out the problem. However, that's really not the issue. I'm often got my headphones on when I'm queuing up audio from various sources, and the hissing and squealing is extremely annoying. The hissing and squealing can even be heard from the built-in speakers, although not as loudy or noticably.
As for buying USB headphones... no offence, but I see no reason why I should have to spend more money to essentially mask a fault that Dell appears to have been designed into the 1720. I've got two, no wait, three other laptops here at home (at least one of them an old Dell) and none of them ever had a problem with sound. Considering a couple of them don't even have USB ports, you can guess how old they are. I should think that Dell would have IMPROVED on the technology, not taken a giant step backwards.
nltlowe
bo12b
3 Posts
0
March 24th, 2008 20:00
Hello,
I am considering buying the Inspiron 1720 and happened to venture onto this forum. I use the laptop very often for streaming audio and video purposes and this issue is a critical deciding factor in my buying decision. Chris (Dell Liason), have you been able to get anymore insights into the problem and/or a solution?? After looking at this thread, I am really disappointed and considering dropping my plan to by this laptop...
bo12b
Stigy
5 Posts
0
March 25th, 2008 02:00
We just solved the audio problem on my machine.
We replaced the external AC Adapter with another 3 prong one, and there was no change to the noise. Then we changed to a 2 prong AC Adapter (no earth) and the noise was instantly reduced by 95%. You can still hear it if you REALLY listen hard, but it is no longer obtrusive.
As long as the noise doesn't get any louder, and I don't expect it to, then I am happy enough.
bo12b
3 Posts
0
March 25th, 2008 13:00
Stigy, this is encouraging news indeed! If I am not mistaken, you are in Australia, right? (mentioned in one of your earlier posts) Can you share with us the Input/Output ratings of the 2 prong AC adapter. That would greatly help in trying out this option in other countries if possible (I am in the US).
Others, kindly request you to try out Stigy's solution and post your findings.
bo12b
torisha
8 Posts
0
March 25th, 2008 17:00
I just talked to an electrical engineer who knows his business. According to him it's not interference. The noise is caused by the fact that the differnet components in the computer need very different amount of power, and if the supply lines are not well decoupled, starting from the adapter, there is noise. Inferior decoupling is the cause of the noise according to him. No way to fix it - defective by design. Happens with several brands and several models, it's a well known phenomenon.
If you need to be sure to have a machine with no noise, you will have to test it beforehand. Sorry for the bad news. I'm sure Dell would only be too happy to fix our machines if they only could.
Best wishes to all,
Torisha
Stigy
5 Posts
0
March 26th, 2008 06:00
Sorry bo12b, we carefully checked the specs of both adapters and they were both exactly the same in every rating we could see on them. We simply couldn't understand it ourselves, but we repeatedly swapped between the adapters and the three prong with an earth continually produced the noise, and the two prong with no earth continually was 95% quieter.
Yes, I am in Australia.
nltlowe
3 Posts
0
March 27th, 2008 14:00
The problem still exists.
According the repair manifest, they:
1. Replaced the wireless sniffer switch (part #tx618).
2. Cleaned and Tested
Somewhere in Dell's "system" they have it such that replacing the wireless sniffer switch is supposed to fix this problem. They've provided us two of them to change out when tech support was called, and now replaced it again at the depot. Dell's knowledge base clearly needs to be updated.
Obviously, they didn't TEST the system for the problem which required the laptop to be returned to them, since the problem was clearly evident as soon as we booted the laptop.
From what I've been reading here, there doesn't seem to be much hope in getting it repaired, since it appears the audio problem seems to be an unfortunate "motherboard design feature".
Now, from my numerous dealings with Dell, it's clear to me that they couldn't care less, and I've nothing but another several hours of time on the phone with "tech support" and "customer care" to look forward to. I truly wonder if Dell's goal is simply to wear you down so that you just give up and stop calling them...
nltlowe
CDeSousa
12 Posts
0
March 27th, 2008 14:00
I have a 2 prong adapter (It came with the laptop) and I hear the buzzing all the time. My roommate also bought this laptop, also have a 2 prong adapter and he also hears a buzzing sound.
I don't think this is the solution, at least not for me.
CDeSousa
12 Posts
0
March 27th, 2008 14:00