Macbook Pro Issue Update (batteries, heat, whine)...

[zoltamatron]

probably something wrong with core...

I have to say that after hearing a lot about these whine problems, I really think that this is a problem with the core duo processor and not necessarily with the apple design. All the stories about how processor load plays a big role in the tone of the whine seems to really point to the cpu being the culprit. The core processors have fancy new power management that turns off portions of the chip when not used, so when the cpu is idle it is probably turning these portions on and off at audible frequencies. Somehow that EM interference is probably vibrating something (perhaps the shiny metal case of the MBP?) and causing these whining sounds. I'll bet this is not going to be an easy fix for apple, or intel. My guess is that apple is not being so responsive as of yet because they are waiting for intel's position on the subject, and don't really know how to fix it.

 

[TBi]

No matter what it is apple should be doing their best to fix this issue. I never knew it was so annoying until i got to hear it myself. If they had speedstep enabled then more than likely we wouldn't have this issue. I'm going to install Windows XP with the speed step driver on my new MBP tonight and watch for the frequency changes with CPU-Z. I don't know how to monitor current frequency in OSX but i'm guessing that speedstep isn't enabled.

Hopefully the OSX driver for speedstep is undergoing quality testing at the moment and will be released soon.

 

[ManchesterTrix]

I have to say that after hearing a lot about these whine problems, I really think that this is a problem with the core duo processor and not necessarily with the apple design. All the stories about how processor load plays a big role in the tone of the whine seems to really point to the cpu being the culprit. The core processors have fancy new power management that turns off portions of the chip when not used, so when the cpu is idle it is probably turning these portions on and off at audible frequencies. Somehow that EM interference is probably vibrating something (perhaps the shiny metal case of the MBP?) and causing these whining sounds. I'll bet this is not going to be an easy fix for apple, or intel. My guess is that apple is not being so responsive as of yet because they are waiting for intel's position on the subject, and don't really know how to fix it.

The only problem with this posit is that the whine is not there when running WinXP on a MacBook Pro.

 

[iGary]

No matter what it is apple should be doing their best to fix this issue. I never knew it was so annoying until i got to hear it myself. If they had speedstep enabled then more than likely we wouldn't have this issue. I'm going to install Windows XP with the speed step driver on my new MBP tonight and watch for the frequency changes with CPU-Z. I don't know how to monitor current frequency in OSX but i'm guessing that speedstep isn't enabled.

Hopefully the OSX driver for speedstep is undergoing quality testing at the moment and will be released soon.

I doubt they are sitting on their ass. Apple is infamous for denying a problem until they have a reasonable fix, and telling their tech people to resist returns until the customer pushes. In fact most companies operate that way.

Not that it is right, but....

 

[Surreal]

I doubt they are sitting on their ass. Apple is infamous for denying a problem until they have a reasonable fix, and telling their tech people to resist returns until the customer pushes. In fact most companies operate that way.

Not that it is right, but....

yeah, that is my position. it happens sometimes and they MUST be working on a fix. i just hope there is a fix and that they release it within a month or so. i think energy saver should return. that could address a few complaints at the same time. (GPU, whine, heat, fans, etc.)

 

[iGary]

yeah, that is my position. it happens sometimes and they MUST be working on a fix. i just hope there is a fix and that they release it within a month or so. i think energy saver should return. that could address a few complaints at the same time. (GPU, whine, heat, fans, etc.)

So there is no processor setting with the MBP's?

 

[tiramisu]

does the macbook pro 17" has the same problem with heat?

does anybody know? or have only the first revision of the 15" problems with heat? i wounder to wait for second revision, which is not natuarally better than one.

damn, and what about merom in august?

 

[SiliconAddict]

Best site EVER.

Also this is not the first time they have been threatened with legal action, but probably a little more serious than the others.

Yah for morons. The entire place is dedicated to hate in one form or another. And every 6 months or so you get proof of this

http://www.tech-recipes.com/blog214.php

The basic gist of it is that someone went on the forums asking what type of ammo to use in his shotgun. A few days later he goes on a killing spree and then kills himself. This is not the only example. The maturity level on SA is somewhere between 5 year old and teenager. I know web sites that have been defaced by people claiming to be associated to SA. They love to pick on a certain subculture to the point of borderline violence. The entire site has perpetuated the idea that its cool to spread hate in one form or another towards said subculture. To the extent that they have no issues about showing up at conventions and harassing people IRL. SA is a blot on the face of the internet that needs to be erased.
Mods: Feel free to remove this since it isn’t relevant to the topic but I really needed to respond to this.

 

[ALoveSupreme]

Thats because...

The only problem with this posit is that the whine is not there when running WinXP on a MacBook Pro.

Thats because the power management features that are integrated into Mac Os X are a lot better than those in Windows XP.

A friend of mine has an ASUS Centrino Notebook with a Pentium M at 1.7 Ghz. When using the laptop just with XP there are no whines , and no screen flickering.

But if you turn on a little power saving utility by ASUS called Power4Gear, and set it to save as much energy as possible. Suddenly even this Pentium M laptop starts to whine exactly as the MBP. (And yes, it is the exact same whine, I own a MBP... ) And even the screen flickering starts.

My theory from the very beginning has been, that it is not Apple's fault, but that these symptoms occur on every Centrino Notebook wether it has a Pentium M, a Core Solo or a Core Duo.

It must have something to do with the power saving functions of the Pentium M architecture based chips.

So to all people still complaining about the whine :

Blame Intel and don't buy a MBP or just accept the fact that your computer does make some noises, and enjoy this beautiful, extremly fast laptop...

I do...

 

[TBi]

I doubt they are sitting on their ass. Apple is infamous for denying a problem until they have a reasonable fix, and telling their tech people to resist returns until the customer pushes. In fact most companies operate that way.

Not that it is right, but....

I know they probably aren't. Especially with such a back lash against them. I'm just miffed that i have this problem with a laptop i spent so much money on but then again I really should have waited.

They probably just haven't got the speedstep driver working under OSX yet. Hopefully they will soon because that should bring the heat down a notch and extend the battery life while making the whole thing quieter. I'm worried about using the machine closed with an external monitor because the thing is so hot.

I'll probably return it anyway and buy one if and when they fix it. It will be my way of saying "Please fix this or else you lose money". Although if the macbooks come out soon then i might get one of those instead plus an iMac like i'd originally intended.

On a different note, mine mooed last night. It's definately the fan kicking in for a second, quite a weird sound though. I've always wondered where the MBP actually takes air in from. I'm guessing through the speaker vents or the keyboard.

 

[ManchesterTrix]

I have had half a dozen Centrino notebooks and have another 2 dozen out in the wild and have never had anything close to a whine let alone screen flickering, even with 3rd party power management. I'm pretty sure the whine is related to whatever is causing heat issues(With the thermal paste being a possible culprit). We have 6 MacBook Pros, Mine is the only one exhibiting the whine and it is also the only one with temperature problems. My case gets over 57 degrees C in some spots where the others don't even get to 40.

So, if excess thermal paste is causing improper heat distribution, it could very well be causing problems with the sensors and thus wreaking havoc with the Power Management.

 

[Surreal]

So there is no processor setting with the MBP's?

that is quite correct, sir, there are no energy saver options with regard to the processor. it has somethign to do with the fact that the core duo has energy saving stuff built in that is supposed to be more effective than picking manually. this COULD be true, but if giving me manual options could rid us of the whine...

 

[Surreal]

We have 6 MacBook Pros, Mine is the only one exhibiting the whine and it is also the only one with temperature problems. My case gets over 57 degrees C in some spots where the others don't even get to 40.

wait, 1 out of the 6?

that is still a bad ratio, but that may be why they havent been public with it. if it isnt more than a quarter, they may hope to replace the whiners until a real fix is found.

besides all of that, knowing that not all macbooks are affected puts me at ease slightly.

 

[jaydub]

Jaydub,
You wrote "One thing that is unclear -- was apple instructing their technicians to purposely misapply the thermal grease?" Why would Apple do that? You've probably heard that "there's no such thing as a stupid question". That's not true, and you've proved it. Too, there's a difference between a "Service Manual" and a "Manufacturing Instruction". The problem that people are seeing is related to the manufacturing, not service, process.

Thanks for reading the topic, this has been covered numerous times already and I was referring to THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED. Get a clue.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Well, my sister IMed me last night saying that she hears a noise from her recently-purchased Macbook, she refers to as beeping, but it's obviously the whine.

So, we'll be returning it to CompUSA this weekend, and I'm going to head into the laptop lockup and look at what we have in stock--picking up the one with the highest serial number so it'd be the most recent. Hopefully it'll help our chances with avoiding another dud.

Anyone know where I can get a form to transfer Applecare to a new computer?

 

[aristobrat]

So, we'll be returning it to CompUSA this weekend, and I'm going to head into the laptop lockup and look at what we have in stock--picking up the one with the highest serial number so it'd be the most recent.

Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.

I exchanged a W8611 (hoping to get one with less of a processor whine) for a W8614.

The Week 14 machine turned out to have the same processor whine PLUS the LCD buzz, which the Week 11 machine didn't have.

Ugh.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.

I exchanged a W8611 (hoping to get one with less of a processor whine) for a W8614.

The Week 14 machine turned out to have the same processor whine PLUS the LCD buzz, which the Week 11 machine didn't have.

Ugh.

She's currently using a W8610...how far to date have they gotten?

 

[Koodauw]

Well my battery just crapped out on my today, it shuts off at about 40%, turns off cold. Then when you boot back up again, (now using the ac power.) It says you have 40% remaining. They had me reset the PMU, but that didnt work, so I should be getting a new battery in the next couple of days.

 

[conditionals]

Well my battery just crapped out on my today, it shuts off at about 40%, turns off cold. Then when you boot back up again, (now using the ac power.) It says you have 40% remaining. They had me reset the PMU, but that didnt work, so I should be getting a new battery in the next couple of days.

Man, you're so not "Lovin my MBP."

 

[Silicon Jedi]

They love to pick on a certain subculture to the point of borderline violence. The entire site has perpetuated the idea that its cool to spread hate in one form or another towards said subculture. To the extent that they have no issues about showing up at conventions and harassing people IRL.

So this tells me that you are a [Deleted].

*shudder*

I edited this because well, I've made to posts and both have been kinda borderline flamebait.

The [deleted] community are creepy and weird. Trust me, I've met, talked, looked into them. They thrive with the internet which by the same horrible force that allows a maximal conecntration of sick twisted 14-yr-old mentality goons at SA congregate.

 

[Leoff]

Basically any negative comments in here boil down to one of Three classifications:

1) "My Mac isn't perfect and I'm gonna whine about it." Seriously, most of the people who are complaining about excess heat, a whine, etc., are taking small, average, everyday computer laptop quirks and emphasizing them for effect. They probably wouldn't even notice such things if they weren't reading these forums. A very small percentage of actual owners probably has a legitimate complaint. Either that, or some people have unreasonable expectations from Apple about it's products. I mean, come on... NO computer is going to be able to do what you want. Don't expect Apple to be perfect, just better.

2) "Apple's quality control sucks." No, their quality control doesn't suck, it's no better or worse than any other companies. Most of the documented problems that have arisen have been from the Rev A releases. Historically, Rev A and B releases of ANYTHING are going to have larger than average quality control issues. They're working on solving them, just as any other computer company would do.

Apple releases a computer. It gets rave reviews. They release another. More rave reviews. Another and another... nothing but positives. Then they release something and there are an abnormal amount of problems with it. Suddenly the company's entire history of product releases is nit-picked to death and Apple has the worst quality control ever? yeah, right...

3) "Apple's Hardware Sucks." Well, that's just simple bias against Apple. Most that answer in such a way will say they've had bad experiences with Apple's computers, software, etc., but chances are they've never even TOUCHED one. They're posting because they think they're funny, they're trying to get a rise out of people, etc.

 

[neoelectronaut]

So my sister's home for the weekend, and she told me.

"It started again."

So I go into the room, hear nothing. She asks:

"Don't you hear it?"

"No."

"Hold your ear close."

So I do.

...it's this tiny, staticy, crackling noise.

..."You're being nitpicky. It sounds like basic background computer noise to me."

...this can't be the same whine, can it?

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

Probably not, I mean, she's probably just being picky as she doesn't want any noise from her $3000 notebook.

 

[aristobrat]

Probably not, I mean, she's probably just being picky as she doesn't want any noise from her $3000 notebook.

My last high-end Apple notebook (15" G4 PowerBook) made zero weird sounds (fans don't count). Neither have any of my work notebooks (Thinkpads, T23, T42, and now T62). Is it *really* being picky to expect a notebook that doesn't make irritating whines?

 

[Surreal]

My last high-end Apple notebook (15" G4 PowerBook) made zero sounds. Neither have any of my work notebooks (Thinkpads, T23, T42, and now T62). Is it *really* being picky to expect a notebook that doesn't make irritating whines?

no fans?

i think the "staticy" sounds he is refering to is processor noises and such. you know when you use a really old computer and you hear it think? i would only expect that that is quieter in newer computers. not gone.