Macbook Pro whine on the newest Motherboards. (W8613)

[kntgsp]

Right, so I go today and buy my new Macbook Pro and make sure to ask about the motherboard revisions and the whine and what not......

And mine started doing it. It's from the top left side and stops when you boot up photo booth (supposedly has to do with using both cores and voltages)

Here's the info that's been posted.


I spoke with Apple over the weekend, and to my surprise, some of the issues are well known. Known well enough in fact, that Appe has already started addressing these issues in updated MacBook Pros. According to Apple, it has begun replacing the mainboard inside its MacBook Pros with a new revision. It calls the udpated product "revision D", which is indentifiable by product serial number.
Serial numbers starting with W8611: revision D
Serial numbers starting with W8610: revision C



Here's the problem.....My Serial Number starts with W8613

So uhhh, is that revision F?

Because if so, (and I'm almost positive the W8613 is the latest), then the noise still exists


However I should note that I don't have any "flickering" from the lcd regardless of brightness settings, and the wake up from sleep works fine.

I did, however, install an extra 1gig simm of ram (Value Select brand...yea I know, that's probably the problem) and it worked fine for a while, and then gave me random restarts. And I'm positive it's securely installed because if it isn't, the MacBook Pro doesn't boot and just beeps and blinks the sleep light at you.

Anyway, just thought I'd share some thoughts.

Here are my specs

2.16Ghz
256mb X1600
100GB 7200RPM HD
1GB Ram (1x1gb simm) - I took my value select (haha yea it's crap, my own fault) out b/c of the random restarts

And to reiterate, my serial starts with W8613

I'm going to go back to the store this morning and speak with them, either about what to do or demand a replacement. This is absolute insanity that it is still a problem on the F REVISION. I mean.....wow.

Oh well, at least I've only had it from a day and it's from the Apple Store.

EDIT:

Here's a screenshot.

 

[kntgsp]

Oh and just to note. I haven't had any random restarts at all since removing the ram, and I've been up and running for 2 hours.

So I'm positive it has to do with the ram. It IS the correct ram as well (I double check, just because I'm paranoid). I think I might shell out the extra bucks for the ram from the apple store, because then at least I'm assured it works.

 

[chosenwolf]

I hear ya.

Some people on here say to deal with it, but it seems that you feel the same way I do. I cannot stand the whine and am annoyed while doing work on the MBP. I will be giving the Apple Store a visit soon also!

 

[kntgsp]

I hear ya.

Some people on here say to deal with it, but it seems that you feel the same way I do. I cannot stand the whine and am annoyed while doing work on the MBP. I will be giving the Apple Store a visit soon also!

See, the weird thing is, right now it's not doing it. And I have iTunes and Safari running only, not Photo Booth. It's totally sporadic. I have the power cable plugged in just as before. It has to be something with voltage regulation and CPU power consumption, it just HAS to be.

I downloaded the iStat Pro widget to monitor the CPU consumption and watch for changes when the whine starts. I have iTunes open and idle, so CPU percentage is at 0-3%. I load up a video in itunes, goes up to 15%, still nothing.

I've had the computer idle, with only Safari running, and it whines then, while browsing MacRumors, at which point the CPU consumption couldn't be higher than what I've been monitoring.

I think it can be fixed with firmware/software update eventually, so I'm going to wait and see if it acts up like crazy again. It's just annoying. I have really good hearing (I can hear a CRT monitor/tv when it's on in a silent room), but this is louder. And it clearly exists, because I boot up photo booth, and then it dissapears. I still have 13 days to return it, and I have applecare regardless, so if it craps out or does non stop whining I'll take it in.

Of note though is the RAM issue. It seems other people have had problems with aftermarket RAM (not just my poor decision to use ValueSelect) and random reboots while using it. So I guess I'll just pony up the extra and get the Apple RAM (Samsung or whichever) from the Apple Store, as at least then it's identical in every aspect and won't give me random reboots.

 

[zenvision]

hmm this whole whining macbook thing is getting me worried, especially with the new revisions! you'd think it would have been fixed by now. ill be using my macbook (i was going to order it this week, maybe i should wait...) mostly for audio and music programs, so as you can understand this is a big deal.

oh yeah does anyone know if the whine is still present when running xp through boot camp?

 

[kntgsp]

hmm this whole whining macbook thing is getting me worried, especially with the new revisions! you'd think it would have been fixed by now. ill be using my macbook (i was going to order it this week, maybe i should wait...) mostly for audio and music programs, so as you can understand this is a big deal.

oh yeah does anyone know if the whine is still present when running xp through boot camp?

Right, which is why I think it's frustrating as I'm an audiophile. I've been running it for 2 hours now, with absolutely no whining though. Rather confusing if you ask me. I know it has something to do with the different core usages and voltage regulations, but I've been using everything from itunes/ichat to interarchy/safari and quicktime. I dunno, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

The only difference is right now I have it on my lap laying in bed, rather than on the desk. But I highly doubt that's the issue.

Other than that, this revision seems to be flawless. Wicked fast and the brightness/flickering and airport/wake up problems seem to be fixed.

I also do have all the software updated to the most recent, so it's the latest revision mobo/boot rom version.

 

[Alan_Arkin]

I am actually on my 4th Macbook Pro in three weeks. The first had dead pixels in the center of the screen, the second bad VRAM, the third a bad right speaker and bad hard drive, and the fourth had a logic board problem after 1 day. All of them had the CPU whine. When I went in this morning to the Apple Store, I had them give me the latest serial numbered Macbook Pro they had. It was W8612...

This one actually does not appear to have the whine. I did have one other W8612 and it had the whine, as did the W8610 and the first one which had an even earlier number. The guys at the Apple Store said that they all have them to some extent, but this one certainly the lowest whine of them all -- if it has it at all.

 

[Kaiser Phoenix]

Could it be that the whine is actually INTELS problem and not Apples? i mean I think Apple are trying to do what they can from their end, but say, if the proc or mobo was problematic due to intel, then maybe intel is pulling apples leg??

 

[MacSyn]

Use a small program named MagicNoiseKiller to stop your MBP whining, it works well with 10.4.6.

 

[zenvision]

Use a small program named MagicNoiseKiller to stop your MBP whining, it works well with 10.4.6.

Well I suppose its a start, but seriously, if a small program can eliminate the noise, why can't Apple work something out in a firmware update or something? It just seems ridiculous, especially when we're talking about £2000 machines here.

 

[kntgsp]

Well I suppose its a start, but seriously, if a small program can eliminate the noise, why can't Apple work something out in a firmware update or something? It just seems ridiculous, especially when we're talking about £2000 machines here.

Right. Actually funny about that. Mine hasn't made the noise since last night.

Kind of odd, but I'm crossing my fingers

Maybe mine, the W8613, is mostly fixed.


I'll keep posting updates if I notice anything else.

 

[FS-Zero]

I have a 8613, and I notice the cpu whine as well but only when it is running on battery

They did fix the lcd brightness whine issue as mine does not have that problem

I managed to stop the whine by either opening the mirror widget

or opening photo booth, selecting a picture I took from the program; and then close the program

 

[chosenwolf]

Use a small program named MagicNoiseKiller to stop your MBP whining, it works well with 10.4.6.

Didn't work for me. I think once you update the firmware it stops working!

 

[james100]

How about heat? You said you were using it on your lap, are you comfortably able to do so even after running it for a few hours?

 

[chosenwolf]

How about heat? You said you were using it on your lap, are you comfortably able to do so even after running it for a few hours?

No way! This thing gets scorching hot in less than an hour. You have to avoid contact with the top bar above the function keys and underside of the laptop at all costs.

I have a 8613, and I notice the cpu whine as well but only when it is running on battery

They did fix the lcd brightness whine issue as mine does not have that problem

I managed to stop the whine by either opening the mirror widget

or opening photo booth, selecting a picture I took from the program; and then close the program

The problem with opening the mirror widget and keeping it on is that it drains more battery than it should. Why should your iSight camera be powered when you don't need to use it?

 

[Cybix]

the whole 'revisions' thing is garbage.

isnt it 'weeks' not revisions?

I have a week '10' and it shows no signs of any problems I've read about anywhere, and I have damn good ears and eyes...

yet my wife's week '10' MBP... a handful of the key's on the keyboard stop working after a short period of use.. but still, no whining or other issues.. crazy!

 

[sel1965]

No way! This thing gets scorching hot in less than an hour. You have to avoid contact with the top bar above the function keys and underside of the laptop at all costs.



The problem with opening the mirror widget and keeping it on is that it drains more battery than it should. Why should your iSight camera be powered when you don't need to use it?

I'm wearing shorts right now, mbp on my lap for the last hour and a half and I'm fine the heat doesn't bother me at all. Maybe some of us are just a little more use to heat. You know the saying can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.

 

[XP Defector]

Or rather, don't spend 2k a poorly designed MacBook Pro...

 

[powerhd]

I'm on my second MBP (W8613), which whines when running on batteries. Running MagicNoiseKiller stops the whine. But the strange thing is that if I have a USB keyboard/mouse plugged in and run MagicNoiseKiller the whine does not stop. However, if I unplug the keyboard/mouse, run MagicNoiseKiller the whine stops and then if I plug them back in - still no whine.

 

[dylans]

MagicNoiseKiller

Yeah, I put MagicNoiseKiller as on of the Applications to start on login, and no more noise from the computer. But still...

 

[Chrispy]

This disturbs me. I would buy a MBP if it was not for these problems... sigh. Why can't Apple just make a 15" laptop that freakin' works.

 

[nylon]

I wouldn't worry about the whine too much. It will be resolved when Apple updates the power management driver of the MBP. It has to do with proper voltage regulation. When I first bought my Thinkpad T40 a couple of years ago it exhibited the same wine when running on battery as well as plugged in. A couple of power management driver updates sorted that out completely.

People who are running Boot Camp have reported that there is no whine under Windows on the MBP. There is also no power management under Windows XP on the MBP (hence the poor battery life). I know it can be very annoying especially in a quiet room, however let the drivers mature a little bit for the MBP and all should be fine.

 

[kntgsp]

I wouldn't worry about the whine too much. It will be resolved when Apple updates the power management driver of the MBP. It has to do with proper voltage regulation. When I fo\irst bought my Thinkpad T40 a couple of years ago it exhibited the same wine when running on battery as well as plugged in. A couple of power management driver updates sorted that out completely.

People who are running Boot Camp have reported that there is no whine under Windows on the MBP. There is also no power management under Windows XP on the MBP (hence the poor battery life). I know it can be very annoying especially in a quiet room, however let the drivers mature a little bit for the MBPand all should be fine.

Yes, I too believe it is a voltage regulation issue, as when both cores are in use, or there is more stress load, the whine stops. I've just been using iStat Pro to watch the cpu stress and usage, nothing specific, but I do notice under higher load of 50%ish or more, the whine is absent.

It's totally firmware-side, I'm just pissed that this has been around for months now, and still now update. That's just pure laziness.

 

[dailo]

I was going to take my MBP to the genius bar to get it replaced, but I guess it's a problem even with the newer ones. Can anyone confirm that the newer revisions of the MBP do not run as hot as the earlier revisions?

 

[nylon]

I was going to take my MBP to the genius bar to get it replaced, but I guess it's a problem even with the newer ones. Can anyone confirm that the newer revisions of the MBP do not run as hot as the earlier revisions?

I will be taking delivery of W8614 (week 14 build) either today of tomorrow. I will put up a post when I've had a chance to examine it.