The System Fan??? No!!!!!

So anyone that checks this forum on a semi-daily basis knows all about the CPU whining. Someone was even told that a BIOS update is going to be released to fix the issue. Last night I decided that I wanted to contact Dell and see how they would respond. Well, this is how they responded:

THE SYSTEM FAN? THE SYSTEM FAN???

 

This probably goes to show that you should not contact Dell Support via e-mail. Now I have to fend off some local support guy.

 

Why didn't you send them the link to the above forum post which clearly indicates a Mobo power regulation problem?

Speaking of which, I can imagine a hum due to caps (similar complaints have been made about certain LCD monitors) but "whinning", really...? Maybe someone could capture it with an ext. mic and make it avaible here, as well as for Dell... .

Btw, does it whine continuously, or only during high cpu utilization?

ThX,

 

You're right, I should have sent more links along. Such as this youtube video, which documents the sound perfectly. There are tons of articles on the issue as well dating a couple of years back. If you're interested in finding out how widespread this things is just do a google search using CPU and WHINE as your keywords.

For anyone not in the know, it has to do with the CPU entering the low power states (C3 and C4). So to answer your question traveller, it occurs when their is no (or very little) CPU activity. From what I've read it only takes a few milliseconds to enter those states. As far as I know, the only fix is using RM Clock and tweaking a few things. It doesn't totally eliminate the noise nor should that be the final solution.

 

Fingers crossed that Intel's Penryn chips debuting at the end of this year have nailed this annoyance, that's all I can say.

 

It's ridiculous because Apple acknowledged there was a problem last summer and they replaced bunches of logic boards. Then Dell goes ahead and puts out another ****ty product. The external noise is one thing. Having to hear it amplified 10x when using your headphones is unacceptable. I'm going to give serious consideration to starting an online petition once all other means have been exhausted.

 

just to let you know....

dell's support = crap.

they actually don't read your letter. sort of....
they don't ever read letters. ever.

let me cite two examples:

1: I sent a letter with an Inspiron 1520 that was to go to the dell depot to get the Mobo and screen changed for you know wahts (squeal headphones, grain). the letter stated the two problems and who to reproduce them, and how to fix them, but it was never read, because when the system came back, the depot "engineer" (yeah right) had only replaced the mobo. (Yes, the CSRs had put both orders on the dispatch).

2: I sent a email about the whining problem. It said to merge the dispatch, if any, into the grainy dispatch. (resulting in the case above). The person who read it did not merge the two orders, so i had to go on chat to fix it. The person did not read the letter

i would return the inspiron, but 21 days = over a long time ago (i was on vacation) and my family wants to have a 15" laptop with a 8600GT (or else i would go HP).

 

Oh lordy! When I got home from work I decided to reply to the e-mail and stated that no, I am positive the fan has nothing to do with this. I also sent links to a youtube video detailing the noise and various discussions (including some from here) around the net talking about the CPU whining issue.

Dell CSR Narender Kumar Shilak seems to believe that Maneesh is spot on with his analysis as he replies back to my counter reply:

!!

Edit: I even posted this Dell Support link in the e-mail