Update on my MBP Repair (Whine/Heat)

[frankm007]

Bought a refurbished MBP 2.0 ghz machine less than 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately it came with the "whine" and uncomfortably hot! I went over to the Apple Store and left it for repairs. Came back with the following replacements;

SVC,MLB,2.0GHZ,256VRAM(M1-CAP)MBP15"
CBL,TEMP SNSR,RT FINSTACK,M1
CBL,TEMP SNSR,HEATPIPE,M1

I checked it out for the heat and whine issue and although the whine was less noticable it was STILL happening.

Apple releases the article recognizing the issue, I call AppleCare right away. I send the machine back to them and receive it today with the following replacements;

PCBA,LIO/AUDIO (m1) MBPRO 15"
SVC,PCBA,2.0GHZ,256VRAM (M1-RP) MBP 15"

I turn the machine on and...the whine is apparently gone! I had my ear touching the left speaker and all I heard was the processor working, no whine. However, as soon as I plug in the powercord the whine begins. I'll be checking out the heat in a few minutes but if the only issue is the whine when the powercord is on, I might just let it be...

ideas, suggestions? What was replaced anyway?

 

[joshwest]

Bought a refurbished MBP 2.0 ghz machine less than 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately it came with the "whine" and uncomfortably hot! I went over to the Apple Store and left it for repairs. Came back with the following replacements;

SVC,MLB,2.0GHZ,256VRAM(M1-CAP)MBP15"
CBL,TEMP SNSR,RT FINSTACK,M1
CBL,TEMP SNSR,HEATPIPE,M1

I checked it out for the heat and whine issue and although the whine was less noticable it was STILL happening.

Apple releases the article recognizing the issue, I call AppleCare right away. I send the machine back to them and receive it today with the following replacements;

PCBA,LIO/AUDIO (m1) MBPRO 15"
SVC,PCBA,2.0GHZ,256VRAM (M1-RP) MBP 15"

I turn the machine on and...the whine is apparently gone! I had my ear touching the left speaker and all I heard was the processor working, no whine. However, as soon as I plug in the powercord the whine begins. I'll be checking out the heat in a few minutes but if the only issue is the whine when the powercord is on, I might just let it be...

ideas, suggestions? What was replaced anyway?

funny thing is ive sent my MBP into apple 3 times and they think the heat on mine and whine is acceptable and keep shipping it back.

 

[icecavern]

My MBP 17" only whines a little when plugged in and the battery is fully charged. It's silent when running on battery.

 

[frankm007]

Josh: Send it in as many times as needed for the problem to get fixed! It is UNACCEPTABLE.

ice: Yes, that is my case too. Not sure if I should send it back or not though... is there anyone out there with NO whine (unplugged and plugged?) If so, i'll send it back!

 

[MIDI_EVIL]

[Speculation]

There is nothing Apple can do about the whine, it must be the Core Duo processor, as it is happening on both MacBook and MacBook Pro, who both share Yonah.

Apple have not yet acknowledged it, because they know that it's Intels' issue, and if Apple were to announce that, they'd be sure to piss off Intel.

Maybe.

[/Speculation]





Rich.

 

[NJuul]

Well, since they have acknowledged the whine on their website, I'd say they must have found a way to fix it.
You should just keep sending it in until the noise is acceptable to you.
Mine is high-pitched and extremely annoying when the computer is idling, so I'm going to send it in when I can spare it.

 

[rune1006]

So how about the heat?

Hi frankm007 - Did the repair do anything about the heat? Especially I'm interested in the left wrist rest, which I find becomes rather uncomfortable to leave your hand on after a while.

 

[2ndPath]

This is interesting to hear. I thought about sending in my MBP. Right now it whines when it is running on battery and is silent when plugged into a power outlet. It it would be the other way around after the "repair", I wouldn't send it in, because that would be even worse, as I am using it most of the time plugged in.

If there are 3rd party suppliers (speedit) that can cancel the whine via a piece of software, why hasn't there been an apple solution yet? They know everything about their hardware and could provide such a software based fix.

I would also like to be able to chose that the fans in my machine turn on earlier and keep the machine cooler especially if the weather is like now during the summer. And the fan noise is less irritating than the whine anyways. Ok, I am just a bit frustrated about Apple not doing anything about the existing problems.

 

[gog]

Bizarre. Mine whines when on battery mode, not on power.
It also wheezes on a cold day and when it has to work hard. Poor little thing.
Excuse to turn the music up, I say.

 

[bruf]

frankm007,

did you install Windows XP using Boot Camp? I don't know if I'm the only person who noticed this on his MBP but mine doesn't whine at all when I boot in Windows XP. It does get hotter though. I only have the whine in OS X when the CPU is idle.

I sent it in for repair when Apple acknowledged the issue in KB, I should get it back fixed today. I'll keep you posted.

 

[bruf]

BTW, it has nothing to do with Intel / Core Duo. We have many Core Duo PC laptops at the office and none suffer from the whine. It's no surprise to me that Apple is replacing the MLB on all the machines, maybe the CPU soldered on it is from a different stepping, but I don't think it has something to do with that. I'd bet on a mobo issue.

 

[Chrispy]

I really hope apple fixes this issue for the sake of those who own a MBP and those looking to buy. I ended up getting a Thinkpad X60 for my portable purposes as I just don't trust the Apple portable hardware at the moment. Also, the Thinkpad's 7 hour battery life is very useful with how much I travel.

 

[Sutekidane]

People should either learn to ignore or put up with the whine and/or heat, or sell their macs and buy a PC.

 

[Chrispy]

People should either learn to ignore or put up with the whine and/or heat, or sell their macs and buy a PC.

I would say you it it right on the head. If you can't stand the sound... don't get a mac laptop as you will probably have to deal with it.

 

[JBot]

People should either learn to ignore or put up with the whine and/or heat, or sell their macs and buy a PC.

Hahaha such a bad reasoning.
If you want to run a macintosh laptop, you will have to pay premium for the machine, AS WELL they have to accept that some machines make excess noise in an irritating whine tone.

Yep, thatll be the next mac add. 'Macbook pro, fastest whining oven available. Accept it.'

 

[Chrispy]

Well, Apple basically sends the message to customers that they have to accept their crap. If they cared, they would have solved this problem 6 months ago when it started.

 

[thegreatluke]

funny thing is ive sent my MBP into apple 3 times and they think the heat on mine and whine is acceptable and keep shipping it back.

Where do you live, may I ask?

By U.S. law, a piece of electronics has to be replaced by the manufacturer if it's been fixed three times or more for the same problem and still has that problem. I'm not sure if you could get a new one if they refuse to fix it but maybe you could argue your way into a new MacBook.

 

[Chrispy]

Where do you live, may I ask?

By U.S. law, a piece of electronics has to be replaced by the manufacturer if it's been fixed three times or more for the same problem and still has that problem. I'm not sure if you could get a new one if they refuse to fix it but maybe you could argue your way into a new MacBook.

This is a good point. Now that Apple has published on its support site that the whining problem is an issue, you have technically sent in your unit for a known problem without a resolution. If you have done this 3 times as you say, you are entitled to a new unit. Get legal on their a$$es!

 

[Coheebuzz]

People should either learn to ignore or put up with the whine and/or heat, or sell their macs and buy a PC.

Windows laptops with the CoreDuo have the whine too. At least Apple found a way to fix it.

 

[Chrispy]

Windows laptops with the CoreDuo have the whine too. At least Apple found a way to fix it.

This is not true. I have a Dell Latitude for work that is silent when plugged in with only a very slight whine when unplugged (it was worse when I got it but some windows update seemed to quiet it down). The Thinkpad X60 is quiet as a mouse and it has a core duo as well. But it is good Apple is finally trying to fix it.

 

[Cantab]

I'll be checking out the heat in a few minutes

How's the heat now?

 

[risc]

...I have a Dell Latitude for work that is slient when plugged in with only a very slight whine when unplugged...

Kind of like my MacBook Pro except it doesn't whine when unplugged. My notebook also runs cool. I say keep sending them back until it is fixed or replaced because there are MacBook Pros out there that work as expected.

 

[pincho]

People should either learn to ignore or put up with the whine and/or heat, or sell their macs and buy a PC.

put up for an annoying issue with a $3000 (aus) laptop? if ur passive and are scared to talk on the phone yeah, but not to more assertive customers, no way

 

[2ndPath]

Where do you live, may I ask?

By U.S. law, a piece of electronics has to be replaced by the manufacturer if it's been fixed three times or more for the same problem and still has that problem. I'm not sure if you could get a new one if they refuse to fix it but maybe you could argue your way into a new MacBook.

I guess the problem here is, that by definition of Apple's service the machine is 100% ok. So from their point of view the machine was not fixed three times for the same problem but sent in three times for a non-existing problem. I am no expert in law, but I guess you would have to prove to a court that this machine is actually defective and needs repair before you can make any claims.

 

[Chrispy]

I guess the problem here is, that by definition of Apple's service the machine is 100% ok. So from their point of view the machine was not fixed three times for the same problem but sent in three times for a non-existing problem. I am no expert in law, but I guess you would have to prove to a court that this machine is actually defective and needs repair before you can make any claims.

Given apple has now recognized the issue as a flaw, that makes all the prior denied repairs now count as "bad repairs". The customer is free to consider them faulty repairs and I'm sure a court of law will agree.