HeadJack noise problem PINPOINTED! Solution on the way

Original thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=197145

I am making this thread for the solution as it will be posted here and I wanted a more clear Title. this applies to 1400/1420

PROBLEM DISCOVERED!!!! Solution Below

took out the base totally and low and behold NO NOISE

The cause of the problem is the Magnesium BASE of the laptops. The wires are run through this base and they go all across the board. Somewhere these wires pick up the noise (electrical interference) and transfer the noise to the Headjack.

I took the motherboard out of the Lower Magnesium casing, and powered it up... there is NO HEAD JACK NOISE OF ANY KIND. Clean BLISS!

I'm using my etymotic er6i headphones which are one of the most sensitive headphones on the market.... I hear NO NOISE.....

Now all that needs to be done is shielding the base of the unit in which the mobo sits and I should be able to isolate the clicking whining noise..

I'm working on a shielding solution... stay tuned.

 

You, dear sir, are amazing.

 

OMG why didn't I think of this... DUH!!!!

The Headjack board is screwed right onto the Magnesium base.... A base that is picking up God knows how much interference.
That interference is being transfered through the screws onto the headjack board.

All you have to do is isolate any conductivity between the board and the magnesium base and you should be able to get rid of the noise for good.

My solution is either use thin plastic rings... or figure out your own method.

 

LMFAO MY THEORY WAS RIGHT?!

SCORE!

Yeah, I taped off the whole headphone jack card from touching zero casing, and so far so good, waiting for the noise to come back. lol I'll post the 1520 guide in a few.

 

Yup! not wire issue though, its the headjack board issue...but yeah..way to go~

You do the 1500 and I'll do the 1400

Finally a solution folks.... Do at your own risk though

 

yup I know it's the card. I pinpointed it last night. Check out my 15" solution thread.

The card touches like,the express card metal housing and the the casing. No biggie - that's a EXTREMELY easy fix. Don't have to rip the mobo out or nothing, just removed palm rest.

I thought it was the wires at first, but after ripping apart spare ones I have laying around. I discovered that they were completely shielded, so chalk that one to the bone yard.

Btw, you think if we blocked the WiFi catcher from touching the casing, it might contribute? I was thinking about it but ah..

How badly is it in a labor perspective on the 1400/1420 bro? Do you gotta rip it entirely apart?

 

sadly, the only way to get to the audiojack board on the 1400/1420 is to take apart the whole thing

 

Brutal you're almost in the same boat as us 15" owners.

I had a look at the manuals - whoa.. No wonder the smaller notebooks can be more money then bigger ones.

As soon as I decide whether to ditch or keep this screen I'll rip my laptop apart again and experiment with all the ideas for the audio noise.

 

LOTS of pics coming up.

 

Good job guys! Can't wait for the pics. So it is MUCH easier to fix on the Inspirons?

 

DO NOT QUOTE THIS POST, ITS LONG

You will need a small #0 screw driver. precision screwdriver as it's called.
I will be posting all the pics in order. I got them from Dell so credit goes to Dell. Since they are available to the DCSE members and the public can sign up for DCSE... I will post them here.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage you may do to your notebook or yourself. This is WORTH a try but I do not guarantee positive results. I can say though that it has worked on 2 notebooks I tried on.


You will need a small #0 screw driver. precision screwdriver as it's called.
I will be posting all the pics in order. I got them from Dell so credit goes to Dell. Since they are available to the DCSE members and the public can sign up for DCSE... I will post them here.

 

Success people..

Awesome stuff bro.

I solved the 1500/1520 problem do, I'll update the guide in a bit .

No whine, no crackling, no 'morse code', nothing but pure silence.

Lmfao as I type this on my 1520, it's sitting here without a screw holding it together.

I placed electrical tape all over the head jacks card. All along the bottom, and the top of the screw heads. Punched holes for the screws, then put it in. I also noticed the CPU heat sink runs right over the card, I'm just gonna say that maybe interference can be coming from that to so I placed a bit of tape on the bottom side of the heat sink above the jacks card - and it's solved now

I closed RMClock.. I don't hear a CPU whine either right now.. ROFLMFAO - Wouldn't it be sad if this solved CPU whine issues to?

Looks like the 1400/1420/1500/1520 have a fix

 

Wow...this is a great post showing the innards of the 1420...anyone got this many pics for the 1520???

 

You can use some http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/DiMarzio-Copper-Shielding-Tape?sku=364741
or get some aluminum tape from Home Depot. Copper is better.
Use it inbetween the heatsink and the card on the 1500/1520.

As for the pics, the first ones on how to take it apart belong to Dell DCSE, the last few are mine

 

I can kinda do the same thing with the 1500, do you want me to post it in your thread B?

 

Question: Does this void any warranty? (e.g. Complete Care)

No guesses or speculation please. I'm interested only in educated or informed opinions
(e.g. based on what Dell or their technicians have said in the past for similar actions).

If it's fine, I'll give it a go.

 

As far as I know, nothing really voids the warranty besides if you actually break something.

Example, you open your computer and crack your motherboard in half.

But with complete care, different story. I've read everything is covered hardware wise - besides for acts of god.

Yup post the pics bro, my server is currently down.

 

Here in Australia, CompleteCare does not cover "animal accidents".

So kittens and pandas must never be near the laptop!

 

I will have some free time in the next few days. I'm definitely going to try out this fix.

it's a shame that you have to rip open the entire notebook though

 

Ok I spent the last hour doing this and it did not solve the noise.

EDIT: I tried it a second time, with 4 layers of electrical tape this time, still didn't stop the headphone noise.

 

You must not have shielded it properly. Possibly tightened the screws to much and tore the tape .

I believe you need to cover the card a little more like I did in my guide for the 1500/1520, But n19htmare, is the 1400/1420 expert here

 

What I said in my earlier edit was that I attempted this a second time, very carefully, with way more tape (4 layers) and more conservative screw-age. I also taped part of the bottom of the motherboard that was potentially touching part of the jack (see below).

Still didn't prevent the interference. If many more people are able to get it working, I'll try it again but with a burqa like you did ...

 

interesting and good news, i'm gonna link this in another forum with respective credits

 

did you try keeping the audiojack board OUT of the case and then try it?

If that work, it just means, you're not shielding it right.

next place the audiojack board in the case but DON'T SCREW it in... just let it sit there. if you get no noise, then its gotta be the screws....

Try those things .

 

Hai guys, I didn't see this mentioned. When you build a PC, you get those copper risers and the red rings (made of...?). Anyone thought about isolating these boards using some sort of non conductive washer? Or maybe plastic screws?

 

I have another question... B2TheEye0 mentioned that this fix actually eliminated his CPU whine issues as well...

Does anybody know if the CPU whine issue is also solved by the fix presented here by nightmare for the 1400/1420's??

Cuz i can understand perfectly why the headphone noise jack is solved, but i can't find a reason for the CPU whine to diminish if the headphone jack card is isolated... there doesn't seem to be any relation whatsoever.

 

i was gonna use those red rings but didn't have any...those should work unless the hole is so big that the screw goes through it.

Plastic screw is another option...something DELL should be using.

 

The easiest solution of ALL just turn the "CPU Speed settings" on Max.Performance in the NHC (notebiook hardware control ) and this miraculously solves the problem!! On my opinion it just prevents entering the C3 state.

 

Is it just random as to which 1520s have it?

 

I don't have a 1420 yet, but that solution seems a bit odd.... You some how fixed your noise problem, but I think your theory about the mag-alloy case causing the interference seems a bit off.

You can't just stop interference with just "electrical tape".

 

Yes, maybe using those little paper/plastic rings they give you when you build computers will help the situation to!

ahuneeu1, It' solved most of my CPU whine. As prior to my fix and testing the first few hours I had nothing. But after a night or so I get extremely faint whinnying sounds. More then 80% better then before. Not sure how it fixed it because I had no intentions of fixing the CPU whine. Just getting rid of the jack noise.

onlycurious, It's not the mag-alloy case itself. It's having everything grounding to it. Thus all the 'garbage' is surging through the mag-alloy. And anything that has contact with it is likely picking up the interference.

I'm no where near suited to help with the 1400/1420 issues with the guide - just to get that out in the open. Never has the option to rip one open to test.

Regardless, the problem should be solved if not reduced extensively if this is done 'correct'.

n19htmare Mentioned some great troubleshooters if it doesn't. By not screwing the card in and leaving it outside the case.

 

you're just preventing a short between the mag casing at the headjack board.

I did this multiple times and each time I took the tape off, I had the noise. When I put the tape back on to prevent any shortage, I got no noise.

worked for me and B2

 

Yup, it did.

Apparently one user did my 1500/1520 guide worked too

LETS PATENT THIS FIX WOO!

 

I think most of them have it, but people just don't use the headphone jack enough or the noise is faint enough that they aren't bothered by it.

I just received my Vostro 1500 and I can confirm the noise is present. It's not quite as loud as I was expecting, and if it weren't for finding out about the issue in these forums, I doubt I would care much.

 

I know what you guys are saying.... but what do you guys think the green plastic is ( the circuit board )?

The metal ring you guys are taping up is already separated by the green insulator. You see what I'm saying?

Edit: Probably why it didn't work for the guy who tried it TWICE already. I think you guys may have found something but completely overlooked something. Maybe while taking apart your laptops...


Edit: I'm not here to criticize... it just doesn't make sense... I would like a solution for this as well, just trying to help.

 

I'll try it a third time but this time pull out the multimeter and check for connectivity between the shield connection and the screws, etc. Failing that, I'm going to attempt a partial Faraday cage (that also insulates electrically) with a tape/aluminium-foil multi-layer tape sandwich.

 

I would really like to have this done, but I don't trust myself with taking apart a laptop. Plus, I worry about voiding my warranty. Anyone told Dell yet?

 

Each time I didn't insulate it and just screwed it in regularly, I had the noise. Every time I used tape to insulate the connection of the screw, I had no noise.

I guess results may vary but it has worked for a few people.

 

I don't think you can use regular aluminum foil... there is a special type of shielding foil you have to buy at the store if you want to do that...

 

Before I purchased my 1520 I had a laptop that was low-end with srswow sound that was unbelievable. I had a pmcia creative sound card and it was pretty difficult to tell the difference. The native sound from the speakers and the jack was unbelievable so YES I would have noticed, especially because of the skips when listening to the CD's. My Dell 1520 (which is now back with Dell) literally cost 10 times more than my previous laptop and had very junky sound and this simply was NOT acceptable to me. I wanted BETTER and I was willing to pay for it, I just didn't get it and hence I returned the item. It is just like spending thousand of hours and dollars for an education only to have some "lucky" high school graduates try to discount it. If it was such an easy task where is yours? MMMHMMM!

Finding out about the problem after the fact just let me tell the Dell liars to stuff it when they were going to pretend that I was crazy and the only person experiencing this problem. I am not willing to become a laptop tech to fix Dell's problem. Those people make in excess of $30 an hour so NO I am not willing to do it for free.

 

apples, nice rant.. LOL I don't believe you're fixing Dell's problem. More of, your computers issue.

onlycurious That's metal 'ring' on the circuit board where the screw driver goes does not separate interference like you believe. Honestly, I think not have that metal ring at all solves the issue. Interferences comes through the case, touches the screw/ring then goes through the circuit board.

If we're wrong, how did we solve the problem - and not you or the millions of other people or Dell for that matter.. LOL

Anyone skeptical can check out my guide so far a few people have done it and are smiling with success.. lol
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=197809&page=3

deathstick If I tell Dell, I want my XPS 1530, free and a fully loaded 1730 with 8800's when their available for free to or they can eat me. BTW, nothing voids your warranty unless YOU break it purposely (depot warranty) - Complete Care, you should pretty much be able to throw it into a river and Dell replaces it.. LOL

 

Wrong it is DELL'S problem. I didn't keep a computer that was defective so they got it back. Yeah, it's Dell's problem.

If everyone had sent back the defective computer they would ALL still be Dell's problem. But my rant was good, wasn't it?! Yeah it was.

 

LMFAO - Okay I stand corrected. It became Dells problem when you returned you're machine.

LMAO..good times

 

Hi everyone!

So how many people have successfully modded their 1400/1420 to remove the buzz? Any unsuccessful? Just as a bit of a summary I suppose, as I am thinking of doing it myself...

 

I NEVER said the metal ring on the circuit board separates the interference. I was insisting that the OP's and your "fix" to this problem is irrational (the theory of it anyway).

You/OP said taping up the metal ring with electrical tape helps it from receiving any interference, hence there is no noise with the headphone jack. If this is your rationale behind the "solution", it seems a bit odd that the ring itself is already separated from the other components on the circuit board by the green insulator. Taping up those rings will do NOTHING. The purpose of having those rings on the circuit board is so that you don't break the circuit board when screwing it into place.

If you guys have built desktop PC's, you would know that those rings are almost everywhere. It's on the MOBO and it grounds to the case. Why then doesn't my computer/ thousands of other computers have interference problems. I have a Centurion case and if you've built PC's, you would know this thing is a big hunk of metal. The RINGS on the MOBO touches this case with the screws. Do you see why I'm so skeptical about your guy's "solution"??

EDIT: My theory is that as you guys take apart your laptop, you guys are fixing the problem.... which could be anything... retrace your steps and see what it could've been. It COULD be the metal ring, but from my explanation above, I HIGHLY doubt it.

 

Have you even looked at the V1400 headjack pcb board? I don't see how you can make a comment without even looking at it.
If you look close, you can see there is a trace that follows from the rings (where the screw goes) and it goes around the board....

Then please explain why everytime I screw it in without the tape I get the noise and everytime I use the tape and prevent the screw from touching the metal ring... i get NO noise. I've done this about 10 times and each time i get the same result.
There are multiple people who have reported success.

Why do you doubt it's validity if you never even tried it? or even seen the parts?

 

Yes, I have seen the photos that you or the OP put up with the guide. Feel free to post a more detailed picture, I'd like to see it. You keep saying "multiple people who had success", from what I've read... I think I saw ONE person who said it worked (make that 3 including you and the OP). And the person who said "it worked" was a new person to the site with only 1 post, who knows if that was even legit. Everyone else seems to be skeptical to even try this, I've reasoned why I am... everyone else is probably thinking similarly.

 

worked for me... now its four people.

 

Well roughly 5 - 6 people that I know of have tried it and solved the problem. Both on my guide for the 1500/1520 and n19htmare's guide. Frankly, if you wanna argue our discovery and claim that it's bogus then go to hell and be rely on completely unsuccessful motherboard replacements by Dell.

I've built, serviced, maintained notebooks and desktops, I know damn well what the rings are, I believe I stated there reason for existence previously. If I hadn't, yes I know they stop the screw from just grinding through the board and causing damage and such.

Considering n19htmare tested his results multiple times to ensure it's the fix, it obviously proves itself, theres no other possibilities. NOTHING else can be fixing it when the only damn thing were doing is applying tape to the dame same place over and over again. Getting the same results every time we remove test and reapply the tape and test again.

But please, enlighten us on what you believe the issue is. Since the tape we're applying to fix the problem which is working successfully I might add appaerently 'doesn't work' - when you haven't even tried it or experimented. Because your so smart and think you know what the problem is, why don't you attempt your own fix. Oh yea, wait never mind, your just the jealous dude that wishes 'damn why didn't I think of that'.

You can be 'skeptical' all you want. But truth of the matter is and already a few people have posted " aw man I wanna do this but I don't trust myself". There not skeptical, some people are simply not up to the job, or simply don't care about the noise.

Obviously there are no insulators on those tiny cards when you hear noise without our solution and have no noise after applying our solution. Frankly you lost all credibility comparing desktops to laptops, there entirely two different things - with completely different physical aspects. Interference, heat, physical space, just a few things that desktops don't have to deal with at all compared to what a laptop has to deal with.

You don't have your video card and ram and cooling solutions hanging, cramped, and bundled up all together in one tight little box in a desktop now do you?

Let me know when you can learn the difference between a desktop and laptop and we'll discuss this further, until then just get lost because all you're contributing to is getting this thread locked. If you don't wanna do it - don't.

Stop making us look like some vandals out to make people break there laptops or something - maybe next time I (maybe n19htmare will agree) I/we find the solution to a problem, everyone has I'll/we'll just keep it to myself/ourself and not contribute back to the community and take time out of my/our life/lives to help ignorance like you.

All the proof and great test results and you claim it's bogus. Thanks, I'll remember that next time I offer a helping hand - not too. Ass..

 

How old are you? Your comments are very immature, I'll be shocked if you're over 18 years old.

Anyway, who is comparing desktops to laptops? I might have mentioned desktops in my posts, but in no way said they were the SAME thing. Read it again, I was comparing the similarity of the metal rings. Why are you guys jumping to conclusions? I never said it was "bogus". I was trying to get a rational explanation (specific) of how your "fix" solves the problem. Like you said, it's a LONG process to take apart the laptop and for people to go through all that and not get any results because of a bad hypothesis/misguidance would just be a complete waste of time.

Can anyone post a detailed picture of the headjack board?