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    M17x: High pitched hum emanating from the computer

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by wornways, Mar 9, 2010.

  1. wornways

    wornways Notebook Geek

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    In the last day and a half I've noticed a high pitched mosquito type hum coming from my computer when the display brightness dims for any reason. For instance, if I have a dark desktop background and I am viewing a web page (using most of my real estate) that is mostly white, the sound is less noticeable, but when I close the browser window and the NVIDIA "auto-dim feature" dims the display brightness, the sound gets much more noticeable.

    It really sounds like a couple of mosquito buzzing around my laptop. So, to summarize, the more white I have on my display, the less noticeable the sound. The more black, the more noticeable. You know how florescent ceiling lights can sometimes hum when they get old and start flickering--sounds about like that. But there's no flicker.

    Any ideas?
     
    wornways, Mar 9, 2010
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  2. GabeZ

    GabeZ Information Technology

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    Hi wornways,
    The hum you are describing is most likely coming for the LCD inverter. In rare cases, I've seen some get abnormally loud. The inverter is usually located at the bottom of the LCD in the same area as the Alienware logo. You may want to verify that the sound is coming directly from that area. If it is, contact support, and I'm sure they'll send a technician with either a new inverter or LCD screen.

    Thanks,
    Gabe
     
    GabeZ, Mar 9, 2010
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  3. wornways

    wornways Notebook Geek

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    Hi GabeZ,

    Yes that's where the sound is coming from. I put a pen to my ear and touched the pen to various areas of the laptop to try to *ahem* penpoint the source of the sound. It's definitely coming from the right side of the ALIENWARE logo. I touched the spot with my finger and it's extremely hot. Hot enough that I'm wondering how the front bevel isn't melting around the heat.

    I'll contact support and tell them about this. Hopefully things will hold up for another two weeks since I'm on the road right now.
     
    wornways, Mar 9, 2010
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