I purchased my Macbook 2 days ago. Everything is working like a dream and a half. But, when I lean my head in near the laptop i can hear a hissing coming from the left side, perhaps coming from the hard drive? In a quit room the hissing can be heard easily. I wonder if this is just a normal HD sound or something I should be worried about? Thanks.
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Macbook hissing?
- Thread starter iarejedi
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Is this an 'audio' hiss or is it a hardware hiss?
If this is an audio hiss you should be able to hear it in a pair of earphones.
If, however, this is hardware related I wonder if maybe you are hearing a fan noise of some form.
Post back with some more info and we'll see if we can figure it out.
Sopranino
After testing, I do not hear the hissing noise in earphones. Also, when I open photobooth the hissing dramatically decreases.
From the location you're describing (left side), and the fact that it diminishes when you open Photobooth, it sounds to me like you have the infamous cpu whine/buzz/hiss problem, described only a few days ago: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/346299/
The hard drive is on the right side of the system, under the palm rest, I believe, and the fan in near the top center of the keyboard.
The hard drive is on the right side of the system, under the palm rest, I believe, and the fan in near the top center of the keyboard.
Reports from the previous threads have suggested that ShhMBP (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22091) works better than QuietMBP, as it actually disables the power saving mode responsible for the whereas QuietMBP just uses up CPU cycles. It says it's only for the MBP, but it works on the MB as well (though I can't vouch for it, as I've just learned to tune it out).
Well this officially sucks.. Brand new Macbook and I have this problem, im bummed out. I guess I will just tune the hissing/humming out cause there is no way in hell im sending my BRAND new Mac off to get its insides removed and f'ed around with 
dont blame apple, blame fricking intel.
Macbooks and MBPs are not the only ones having it, it happens to many core 2 duo laptops as well, s don't worry about it.
I have the whine but is not as bad if u don't listen to it. If u start paying attention to it, you will become annoyed, seriously.
Just enjoy ur macbook
Macbooks and MBPs are not the only ones having it, it happens to many core 2 duo laptops as well, s don't worry about it.
I have the whine but is not as bad if u don't listen to it. If u start paying attention to it, you will become annoyed, seriously.
Just enjoy ur macbook
I'm having the same, if not a similar problem.
I've searched the forums and found that opening Photo Booth and installing ShhMBP do not help in making the noise go away.
I also tried QuietMBP, and no dice.
I've read that most people hear the noise coming towards the top left side of the keyboard ... but ...
I hear this noise to the right of the track pad...where your right palm would rest if you were typing.
I only hear this noise when the MB is "working."
I've only recently started to hear this noise. Ever since I got it back from AppleCare when it went in to have the screen replaced.
Any advice, help?
Should I call AppleCare or live with it?
I've searched the forums and found that opening Photo Booth and installing ShhMBP do not help in making the noise go away.
I also tried QuietMBP, and no dice.
I've read that most people hear the noise coming towards the top left side of the keyboard ... but ...
I hear this noise to the right of the track pad...where your right palm would rest if you were typing.
I only hear this noise when the MB is "working."
I've only recently started to hear this noise. Ever since I got it back from AppleCare when it went in to have the screen replaced.
Any advice, help?
Should I call AppleCare or live with it?
You'll probably have to live with it. As pointed out earlier, it's an Intel issue with the chips and power thingy's on the motherboard. The now-famous 'whine' drove me nuts when I first go my C2D MB late last year, and I almost took it back as a result. Someone at Intel obviously thought this was acceptable, which I find quite fascinating.
Aw dammit I just broke my headphones...
*grumble*
Aw dammit I just broke my headphones...
*grumble*
oh, i thought it was just the sound of the little people inside....
just try not to think about it.
we have some P4 Dells at school that have the same problem, but they sound like a boiler is about to explode.
i think you're fine.
just try not to think about it.
we have some P4 Dells at school that have the same problem, but they sound like a boiler is about to explode
.i think you're fine.
its highly unlikely that changing out the logic board would help. Nor would apple be willing to swap it because look at macbooks in noisy environments with ipods/iphones/music blaring away in the background were you cant hear it anyways. I've been through 3 logic boards myself for unrelated issues and all have made the same nose along with every core/core2 duo pc laptop I've been around(lenovo, dell, hp, sony) so far. Its definitely a design flaw in the Intel chip itself which seems to show up 9 times out of 10. Its one of the downsides to intel macs that we all are going have to live with.
well...I have tried living with it and researched the web a little...and I think my hissing/buzzing is not the same as the cpu whine that is so famous...my macbook keeps buzzing/hissing regardless of cpu load and the noise reduction tools don't help either...they just turn the buzz a little lower but still very hearable...I guess I will buy myself a protection plan and send it in for service.
What do you guys think?
I really suspect it's something different than the cpu whine of the C2D processor.
byakuya
What do you guys think?
I really suspect it's something different than the cpu whine of the C2D processor.
byakuya
a short update...
I have purchased a protection plan and contacted apple and sent it in for repair...after a week and a half I got a call and apparently there really was a defect with the logic board and they are going to replace it...
I will report again when my macbook is back if it helped.
I guess sometimes it just isn't the famous cpu whine
byakuya
I have purchased a protection plan and contacted apple and sent it in for repair...after a week and a half I got a call and apparently there really was a defect with the logic board and they are going to replace it...
I will report again when my macbook is back if it helped.
I guess sometimes it just isn't the famous cpu whine
byakuya
Solution
I've had the same hissing sound over the past year with my macbook. Had it in and out of the store for three batteries, 3 hard drives, a webcam, a power kernal, a superdrive.... finally I got fed up and called up apple myself and explained the hissing still hasn't been resolved. They authorized a replacement unit. I suggested that I'd like to hold out for the new macbooks coming out right away. They said that would be fine! Woot woot. Great timing. I love apple care.
I've had the same hissing sound over the past year with my macbook. Had it in and out of the store for three batteries, 3 hard drives, a webcam, a power kernal, a superdrive.... finally I got fed up and called up apple myself and explained the hissing still hasn't been resolved. They authorized a replacement unit. I suggested that I'd like to hold out for the new macbooks coming out right away. They said that would be fine! Woot woot. Great timing. I love apple care.
I had my 2 GHz C2D swapped at work 2 weeks ago for a 2.16 GHz until with a larger hard drive. I NEVER had this issue with the 2 GHz C2D I used for almost a year - every single day.
Today, my new 2.16 GHz MB started making this hissing sound. It's coming from where the power cable connects. Another odd thing is - it starts about 15 seconds of sitting idle with no input from me. As soon as I tap a key on the keyboard, the sound stops. It's not the speakers, CPU/fan, nor the hard drive. I seriously think it has to do with the power coming in.
I am stuck home sick from work, with my work laptop and will not be able to do anything until Monday with it. The sound is driving me up a wall when I am reading e-mails or news stories and what not.
Very Very disappointing. Especially when I was about to buy one of these for myself - the first Macbook was flawless - this one leaves me disappointed and really bitter about it.
The noise is very high pitched, yet low - but enough to drive you mad. I'd expect something like this from an Acer or another cheap discount laptop maker, but not on a 2 week old $1600+ laptop.
Today, my new 2.16 GHz MB started making this hissing sound. It's coming from where the power cable connects. Another odd thing is - it starts about 15 seconds of sitting idle with no input from me. As soon as I tap a key on the keyboard, the sound stops. It's not the speakers, CPU/fan, nor the hard drive. I seriously think it has to do with the power coming in.
I am stuck home sick from work, with my work laptop and will not be able to do anything until Monday with it. The sound is driving me up a wall when I am reading e-mails or news stories and what not.
Very Very disappointing. Especially when I was about to buy one of these for myself - the first Macbook was flawless - this one leaves me disappointed and really bitter about it.
The noise is very high pitched, yet low - but enough to drive you mad. I'd expect something like this from an Acer or another cheap discount laptop maker, but not on a 2 week old $1600+ laptop.