Got a dv9207us - slight hissing sound

Hi guys. Forum newb here. Great forum you guys got here. Very very informative and helpful for not so tech savvy guys like me...

Got a dv9207us from CompUSA for $799 (less the MIR's) week and a half ago. Timing was just right as the desktop at home was due for a much needed upgrade or replacement. Figured the dv9207us at that price was a great find.

So far so good. The only concern I have is the presence of a very slight hissing sound. If ambient noise is minimal it can be heard faintly. I'd have to bring my ear near the keyboard to really hear it. Is this a cause for concern? Does this affect performance? And does the sound increase in volume over time and is there a fix for this?

Thanks.

 

Most likely the fan(s) if you don't have a cd/dvd in your machine. So no, if that's the case, it's not a problem.

 

Thanks for the quick reply jujube. I'm quite sure its not the fan. The sound is prevalent when the machine is on battery power - sometimes its a constant hissing sound and other times the sound fluctuates.

I read in another forum that it could be because of the core duo/core 2 duo processor. And that it is quite prevalent in HP machines. Just want to check with other members here if they have encounterd this and if it is a cause for concern.

 

It occurs on HP Intel and AMD notebooks. The hiss you hear is actually a resonating noise from the capacitors on your motherboard. It's common on many notebooks, but it's still unacceptable, IMO.

On Intel systems, it resonates on power saving modes (when the processor is throttled down, which occurs when you go to battery power) but doesn't on full power (when on AC).

On AMD systems, it's reversed. They resonate on maximum performance modes (when the processor is throttled all the way up, which occurs when you go to AC power), but doesn't on power saving modes (when on battery power).

An added 'feature' for many AMD systems with integrated 6150 graphics is when the system resonates, the VGA out (on both the laptop and expansion port) gets all staticy.

HP attempted to fix both issues on my DV6305US (AMD based) Pavilion twice, but both times failed to fix it. Now they promised me a replacement, but aren't delivering.

 

Depending on what you're doing - do you hear it all the time? The fan's on regardless of whether you're on or not on battery power but you're saying you're noticing it more on battery? I had use of the same machine but didn't hear any noticeable hissing sound like what you've described.

 

kubel,

Would you know if this hissing sound adversely affects performance of the machine? Coz of it does this baby's going back to CompUSA (21 day return period is still valid). Is there a known fix for this?

jujube - it's definitely not the fan. I hear the fan on the upper left hand side of the machine. the hissing sound is coming from the lower part of the machine - around the touchpad area. the sound is also quite faint. I'd have to put my ear very close to the machine to hear it.

 

no ... it has no effect... and it is no indication of any hardware failure... nor quality standards...

it's just there and some people can't tolerate it... my old zd8000 used to do that during memory operations... but it was very faint so i lived with it... the new owner tried to hear it ... he couldn't... so i concluded that some people don't hear that frequency at all...

as for the static... i never experienced it... might be couze i use a grounded wall plug... so... it's your choice...

 

Thanks samov. If it does not affect performance then I'm fine with this faint hissing sound.

 

Short answers:

Is there a fix:
Yes. Disable power saving features on your laptop. This will cause your notebook to run full steam ahead and will stop the resonating.

Does the fix have any side effects:
Yes. It will cause poor battery life, excessive heat, and (as a result) louder fan noise.

Will the buzz cause any other problems:
Not unless you notice external monitor static.

Will returning it for an identical exchange fix my problem:
Not likely, but it's worth a try. This flaw is common amongst most of the first generation imprint notebooks, and is surprisingly accepted by the consumers. I, on the other hand, am a silence-nut, and can't stand annoying noises. Your only real chance is to get a refund and avoid HP Pavilions, or spend months coaxing HP to get you a replacement (and hope the one you get doesn't suffer from this flaw).

This Pavilion resonating noise is like a stuck LCD pixel. Most people don't notice it. But those that do will never forget where it's at and can't help but be annoyed by it all the time.

 

is that one of the reasons why they sell it for $799 ????????????????????????!!!!!!!!!

 

No, the more obvious reason is that they need to sell it at that price to clear inventory as well as new specs being rolled out like the Nvidia 8 series.