PowerPC :: Squeaking Or Scratching Noises / Noise Coming While Processor Works
Nov 2, 2007
I have a PowerBook G4 15" Laptop and it's recently started making a buzzing noise. It drives me crazy! The noise seems to come from the processor and happens whenever I'm scrolling through web pages, hovering over my dock, launching applications or pretty much whenever the computer is doing anything.
I've googled the issue and found it to be quite common, even being some posts on this forum. Here's the best info I've found so far:
"The squeaking is actually the processor going into Nap mode, and has been noticed on a number of G4 and G5 models. To save power when the processor has a little bit of idle time, it essentially turns itself off. What is happening when it's squeaking like this is it is alternating very rapidly between going in and out of Napping as the processor waits for more things to do. I've noticed that it happens most often during an active SSL connection; an https:// connection, Software Update, checking E-mail on a secure server, or any other secure connections can make this squeaking noise. There are many other ways to produce it too, such as scrolling through a web page or some other more graphic-intensive process.
If you want to check and/or get rid of it, you can download the CHUD tools (part of Apple's Developer Tools, and also available separately). The Processor preference pane (formerly called Hardware) will let you disable Napping, after which point the squeaking should go away. The squeaking also goes away if you reduce processor speed by turning Energy Saver processor performance down to Reduced. However, I'd recommend that you leave Napping enabled (to reduce heat output and increase battery life), so leave it in the default state."
I've downloaded the CHUD tools program and turned off Nap mode, I think. But it still makes the noises! I cannot figure out how to reduce processor speed. So frustrating. Anyone have any advice?
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Nov 14, 2010
I have an aluminum macbook that is abou a year and a half old. It is making a weird scratching noise every few minutes. It sounds like I have DVD spinning in my disk drive and I am moving the laptop around. There is no disk in it so I am worried it's coming from my HD. Any ideas on what I should do?
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Dec 21, 2010
I recently purchased a gently used MacBook. Running 10.5.8. The computer sounded and operating perfectly until I made the following software updates:
MAC OS X Update Combined
iTunes
QuickTime
Security Update 2010-007
Remote Desktop Client Update
Airport Base Station Update
iLife Support
Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 5
Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 8
Safari
FrontRow
Airport Utility
Now I have an annoying hum noise, that could possibly be the fan.I have run Disk Utility, but the annoying hum noise remains. Does anyone have any suggestions before taking this by an Apple Store.This was intended as a Christmas gift for my wife. Can anyone spare me the embarassment?
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Mar 27, 2009
I have a Macbrook Pro, one generation old. In the past week, it started making a high pitched noise from the upper left hand corner, near the keyboard. When I pick the computer up and change the angle, I can eliminate the noise.
Just in the past day I noticed that in addition to this high pitched noise, periodically a much louder, different noise comes from the same area, which again, if I move the computer around, I can minimize the noise.
My guess is that there is something loose in the computer, maybe a fan? Should I bring it to apple? My computer has been running pretty slow lately, could this have anything to do with it?
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May 10, 2009
when I was browsing the BBC website . I happened upon the front page and could hear a crackling sound, eventually after looking round the room for about 5 minutes I realized it was the macbook.
When the news page 'scroller' at the top types its news story out in a tika tape kinda way that is when the crackling noise happens .
does this make sense ? is my macbook faulty ? ..does it take soo much power to perform this function as to make my macbookCPU crackle ?
the noise is coming from approx the center of the notebook and is quiet(ish) but audible enough
anyone have any ideas ?
link to the site is below , you'll see the words scrolling across the screen at the top which then creates a clickable link to a news story : URL
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Jul 28, 2008
I have a PowerMac G4 with mirrored drive doors and just realized that my HDD (I think) is making these wierd scratchy squeaking noises. It might be my fan making them but I am not 100% sure. I am hoping that this doesn't mean the HDD is about to kick the bucket. Should I get a new HDD and ditch the old one? How would I go about swapping hard drives? I know there are issues with getting the new one to boot the comp n such.
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Feb 28, 2007
but anytime someone pounds on the table and I have my 12' iBook just chilling on it, it makes a resetting noise, a very mechanical sound that makes it seem like it's resetting itself once. I have no idea why, and I just beg people around me to regulate their anger.
However, even when I am picking up my iBook it'll make the noise.Is this a sign of a deteorating cd-rom drive? Or are most iBooks and Apple laptops like this?
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Sep 18, 2007
How can I decrease the noise coming from my emac?
Sounds like a Jumbo jet taking off. Most of the noise sees to be more from the wooshing of the air through the vents rather than the fan.
I've vacuumed all the dust out of it (I bought it used).
Any ideas that don't require major surgery. I'm wondering if putting a new fan in would help? How much are new fans?
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Dec 10, 2006
My Powerbook has been making a static-y sound from the back of it at random times. It sometimes won't do it all day, and then it will randomly start, and won't go away for a while. It's actually doing it right now! I've tried putting it to sleep for a few minutes, but it started back up again when i woke it up. There, it just stopped again! It can last from a few minutes to an hour, completely randomly! This problem started when I had Apple replace the logic board on the Powerbook a few months back, and numerous repairs later, nothing has changed, so I'm hoping someone here has an easy fix!
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May 14, 2012
I'll be using the Air and all of a sudden there will be static or electrical buzzing coming out of the right speaker on my 13" MacBook Air. It's about 16 months old.
Info:
MacBook Air (13-inch Late 2010), Mac OS X (10.7.3)
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Oct 1, 2009
Sometimes I lift and carefully move my 17-inch MBP a short distance to another flat surface without putting it to sleep mode, it starts making really loud mechanical noise when I put it down, so loud that people in the same room can hear the noise and I can feel vibrations too! What causes this? Where does this noise come from? Is my MBP defective?
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Jul 14, 2008
Has anyone else had problems with an old G3 Pismo making an annoying squealing noise when plugged into a charger? There's a lot of noises mentioned in mac/apple forums but none of them relate to this one. Here's what it is not:
It's not coming from the screen or the fan or the speakers (it's under the keyboard). It's not low or slightly annoying (it is a loud squeal). It happens only when the power adaptor is plugged into the laptop.(it used to cease after I unplugged the power adaptor and plugged it back in three times; now that solution doesn't stop the noise anymore). It charges ok, and runs ok, scream or no-scream. It's quiet right now, but if I move the adaptor to another plug it will start again.
I was going to live with this, but today after an hour of operating quietly it just started again, and I hate to leave the house with this going.(it will scream whether the laptop is on or off. I have a really old battery and cannot replace it (I am currently staying in Mexico for the summer). Battery life is 45 min. I haven't tried pulling the battery out. That would be too easy.
This all started when I bought a replacement power adaptor (generic),after the original one melted down, but I could stop the screaming by unplugging/plugging it in again once or twice. Then I bought an expensive iGo adaptor, and it does the same thing.
I Did the PRAM and PMU reset.I can hear it over music or the tv. It grew lower in pitch today after squealing for a half hour. I'd normally not let it go on that long, but i was
in the other room.Is my PISMO dying?
(400 mhz pismo G3 500 sdram, osx-10.39, no os-9 or Classic, new 80g HD)
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Oct 25, 2009
I have just discovered that there are strange noises from my 21.5" iMac (1TB, ATI 4670).I have no idea where do the noises come from (maybe harddrive?)
Can anyone can tell me?
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Feb 1, 2009
I have a 1.86ghz 128GB SSD Rev B Macbook Air. The first one I had made a high pitch whining noise when the processor was idling or under light load. It was a very very high frequency noise, and you could only really hear it when the room was totally quiet - or unless you put your head near the top left side of the keyboard (where the CPU is located). A bit of googling and it seemed that older Macbook Pros also seemed to have had this exact problem.
I took it to the Apple Store and a Genius there took it back and said he could hear it as well. He offered to go through the repair process but since that would have taken awhile, I got an exchange instead from where I bought it from. Unfortunately, this new MBA also makes the same noise but to a slightly lesser degree (though it's possible that the frequency range isn't as high so it's not as piercing... hard to tell though).
Since this is my second RevB Macbook Air with the problem. I realize most people have lower noise sensitivity than me, so you might not notice it unless you place your ear to the top left of the keyboard. (And just to be clear, this is not a fan noise or a noise from the SSD - which don't make noises anyways. I am 100% sure this high pitched noise is coming from the CPU or somewhere on the logic board.)
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May 31, 2008
My Macbook Pro is fairly new, and the hinge on both side is already making squeaking noise when I open my screen. It gets a bit annoying, I open it from the center top of the screen, not by the side. Is this a problem that I should be taking to the Apple Store? Or this can be fixed easily?
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Jun 14, 2010
Let's hope this happens for Mac Pro's as well.Here's the story on AppleInsider...Apple may be laying the foundation for TRIM support in future Macs, a technology that should allow their solid state flash drives to maintain optimal performance throughout the life span of the systems.The Mac maker's most recent 13-inch MacBook Pros display an option for TRIM support in their system profilers on SSD-equipped models, one which isn't present in either the second-generation unibody 15-inch MacBook Pros or the latest refresh sporting Intel's Core i5 and Core i7 processors.
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Dec 27, 2010
ive had a look around an only found bits an pieces relating to this but nothing really specific.i have an imac 3.06ghz, 4gb memory. less than a year old its been making some noises recently (like a downloading sound for afew seconds every so often) which happens every 30 seconds or so. this happens even when theres no programs open and im not connected to the internet!!! ive only really noticed it doing this the last month or so to be honest.
the computer has also been re-formated about a month ago as it was passed onto me from a family member, an im wondering if its got anything to do with that?is this a normal thing for macs an maybe i just havent noticed it before, or does it sound like something is wrong??
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Sep 10, 2010
Just accidentally rolled my MacBook Pro over a chair (About the height a little over one MacBook Pro's screen) while it was inside it's case.)
I then later found that it had strange DVD drive noises after the drop-There were 2-3 DVD grinding noises longer than the usual grinding noise at the beginning of a startup.
Is my DVD drive now dead?
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Dec 25, 2010
I have a June 2010 17" 2.66 i7 UMBP. This is going to sound really silly and I do not really know how to describe it correctly, but it has begun to make lots of strange "Tapping/Clicking" noises. It happens quite regularly when the notebook is stationary but increase whenever the notebook is moved.
I am familiar with the hard drive clicking noise but this is totally different - it kind of sounds like a small metal ball-bearing inside a small, thin glass sphere knocking or clicking against it's side or like tapping a small thin glass object with something like a thin metal rod.
I am sorry for the poor description but that is the best way I can describe it & know I must sound like a complete idiot but I am not very savvy to computer issues but I hope someone can identify what these noises are if if they mean that something bad is going on.
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Dec 24, 2009
now what I have noticed is that the same monitors (speakers) i had with my older imac (24") are constantly making a louder "white noise" than what they used to (didnt bother me that much but i definitely noticed a louder volume of white noise). The thing that really bothers me is that whenever i scroll the mouse, or click and drag an object in photoshop or something the monitors are making a really noticeable disturbing scratching sound sound ...just cant seem to make it stop..its so annoying.. i also tried to record something and the imac recorded it in a really low volume and unstable wave (volume going up and down). so i figured well obivously the soundcard of the new imac was real bad..so got me an external soundcard, Emagic emi6|2m and i figured it would solve the problem. installed the soundcard, and played a song and suddenly a high pitch noise, kinda loud and really disturbing, started coming from the speakers.
2 seconds after i pauseded the song, the sound stopped. play the song, the noise comes, stop the song, noise stop after 2 seconds. if i open up Logic, the sound just starts no matter what. quit Logic and the sound stops. just now i opened up a youtube video and the sound just started going off even after i paused the video. now the sound comes everytime i choose the Emagic soundcard in the sound preferences. its kinda real loud and its bothering me so much, i cant seem to make it go away and definitely cant work with it. When i tried installing the soundcard on my brother's laptop windows with the same speakers, everything was fine and it played perfect with no noise. whaaaaat can i possibly do, this actually really frustrates me.... whats wrong with the computer? something with electricity?
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Apr 16, 2009
I noticed in the past week that when I scroll through a webpage I can hear a clicking sound (similar to the one from the MM) coming out of my speakers? This also seems to happen when I scroll through my iTunes library but in this case it's a humming sound, when the scrolling stops so does the noise. I've tried muting the speakers but the sound is still there, has anyone else experience this before?
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Oct 29, 2009
I have an iMac and it is making a constant clicking noise, like twice a second it is clicking (kind of like a slow moving fan sound but a more distinct 'Click'_
What do you think is going on?
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Jan 10, 2010
I have just noticed a weird clicking noise coming from the left hand side of my macbook. It only clicks when the macbook is being moved about or a sudden movement occurs. I thought it might be the HDD motion sensor but since its coming from the left hand side it's concerning me slightly.
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Mar 2, 2008
Just got a new 2.2 MBP delivered to me yesterday. Didn't seem to have any problems at all until about an hour ago. I just began hearing a metallic "plink" noise every few minutes or so. Its not a click or a tick but more like a hollow plink. It comes at random intervals but sounds like it may be coming when the hard drive(?) or something inside the machine spins.
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Oct 12, 2009
I bought a MBP 15 inch 2.66ghz brand new back in september. Since my purchase i have has several things that have been annoying the crap out of me.
Issues:
1. Clunk noise coming from HD, I have read some posts and installed Hdapm which reduced the sound a bit (i have the 320gb 5400rpm Fujitsu)
2. I believe becuz of the clunking (parking of the heads) causes my computer to stutter (mini freeze for like 1-2 secs) while using my MBP..
3. The battery used notify me that i had PLENTY of time to use even when i had below 50% battery life left, now (on Firmware 1.6) the battery tells me i usually have like 2:30mins of use when im at 85% or so battery strength left. and YES the screen is dimmed along with the keys.(i have calibrated the battery also)
I went back to 1.6 firmware due to the notion that various people have had better success on their harddrives working "better" with stock, or aftermarket.
I am on a CLEAN install of Snow Leopard...
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Apr 4, 2010
I have a 7 day old Macbook Pro 13" 2.26GHz and sometimes when I open the screen I hear a click noise coming from the right side of the hinge it happens about half way open and some times when I pick it with the screen open it doesn't happen all the time it was doing it about 30 mins.
ago but as I type this its not doing it. Should I take it to the Apple store tomorrow or should I keep an eye on it and see what happens?
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Jun 6, 2010
my macbook pro makes a slight ticking noise when i move it or tap it just a little bit it seems like its coming from the right palm rest any thoughts, i think it maybe the hard drive or something. oh yeah 2010 mbp 2.4 ghz 320 hard drive
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Aug 6, 2010
Well, this problem that I thought was coming from the Radeon 4870 fan was really coming from the lower intake fan on my Mac Pro. The rattling noise was coming from this fan itself, and the Radeon 4870 was actually running silent the whole time. This is probably why people with the X1900 and older Mac Pros have been reporting the same issue. This has actually solved the problem for me, my Mac Pro is running silent now: I downloaded SMC Fan Control, then I increased the speed on my intake fan to max, 2800rpm. I let the fan run at max for one minute, I had an idea that this would cause the fan to work out the kinks if it had any. Then I returned the fan speed to normal, and the problem has been gone for the past 15 minutes. You can download SMC Fan Control 2.2.2 (Snow Leopard compatible) here: [URL]
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Apr 18, 2012
Every time I start up or wake up my mac pro from sleep I get a large noise that seems to be coming from around the power supply. The best way to describe it is that it soudns like a buzzing sound or like one of those large elctrical transformers outside except not as loud. It goes away within 5-10 minutes.
Info:
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3), MacPro 2,1 - 2 x 3ghz Intel Xeon
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May 3, 2012
First of all, my Macbook doesn't make ANY noise. Is very silent, but everytime I start a game, or I start to upload some files, the fans start to flip faster and faster and makes a big noise, like a rocket being launched. When I stop the game, the fans start to go slowly.
Info:Mac Pro
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