The other day I heard a strange sound coming from my computer, I thought it was from the speakers but it was only on the left side. I tried unplugging the power and the sound went away. Plugging back in, and the sound was back. It was very quiet, kinda static like but also a little crackly. I'm a little worried, as I've seen pictures around here of someone with a fried plug, and I also of course don't want to risk the computer. Should I call apple care or take it in, or is this normal?
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Noise coming from magsafe?
- Thread starter polycat33
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Does it always make that sound? Does it only happen when it's charging, or only when it's fully charged? Is the magsafe undented? Plug it in and see if it sits evenly. Also, do you hear it if the computer is off? Off and charging? These will really help. Nonetheless, I'd say take it to checked out.
I'm hearing a VERY low noise when using earphones when my MBP is running on power from the wall. If I remove the "magsafe" so the computer runs on batteries I don't hear the sound. So it must be some kind "currency noise". It's too low to complain about it. Also the sound disappers if I touch the computer
Yeah, it's a little sizzly sounding, and it's definitely coming from the charger, the moment I disconnect it, it stops making the noise. It doesn't happen all the time though. I believe I first heard it when the computer was fully charged. I ran it off battery for a little while cause the noise made me nervous, and the next time I plugged it in, no noise. It's making it right now and it's fully charged. It actually changes in sound a little, sometimes it just sounds like really quiet white noise but then a little sizzle sound will come every now and then. The thing isn't dented and it sits evenly. I just tried putting it to sleep, and I actually can't hear the sound at all with the lid closed, even before the hard drive stopped spinning. However, when I opened it, the sound started the moment the computer came back. I guess I'll be giving apple care a call. If they thought it was a problem would they send me a new one and then have me sent this one in?
I don't know, but the noise level was concerning me, so I took it to the genius bar at the apple store and it was replaced at no cost.
I called in and while it was suggested to take it to an apple store, the nearest one is a half hour and it's not THAT immediate of a problem, it seems, so he mailed me a replacement that should come in the next few days. I hope the new one doesn't have the same problem, and I'll be glad to get the replacement. Sizzling sounds coming out of your computer just isn't right!!
i literally just noticed the same thing and was wondering what it was, the wierd thing is that if you scroll using 2 fingers on the trackpad then the noise goes away until you stop, using one finger or typing and the noise is still there.
what did they replace for you? and could they hear it easily? its not really much of a problem unless your in a silent room which i am now, and its getting very annoying!
what did they replace for you? and could they hear it easily? its not really much of a problem unless your in a silent room which i am now, and its getting very annoying!
Yeah, I'm getting the same crackling/static sound. But it doesn't matter whether the magsafe is connected or not. I don't think the sound is coming from the charger but from the speakers. And it only happens when waking from Sleep.
Any other users experiencing this?
Any other users experiencing this?
Hey guys. I don't think it's a MagSafe issue. I had the same static noise issue coming from my MacBook from day one. I'm still under warranty so I rang Apple Care. It must be a known issue as the guy talked me through a fix on the phone. He said the crackling sound on wake up is a static issue. The power is not being spread across the hardware components evenly, hence the static emission.
Right. On to the fix:
Disconnect power cable, shut down computer, then remove the battery.
Turn MacBook the right way up again, make sure power is NOT connected and press and hold the power button for 6 seconds.
WAIT at least 30 seconds before replacing battery.
Power up as normal.
This should solve any noise issues on wake up. IHTH
Right. On to the fix:
Disconnect power cable, shut down computer, then remove the battery.
Turn MacBook the right way up again, make sure power is NOT connected and press and hold the power button for 6 seconds.
WAIT at least 30 seconds before replacing battery.
Power up as normal.
This should solve any noise issues on wake up. IHTH
I think some of the people posting in this thread aren't really having related problems - at least, mine wasn't related to any crackling at startup and didn't stop when I used the touchpad...
for me, my charger was replaced after I simply explained and showed that it was making really loud crackling noises as long as my macbook was plugged in with said charger...i hadn't used that particular charger for a few weeks, it was working fine, but for some reason it started doing that..never did that with my other charger nor anyone else's that I might have used recently, one of the chargers at the genius bar, or the new one.
Hey guys. I don't think it's a MagSafe issue. I had the same static noise issue coming from my MacBook from day one. I'm still under warranty so I rang Apple Care. It must be a known issue as the guy talked me through a fix on the phone. He said the crackling sound on wake up is a static issue. The power is not being spread across the hardware components evenly, hence the static emission.
Right. On to the fix:
Disconnect power cable, shut down computer, then remove the battery.
Turn MacBook the right way up again, make sure power is NOT connected and press and hold the power button for 6 seconds.
WAIT at least 30 seconds before replacing battery.
Power up as normal.
This should solve any noise issues on wake up. IHTH
Those magsafes were the original design (appledefects.com has pictures comparing the two models), going by the earliest report of Apple using the newer design (O'Grady's Power Page), these older models were phased out about eight months ago. I haven't read any reports (yet!) about the newer ones catching fire.
Of course, you're absolutely right about what you say about replacing magsafes if they start acting weirdly. However, and I don't want to downplay the severity of the problem to those who have been affected, I would say this is not a particularly common problem. For example, in Macintouch's reader survey at the end of 2006, out of 3,000 laptops only 6 magsafe were displaying problems. Not this may not be completely representative, but if it was a widespread problem, I would have expected to have read a lot more on tech sites (both Mac and non-Mac specific).
?!?! Did someone fail to read the post of mine between the dupes? Here, let me dupe the relevant parts, just like the rest of your post..
I didn't, and the sound was brand new. The sound only happened with one particular charger, acknowledged by a mac genius at the SF apple store, who promptly gave me a replacement adapter that has caused me no problems since I got it two months ago.
Just in case you didn't get it the first time..or the second time..
My issue wasn't related to noise at startup, however I wish it was since the fix sounds easy!!
I earlier stated that I called Apple Care and asked for a replacement. Turns out the person I talked to was possibly miming placing an order, because two weeks later, no new adapter in the mail, and no record of it with Apple Care. After a second call I got sent that extention cable (the one that connects to the brick and goes into the wall) and I called the next day and they sent me the right one, yay!!
Good news: I got the new smaller adapter! Score!
Bad news: My noise didn't go away.
So I took it in to the Genius Bar today and was told the noise was normal. The guy listened, then took it back and had every other genius there listen, and they all agreed it was normal. I was glad to hear it, although confused since it seems not all people hear it. I'm afraid he may have been hearing the normal sound, and not the louder, abnormal sound. In any case, I'm really hoping he's right about what I think is an abnormal sound. He did tell me that the power going into there and then spreading over the whole board does make a sizzling sound (he used the word sizzling, which IS what I'm hearing) and that it's okay. So I'm going to tell myself it's okay, and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't start melting or something.
And be happy I have a smaller adapter now!
I earlier stated that I called Apple Care and asked for a replacement. Turns out the person I talked to was possibly miming placing an order, because two weeks later, no new adapter in the mail, and no record of it with Apple Care. After a second call I got sent that extention cable (the one that connects to the brick and goes into the wall) and I called the next day and they sent me the right one, yay!!
Good news: I got the new smaller adapter! Score!
Bad news: My noise didn't go away.
So I took it in to the Genius Bar today and was told the noise was normal. The guy listened, then took it back and had every other genius there listen, and they all agreed it was normal. I was glad to hear it, although confused since it seems not all people hear it. I'm afraid he may have been hearing the normal sound, and not the louder, abnormal sound. In any case, I'm really hoping he's right about what I think is an abnormal sound. He did tell me that the power going into there and then spreading over the whole board does make a sizzling sound (he used the word sizzling, which IS what I'm hearing) and that it's okay. So I'm going to tell myself it's okay, and keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't start melting or something.
And be happy I have a smaller adapter now!