PureBlur: This is a very interesting hypothesis I hadn't considered before. I ran Prime95 torture test to max out my CPU, and low and behold, just before the fan kicked in my machine was almost silent. The buzz was supressed, much like you described, I could only still hear it faintly if I pressed my ear to the machine. This got me thinking, and then it hit me. Remember toward the beginning of the thread Mystr Byrnz gave OS specific results for the buzz:
Windows 2k : static
Windows 98Se: perfect
Windows98: perfect
Windows ME: static
WindowsXP Home AND Pro: static
WindowsNT server AND client: static
[Linux: static (as per my results)]
I don't know why I didn't catch it before, but we've got a definite theme: the HLT command. I hadn't thought about it for years, but if you remember all MS's old non-NT operating systems didn't take advantage of the x86 HLT command. The HLT command idles your processor during spare cycles to conserve heat and power. Eventually NT took advantage of this, and thus so did 2K and XP being that they were based on the NT kernel. Linux has always used the HLT command.
So, look at the results. All non-HLT enabled OSes aren't buzzing, possibly because they're always using 100% of the CPUs cycles. All of the HLT enabled OSes are buzzing possibly because of using the HLT command. Unfortunately I don't know what hardware/software goes into taking advantage of the HLT command. It is important, however, to remember the first thing I noted in this thread was that the buzz is coming from some chips on the mobo directly next to the CPU--not the CPU itself. Make of it what you will... it's a theme, it's a probable hypothesis, but only Dell engineers can help us here.
Umm... It's possible... Could the one who found out the problem test again using CPU-Cool or Waterfall like programs which implement the HLT cycles on Win9x kernel-based Windows to see if it's the case?
I know nothing about the HLT Command myself but understand what your saying. Whith the information you just provided, Dell should be able to find out what is wrong with the chips on the mobo directly next to the CPU that makes them buzz when the cpu isn't maxed out. John M., what are you or your superiors views on this new information?
I have had the same buzz problem, but it's getting worse lately, so I looked thru the forum for some clue. I'm running both Windows Me and Linux, with more or less the same noise with both OS'es. However, one (maybe) interesting observation. If I'm running the command "yes" on a linux xterm (for those of you are that are not familiar with linux, yes is a simple command that only writes "y" to the console) the noise disappears. As soon I stop the program, the noise starts again.
I just recieved my Insprion 4000 back from Dell. As you know, this was the fourth and last time I was sending it in for repairs and then if it wasn't fixed I was going to contact the BBB. Well, Dell somehow completely fixed my notebook. It does not Buzz or Chirp, or make any noise except for obviously the hard drive and fan. Here is a copy of the letter that I included with the laptop when I sent it in for repair, incase anyone else wants to send there laptop in and wants to use a few parts of what I said.
Dell,
My computer has been making a static, buzzing noise ever since it was purchased. It’s not the fan and isn’t the speakers. It sounds like a current of electricity passing through a bad circuit or something and is amplified when I touch the touch pad, use an external mouse, use the eraser mouse on the keyboard, minimize a window, maximize a window, transfer a file over a network and a number of other things. When running notebook on battery power, the sound is even louder. I’ve noticed that if the CPU resources are maxed out such as using a program that uses close to 100% of the CPU, the sound is suppressed and I can only hear it if I stick my ear next to the keyboard. Many people on the Dell forum have the same problem as I, and one person took his Inspiron 4000 apart and traced the buzzing noise coming from a small black box welded to the motherboard about an inch or so northwest of the ZIF socket. The piece is marked "102HA/6./1713Q". Directly beneath it is a much smaller chip marked "S4/IC", and to its left is a series of medium chips labeled "NEF/JN8". Please look in the “Inspiron-General Hardware Forum” for the “Inspiron Buzz” topic to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about.
Jason Baker
On the Corrective Repair Action sheet that dell included with my repaired notebook it said that the System Board and LCD Backcover were replaced. Now I doubt the LCD Backcover was the problem and I had already had the System Board replaced in a previous repair trying to fix the problem. I did notice that Dell did replace my 8MB graphics excelerator card with a 16MB one, although they didn't state this on the repair sheet. They hadn't done that the last time they replace the System Board. Anyway, all I can say is my laptop is quiet as a mouse now and that Dell was able to fix it, after almost 2 years of sending it in for repairs.
B-Lock I know you have said that your computer is no longer under warrenty but there must be some way Dell will repair it without charge since it was a problem even before the warrenty was expired. Good luck to everyone in getting rid of the Inspiron Buzz.
Just wanted to add my name to this list. I have this problem on an Inspiron 4000 in both W2K Advanced Server and Redhat Linux 8. I can silence the buzz by running the 'yes' program in linux, but in eats CPU cycles and is not an acceptable workaround. While I'm out of warranty, I've always had this problem from day 1 and would still like to see a solution. Also, is the video card located near the little black buzzing box? How could they be related?
Dell are you listening to the people in this forum?!?!?!
I think the buzz in this thread is unrelated to the power source. If you pull your battery out and the buzz stops, I think you may have a different issue than the rest of the people here.
Possible... I used to have buzzing sounds related to video activity... However it's gone now, maybe it's because of the new video drivers or whatever... Didn't notice that until recently... But now there's battery charging buzzing sound.
I called Dell today regarding this design defect, which is obviously found on any number of Inspirons. After 3(!) hours on the phone (and talking with seven people) they decided they weren't going to do anything for me because a) the issue doesn't appear in the Dell Knowledge Base and b) my machine is out of warranty. So what they were saying more or less is that, first, if the Knowledge Base doesn't have an entry for a particular system issue then it must not be a real issue, and that it is a fluke (then how do issues get added, anyway?). And second, even when they're negligent and produce improperly designed machines, they take no responsibility to handle the defects associated them without some sort of warranty coverage. I see the situation as being analagous to the tires on the Ford Explorers that failed after 7,000 miles or whatever; you think Ford would dare not take your vehicle back for repairs because it is out of warranty? That they would even think about making you pay for their own QC issues?
Whoa, now, slow down -- to compare the buzzing issue to the Ford Explorer tire problem is way out of line.
I agree that you may find the buzzing to be annoying, and I am sorry that you aren't finding a satisfactory resolution to your problem -- however, it's not likely to kill you, as was the case with the Ford Explorers.
Inverters in the display and switching power supplies produce squilling sounds. There is however a distinct static that you can get in the sound card with the volume turned up. Whenever you move the mouse along the screen you get popping static which is not the same as the buzz.
Earplugs or Headphones with music are what has been suggested by management where I am working. Reason being that Old Codgers kaint hear them thar swquillinz and swuirrelzz in them gol darn
ennsperioons.
As you age your ability to hear low level high frequency sounds is diminished.
Just wanted to add myself to this list - have just received my spanking new i8500 which was fine for a few days, then the noise everyone else here seems to have noticed popped up.
As far as I can tell, I have the exact same problem as most of the people here, and have tried all of the fixes mentioned in this thread and in others. So - since I am in my 30 day period, I emailed tech support to find out wht they had to say on the matter, making sure I informed them of all the things I had done to try and resolve it (replace graphics drivers, remove components, change video res, disable on board devices blah blah). As far as I can tell, the noise on my machine only really makes itself known when windows xp is actually logged in as a user - I don't know whether it's just I haven't noticed it when the machine starts up, or at the login screen, but I definelty hear it after hdd activity has stopped and windows has booted to the desktop. As everyone else, it seems that running on battery makes the noise louder, and moving the cursor across the screen using the touchpad or tracker (I haven't as yet tried using an external device) again makes it louder.
As yet, my only response from Dell support has been to try removing all the devices again and see if it happens, also whether it happens in the bios etc... all of which I have done, but in the name of getting this thing resolved will undoubtedly do again.
I will let you know how my support enquiries go - and let us know if anyone finds a decent answer as to why this happens!
, I figure out a way to reduce the noise, if I am not misunderstand the problem, the buzzing occured when the cpu steps from lower speed to faster speed. It can be avoided by setting to maximum performance in the bios for AC and DC and with the help of speedswitchxp, you can still have the speedstep function
Inspiron 8200 1024mb ram 40gb IBM 5400rpm 64mb nvidia geforce4go WinXP pro
After replacing my 2 years old, super noisy DJSA-20 hard drive, I finally heard the infamous BUZZ...
Dell:
Do you understand how macabre it was for me to live with the noisy hard drive for two years? Do you understand how disappointed I was when hearing the BUZZ...
PS: Guess I will just learn all the keyboard shortcuts and wear a headset :-)
b-lock
12 Posts
0
March 5th, 2003 01:00
Windows 2k : static
Windows 98Se: perfect
Windows98: perfect
Windows ME: static
WindowsXP Home AND Pro: static
WindowsNT server AND client: static
[Linux: static (as per my results)]
I don't know why I didn't catch it before, but we've got a definite theme: the HLT command. I hadn't thought about it for years, but if you remember all MS's old non-NT operating systems didn't take advantage of the x86 HLT command. The HLT command idles your processor during spare cycles to conserve heat and power. Eventually NT took advantage of this, and thus so did 2K and XP being that they were based on the NT kernel. Linux has always used the HLT command.
So, look at the results. All non-HLT enabled OSes aren't buzzing, possibly because they're always using 100% of the CPUs cycles. All of the HLT enabled OSes are buzzing possibly because of using the HLT command. Unfortunately I don't know what hardware/software goes into taking advantage of the HLT command. It is important, however, to remember the first thing I noted in this thread was that the buzz is coming from some chips on the mobo directly next to the CPU--not the CPU itself. Make of it what you will... it's a theme, it's a probable hypothesis, but only Dell engineers can help us here.
loyukfai-new
114 Posts
0
March 5th, 2003 12:00
Umm... It's possible... Could the one who found out the problem test again using CPU-Cool or Waterfall like programs which implement the HLT cycles on Win9x kernel-based Windows to see if it's the case?
PureBlur
1 Rookie
•
36 Posts
0
March 5th, 2003 19:00
I know nothing about the HLT Command myself but understand what your saying. Whith the information you just provided, Dell should be able to find out what is wrong with the chips on the mobo directly next to the CPU that makes them buzz when the cpu isn't maxed out. John M., what are you or your superiors views on this new information?
Jason
Hemiparasite
1 Message
0
March 6th, 2003 08:00
Cheers,
Hans
PureBlur
1 Rookie
•
36 Posts
0
March 13th, 2003 00:00
I just recieved my Insprion 4000 back from Dell. As you know, this was the fourth and last time I was sending it in for repairs and then if it wasn't fixed I was going to contact the BBB. Well, Dell somehow completely fixed my notebook. It does not Buzz or Chirp, or make any noise except for obviously the hard drive and fan. Here is a copy of the letter that I included with the laptop when I sent it in for repair, incase anyone else wants to send there laptop in and wants to use a few parts of what I said.
Dell,
My computer has been making a static, buzzing noise ever since it was purchased. It’s not the fan and isn’t the speakers. It sounds like a current of electricity passing through a bad circuit or something and is amplified when I touch the touch pad, use an external mouse, use the eraser mouse on the keyboard, minimize a window, maximize a window, transfer a file over a network and a number of other things. When running notebook on battery power, the sound is even louder. I’ve noticed that if the CPU resources are maxed out such as using a program that uses close to 100% of the CPU, the sound is suppressed and I can only hear it if I stick my ear next to the keyboard. Many people on the Dell forum have the same problem as I, and one person took his Inspiron 4000 apart and traced the buzzing noise coming from a small black box welded to the motherboard about an inch or so northwest of the ZIF socket. The piece is marked "102HA/6./1713Q". Directly beneath it is a much smaller chip marked "S4/IC", and to its left is a series of medium chips labeled "NEF/JN8". Please look in the “Inspiron-General Hardware Forum” for the “Inspiron Buzz” topic to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about.
Jason Baker
On the Corrective Repair Action sheet that dell included with my repaired notebook it said that the System Board and LCD Backcover were replaced. Now I doubt the LCD Backcover was the problem and I had already had the System Board replaced in a previous repair trying to fix the problem. I did notice that Dell did replace my 8MB graphics excelerator card with a 16MB one, although they didn't state this on the repair sheet. They hadn't done that the last time they replace the System Board. Anyway, all I can say is my laptop is quiet as a mouse now and that Dell was able to fix it, after almost 2 years of sending it in for repairs.
B-Lock I know you have said that your computer is no longer under warrenty but there must be some way Dell will repair it without charge since it was a problem even before the warrenty was expired. Good luck to everyone in getting rid of the Inspiron Buzz.
Jason
jweasley
2 Posts
0
April 8th, 2003 22:00
Dell are you listening to the people in this forum?!?!?!
Regards,
Joe
loyukfai-new
114 Posts
0
April 9th, 2003 06:00
jweasley
2 Posts
0
April 9th, 2003 15:00
loyukfai-new
114 Posts
0
April 9th, 2003 17:00
Possible... I used to have buzzing sounds related to video activity... However it's gone now, maybe it's because of the new video drivers or whatever... Didn't notice that until recently... But now there's battery charging buzzing sound.
Nightglider1
33 Posts
0
April 9th, 2003 20:00
Whoa, now, slow down -- to compare the buzzing issue to the Ford Explorer tire problem is way out of line.
I agree that you may find the buzzing to be annoying, and I am sorry that you aren't finding a satisfactory resolution to your problem -- however, it's not likely to kill you, as was the case with the Ford Explorers.
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
April 9th, 2003 22:00
Earplugs or Headphones with music are what has been suggested by management where I am working. Reason being that Old Codgers kaint hear them thar swquillinz and swuirrelzz in them gol darn
ennsperioons.
As you age your ability to hear low level high frequency sounds is diminished.
loyukfai-new
114 Posts
0
April 10th, 2003 05:00
bobthedog_uk
3 Posts
0
April 10th, 2003 07:00
Just wanted to add myself to this list - have just received my spanking new i8500 which was fine for a few days, then the noise everyone else here seems to have noticed popped up.
As far as I can tell, I have the exact same problem as most of the people here, and have tried all of the fixes mentioned in this thread and in others. So - since I am in my 30 day period, I emailed tech support to find out wht they had to say on the matter, making sure I informed them of all the things I had done to try and resolve it (replace graphics drivers, remove components, change video res, disable on board devices blah blah). As far as I can tell, the noise on my machine only really makes itself known when windows xp is actually logged in as a user - I don't know whether it's just I haven't noticed it when the machine starts up, or at the login screen, but I definelty hear it after hdd activity has stopped and windows has booted to the desktop. As everyone else, it seems that running on battery makes the noise louder, and moving the cursor across the screen using the touchpad or tracker (I haven't as yet tried using an external device) again makes it louder.
As yet, my only response from Dell support has been to try removing all the devices again and see if it happens, also whether it happens in the bios etc... all of which I have done, but in the name of getting this thing resolved will undoubtedly do again.
I will let you know how my support enquiries go - and let us know if anyone finds a decent answer as to why this happens!
gsfeng
19 Posts
0
April 23rd, 2003 05:00
, I figure out a way to reduce the noise, if I am not misunderstand the problem, the buzzing occured when the cpu steps from lower speed to faster speed. It can be avoided by setting to maximum performance in the bios for AC and DC and with the help of speedswitchxp, you can still have the speedstep function
Inspiron 8200
1024mb ram
40gb IBM 5400rpm
64mb nvidia geforce4go
WinXP pro
Message Edited by gsfeng on 04-23-2003 01:30 AM
zjin
1 Message
0
May 17th, 2003 04:00
Just can't believe this!
After replacing my 2 years old, super noisy DJSA-20 hard drive, I finally heard the infamous BUZZ...
Dell:
Do you understand how macabre it was for me to live with the noisy hard drive for two years? Do you understand how disappointed I was when hearing the BUZZ...
PS: Guess I will just learn all the keyboard shortcuts and wear a headset :-)