High Pitched Noise from new Pavilions

Hello,
I have some questions:

I noticed that high-pitch sound after several days using my dv6265us from CC. After I had found a solution on the forum, I installed RM Clock utility and the sound disappeared. I have a question,
It`s okay if this RM utility runs every time I use my laptop? It`s not bad for my processor?

Thank you.

 

I've gone through two (2) COMPAQ Presario v3000 series (pretty much the same as Pavilion dv2000z ) with AMD X2 ML-50 processors and both (new units) had the high pitched noise when the CPU load creeped over 25%. (This is the opposite behaviour than others were experiencing with the Intel C2D processors)

On the second unit, the sound is worse and more prominent than the first unit.

I'm going to see whether I can return this second unit to (bought directly from HPshopping).

 

ive been trying to fix this on my dv6245 (vista, c2d) , which is a week old. my whine was present when i had multiple applications open, or the cpu was under nominal loads. it was quiet while idling if no programs were open, both on battery and ac, though it was worse on battery. im no expert and at first wondered if it had to do with RAM usage (i have1gig installed). i have the multimeter gadget running in my sidebar and the only correlation i saw was that the whine was always present if ram usage was above %55. the only exception to this was if it was running on battery and a usb receiver for my wireless mouse was plugged in.

disabling the usb port from powering down didnt work for me, but enabling "run HLT command.." with RM clock stopped the whine, but i wasnt entirely comfortable with this. the other thing that worked was disabling "popup mode" in RM clock, but only while on AC. for anyone first dealing with this, i found these threads helpful:

http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=3516
http://forum.rightmark.org/topic.cgi?id=6:852
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1652387&postcount=12
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=90335
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=103747

what ultimately ended up working was updating my bios. last night i was packing up everything that came with the notebook and steeling myself up to deal with the friendly folks at compusa when i saw the posts on here about bios. i was running f.14, and after downloading and installing f.15, then disabling the "cpu c4" function, the whining stopped entirely, both on battery and ac, no matter how many programs i have running (so far).

battery life seems to have taken a hit, about 5-10% as stated by kv_ven2001, but i can live with that. the other thing is my fans are going off more, my core temp never gets above 45 c. with bios f.14, normal usage temps were 45-58c range, now its more like 32-44.

anyway, definitely a pain but also a learning experience.

 

Has anybody heard of other brands (Asus, Dell, etc.) experiencing this noise?

If not, then it's an HP issue and they need to "THINK" of a way to fix it ASAP.

 

I bought the DV6244, noticed the sound too. Went back to the retailer and I upgraded to the DV6265 last week...high pitch was also present, but noticed that was louder with the AC on. I chatted online with HP support, and they claim this is the first time they've heard about this problem. LOL... HP should just acknowledge this problem....but too much news could knock out their recent market share gains. I very much liked the 6265 and was willing to live with the sound until I plugged the laptop into my monitor and speakers. The eeeeee sound came right through the speakers, even when streaming music. Didn't have that problem with earphones though. Bottom line...returned the unit to the retailer. I'll buy another brand or wait til HP acknowledges and fixes this problem, and the new units make it to the store.

 

this sucks to hear, its putting me off from getting an hp 6000t

 

Looks like I won't buying an HP after all. Funny, after months of research I had pretty much settled on getting a DV9000 too. Pity.

 

I have zero noise issues with the NC8430.
In fact, it's very quiet.

 

ive got a v3000. didnt want to do the rmclock and the usb method didn't work. set the power settings to max battery and everything is a lot better. the whine is intermittent, but its a lot quieter and really not too much of an annoyance anymore. taking it to class was a pain, but it really isnt that bad now.

 

My DV9000t is very quiet. What I've noticed on mine is that if I shut the wireless off I get a very light high pitched whine at idle that I pretty much only hear if I'm looking for it. If the wireless is turned on then I hear nothing no matter how much I strain to listen for it.

 

Does RM Clock utility have negative effects on hardware, especially processor?

 

I have a dv9000t that has suffered from the high-pitched noise problem, and I've downloaded the latest BIOS that gives the option of disabling the CPU C4 function. That took care of the noise issue. Earlier I had also noticed that when I have wireless/Bluetooth switched on, I don't really hear the noise either.

My question is:
What "noise-solving" setting would likely make for a longer lasting computer --
1) disabling the CPU C4 function from the latest BIOS; or
2) leaving the CPU C4 function enabled, and leaving the wireless switch in the on position.

I'm leaning toward option 1, but I'm not a computer expert which is why I'm turning to you guys for help.

I was going to just return it and go with a Toshiba Satellite P100/105 (especially because I could get an on-site accidental damage warranty with them, and HP doesn't offer on-site for laptops), but the other supposedly 'bright' screens I've seen (Toshiba, Gateway) don't come close to comparing to this HP's Ultra Brightview. I've never seen a screen as good as this, so I'm gonna take my chances that the system will last me a decent while.

Thanks for any advice you might be able to offer.

Chris

HP Pavilion dv9000t
Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz
100 GB hard drive (7200 RPM)
2GB memory
Windows Vista Home Premium

 

I was about to order a dv2000t, but HP has lost, at least temporarily, another sale because of this issue.

 

Audible oscillations in power capacitors is not damaging to the circuits at all. All capacitors have these oscillations. Normally when designed you try to design them so that they are outside the hearing range of humans but ALL OF YOU COMPUTERS will be making these noises, you just can't hear them. In my Analog/Digital design course we briefly summarized this topic.

lakeshoredrive75..... contact your insurance company if you want accidental coverage. I'd be willing to bet a personal property policy through them would be way cheaper then an accidental plan through Toshiba or Gateway and it will cover theft, dropping, or whatever you do to your laptop. I have my HP and Canon Digital SLR camera and all my lens's covered under one for up to 3600 dollars and I pay 60 dollars a year total.

 

Thanks for the reply. As far as the warranty, the main benefit I wanted but can't get with HP is on-site servicing. I'm self employed, work from a home office, and this laptop is my sole computer. If something goes out on my system or needs attention (which happened a number of times with my Toshiba over the 3 year system guard warranty), I can't afford the time involved to send it into HP, or to leave it with Geek Squad for a week or more. Any good on-site servicing recommendations anybody (I'm in Chicago)?

 

Well I just received my DV6000T last night. Played with it for about 45 minutes. Noticed that I had the high pitch sound.
Then I read this thread.
Was going to fix problem with RM Clock utility.
Realized that this is BullSh*T..!
So I spent 20 minutes on the phone getting an RMA.

Well HP, ya just lost a sale and time on sending me a crappy notebook.
That's some poor quality control. Very poor.
Oh! and I told the CS rep that I there are thousands of posts online regarding this issue. He even tried to tell me that if shipped me out another that HE himself would guarantee it wouldn't happen again.

Anywayz... Sager or Asus is what's next for me.

just my $0.02

Paul

 

Paul, does HP send you a return shipping label and pay the freight to return a notebook to them?

 

Yes. They sent me a Fed-Ex prepaid shipping label to my e-mail. They were even going to schedule a Fed-Ex up for me.

-Paul

 

Hi everyone,

After buying an HP 6265, which I immediately adored, I was quite disappointed to hear the high pitched whining sound which I now realize is quite prevalent.

Anyway, after MUCH forum diving and google searching, I found this to be the best solution:

i) upgrade your BIOS on the HP website (version 15.0 is currently posted)
-this reduced the noise considerably, although it was still there and now I was hyper sensitive to it

ii) Use RMclock on the following settings: http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=3516 (this has been posted earlier in the thread, just wanted to let people know it worked for me)
-I know many of you are hesitant to use the RMclock utility because it jacks up your CPU to 100% performance, and I too was uncomfortable doing this. However, the settings provided in the link above avoid this problem by altering power management settings without clicking the HLT Command option - my battery is doing just fine and I'm running at a comfortable 28 degrees and 10% CPU

Also, to reassure potential or new HP customers: this problem seems to be affecting almost ALL laptops containing Intel Centrino technology (most often Core2Duos). We're talking Dell, Apple, Toshiba, Acer, etc etc. Although this problem is super frustrating (especially because it has not been publicly acknowledged or patched by HP), there are a few tweaks that you can use to alleviate it.

Good luck!

 

I have been trying to figure out what was causing this noise. thanks infinus for pointing it out. seems like a widespread issue. when i plug a microsoft optical mouse in via usb with the wireless off the volume of the noise is heightened significantly. any 1 else get this?

 

I also had the high pitch noise so I flashed the BIOS with the newest one F15 now I have a new problem, the fan is always running, before I never heard the fan, now I hear it all the time, can I go back to a earlier version of the BIOS I've looked on the HP website but can not find it

thanks for any help,

 

i experience this also. however i am now using HP's xb3000 expansion base and have no high pitch noise problem whatsoever. does this disprove power oscillations as a cause?

 

No, it doesn't. As was stated, plugging in/unplugging, powering on, and powering off devices on the laptop will change the behavior of the power distribution on it. Plugging something in may very well get rid of the noise.

 

I sometimes notice a low whine, nothing to cause me discomfort though..

 

Just out of curiosity, would physically going into the laptop and padding the vibrating capacitors work? I'm sure if that can be done, the problem would be solved without RMClocking or turning on the USB hubs permanently.

 

Not too sure about that, but i would be concerned about trapping heat and air circulation to surrounding components.

 

I'm having the same exact problem. I told HP and they said I can't revert back to my old bios to fix the fan problem. I was able to fix the whining with RMclock but not with the usb settings. Now the whining doesn't bother me so much, it's the fan that does. Anybody know how I can revert back to f.12 from f.15. I have a dv6244us. Thanks.

 

Ok, well that was quick. I browsed around some more and finally got the easiest solution. Bios f.15 has a new option to enable or disable the C4 state. Disable it and the sound is gone for good. Now I just gotta figure out how to cool down my cpu to keep my fan from going crazy. Any suggestions?

 

I am thinking about taking mine apart and putting AS5 between the heatsink and CPU.

 

I just got my dv6000t last Wednesday (ordered online), also experiencing the same problem.
However, sometimes after I shut down my laptop (still plugged), I can still hear buzzing/whining noise inside the laptop, it's not as loud as the whining sound of the Duo 2 Core processor when the laptop's on, but you have to stick your ear really close to the cooling fan area to hear it.
I mean, is this normal for a laptop? I checked my brother's old zv6000 laptop when it's off, I don't hear anything buzzing.
So do you guys have the same symptom? or is my laptop a defect?
By the way I have the 12-cell battery, thanks.

 

A workaround for all your High Pitch noise issues:

Go to Device Manager, and then under USB devices for every USB Root hub listed, go to Properties--> Power Management and then "UNCHECK" 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. Eureka! The high pitch noise is non-existent!!!!!

 

Sorry i forgot to include the first step.
Upgrade the BIOS to F.16, and configure the C4 state in BIOS, and then follow the above workaround.... you wont hear any more high pitch noise!!!!!

 

Just took out the box my HP dv6000t CTO and i been experiencing buzzing noise:
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
- Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo T5600(1.83GHz/2MB L2Cache)
- 15.4" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x800)
- Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 950 - Core
- HP Imprint Finish + Microphone + Webcam
- 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
- 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer
- Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection
- No TV Tuner w/remote control
- 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Microsoft(R) Works 8.0
- Norton Internet Security(TM) 2007 - 15 Months

This is the message that I sent to HP Support:
A low intensity buzzing noise coming from the under-center of the computer keyboard. Sounds
like the harddrive (please do make no mistake: i know the difference from
HD spinning normal operating noise - this is different)and the buzzing
noise seems to come and go. The problem has already surfed on the net
(for example one thread see http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7587_102-0.html
forumID=69#threadID=238102#messageID=2428779#2428779)so I am not the
only one, experiencing this problem. I tried to change the Notebook
Settings Power Managment (as been suggested by others thinking of the
buzzing coming from the battery) but the buzzing seems related to the HD
spinning or as others suggested maybe the Intel Core 2 chip? The problem
does not seem software related or display. It is not the fan noise,
please.
In general, I am a very easy with noise (I live in NYC) - but the
buzzing becomes unbearable after 1 + of use in a quite environment - so for
a $1,300 brand new computer is not acceptable. Otherwise, I really love
the computer, and the HP online ordering + shipping has been a great
experience. Please help, I hope that it can be stopped or must return
computer. BTW, I could not get through the Tech help on the phone or
online chat - I tried several times.

Please list previous troubleshooting steps, or information that can
help HP assist you. |

Has anything changed since the unit functioned properly (installation
of SW, settings, cabling, etc.). | The unit never functioned properly.
The buzzing noise was audible from the first time I turn on the computer
out-of-the-box on March 13th. Nothing was added.

Does the BIOS update works for this computer with Vista? Thank you, Massimo.

 

Check for the latest BIOS update on the hp.com website, then disable C4 state in BIOS, and then follow this:
A workaround for all your High Pitch noise issues:

Go to Device Manager, and then under USB devices for every USB Root hub listed, go to Properties--> Power Management and then "UNCHECK" 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. Eureka! The high pitch noise is non-existent!!!!!

 

what's the side effects if I disable c4?

 

I have a DV6244US, and just updated BIOS to F16, left C4 in BIOS AS IS (enable), DIDN'T change the power management setting for USB hubs in the Device Manager (leave it checked/allow computer to turn off device to save powers). The high pitch noise is gone for a few days now, I will post if the problem occurs again.

 

Hello, I just bought a Pavilion dv9205ca primarily for acoustic research. I only noticed this thread now. Obviously, it would have affected my computer choice. Having said that, I have been trying to determine if my computer has this problem. Athough there is a constant (shall we say) white noise that seems to come from the left side of the computer, I certainly would not describe it as high pitched.

My first question is: Is there a fan somewhere that never goes off? This sound (besides a louder intermittent fan) does sound a bit like a small fan. I would first like to determine if this is normal or is in fact the same sound that others are hearing.

I bought this computer primarily to use with a program called Spectra Plus. It is a sophisticated acoustics research program. I have downloaded the free trial version and I have tried using the spectrum graph function along with an external microphone to listen around the computer for this noise. I cannot see it.

If there was a high pitched sound, it should show up as a spike of some sort in the frequency spectrum. I am intrigued by the problem from the acoustics side of things especially since I will use this computer almost exclusively for such research with Spectra plus. It might be well worth downloading the trial version to see if anyone can actually measure and identify this sound problem and put some hard facts in print (frequencies, levels, etc).

Has anyone determined the approximate frequency of this noise?

Is the minor intermittent double click from within (quick click low then high) normal. It occurs perhaps every minute or so?

Again, is there a fan that never goes off, or rather does the hard drive sound a bit like a small fan?

 

Good day

Any idea what the side effects are of disabling the c4 function ?

Thanks

 

I assume your CPU won't go into that deeper power saving mode so your battery life might suffer a bit

 

I've reported this problem on my compaq v2000z a while back ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=70440). I even sent it back to hp for them to check, and they thought i was crazy . The sound can be heard only when I scroll with the touchpad or a mouse though. What I've noticed is that on the power options set to max battery, the squeal/buzz is no longer made.

 

I just bought a dv6000, knowing about the high pitched noise after reading these forums. I read about the USB ports and how doing something to them might help. What I did was go into:

More Power Options > HP Recommended, and then clicked on Change Plan Settings > Change Advanced Power Settings > USB Settings > USB Selective Suspend Setting > Plugged In, and then changed that from Disabled to Enabled.

The sound is still there, but not as loud.

 

I was hoping someone would have responded directly to my earlier questions by now. Can somebody better describe this objectionable sound? Is it transient or constant? Is it narrow in frequency or does it sounds like it is composed of multiple tones? Does it come from one area of the computer?

Is there more than one fan in these notebooks, and does one stay on all the time?

 

As far as the fan goes in my new dv6000t (with the F.16 BIOS).
Yeah, there are definitely two fans in this notebook, one for CPU and one for the graphic card. So here is how I would describe the fan noise,

3 Levels of fan noises that I have experienced so far:

Level 1 - the fan is constantly running, nonstop, but it's not loud at all, barely noticeable.

Level 2 - the fan runs a little louder but still kinda bearable. However, it's not running constantly, so it goes on and off all the time.

Level 3 - the loudest fan, only happens on special occasions, such as the notebook is running really really hot whiling performing both CPU and Graphic intense applications or games. This level happens Rarely (at least for me), even if I play games (HL2, FSX etc), it never actually reaches this level but only at Level 2.

As far as the high pitched noise goes, well, it happens constantly. Sometimes even after I shut down the computer while still plugged in, I can still hear the buzzing sound. Solutions mentioned in the forums can only reduce the noise a little bit (such as the CPU C4 solution), while the RMClock solution, reduce the noise completely at a price of the CPU running constantly.

If there isn't gonna be a permanent and complete solution in the next 2 weeks, I am just gonna return this notebook and get my money back (within 21 days). And maybe sometimes in the future there will be a better solution from HP, then I might reconsider buying dv6000 series again. (hope they will have dx10 cards, ha ha...)

 

Then the good news is that not all pavilions have this problem as all I hear is a single whisper of a fan, the occasional heavy fan, a click from the hard drive every minute or two and that is all. No high pitched sound according to ears or listening equipment. My model is dv9205ca.

Does this problem exist from the first time used, or has it ever developed (and/or changed pitch or nature) after some length of time?

 

Well, it's hard to say. The first time I started the machine, I didn't notice any weird noise, because I wasn't paying any particular attentions to the noise level. Anyway, about 1 or 2 days later, I started to notice the high pitched sound. It was sorta loud and very noticeable when the room was quiet. So I did several tweaks and updates, such as updating BIOS to the latest and disable CPU C4 feature, which dramatically reduce the level of the noise however the high pitched sound still noticeable, but not as loud as before.

It's interesting to point out that, (at least I think), that the high pitched sound somehow changed its "origin" or "position" or whatever you wanna call it. Before I disabled the C4 feature, the high pitched noise came out from the left - bottom area of the notebook, but now, it's directly underneath the touchpad and the keyboard.

 

Can you better describe how high pitched you mean? Would you say higher than the old dial up fax connecting sound?

 

Try switching the wireless off and take a listen. The sound is a very high pitched 'eeeeeeeeeeeee' sound... best way i can describe it...

 

So from what I understand, this is only happening to certain Hp's, particularly 6000, some gateways and some Mac's in the past until Apple fixed the problem..so it is safe then to buy a laptop from any other manufacturer..i.e..lenovo, fuji? It seems like no one has experienced the same problem with these brands and others...am I wrong?

 

I recently purchased a custom dv9000t from hp.com. I don't hear any high pitched noise, or any other unusual noises.

 

My high-pitched noise with the Compaq Presario v6200t CTO began after i installed the audio and the modem drivers... it also comes on mostly when viewing Flash animations or running some, but not others, applications. I called them, and they said they will fix it, and I should mail it to them in the box they are sending me.