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    Macbook "popping sound"

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by FromPCtoMac, Mar 24, 2008.

  1. FromPCtoMac

    FromPCtoMac Notebook Enthusiast

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    It seems that my macbook produce a faint "pop" every coupe of minutes of so. Is this normal? I've googled the problem, its seems like this problem has been around for a while now. Most believe that its because of power management that make the sound card go to sleep? But for me, the noise seems to be there even when I am playing Itunes. (when the sound card not asleep). Anyone else experienced similar problems?

    Am I just too nervous about every little sound that comes from my brand new macbook?
     
    FromPCtoMac, Mar 24, 2008
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  2. Syrc

    Syrc Notebook Consultant

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    It might be your hard drive parking its heads. Nothing to worry about, unless it really starts to get out of control. Just apple trying to protect your data.
     
    Syrc, Mar 24, 2008
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  3. wobble987

    wobble987 Notebook Virtuoso

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    yeah it seems Syrc has got the cause of the problem spot on. macbook does make an audible popping sound quite frequently; this is caused by the harddisk drive parking it head. this is normal, and shouldn't be caused for concern.

    rep for you Syrc :)
     
    wobble987, Mar 24, 2008
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  4. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    I think this is only an issue with the HDs Apple puts in the Macbooks. My Macbook HD has been very silent since I upgraded to a 250GB WD.
     
    Budding, Mar 24, 2008
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  5. FromPCtoMac

    FromPCtoMac Notebook Enthusiast

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    Seems like you guys are right. I guess it's just the nature of the HD? Right now when the drive is in use (backing up to an external HD)...there is no popping sound. So it must be when it's not in use and "parking its head", sigh...I wish that the noise is not so audible though. Thanks for y'all help.
     
    FromPCtoMac, Mar 29, 2008
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  6. FromPCtoMac

    FromPCtoMac Notebook Enthusiast

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    after doing some research, i've divided the Load_Cycle_Count / Power_on_hours from SMART utility

    6149/154 = 39.9 per hour

    taking 39.9 * 24 hour * 365 days = 349,774!!!

    And most hard drives last around 600,000?? that means my HD is going to fail in less than 2 years.

    This aggressive "parking/unparking" of the HD is not only annoying but decrease the life of harddrive,

    Anyone have any thoughts?
     
    FromPCtoMac, Mar 29, 2008
    #6