(m1210)The notebook emits an audible high-pitched buzzing noise.

The high frequency noice is really bothering me, it gets to the point where i get an intense headache... i went on dell.ca and see if they have any info about this. Here is what i found.

HTML:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=4

do you guys know of anyway to stop this annoying brain spliting noise? If i can't fix this i am returning this computer which is a shame since i really like it.

 

Check out this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=1652387&postcount=12

It's a problem with all Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors, as far as I know.

Try the info listed in the thread, and hopefully it'll work for you.

 

the link you have specified seems to be invalid
and also it would be easier if you could hyperlink the page intended using the hyperlink button
cheers,

 

There have been several threads about this, it seems the usual solution is a motherboard replacement.

 

hi there thank you for the replies.
yeah i did a olittle search my self last night and it seems like many core 2 duo processors have the same problem. i tried the rmclock but the idea of havingboth processors going 100% doesn't seems right to me. I also tried turning off the USB auto power saving technique and it seems to greatly reduce the whine. Ahould i really get a replacement? i doubt it would solve the problem cuz many hps and macbook pros have this problem too..

 

right now i am using the rightmark cpu clock utility to get rid of the sound but the temperature of my comp goes up to 60 degrees celcius.. oh my...
what is the optimal temperature under normal usage like web browsing and stuff?

 

Mine stays in the mid 30's with fan on low constant. I believe tha average at standard settings is 45 to 50c.

 

I heard this is a cpu issue, do you know how does replacing the mobo fix the problem?

 

If RMclock fixes the problem, then I don't think there's much to worry about. I don't know exactly how RM clock works, but the command "run HLT command when OS idle" does not actually bump CPU usage to 100% constantly. It's sort of like how if you look in your task manager, system idle process is "using" 90-99% of your CPU but really it isn't.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=104288&highlight=whine

 

I had a similar issue, high pitch noise from the top left side near the cpu vent. I called Dell support and it turned out to be my Bluetooth module. Vista Device Manager was enabled to 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power' for the Bluetooth Radio module, advanced power settings. He unchecked that setting and it fixed the noise for me. Not sure if this is the same high pitch noise you're experiencing...

 

prolly not lol cuz i don't even have the bluetooth installed haha..

 

actually i am not sure, when i configured my computer on dell.ca i don't remember opting in or out of the bluetooth features. the fact that the blue tooth light doesn't goes on tells me that i don't have blue tooth on my computer, but then i had reinstalled vista once i got the computer, maybe i need to download some drivers to reactivate the bluetooth? btw there are a couple of unknown devices on my device mananger list.. anyone know how to check whehter if i have the bluetooth or not?

 

nvm i don't have bluetooth afterall...
gonna call dell later

 

Well I have Bluetooth but since upgrading to Ultimate over the Premium that shipped it is not detected at all in Vista, device manager doesn't see it at all, no Bluetoth devices and I cannot install any 355 drivers. It shows in the BIOS as installed and it was on before I installed Ultimate.

 

called dell today, the technician told me to run the dell diagnostic, i ended up spending 2hrs running the extended test and everything and the computer passed everything. I don't really know what to do now, seems like i'll have to live with it... i guess every computer makes some noise..

 

I have also noticed a high frequency noise coming from the topleft corner of my M1210 lately.

But i seems to have disappeared now. What i did was that i turned off my Wifi and then turned it back on again. I am not sure that this helped but i havent heard the noise for 10 min or so now

Can only hope for the best.

 

thanks wanner, dell has no clue what is going on
but wheni reboot into safe mode (currently in safe mode) and i don't hear any high frequency noise for the last 30 minutes now. Maybe you can try that see if that works for you? if it works then there is probably nothing wrong with the hardware .....

 

Update:
Okay i notice that everytime the whine is going the led of the hard drive blinks.(the harddrive stops whining when harddrive light goes on) My opted for the 7200rpm 80gbs maybe the laptop can't handle 7200 rpm? should i ask for a 5400 drive instead? some advice please

 

I didnt have a chance too check if the noise came back yesterday. I will keep my ears open today .

Will get back to you later.

I also have the 7200rpm disc 60gb if I remember correctly.

 

I have been working now for 2 hours and still no noise.

edit: 8 hours now and no noise. Whatever i did helped

 

could it be the wlan card that u changed some settings to?

 

I just turned it off & on again.

I also put my computer in powersaver mode. But i dont think this have anything to do with it.

 

I just bought a Dell D820 and I am experiencing the same noise. It's like a high pitch whining or beeping, sometimes it's louder, sometimes more quiet. FWIW, I have the 7200rpm HD. I called Dell and he said if it keeps up I could return the system for a new one since I am still under the return policy of 21 days. Is it worth it to do that or are all these laptops the same?

 

umm.. i called dell last night and right now they are sending over a new hard drive. I considered switching to a 5400rpm harddrive but that would seriouslly cripples the performance... It seems to be a very common problem.. but how come dell doesn't know anything about this...

yeah, the amplitude changes every now and then, sometimes its louder and sometimes its not as loud. btw does any of you realize that when the sound goes the cylinder led light (hard drive status) stays off and when the light goes on the sound disappears??

 

vince do you know when does the 21 days count down starts? the day we received the computer or the day we ordered?

 

the weird thing is i switched off the card in bios and the sound still persists, i assume that it is not the wlan card.. so could it be really the CPU changing state? just like teh ******** that is on dell's support site..? what bothers me is that my friend's m1210 doesn't make the same noise..

 

I would assume the 21 days starts from the day you receive the item. I would call Dell to confirm. The D820 is a business notebook so it may have a different return policy. Do you think it's worth it exchanging it over this noise? It annoys the hell out of me but I'm wondering if all D820's make this noise.

Does your friend have the exact same computer as you but it doesn't make the noise?

 

my friend has the same model but his isn't core 2 duo it is a core duo
i wonder if that makes a difference. I think its worth exchanging it assuming that it would solve the problem... I am hoping that the noise is caused by my harddrive if the new hard drive still cannot solve the problem i will try switching to a 5400rpm and if that still doesn't fix the problem I guess i'll have to live with it or get a return i don't know.

 

I think I'll call Dell later tonight or tommorrow and talk to them again and possibly have them send a replacement unit to me. I'll keep you updated on what happens.

 

sounds good
i think i'll do that too... don't think the harddrive is gonna fix the problem
but i think they will send a refurbished one instead of a new one. not that i care as long as doesn't make that migraine inducing noise..... hopefully dones't have any scratches though.

 

Just called Dell tonight about this problem. This is the second time calling them about this issue. The first time the technician had me run a bunch of tests that all passed, however this didn't fix the noise.

When I called tonight the technician said he would send me a brand new system out and that I should get it next week. I'll update when I get the new system. I'm crossing my fingers on this one.

 

yeah i ran all those tests too don't think it make any difference
hopefully u get one without the sound

 

i called dell today and am getting an exchange.. it is ridiculous that i had to spend 2ks listening to this freaking noise..

 

lol i got my new hard drive today, i poped it in and tried it and the sound is still there. well right now i am just gonna wait for the replacement unit (they are sending me a brand new one as well) we'll see what happens i guess if the sound stays i am just going to live with it lol... maybe i am over reacting a little.. but my powerbook g4 is so much quieter.... =( a shame, how does anyone listen to this noise and don't think its a problem lol

 

the problem is tied to the core 2 duo processor so your G4 won't exhibit the same high pitch noise.

 

just contacted them for a motherboard replacement because I can't handle the sound any more.

The agent was named Jason B.

He insisted that I restarted the system which I was using to chat with him to take out the battery, remove the wireless card, remove the battery, remove the optical drive, and remove the harddrive.

I told him that i already did it. He asked me "no you didn't, you indicated that you did not above".

I told him "are you calling me a liar? What i said above was I shut off the wireless. It didn't mean that I had not remove the wireless before."

after that he sent out the part. I asked him if it was refurbished, and he said it was. I told him I paid nearly 2K for a new system to get a refurbished part? when it's not even my fault?

he then told me that refurbished doesn't mean that it's used.

I asked him, what does it mean than?

he replied:

Agent (NV XPS Jason B.): "Lot of our refurbished parts are where a customer orders a system and then returns it but once its been ordered and delivered it becomes not New so it is Refurbished."

then i said:

you: "don't they return it because they use the system and find out they don't like it?"
you: "which would mean that it IS used?"

then he said basically.... yes.

I'm still feeling cheated because it's a used part.



oh well, what can I do right?

 

basically, from what I've gathered. In the near future I'll just order a Refurbished. Especially once you get complete care. In the end, you end up with a refurbished anyways whether it's a part, or a whole system.

I should have caught onto that.

 

I am currently running a dual boot of xp and vista. When using vista the high pitched noise is on ALL the time. When using xp, the noise just comes every so often. Still wondering if i should exchange the m1210 because they might just give me a refurb. I expected more from Dell.

 

exactly. from now on, I promise myself not to purchase a brand new laptop. It's rediculous. In the end, I just get a refurbished anyways.

 

i asked for an exchange and specifically asked for a new system and they told me its gonna be a brand new system that i am getting. we'll see how it goes. Siruis, btw if the problem is the cpu, how does replacing the motherboard solve the problem. If changing the motherboard solves the problem then it wouldn't be the cpu that was casuing the problem would it?

 

i have no idea, i'm just stating what I've heard. Hopefully someone else can clarify this up as well.


btw jokkon, I'm sure you're aware that a lot of people have laptops that exhibit this problem and all have different ways of getting rid up it.

I guess it's a mistake on my part to say that it's tied to the core 2 duo lines, but I don't see P4's, PenM, Cel, Turions, or any other processors with these problems.

 

according to the rep that I spoke with, they will replace the unit with a brand new one as long as it's in the 21 day return period. After that you will be subjected to refurbished products.

 

i used this thread to fix my problem.

http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/showthread.php?t=3516


i hope that helps you as well because my notebook is quieter than heck now. Although it idles at 46 degrees.

 

amazing it works.
but... i still dont like the idea of using third party software...

 

It worked for me with my C2D T7200.

Thanks!

 

we shouldn't have to use third party programs, i think everyone with this problem should all call dell support and bug them and make them send replacements till they face the problem and really does fix it. IT is ridiculous that as consumers we have to fix it ourselves instead of them fixing it....
i am pretty disappointed with dell and fed up with their lies..

 

I don't like using the 3rd party software either. It seems to eat up battery life and sometimes I can still hear the noise while using it. I'm getting a new replacement D820 in the mail soon and if it still has the same noise I think I'm just going to return it for my money back and wait for the new D830 to come out.

 

same here, maybe the next m1210 would be better i don't mind paying a few hundreds more as long ..

 

Hmm mine sounds like it's coming from the hard drive? I guess not... I'd rather not disable power switching though...