Does all Penryn CPU whine?

I was wondering does all the Penryn exhibits CPU whine? I called tech support today and they told me it wasn't suppose to do that and they'll replace the CPU if they can't fix it some other way. If all the Penryn CPU whines...then that would be pointless and I won't bother sending in my computer. Thanks!

 

Do a degree yes, although the amount of whine is heavily dependent on the way CPU voltage and sleep states are managed.

As an example, my x200 Tablet has little to no whine in Windows Vista/7. However, when running Linux or doing an OS install it whines like crazy (presumably due to poor voltage management).

You can try adjusting your CPU voltages using RMClock ( guide) and see if it reduces your whine.

 

Hmm well you mean lenovo tech support? They probably don't even know about the whine that has been in various core chips. I wouldn't say ALL whine, but then again I am not sure if the cases of whine are all completely contributed to JUST the CPU. But that being said I don't hear a whine on my x200, so I guess it isn't pointless. Just pull your drive before you send it in.

And I usually have my CPU on adaptive mode.

 

In either adaptive or power saving modes, my Penryn P8700 CPU does not whine.

 

Thanks for the help.
I thought the voltages were preset by intel? How come my friends Dell E6500 doesn't whine at all...well at least it's not audible.
Mine whines like crazy in adaptive mode...a bit less in power saving mode.
That being said, should I send the computer in to see if they can do anything about it?

 

It is possible to "undervolt" a CPU using a tool such as RMClock. Personally, I don't find it necessary, although many NBR forumers have reported positive results after doing so.

If Lenovo actually offered to replace your CPU to try to fix the issue, I do not see any reason not to send it in, if you do not mind the hassle. Be sure to back up your data (or remove the hard drive, as they do not need it), though, if you do.

 

it could also be from the capacitors, i remember my desktop had a "cpu whine" but i isolated the sound to a group of capacitors, apparently its no uncommon and it might be the case here.

does this whine always go off, or only while the cpu is under stress?

 

Hmm not sure, but if I turned it to a very low clock speed the sound becomes faint...

 

Read this:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?p=484908#p484908

I posted this link several times before, and people never read them. Maybe you'll be the first.
Processor's clock speed is in the GHz range, and your ear can't pick it up. It's impossible to detect the whine of the CPU with your ear.

 

mines did this as well, only whined when the clock was high and was under some stress, im guessing this is a capacitor problem.

also a CPU has no moving parts, dont see how it can create much noise.

 

Technically speaking the CPU does not really whine, as stated above its the capacitors making noises when the CPU change to deep power saving states, easily customizable on RMClock. My T8100 whine also on battery life, but be aware that also the 'whine' is present on the AC power brick, notice the noise change when you have the power plug powered but not connected to the laptop and then it changes when you connect the plug to the back of your Thinkpad.

Do not make such a big deal of this issue.

 

Ah, thanks for the link zephir. It does make more sense for DC converters to make sound.
@vert
A transformer doesn't have moving parts either...but you can hear a high pitch sound from it if you are close enough because of magnetostriction
@t30power
Don't make such a big deal of this issue? Only if you knew how loud and annoying it is. The whine exist both in with AC plugged in and not plugged in. It's not even a whine it's a more like a constant annoying squeal sound. Not to mention, I bought a thinkpad because of it's good build and this is not something that I have foreseen. As I stated, my friend's E6500 doesn't make this sound.

 

i was going to say the same about the capacitor, but im going off what i was told when i had this happen to me.

im not sure, all i know is that in my case it was capacitors and im assuming thats whats going on here since you said it happens when its clocked higher and the fact that it is quite common. the cpu usually doesnt make any noise.

 

my p8600 does not whine

 

It probably is a combination of capacitors and converters...because some of the sound does sound like a capacitor discharging. Does Lenovo use cheap/bad capacitors or what >_> because if it really is the capacitors...then how come my T43, my friend's E6500, and my other friend's ASUS doesn't made this sound. I'm confused.

 

its a dud, its not supposed to make noise, obviously .

have them replace the motherboard and not the cpu.

 

I turned off the CPU power management option in the bios. That helped a lot but there is still some annoying high pitched sounds.
So, I used orthos to do a cpu, cpu+ram, and ram test. There was no sound when doing the cpu test, sound with the cpu+ram test and ram test. I didn't know RAM produce sounds?? I also get the same sound when scrolling.

 

Any electronic component makes a little bit of noise usually...

 

umm, interesting, try prime95 or if you dare intel burn test.

the ram isnt making the noise.

the scrolling is a clue, ive hear of people with this problem before.

have you tried isolating the noise? get like a roll of paper towels and put it next your ear and move it along the bottom of the laptop and try and figure out the area its next to. (might be hard considering the components are covered but its worth the try)

 

I've heard scrolling and moving the mouse, but that was usually hard drive interference on the lineout/headphones.