2090: High pitched whine from the headphone jack

When using headphones on my 2090 I get a high-pitched noise. It's very irritating and gives me a headache after a while. I've done a bit of googling and noticed this isn't that rare of a problem with laptops. When I boot up the laptop it doesn't begin until windows is about halfway done loading up, which makes me think it might be a software issue rather than a hardware issue.

Has anyone else had this issue? I've tried updating drivers but the problem remains. I've been trying to live with it, and I can, I'd just prefer not to.

If anyone has a similar problem or a solution to this problem I'd be very grateful.

 

Well, I sort of had this problem. I hooked up external speakers to my Sager NP2090, and could hear a high pitched sound. I then hooked up two other headphones and it came out fine. So, basically, it was the cable that was causing the problem, and in many cases that's what happens. Have you tried other headphones on the notebook?

Also, I think I had this problem a few years back, (where it wasn't the cable) and I found a solution, I'm just trying to remember what it was. I'll let you know if I remember.

 

Alright.

Yes, I've tried three sets of headphones; the noise is present on all three. One of them is a fairly high quality set, too, gold plated plug and all that.

 

I do not have this problem with headphones or speakers. Can you still send it back for an exchange?

 

I think it's too late for that, and I don't have the time because I need it for college.

I think I may try to get an express audio card and see if that solves the problem.

EDIT:

Is the "ExpressCard Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Notebook" the only expresscard sound card availible? It's the only one I can seem to find info on...but if it solves my problem, it might be worth it.

This should hopefully get rid of any interference from the default headphone port on my system, right?

 

I heard really good things about this one, that it produced a major noticeable improvement with the same speakers.
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=205&product=10769

 

That's PCMCIA, though, not Expresscard. I don't really know anything about them. Is there a way to convert from PCMCIA to Expresscard or something?

 

Which Windows OS are you using? It sounds like more of a driver issue than a hardware issue to me, particularly if it is only happening after most of the OS is loaded. If anyone else is having this problem please post your OS and where you got the drivers from so maybe it can be determined as to what the problem is.

I am using Vista 64 bit with the drivers that came pre-installed and have no problems with either of my two headsets or my speakers.

 

Yeah, that's the thing...see, when I initially got my laptop and was running Vista 64, I didn't notice the problem. Then, I was upgrading my video drivers, so I thought it couldn't do any harm to update my audio drivers as well. When I did that, I started to notice the sound.

I tried going back to the old drivers, but I had trouble. The driver program would uninstall the current driver, reboot, and install the new driver, but as it was installing a thing popped up saying that windows was installing its default driver for the device. This would finish before the real driver installation. Irritating. But that's rather irrelevant at this point, because I've gone back to XP Pro 32bit. From the fresh install, and installing the drivers from the disk that came with the laptop, the noise persisted.

So...I'm not sure what to think. I'm starting to think that I had the problem the entire time, but I just didn't notice it at first.

Also, see this thread, where I mention the problem and another guy says he has the same problem: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=158628&highlight=audio+video+drivers+meh

Note what that guy mentions:

"I have the audio problem too (Vista Business 64)! It's definitely a Windows problem, since I don't get the squeal under Ubuntu (or, for that matter, until the Windows audio stack starts up...)"

I'd really love a fix for this =\ It seems like a minor issue, but it really bugs me...even though you can't really -hear- it unless you try to when you're listening to music, it's still -there-, and it begins to give me a headache after a while...

 

Anyone else have this problem?

 

Do you have your microphone boost on? If so turn it off.

 

Last I heard people believed it had to do with the CPU. I think you'll just have to make due. I spose it would get annoying if you use headphones alot.

 

I think that's possible, I remember turning it on...but I can't remember how to access that >_> I'll keep looking, if someone could tell me that'd be nice too. I don't see it under the normal sound settings or under the Realtek configuration tool...thing.

I saw that with other models (some dells, some HPs) it did have to do with the C2D, but from what I read and saw/heard on youtube it sounds like a different problem. They're talking about a noise that's audible from the laptop itself just from normal use, but mine isn't noticeable except through headphones. Might be a CPU issue, but I doubt it in this case.

EDIT: Nevermind, found the mic boost in the realtek settings thing...it was off. So that's not the issue.

SECOND EDIT: Yeah, this is annoying for me, because I use headphones for EVERYTHING.

THIRD EDIT!!: OK! I found out what the problem is, at least. I went to my device manager and disabled the Realtek High Definition Audio Device. When it's disabled, the noise goes away! When I re-enable it, it comes back! So it definitely is the problem. But I don't understand how to solve it...because I'm on the most recent driver and the default driver that came with the computer is the same way.

Is it possible that the sound card is just picking up interference from something else inside the computer, and that there's nothing I can do about it with software?

 

My drivers are version 6.0.1.53397 with driver date of 4/10/2007. These are the drivers that came with the PC using the OS installed at the factory. If you are using different ones maybe that is the problem. I have not checked the CD yet, but these drivers might be the ones located on it. If that is the case try installing these ones and maybe it will help the problem. It could be a problem introduced by a newer driver.

What is the driver you are using?

 

As I already stated, I've tried the drivers on the driver CD and the drivers on Realtek's website, and neither fixes the problem.

I'll see if the one's on the disk are different from the ones you're using though, and if they are, I'll try to find a place to download the ones you have.

 

Has this problem ever been resolved for those who have experienced it, and is it a common problem for the 2090?

 

I can't honestly say I've heard any high pitched whining from the headphone jack on my 2090; I've had it for two months now and no problems.

 

Thanks for posting, I'm interested in this one.


Anyone else?

 

My sound is crystal clear through my headphones. Maybe the type of headphones? Maybe some units weren't shielded properly? I use Sennheiser PX100 corded headphones.

 

If you haven't tried this, give it a go.

1.) De-install your audio driver.

2.) Reboot

3.) When Windowz asks to find or install a driver; CANCEL/decline.

4.) Now install the driver that you want.


I hope that helps!

 

Although i belive this is an old topic , on my dell 6400 i get a annoying noise (only through headphones )and when i unplug the ac adapter it goes Im not sure if this is because the power settings are changing because of no charging or the ac adapter is interfearing...

 

I've found this is a common problem with Realtek hardware - both my Realtek soundcards have a high-pitched whine. My 2090 has it, as does my Compal CL56 (VoodooPC M360).

I've tried re-installing drivers, I've tried changing headphones. Nothing helps. The sound doesn't start until the Windows audio driver(s) start up in both XP (SP2) and Vista Business x64. Strangely, I don't get the whine under Linux...

The whine is related to the CPU clock - different speeds give different frequencies.

 

great suggestion to the same problem in this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=174973

 

Not the same problem though - that was related to the model of headphones. My machine (and, I assume, the OP's) makes the noise *regardless* of what's plugged in.

I did notice that disabling the HD audio device fixes the problem, but then I don't have any sound. Not much good there...

 

I am having this exact same problem, please let me know if there are any fixes out there. I've tried multiple drivers, and it also doesn't make the noise if I disable the drivers.