Creaking/Ticking Noise Back On 2018 MBP 15

[donster28]

My perfect 2018 base 15-Inch MacBook Pro is not that perfect anymore. The darn creaking/ticking noise has transported itself to the new units and mine "ticks" whenever held with the screen open.

I really don't want to play the lottery game again, especially that I have a perfect, even backlight bleed free screen but this ticking noise annoys me!

I doesn't happen all the time and I can only here it in quite environments...but it's still there to remind me I have a somewhat defective unit.

Luckily, my last day of return/exchange is today. If you were me, would you risk exchanging it?

Do you think this will go away in time? Mine seems to have worsen a bit in the two weeks I had my unit.

Has anyone else experienced this ticking noise in these 2018 units?

 

[fokmik]

what do you mean? you mean about speakers creaking?

 

[Lennyvalentin]

Has anyone else experienced this ticking noise in these 2018 units?

I bet what you're hearing is caused by thermal expansion, and it is totally 100% benign* and normal.

If my theory is correct, then what happens is, as you use your laptop it heats up, but not uniformly. And as things heat up they expand. Some areas will also be hotter than others, and different parts of the machine is made out of different materials with different heat expansion coefficients, so there will be tensions between various components.

So when you have tensions caused by thermal expansion they will reach a point where friction in the fasteners (IE, screws, surface seals whatnot) that hold these surfaces together cannot hold back the stress, so the stress relieves itself with a quick sharp pop or ticking sound - whatever you want to call it.

If you've ever heard a turned-off car engine ping as it cools off, that's the same thing going on there. It's normal, and not a problem, and there's nothing wrong with your laptop and you shouldn't go and replace it because there's nothing wrong with it, and the next unit you get is probably going to do the same darned thing too.

I couldn't begin to count the number of gadgets I've had that tick as they warm up and cool off. Well, actually I could, it's not THAT many, but it is pretty common in today's compact, high-powered electronics, where you have these big temperature differentials between standard room temperature and the device's running temperature. I've had a surround amp that ticked, several computer monitors, several consoles (xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Wii U also IIRC), and so on.

*Not in certain older hardware, like some stuff made in the period around the time when the computer industry switched over to lead-less solder. Then you had stuff like bumpgate happen, and the much maligned xbox RRoD and whatnot. But that's been solved these days, so nothing to worry over.

 

[donster28]

what do you mean? you mean about speakers creaking?

I'm talking about the chassis creaking. My speakers are fine.
[doublepost=1533144028][/doublepost]

I bet what you're hearing is caused by thermal expansion, and it is totally 100% benign* and normal.

If my theory is correct, then what happens is, as you use your laptop it heats up, but not uniformly. And as things heat up they expand. Some areas will also be hotter than others, and different parts of the machine is made out of different materials with different heat expansion coefficients, so there will be tensions between various components.

So when you have tensions caused by thermal expansion they will reach a point where friction in the fasteners (IE, screws, surface seals whatnot) that hold these surfaces together cannot hold back the stress, so the stress relieves itself with a quick sharp pop or ticking sound - whatever you want to call it.

If you've ever heard a turned-off car engine ping as it cools off, that's the same thing going on there. It's normal, and not a problem, and there's nothing wrong with your laptop and you shouldn't go and replace it because there's nothing wrong with it, and the next unit you get is probably going to do the same darned thing too.

I couldn't begin to count the number of gadgets I've had that tick as they warm up and cool off. Well, actually I could, it's not THAT many, but it is pretty common in today's compact, high-powered electronics, where you have these big temperature differentials between standard room temperature and the device's running temperature. I've had a surround amp that ticked, several computer monitors, several consoles (xbox 360, PS3, PS4, Wii U also IIRC), and so on.

*Not in certain older hardware, like some stuff made in the period around the time when the computer industry switched over to lead-less solder. Then you had stuff like bumpgate happen, and the much maligned xbox RRoD and whatnot. But that's been solved these days, so nothing to worry over.

Thanks for your excellent point of view. I am actually thinking the same...components trying to settle in, etc. but what's weird about what's happening is I can actually replicate the ticking on mine. I just have to lift my laptop by the corners nearest to the trackpad and by simply tapping the left/right palm rest, it ticks! Yep, I can replicate it with no fail.

I have done the same with my friend's same model at a similar temperature and his doesn't tick and stays solid feeling.

I know there are variances in manufacturing and exchanging this might put me in a worse condition but it does prompt me to do something about it, especially today...my last day of exchange/return. Tough decision...

 

[SBruv]

My perfect 2018 base 15-Inch MacBook Pro is not that perfect anymore. The darn creaking/ticking noise has transported itself to the new units and mine "ticks" whenever held with the screen open.

I really don't want to play the lottery game again, especially that I have a perfect, even backlight bleed free screen but this ticking noise annoys me!

I doesn't happen all the time and I can only here it in quite environments...but it's still there to remind me I have a somewhat defective unit.

Luckily, my last day of return/exchange is today. If you were me, would you risk exchanging it?

Do you think this will go away in time? Mine seems to have worsen a bit in the two weeks I had my unit.

Has anyone else experienced this ticking noise in these 2018 units?

Mine makes all kinds of popping and straining noises when I squeeze the casing at various points. Don’t worry about it.

 

[donster28]

Mine makes all kinds of popping and straining noises when I squeeze the casing at various points. Don’t worry about it.

Thanks! I'm trying to forget about it at this point. Nice to know I'm not alone.

 

[SBruv]

Thanks! I'm trying to forget about it at this point. Nice to know I'm not alone.

You’re certainly not, no, and if you check your friend’s out closely, it’ll no doubt have the same thing somewhere. Hold it up and press the bottom casing all over with your fingers, for example - I guarantee you’ll hear the odd click or pop.

 

[Lennyvalentin]

I just have to lift my laptop by the corners nearest to the trackpad and by simply tapping the left/right palm rest, it ticks! Yep, I can replicate it with no fail.

Manufacturing tolerances. It's normal; if there isn't sufficient tolerances in a device then some of them won't fit together properly during assembly, or when you try to use them. Don't replace stuff that works 100% over quibbles like this. Did you know that yesterday was human resource footprint rollover day, or whatever they call it.

It's the day when our consumption of the Earth's resources reaches the limit of what the planet is capable of regenerating in a year. And as you notice, yesterday was not the last day of the year. In fact (or so they say), this year was the earliest "rollover" day ever, meaning humanity as a whole lives as if we have 1.7 Earths to consume off of. In my country we live as if we have 4 Earths, and traditionally, Mericans have been even more wasteful.

So think of how much energy and resources goes into building a macbook and everything that goes into it, and consider if you REALLY want to replace it because the chassis creaks when you lift it in a corner? I read of some people here on this forum who have gone through 5, 6 macbooks over coil whine, and here I'm like, STOP!!! replacing your laptop all the god damn time, I haven't even received my first 2018 macbook yet! It's your damn fault I'm going to have to wait 3 friggin' weeks for delivery!

Also, if you replace it, there's no guarantee you won't get another that also creaks in just the same way. So be nice to dear mother Earth and keep the one you already got...

 

[mcaswell]

Mine gives an occasional "tick" when in use... doesn't bother me.

 

[donster28]

Manufacturing tolerances. It's normal; if there isn't sufficient tolerances in a device then some of them won't fit together properly during assembly, or when you try to use them. Don't replace stuff that works 100% over quibbles like this. Did you know that yesterday was human resource footprint rollover day, or whatever they call it.

It's the day when our consumption of the Earth's resources reaches the limit of what the planet is capable of regenerating in a year. And as you notice, yesterday was not the last day of the year. In fact (or so they say), this year was the earliest "rollover" day ever, meaning humanity as a whole lives as if we have 1.7 Earths to consume off of. In my country we live as if we have 4 Earths, and traditionally, Mericans have been even more wasteful.

So think of how much energy and resources goes into building a macbook and everything that goes into it, and consider if you REALLY want to replace it because the chassis creaks when you lift it in a corner? I read of some people here on this forum who have gone through 5, 6 macbooks over coil whine, and here I'm like, STOP!!! replacing your laptop all the god damn time, I haven't even received my first 2018 macbook yet! It's your damn fault I'm going to have to wait 3 friggin' weeks for delivery!

Also, if you replace it, there's no guarantee you won't get another that also creaks in just the same way. So be nice to dear mother Earth and keep the one you already got...

Very good points! I've since decided to keep it.

Thanks for sharing!