I'm going insane from this sound.

vogelhausdesign · Nov 29, 2009, 04:00 AM

So, for the past 7 weeks or so.. My Mac pro 2.93 Octo-Core has been making the sound from the movie "Sunshine" where the ship is pinging a distress signal , it's a rather alien sound and it's driving me INSANE.

It only happens when their is no input to my speakers, in example.. if i'm watching a movie or have itunes open playing music, it doesn't happen.

However when it's idle it will make this same sound over and over in perfect repetition and time. the sound last for 3 seconds, then is silent for 2 seconds, then it's back again.. over and over.. I've tried different speakers, headphones.. you name it. it's got to be the sound card.

I have apple care, but I work daily for a living with this machine and cant afford the time spent sending this machine away for a replacement part.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking about recording this sound and posting it here so you all can hear it and imagine hearing it several hundred times a day.

dukebound85 · Nov 29, 2009, 04:04 AM

well it is a good movie lol

could it be cable interference?

BlackiBook · Nov 29, 2009, 04:07 AM

Why not just plug in a pair of headphones? I am sure that would at least make it somewhat of a better situation!

Techhie · Nov 29, 2009, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vogelhausdesign

So, for the past 7 weeks or so.. My Mac pro 2.93 Octo-Core has been making the sound from the movie "Sunshine" where the ship is pinging a distress signal , it's a rather alien sound and it's driving me INSANE.

It only happens when their is no input to my speakers, in example.. if i'm watching a movie or have itunes open playing music, it doesn't happen.

However when it's idle it will make this same sound over and over in perfect repetition and time. the sound last for 3 seconds, then is silent for 2 seconds, then it's back again.. over and over.. I've tried different speakers, headphones.. you name it. it's got to be the sound card.

I have apple care, but I work daily for a living with this machine and cant afford the time spent sending this machine away for a replacement part.

Any suggestions? I'm thinking about recording this sound and posting it here so you all can hear it and imagine hearing it several hundred times a day.

Things like this tend to be software based, due to the need to store that sound in some sort of memory and then play it back. I would reinstall OS X, or restore from a backup that was made before this happened. This would likely be the first thing they would do at the Genius Bar anyway, so if anything it will save you/them the time.

Tesselator · Nov 29, 2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techhie

Things like this tend to be software based,

No, the machine is possessed plain and simple.

vogelhausdesign · Nov 30, 2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tesselator

No, the machine is possessed plain and simple.

I'm with this guy.. I've fresh installed and restored from backup a few times in the 7 weeks due to a hard drive error, and the sound seems to follow shortly after, every time. anyone else have any ideas?

Grimace · Nov 30, 2009, 12:46 AM

Some setting in your backup might be making it create the sound so restoring won't ever solve it. The only thing that would probably do it is to do a clean install, and then manually copy back the documents, music, photos, movies folders - but not any of the system/user files from the previous installation.

Unless there is a problem with one of the files you drag over, this will allow you to isolate just the stuff that you need and start the library (both system and user) afresh.

Jason Beck · Nov 30, 2009, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tesselator

No, the machine is possessed plain and simple.

Agreed.

alphaod · Nov 30, 2009, 03:13 AM

Sounds like inductor whine. Usually happens when the inductor coils are passing a lot of electricity and the coils vibrate at an audible frequency.

If it is indeed the cause I have described, then the only way to fix it is to isolate the source and replace the part. Usually this happens in the GPU or power supply.

drayon · Nov 30, 2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grimace

Some setting in your backup might be making it create the sound so restoring won't ever solve it. The only thing that would probably do it is to do a clean install, and then manually copy back the documents, music, photos, movies folders - but not any of the system/user files from the previous installation.

Unless there is a problem with one of the files you drag over, this will allow you to isolate just the stuff that you need and start the library (both system and user) afresh.

So what's the difference between a fresh install and a clean install? lol The guy has already said he performed a fresh install.

Im in the possessed camp too.

quantum003 · Dec 1, 2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphaod

Sounds like inductor whine. Usually happens when the inductor coils are passing a lot of electricity and the coils vibrate at an audible frequency.

If it is indeed the cause I have described, then the only way to fix it is to isolate the source and replace the part. Usually this happens in the GPU or power supply.

+1 stud points for this guy.

fluffyx · Dec 2, 2009, 03:37 PM

It sounds like you need repair. If you have AppleCare and live within 50 miles of an Apple-Authorized Service Provider, you're eligible for an on-site repair where a technician comes to your home free of charge.

Call 800-APL-CARE, let them know that you've reset the PRAM, SMC, and reinstalled the operating system and you're still having trouble. Let them know that you'd like to arrange for an on-site repair, as that was an advertised benefit of the AppleCare package that you purchased.

You can visit tinyurl.com/findaasp to discover whether there's an AASP near you.

Good luck!

Nov 29, 2009, 04:00 AM	#1
vogelhausdesign macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Columbus, Ohio	I'm going insane from this sound. So, for the past 7 weeks or so.. My Mac pro 2.93 Octo-Core has been making the sound from the movie "Sunshine" where the ship is pinging a distress signal , it's a rather alien sound and it's driving me INSANE. It only happens when their is no input to my speakers, in example.. if i'm watching a movie or have itunes open playing music, it doesn't happen. However when it's idle it will make this same sound over and over in perfect repetition and time. the sound last for 3 seconds, then is silent for 2 seconds, then it's back again.. over and over.. I've tried different speakers, headphones.. you name it. it's got to be the sound card. I have apple care, but I work daily for a living with this machine and cant afford the time spent sending this machine away for a replacement part. Any suggestions? I'm thinking about recording this sound and posting it here so you all can hear it and imagine hearing it several hundred times a day. __________________ Cory, Designer/Owner www.growthserum.com

Nov 29, 2009, 04:04 AM	#2
dukebound85 macrumors 603 Join Date: Jul 2005	well it is a good movie lol could it be cable interference? __________________ Old Bike: 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Green Current Bike: 2003 Suzuki SV650S Copper

Nov 29, 2009, 04:07 AM	#3
BlackiBook macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Norman, Oklahoma	Why not just plug in a pair of headphones? I am sure that would at least make it somewhat of a better situation! __________________ 13" Aluminum MBP, 2.26 GHz, 4 GB Ram; 13" White Macbook 2GB Ram 17" iMac G4; 12" iBook G4 1.03 GHz, 1.5 Gb 8 GB Touch; 8 GB iPhone 3G

Nov 30, 2009, 12:46 AM	#7
Grimace Contributor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: with Hamburglar.	Some setting in your backup might be making it create the sound so restoring won't ever solve it. The only thing that would probably do it is to do a clean install, and then manually copy back the documents, music, photos, movies folders - but not any of the system/user files from the previous installation. Unless there is a problem with one of the files you drag over, this will allow you to isolate just the stuff that you need and start the library (both system and user) afresh. __________________ Canon 1Ds Mk III • Canon 5D MkII 16-35mm f/2.8L II • 24-70mm f/2.8L • 70-200mm f/2.8L IS 50mm f/1.2L • 85mm f/1.2L • 135mm f/2L • 300mm f/2.8L IS

Nov 30, 2009, 03:13 AM	#9
alphaod Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LIE x37	Sounds like inductor whine. Usually happens when the inductor coils are passing a lot of electricity and the coils vibrate at an audible frequency. If it is indeed the cause I have described, then the only way to fix it is to isolate the source and replace the part. Usually this happens in the GPU or power supply. __________________ Search before you post: MRoogle Mac Pro E09 (2x2.66/6x2GB/4x300GB10K/GTX285) \| Dell 3007WFP-HC (30") MacBook Air M09 (2.13/2GB/128GB) \| iPhone 3GS (32GB/White/Unlocked)

Dec 2, 2009, 03:37 PM	#12
fluffyx macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2007	It sounds like you need repair. If you have AppleCare and live within 50 miles of an Apple-Authorized Service Provider, you're eligible for an on-site repair where a technician comes to your home free of charge. Call 800-APL-CARE, let them know that you've reset the PRAM, SMC, and reinstalled the operating system and you're still having trouble. Let them know that you'd like to arrange for an on-site repair, as that was an advertised benefit of the AppleCare package that you purchased. You can visit tinyurl.com/findaasp to discover whether there's an AASP near you. Good luck! __________________ Expert Mac Repair—Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, GA

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