15" MacBook Pro CPU Whine Poll

[TBi]

I didn't find anything similar to this in the search so i thought i'd make one myself.

Basically i'd like everyone with a 15" MBP to answer the poll question and then hopefully we can get a clear understanding of whether the whine is only in some macbooks and not in others.

Before you answer the question make sure that the macbook is idle and that you are running on battery with bluetooth switched off Also don't have any of the noise killer programs running.

Running on AC makes the noise lower on most MBP's and on my machine bluetooth takes away the noise completely but also reduces battery life.

This poll is only for the processor whine

Poll options:

1. Yes, I have the whine
2. Yes, i hear something but it isn't noticeable
3. No, i don't have any whine
4. Not sure

 

[Malcster]

My whine/buzz is barely noticable on mains power (as poll says) but very noticable on battery. Its been repaired twice (logic board and speakers)

I only recently got it back, Im currently giving it a few days to see if i can live with it as it is. Its so quick, if it didnt whine it would be such a wonderful bit of kit.

edit: Its a 1.83 MBP with 2 gig RAM and 100 gig 7200 hd. (was week 8 but now has new logic board that has less issues.. allegedly)

 

[thefunkymunky]

I have a buzz/whine that goes away when I either turn my display off or have it at full brightness. I'm thinking this is not the CPU whine.

 

[Malcster]

I have a buzz/whine that goes away when I either turn my display off or have it at full brightness. I'm thinking this is not the CPU whine.

It isnt, you have a faulty inverter. One of my repairs got that fixed too.

 

[thefunkymunky]

It isnt, you have a faulty inverter. One of my repairs got that fixed too.

Just called AppleCare about this and they said noise from the screen is normal when using anything than full brightness or its off.

I persisted and eventually they said it's better to take it in to my local Apple Store to have it checked.

Hopefully they will repair the inverter thingy and replace my battery since my serial begins with W8607. I'm also going to say something about the heat. Cos this thing gets hotter than my Rev. A 12-incher. I'm apprehensive about using on my glass coffee table just incase it shatters.

 

[Malcster]

Just called AppleCare about this and they said noise from the screen is normal when using anything than full brightness or its off.

The wonders of AppleCare, i wasn't sure if it was a fault when i raised the issue about mine, they told me it was the inverter and this was a known issue!

 

[Scottyk9]

sphincter tone...

So in 2004 I really wanted the new G5 iMac, but was paranoid from reading the boards about the "fan whine & noise". I bought it, and for having a full desktop computer inches from my face, thought it was extremely quiet.

Now I was thinking about a MBP (I use a windows only program for work quite a bit), but again hesistated - sure, I was used to the heat from my 1.25Ghz G4 Al PB (but recognized the case is dissipates heat), and also the noise that everyone is talking about. But I hoped that the postings I saw were either from the minority of people who had problems, or the few who are, shall we say, extremely particular.

Well I got my MBP, and it is fantastic. Yes, the case is warm, and I have noticed that the area above the F keys is hotter than my old PB - but only checked because I had read about it. The rest of the case is similar to my PB - and perhaps I am rationalizing, but I appreciate that the case design ensures excellent heat dissipation from the internal components.

But most of all I was glad because it is quiet - I thought I was lucky. Against better judgement, I did go through the steps suggested - turning on and off photobooth, the steps above, and low an behold, I DID hear a noise difference!! Is this what everyone is ***ching about?? I can barely hear it in a dead quiet room (although perhaps hours of iPod listening has destroyed my hearing)...

Even more important - it is a similar sound that my PB made (I kept the processor on "highest", wasn't there on automatic), although quieter.

Now this post is not to downplay the problems others are having (who may have much different sounds from their computer than I do), but I thought I would give my perspective on this. I am very pleased that I have a computer that can not only come close to matching my Dual 2.5 PM in performance (not to mention smaller, quieter, and infinitely more portable), and asthetically is a huge improvement over my PB (which is admittedly a little outdated).

And when there are serious problems, Apple has come through. My Rev A iMac did suffer from power and logic board problems, which were promptly and efficiently dealt with by Apple.

 

[TBi]

But most of all I was glad because it is quiet - I thought I was lucky. Against better judgement, I did go through the steps suggested - turning on and off photobooth, the steps above, and low an behold, I DID hear a noise difference!! Is this what everyone is ***ching about?? I can barely hear it in a dead quiet room (although perhaps hours of iPod listening has destroyed my hearing)...

This is why i added the option of whether there is a noise but it isn't noticeable. With my Macbook you can hear the noise even over music or when the TV is on. You are lucky that you don't have it as bad as some of the people here, including myself.

Before i got mine i thought this issue was being over hyped by people but after first hand getting a bad laptop I can safely say that for the people it affects it is very annoying.

Back to my earlier post, thanks for everyone so far for voting and i hope a lot more people will vote over the weekend. So far it seems you have a 1 in 3 chance of getting a somewhat quiet MacBook Pro. Although i'd say this will change over the weekend.

 

[TBi]

It seems my signature link has worked and gotten more hits for the poll

WUHOO!

 

[TBi]

It also seems the whine was too much for me and the odds of getting another that whines are way too high to take a chance with that much money. My MBP is going back to Apple.

I'll miss it.

 

[eddx]

My MacBook Pro whines, twice...in the month I have had it. It does it randomly and not very often (I use it for at least 3 - 8 hours daily). So mine isn't going back to Apple but I am definately keeping an eye on the situation. Bluetooth on or off doesn't seem to make much difference. Plus, I usually have headphones in or speakers up loud or fans on or my PC on so things around me usually are louder than the MacBook Pro and its occasional whines.

I do feel bad for the people that have this problem but I would say I am one of the lucky ones

 

[citi]

I don't understand, if it whines, it can be fixed. Call applecare, which everyone has for a year, and get it fixed. This is a known issue with the invertor/logic board. It took all of five minutes on the phone for them to say, we are sending you a box to send it in.

BTW...The told me 7-10 days on the repair. I sent it in yesterday at 3pm pst - DHL. They got it today and worked the problem, it's already been shipped back to me. 2 days without my mbp is a small price to pay for a working unit.

Don't just assume it can't be fixed or it's going to be a hassle. Get it fixed.

The cost of bleeding edge.

 

[smartalic34]

I only hear my MBP whine if I turn my head sideways and stay within a foot or two of the keyboard, with no outside noise sources... in other words... i can hear it but its not noiceable