Sager NP8690 Clicking Sound

While playing games or watching certain videos, my Sager NP8690 makes a clicking sound. The clicking comes from the area of the computer where the GPU is located. This clicking is NOT coming from the fan. I am 100% sure the fan is not the cause of the clicking sound. Unless, there is a 3rd fan in the GPU area of the computer that I do not know about. This clicking is not new, it has been happening since I bought the computer a few months ago. I also have a friend with the exact same Sager, (same video card, proc, etc.) and both his laptop and mine make the clicking sound when playing games. The sound is very quiet and is usually drowned out by the sound of the fans. For these reasons I have not been particularly concerned about it. However, I now have a few questions. One, what component is making the sound? I assume it is my GPU but I am not sure. Two, why is it happening? Is the video card not getting enough power? I have noticed that the clicking gets louder when I unplug the computer from AC power.

My Specs:
ATI Mobility Radeon 5870, Intel i7 620m, 4gb RAM.

 

This is new, I haven't heard any clicking on mine apart from that click when it powers off. Open it up, and double check the fan. I would say the clicking maybe from a bad hard drive, but that's in the opposite lower end. It doesn't hurt to make sure.

 

Well, if this sound is indeed coming from the GPU, then it would make sense only he would hear it due to the fact that you have different GPUs.

 

I haven't seen anyone report about a clicking sound, Nvidia nor ATI. GPUs don't click, their fans do.

 

While I agree that it is odd and unheard of, I am sure it is not the fan. I should clarify that it is more of a pulsing than a clicking. It doesn't sound mechanical so I am going to now refer to it as a pulsing sound. As I said before, unless there is a 3rd fan I don't know about it is not coming from the fan. A few other things that I forgot to mention that point to the sound coming from the GPU. One, the rate of the pulsing changes depending on the frame-rate of a game. In games like CSS, its so fast its really just a buzz (because that game runs over 100 fps). However, games like Crysis that run at 30 fps have a more pronounced click that is slower and louder. Also, when I unplug the computer the sound becomes louder. Finally, two identical computers make the same sound, which means it is most likely not a defect with my computer's fan. I've googled it and come up with very few useful results so I understand its an odd problem.

 

Could the clicking/pulsing be my PSU? The sound gets louder on battery power and if I try to play intense 3D games on battery power the computer sometimes just dies (even if it still has 90% battery left). I've also read PSUs can make a clicking sound because the curcut breaker is flipping on and off, or something like that.

 

I have an identical setup with the exception of the CPU and I can't say I've heard this.
Although it sounds like it may be some interference picked up by the speakers?

 

I have the same processor and have heard the sound too. For anyone trying to hear it, you really need to put your ear to the keyboard while playing something look Crysis with high settings.

 

The sound may be processor specific. No one else online is complaining about it. This might be because no one seems to buy the 620m (not sure why). If your playing Crysis or any other intense 3D game (GTA IV, Far Cry 2, etc.) get your head close to the keyboard so your ear is touching and listen for a pulsing sound. It would be much appreciated if you posted on this thread weather or not you hear it so I can figure out if it has anything to do with the processor.

 

when we had clicking/morse code sound with certain hard drives a few years ago i used my sony camcorder to record the sound and posted it on here via photobucket just so we can all hear the sound so as to advise further.

anyone got a camcorder

 

During a Vantage run, I put my ear to the keyboard (above the number pad area) and I did hear a very slight pulsing sound that changed with framerates. I'm not sure if this is the same as you are describing, as it is only barely noticeable even with my ear to the keyboard. Certainly not loud enough to hear otherwise.

 

That sounds like what I'm experiencing. It is very quiet and not really noticeable unless you are close to the computer listening for it (although it sounds like it might be a bit quieter for you). Thanks a lot for checking. I hate to ask you to check again, but if you ran the test on battery power and listened to see if the sound is louder on battery, that would be very helpful.

 

What brand hard drive do you have?

I have a Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500420AS, 500GB SATA-300, 16MB, 7200rpm wich had clicking problems..

If you have one search this thread for the solution..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sag...entus-500gb-7200rpm-now-loud.html#post5623764

If not than its definitely something new

 

My HP zv6000 clicks like that. Seems to be loudest when working the CPU. I have never figured out what the heck it is.
And it does seem to be louder on batt. I just got used to it after a while.

-K

 

I'm using the Seagate 7200.4 320GB drive.

It's definitely louder when on battery power, but still not noticeably loud unless I'm listening for it.

 

Generally the HDD makes clicking sounds, especially when the ambient temperature is above 30C.

 

Yep, I'm hearing the HDD as well, but I think that's a separate sound altogether.

 

I think it's your LCD's inverter. My old NP5760/M570U does this very noticably when the framerate is really high (like when running 3dmark01se). I don't believe it's a problem, it controls the power to your backlight and the modulation can produce almost a buzzing noise.

 

hello everyone: Has anyone figure out the problem that ATLRacing is been haivng?

 

Sounds like it could be the LCD's inverter. I don't think it's the HDD and it sounds like it is coming from the CPU, but that doesn't make any sense. In any case, it doesn't appar to be a problem.