Any pointers on a hardware noise/whine issue?

[FactionHeir]

Hello all,

Even though the Dell depot will send someone over on Tuesday to pick up my laptop and have a look over it and possibly replace a few parts (although I don't have any hopes about them fixing it as their technician seemed rather clueless about it), I was wondering if any of your tech experts might have a few pointers for me regarding what part of my hardware might be causing the problem described in this thread here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=183859

Now, my Dell Inspiron is not a 6000 but a 9400 and the only thing I have in common with that poster is the noise issue. The link is provided for you to have a listen at what I am hearing (mainly when running M2TW but also at times when just browing the web at a lower level).

My rig:
Dell Inspiron 9400
Intel Core Duo 2 T7400 2.16Ghz
2GB DDR2 666 (333Mhz) RAM Nanya Technology
955XM/945GM/PM/GMS/940GML Express Processor to DRAM Controller
256MB NVidia GeForce Go 7900 GS (OnBoard I think)
160 GB Samsung HM160JI Hard Drive
SigmaTel 9200 Soundcard

Thanks!

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

My hard drive (on tower PC) had a noise similar to that before it failed. Back up all your data ASAP - I learned the hard way, trust me, it's no fun. Even if it's not your HD, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[FactionHeir]

I had this noise ever since I got the laptop actually and for the past year its been fine (it improved somewhat after I reformatted and updated BIOS from A08 to revision A09)

I do have all my files backed up however from that time (except that I somehow managed to delete my CV. That was annoying)

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention is that its most audible when I go into custom battles in M2TW and hover my mouse over any faction icon or any units in the selection screen.

[Ramses II CP]

Well, for what it's worth given the amount of maybes in the situation, it does not sound like hard drive noise to me. That doesn't mean you shouldn't keep good back-ups, obviously, but is there any more detail you can provide?

When does the noise start, immediately on boot, during the Windows load screen, or only after your desktop comes up?

Does the task manager show high CPU activity during the noise, or does the noise change if you peak your CPU?

Is there any change in the noise when you go to battery?

It doesn't really sound like fan noise either, but while the noise is going on pick up your machine and gently move it back and forth with your ear near the fan outlets. Usually fan noise is fairly easy to isolate as it greatly increases and decreases in volume/intensity the if your ear is directly in front of it or shielded from it. Fans are usually an easy fix, and they're probably what the Dell guys are going to go for first.

[FactionHeir]

When I boot up, the noise is absent. It was also fully absent when I ran the extended inbuilt diagnostics for 4 hours which tested the hardware on most possible settings (well, it didn't make the hard drive run over though)

Happens when I am loading a page using IE (especially large pages), run M2TW or got Azureus running and fully engaged for a while. Since the update and format, I haven't noticed it elsewhere (it used to be there once I got to desktop previously).
The noise when running Azureus and IE is the same and different from the one I get in M2TW too. It is less abberant and is more like a quiet persistent whine.

While the noise comes out, my CPU isn't exactly in overdrive from what I can see, but then I do have very fast processors and its very rare for them to be at max usage. Regarding that, I can run a full battle on x6 speed which gets very tacky on my rig and not hear that noise oddly enough. Similarly when my laptop is idle, I usually don't hear it if nothing else is running (although to be fair, when I leave it idle for long times, it makes intermittent noise for several seconds roughly every half-hour)

Oh, and I should note that on the M2TW load screens (only those for loading a game, not for loading a battle) I can hear another noise that sounds a bit like your CD player reading a few files on a CD (except that there is no CD in my drive as I don't want to ruin it ...)

When I am running on battery, the noise is somewhat more audible at times, but if I press any button on my keyboard it makes a short and fairly quiet beep each time if that helps.

[Ramses II CP]

Interesting thing about Azureus and IE pages. That would tend, IMHO, to suggest that it's related to your hard drive. Possibly it's within the range of normal operating noise?

Fortunately a on most laptops the HD is relatively easy to switch out, so the theory is testable, if Dell fails to come through.

The fact that it's more audible on battery could suggest that the HD power saving mode exacerbates it, or it could suggest that it's a type of power fault. You couldn't truly diagnose that without some equipment, and it seems unlikely that it would produce only noise and have no other side effects.

If performance has been consistent and you have good backups of your data I wouldn't be too worried about it. Try some bluetooth headphones to screen it out?

Good luck. I'd be interested to hear if you figure anything out.

[Caius]

Maybe its some overheating. My theory cosinsts in that your system when have to work much, it starts to use the cooler. Maybe the cooler its being forced to run too much, and it could be damaged.