If you've been following this thread all the way through then you may have seen my name pop-up before.
I experienced the exact same problems as most people here seem to be getting with the buzz on their brand spanking new laptops. I can't quite remember when I first started to notice it but it was within a couple of days of receiving the laptop, but once you hear it there's no going back and it will start to drive you insane!!
So - straight on to Dell Support telling them about the problem and giving them all the details I had. First answer was to run all the diagnostics test they have and see what happens. So - dutifully I did all their tests, ran without battery, ran with battery, tested all the devices, removed all the devices one by one restarting between each, removed the keyboard to locate the source of the sound (sounded like somewhere around the H key on the kb which contains no devices appart from the graphics card and is fairly close to the processor), blah blah blah.
After doing all this it was blatantly obvious that none of the devices were causing the problem... i had removed just about all of them and the noise was still appearing whether the battery was in or not- whether the sound card was enabled or not, whether speedstep was enabled or not... at this point I also made a discovery that the noise (in my system anyhow) was also present when in the bios screen and during boot. Eventually managed to set up a service call and off dissappeared my laptop for a week or so.
When it came back I had a nice standard letter saying there was nothing wrong with it.
So - back to support after I had proved to myself I wasn't going insane and the sound was still there. Strangely support were still convinced that it was the system fan even though this has been tested to death and it appears that no-one there reads your case file before replying to you! This time they came up with the most insane test to see if it was the fan, and I quote "jam a pencil into the fan to see if that stops the noise"... ???? I mean, come on, wtf!?!
So - getting stressed I managed to get another service call, but this time I included the letter attached below... since I was convinced that the service guy was told I had a fan fault and had never seen my case file (cos even to me it would be obvious by now it was nothing to do with the fan!)
My computer has been making a static, buzzing noise ever since it was purchased. It’s not the fan and isn’t the speakers (as confirmed my numerous tests I have performed under Technical Supports instructions). It sounds like a current of electricity passing through a bad circuit or something and is amplified when I touch the touch pad, use the tracker device 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. The problem also seems to be tied into windows somehow, since the noise is most apparent when windows has booted and has finished all of its startup routines (disk drives have stopped spinning and cpu usage is down to a low level).
To replicate this problem:-
You can try this with the laptop running off the mains or battery, however to hear the noise at its worst I recommend running off of the battery. Boot the machine into windows and choose a user to log in as. When you get to the desktop prompt allow windows to finish whatever it wants to do and then allow the machine to idle for about 5 mins or so (I find that the machine does not start to make the noise for about 5 minutes or so - especially when starting up from a power down, or when it has not been used for while). You should start to hear the noise - and moving the mouse around will amplify the noise even more. If you then run an application you will find the noise diminishes (as I say - it seems the noise is linked to processor usage somehow). If you cannot immediately hear the noise then I recommend placing your head near the middle of the keyboard.
Many people on the Dell forum have the same problem as I. Please look in the “Inspiron-General Hardware Forum” for the “Inspiron Buzz” topic to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about.
Strangely, this time my laptop came back with a note saying they had replaced the motherboard (whether this is true or not I have no idea), but I have to say that the noise has either totally disappeared or is not loud enough to warrant any more wasted time with Dell Support! Sometimes I am sure I can hear something but this could just be my paranoia! I know that motherboard replacements have worked for some and not at all for others, so this isn't me saying "go get your motherboard replaced", but a proof that Dell can fix this problem if they get themselves into gear... which they don't seem to want to do and is leaving a nice big black mark against their name from potential repeat customers.
As to people who are still having this problem - to save your sanity you can try the following (some of which worked for me), just to shut that awful noise up for some peace and quiet for a bit.
* The noise (I believe) is something to do with the processor and Graphics card causing frequency problems, especially when the processor is slowed and hits an HLT instruction (low level instruction to tell the processor to do nothing for a period - helps laptops save battery power and has other resource advantages I think)
* Running Seti in the background more or less makes the processor work when there is no other work to do and so the processor never really goes into an idle state and I found the noise greatly reduced - unfortunately this uses lots of battery power so run off mains if possible
* Create a blank audio file of about 5 seconds and play it in your fave media player in the bg - again, this gives the processor something to do all the time and seemed to greatly reduce the noise - again, used up battery a lot quicker though
* None of these solutions totally stopped the noise, but a break from the buzz for any amount of time was a great relief!
At the end of the day though - persevere and don't stop buggin them until they admit the problem!!
Hope this helps someone... and maybe a support person/forum administrator will see we have all tried the tests we have been asked to do until we are sick to death... please resolve this for all!!
Bob
i8500, P4 2GHz, WUXGA, 30Gb HDD
DVD/CDRW combo
Message Edited by bobthedog_uk on 09-19-2003 09:54 AM
Just to answer the moderator's offer as a solutio:
This solution has been mentioned and speculated before. It does not work on my Inspiron 4100 as I have tried it several times. If Dell is to offer solutions, it should at least offer different solutions instead of repeating them.
It might be worth people following the thread through again, it seems to have become a bit of a general complaint thread with a variety of models and noise problems.
having my nvidia card replaced today [friday].... god bless on site techs!
motherboard is next...
i assume the MB is also rebuilt?
Message Edited by RobAtPace on 09-19-2003 07:49 AM
ok, here it is...
the nvidia graphics card worked fine, so that theory is out the window... the tech guy, ronnie, was the man- he BS'ed with me and we troubleshooted some more. he finally made the decision that in his long professional opinion that the sound is a result of the hard drive [i was shocked]. he tells me that the hard drive is not shot enough to be coming up damaged on the diagnostics tests, but it is the only moving part that could physically be making the noise. he proved my point when he removed it, and ran bios- quiet.
so hopefully in 2-3 business days [webnesday], a new 40 gig HD will be here, and that will forever end my woes of this noise.... or will it?
o BTW, dell is upset that this is the third part in a week being shipped for replacement. maybe they should build a better machine... minus these horendous flaws.
ok, so everyone, please- if you want to see if you can stop that sound, check your hard drive out- also try swapping the HD with another person of the same machine who does not hear this sound.
it may or may not work, but to end this sound, why not?
I'm getting really tired of this! I've told you guys before what makes that buzzing sound and you are still speculating about if its the harddrive or video card!!
The horrible buzzing sound is coming from the switching powersupply around the cpu area! Not the video card. Not the sound system. Not the harddrive. Not the fan. NOT anything else but the power supply inside the machine.
I am following this thread since the beginning and have a constant buzz problem with my Inspiron 4000, seems to be coming from the area around the upper left keyboard. I did try all of the suggestions on this thread and none of them solved my problem, no effect on the buzz. It only stops when the computer goes to sleep mode, even in BIOS it still buzzes. Therefore, I am thinking that my problem could be IBM Travelstar DJSA-220 (20GB 4200 rpm) hard drive. I was wondering how to test this theory without damaging my computer.
Any ideas?
Inspiron 4000 BIOS A23
W2K with SP4 20GB hard drive 320MB memory 8MB graphic card
Open the machine and start it up and hear for yourself. The noise is coming from the powersupply inside the machine. Probably it's capasitor resonance or something. And yes the sound is dampered when something is connected to the computer or the amerage is higher (like cpu usage).
It has still nothing to do with the harddrive. It's the powersupply inside the computer.
RobAtPace sorry for not getting back to you earlier.
My model is a 8500. It makes two noises, the buzz noise from under the keyboard and a high pitch squeel when running MSN 6 or any page with flash or quicktime.
But since I started running a small sound file in the back ground I have had neither sound. Well at least I can't hear it unless I really, really listen.
Sorry it doesn't work for you. But try using the sound recorder to record the noise thats when I found it disappeared.
Open the machine and start it up and hear for yourself. The noise is coming from the powersupply inside the machine. Probably it's capasitor resonance or something. And yes the sound is dampered when something is connected to the computer or the amerage is higher (like cpu usage).
It has still nothing to do with the harddrive. It's the powersupply inside the computer.
maybe for your model centrino... what is your dell model, and what is the solution to your power supply problem?
Superdude, my noise also comes on with the use of MSN Messenger 6.0. It was running in the background, and I kept wondering why the buzzing noise was so constant. I shut off MSN Messenger and the buzz was gone,
Going to a site like, www.tsn.ca, the buzz comes up again because of all the graphics or whatever.
No it's not only on my model. I knew about this problem before I got this computer. I have been working on making desktops noise free and came over this problem long time ago. Then i located the source for the noise around the powersupply on the motherboard. It came only when I used a program for setting the cpu in halt mode, this feature is enabled on default in laptops but usually not in desktops. Does this seem familiar to you?Give the Cpu some heavy load and you see the noise dissapear. Yes it's related to flash animation and things like that too, we all have the same symthoms.
I have later heared that this is a familiar problem whith switching power supplies. Probably cheap parts is to blame.
So after I ordered this 500m I came over this forum and I read about it here. Then I was really afraid it would affect my computer too, and it did unfortunately. I took my 500m apart. Started it up and lokated the source. Guess where?? Yes the power supply on the motherboard.
The noise is worst when the cpu is unloaded! Running websites with flash is not loaded guys. Try encoding divx or something thats a little mor load. Thats the caracter of swithing power supplies with this problem, the noise is worser when the load is low. In fact my power adapter makes the same beeping buzzing noise when I'm not charging my 500m or when it's not powered on.
So now we now where the noise is coming from, but why is it there when we are surfiing web pages and other things? The problem is really complicated any many factors are contributing.
When I use a wireless mouse that draws a little amperage from my usb port, then the noise is dampered. Or when I don't use the wireless mouse I have found a little fix. I just turn the LCD on and off... yes that's works for my. Why? Don't know!
Going to a site like, www.tsn.ca, the buzz comes up again because of all the graphics or whatever.
Me 2 wonderstars. I think its a good idea if we can all agree on a way to replicate the high pitch squeal that way we give the Dell tech's something to work with? To be honest I think the problem is well known but until the complaints reach a critical level they refuse to acknowledge and/or act.
bobthedog_uk
3 Posts
0
September 19th, 2003 07:00
If you've been following this thread all the way through then you may have seen my name pop-up before.
I experienced the exact same problems as most people here seem to be getting with the buzz on their brand spanking new laptops. I can't quite remember when I first started to notice it but it was within a couple of days of receiving the laptop, but once you hear it there's no going back and it will start to drive you insane!!
So - straight on to Dell Support telling them about the problem and giving them all the details I had. First answer was to run all the diagnostics test they have and see what happens. So - dutifully I did all their tests, ran without battery, ran with battery, tested all the devices, removed all the devices one by one restarting between each, removed the keyboard to locate the source of the sound (sounded like somewhere around the H key on the kb which contains no devices appart from the graphics card and is fairly close to the processor), blah blah blah.
After doing all this it was blatantly obvious that none of the devices were causing the problem... i had removed just about all of them and the noise was still appearing whether the battery was in or not- whether the sound card was enabled or not, whether speedstep was enabled or not... at this point I also made a discovery that the noise (in my system anyhow) was also present when in the bios screen and during boot. Eventually managed to set up a service call and off dissappeared my laptop for a week or so.
When it came back I had a nice standard letter saying there was nothing wrong with it.
So - back to support after I had proved to myself I wasn't going insane and the sound was still there. Strangely support were still convinced that it was the system fan even though this has been tested to death and it appears that no-one there reads your case file before replying to you! This time they came up with the most insane test to see if it was the fan, and I quote "jam a pencil into the fan to see if that stops the noise"... ???? I mean, come on, wtf!?!
So - getting stressed I managed to get another service call, but this time I included the letter attached below... since I was convinced that the service guy was told I had a fan fault and had never seen my case file (cos even to me it would be obvious by now it was nothing to do with the fan!)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi 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 (as confirmed my numerous tests I have performed under Technical Supports instructions). It sounds like a current of electricity passing through a bad circuit or something and is amplified when I touch the touch pad, use the tracker device 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. The problem also seems to be tied into windows somehow, since the noise is most apparent when windows has booted and has finished all of its startup routines (disk drives have stopped spinning and cpu usage is down to a low level).
To replicate this problem:-
You can try this with the laptop running off the mains or battery, however to hear the noise at its worst I recommend running off of the battery. Boot the machine into windows and choose a user to log in as. When you get to the desktop prompt allow windows to finish whatever it wants to do and then allow the machine to idle for about 5 mins or so (I find that the machine does not start to make the noise for about 5 minutes or so - especially when starting up from a power down, or when it has not been used for while). You should start to hear the noise - and moving the mouse around will amplify the noise even more. If you then run an application you will find the noise diminishes (as I say - it seems the noise is linked to processor usage somehow). If you cannot immediately hear the noise then I recommend placing your head near the middle of the keyboard.
Many people on the Dell forum have the same problem as I. Please look in the “Inspiron-General Hardware Forum” for the “Inspiron Buzz” topic to get a better understanding of what I’m talking about.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Strangely, this time my laptop came back with a note saying they had replaced the motherboard (whether this is true or not I have no idea), but I have to say that the noise has either totally disappeared or is not loud enough to warrant any more wasted time with Dell Support! Sometimes I am sure I can hear something but this could just be my paranoia! I know that motherboard replacements have worked for some and not at all for others, so this isn't me saying "go get your motherboard replaced", but a proof that Dell can fix this problem if they get themselves into gear... which they don't seem to want to do and is leaving a nice big black mark against their name from potential repeat customers.
As to people who are still having this problem - to save your sanity you can try the following (some of which worked for me), just to shut that awful noise up for some peace and quiet for a bit.
* The noise (I believe) is something to do with the processor and Graphics card causing frequency problems, especially when the processor is slowed and hits an HLT instruction (low level instruction to tell the processor to do nothing for a period - helps laptops save battery power and has other resource advantages I think)
* Running Seti in the background more or less makes the processor work when there is no other work to do and so the processor never really goes into an idle state and I found the noise greatly reduced - unfortunately this uses lots of battery power so run off mains if possible
* Create a blank audio file of about 5 seconds and play it in your fave media player in the bg - again, this gives the processor something to do all the time and seemed to greatly reduce the noise - again, used up battery a lot quicker though
* None of these solutions totally stopped the noise, but a break from the buzz for any amount of time was a great relief!
At the end of the day though - persevere and don't stop buggin them until they admit the problem!!
Hope this helps someone... and maybe a support person/forum administrator will see we have all tried the tests we have been asked to do until we are sick to death... please resolve this for all!!
Bob
i8500, P4 2GHz, WUXGA, 30Gb HDD
DVD/CDRW combo
Message Edited by bobthedog_uk on 09-19-2003 09:54 AM
Dionysius
6 Posts
0
September 19th, 2003 09:00
This solution has been mentioned and speculated before. It does not work on my Inspiron 4100 as I have tried it several times. If Dell is to offer solutions, it should at least offer different solutions instead of repeating them.
It might be worth people following the thread through again, it seems to have become a bit of a general complaint thread with a variety of models and noise problems.
RobAtPace
78 Posts
0
September 19th, 2003 11:00
having my nvidia card replaced today [friday].... god bless on site techs!
motherboard is next...
i assume the MB is also rebuilt?
Message Edited by RobAtPace on 09-19-2003 07:49 AM
RobAtPace
78 Posts
0
September 19th, 2003 14:00
ok, here it is...
the nvidia graphics card worked fine, so that theory is out the window... the tech guy, ronnie, was the man- he BS'ed with me and we troubleshooted some more. he finally made the decision that in his long professional opinion that the sound is a result of the hard drive [i was shocked]. he tells me that the hard drive is not shot enough to be coming up damaged on the diagnostics tests, but it is the only moving part that could physically be making the noise. he proved my point when he removed it, and ran bios- quiet.
so hopefully in 2-3 business days [webnesday], a new 40 gig HD will be here, and that will forever end my woes of this noise.... or will it?
o BTW, dell is upset that this is the third part in a week being shipped for replacement. maybe they should build a better machine... minus these horendous flaws.
ok, so everyone, please- if you want to see if you can stop that sound, check your hard drive out- also try swapping the HD with another person of the same machine who does not hear this sound.
it may or may not work, but to end this sound, why not?
Centrino
10 Posts
0
September 20th, 2003 10:00
I'm getting really tired of this!
I've told you guys before what makes that buzzing sound and you are still speculating about if its the harddrive or video card!!
The horrible buzzing sound is coming from the switching powersupply around the cpu area! Not the video card. Not the sound system. Not the harddrive. Not the fan. NOT anything else but the power supply inside the machine.
crippy59
7 Posts
0
September 20th, 2003 14:00
That's interesting.
My Buzzing in 300m disappears whenever I use modem. The power is certainly not less.
gone4goldex
3 Posts
0
September 20th, 2003 15:00
OK...
If it is the power supply, how do we solve the problem?
Anyone, any ideas?
gone4goldex
3 Posts
0
September 20th, 2003 15:00
Hi there,
I am following this thread since the beginning and have a constant buzz problem with my Inspiron 4000, seems to be coming from the area around the upper left keyboard. I did try all of the suggestions on this thread and none of them solved my problem, no effect on the buzz. It only stops when the computer goes to sleep mode, even in BIOS it still buzzes. Therefore, I am thinking that my problem could be IBM Travelstar DJSA-220 (20GB 4200 rpm) hard drive. I was wondering how to test this theory without damaging my computer.
Any ideas?
Inspiron 4000
BIOS A23
W2K with SP4
20GB hard drive
320MB memory
8MB graphic card
Centrino
10 Posts
0
September 20th, 2003 15:00
Open the machine and start it up and hear for yourself. The noise is coming from the powersupply inside the machine. Probably it's capasitor resonance or something. And yes the sound is dampered when something is connected to the computer or the amerage is higher (like cpu usage).
It has still nothing to do with the harddrive. It's the powersupply inside the computer.
Superdude37
4 Posts
0
September 20th, 2003 16:00
My model is a 8500. It makes two noises, the buzz noise from under the keyboard and a high pitch squeel when running MSN 6 or any page with flash or quicktime.
But since I started running a small sound file in the back ground I have had neither sound. Well at least I can't hear it unless I really, really listen.
Sorry it doesn't work for you. But try using the sound recorder to record the noise thats when I found it disappeared.
Later.
RobAtPace
78 Posts
0
September 21st, 2003 02:00
maybe for your model centrino... what is your dell model, and what is the solution to your power supply problem?
wonderstars
11 Posts
0
September 21st, 2003 03:00
Superdude, my noise also comes on with the use of MSN Messenger 6.0. It was running in the background, and I kept wondering why the buzzing noise was so constant. I shut off MSN Messenger and the buzz was gone,
Going to a site like, www.tsn.ca, the buzz comes up again because of all the graphics or whatever.
Annoying!
Centrino
10 Posts
0
September 21st, 2003 09:00
RobAtPace:
No it's not only on my model. I knew about this problem before I got this computer. I have been working on making desktops noise free and came over this problem long time ago. Then i located the source for the noise around the powersupply on the motherboard. It came only when I used a program for setting the cpu in halt mode, this feature is enabled on default in laptops but usually not in desktops. Does this seem familiar to you?Give the Cpu some heavy load and you see the noise dissapear. Yes it's related to flash animation and things like that too, we all have the same symthoms.
I have later heared that this is a familiar problem whith switching power supplies. Probably cheap parts is to blame.
So after I ordered this 500m I came over this forum and I read about it here. Then I was really afraid it would affect my computer too, and it did unfortunately. I took my 500m apart. Started it up and lokated the source. Guess where?? Yes the power supply on the motherboard.
The noise is worst when the cpu is unloaded! Running websites with flash is not loaded guys. Try encoding divx or something thats a little mor load. Thats the caracter of swithing power supplies with this problem, the noise is worser when the load is low. In fact my power adapter makes the same beeping buzzing noise when I'm not charging my 500m or when it's not powered on.
So now we now where the noise is coming from, but why is it there when we are surfiing web pages and other things? The problem is really complicated any many factors are contributing.
When I use a wireless mouse that draws a little amperage from my usb port, then the noise is dampered. Or when I don't use the wireless mouse I have found a little fix. I just turn the LCD on and off... yes that's works for my. Why? Don't know!
The remedy for all of us!!
Tell them making better computers!
Excuse my bad english, Centrino
SithUK
11 Posts
0
September 23rd, 2003 14:00
Me 2 wonderstars. I think its a good idea if we can all agree on a way to replicate the high pitch squeal that way we give the Dell tech's something to work with? To be honest I think the problem is well known but until the complaints reach a critical level they refuse to acknowledge and/or act.
I'll keep an eye on this thread too :-)
Sith
Inspiron 8200
Message Edited by SithUK on 09-23-2003 10:51 AM
RobAtPace
78 Posts
0
September 24th, 2003 03:00
had my hard drive replaced now, and i must admit, the sound hasn't been really noticed... YET!
but i have only had the machine on for 10 minutes... lets me...