Whining MacBook Pro? You're not alone

We’ve been hearing the er, noise about whining MacBook Pros for awhile. Now however, the problem seems to be widespread enough to warrant our, and possibly Apple’s, attention. As sister site TUAW points out, the high-pitched hissing/whining/squealing seems to be associated with an idle processor and does not affect all new MacBook Pros. However it affects enough to have sparked feverish discussion in your choice of Apple-related forums. And as these things go, several “fixes” have been suggested including keeping the Photobooth app running in the background to keep the processors busy, installing/uninstalling certain widgets, and disabling the second core processor altogether. Of course, many are simply holding out hope that a future firmware drops to sort it out all lickety-split quick. But that would require Apple to first own-up to an issue, which they have yet to do (publicly) thus far.

[fshizzlemepizzle @ Mar 14th 2006 7:15AM]

ey, this is bs. I have my 2.16 macbook pro w/ 1 gb of ram and a 120 gb hardriver, and i never had any of these problems

[Jacob @ Mar 14th 2006 7:22AM]

So b/c you have a MacBook that fails to exhibit any of these particular issues, it most certainly means every single other one also must not be afflicted?!

[david @ Mar 14th 2006 7:24AM]

I have a similar config and like fshiz....fshizzle...the first one to comment on this post don't have any problems at all, but that is not to say other people aren't having a problem. Obviously they are, and I hope Apple makes something public soon. As the previous owner of a PowerBook with a defective screen I can relate to the frustration a lotta folks are feeling with a pretty expensive purchase.

Anyway. You can rule out this being a subjective issue - mine is whisper quiet, no other way of describing it really.

[ch424 @ Mar 14th 2006 7:31AM]

I have a 2003 dell first-gen centrino laptop that occasionally does this too: and I mean occasionally, as it's heppened about five times in two and a half years and I fixed it by just restarting.

ch424

[Jeff @ Mar 14th 2006 7:31AM]

This is really pretty much just par for the course for Apple. Their reputation for the build quality of their hardware has always been undeserved - going all the way back to the exploding(!) PowerBook 5300's. Then there were the cracking Cubes, the spotted screen iBooks, now the "whining" MacBook Pros. There have been other issues I'm forgetting too - someone else can feel free to fill in the gaps.

I own an iPod and have had no real build quality issues (though the dock connector has always been a bit askew when I plug a cable in), and I have no problem with Apple generally or what they do. But when was the last time you heard about something like this from Dell customers? Or HP? And their reputations for quality are far lower than Apple's, despite having a lot more customers and a lot fewer consistent complaints about particular issues like this.

[Jeff @ Mar 14th 2006 7:32AM]

Dammit... then ch424 goes and blows half my argument out of the water before I'm even done writing it.

[No!! @ Mar 14th 2006 7:34AM]

WHAAAT?!!!? But I was under the impression that Macintoshes were perfect instruments handed down from God to Steve Jobs on the mountain top.

[x23 @ Mar 14th 2006 7:38AM]

i got the really annoying one that happens anytime the screen brightness is *anything* except at the VERY highest or OFF.

like when the screen does the half-dim before turning off? maddening.

then i have an intermittant one that is much less annoying than the screen one... and yes. it is fixed by turning on the cam with an app (photobooth / ichat / QT broadcaster) and turning it off again. for whatever reason.

the brightness one is far far far more annoying than the other though.

[toby @ Mar 14th 2006 7:52AM]

hi,

i have the whining problem too. I phoned today with apple and the phone agent said: they are working on the problem and it will be fixed. She extra phoned with apple irland and asked about it.

[Jared Schwager @ Mar 14th 2006 8:01AM]

Apple has been getting themselves in some pretty deep crap lately. Hopefully they will offer to fix any Macbook Pro's with this problem for free or offer a solution to the problem.

[PEZ @ Mar 14th 2006 8:02AM]

If it's not one thing, it's another.

[karlossus @ Mar 14th 2006 8:03AM]

There are also problems with the airport card (actually on the intel board) dropping connectivity at regular intervals. That is annoying me.

[John @ Mar 14th 2006 8:17AM]

The whine on my MacBook (stock 2.0) is noticeable in a quiet room. Turning one core off or loading the processors does work. If you turn off the second core, the you can hear the faintest whine from the screen.

I don't think this is a huge issue, at least for me. If the whine signifies an electrical problem that might make my machine prone to later hardware problems, only then would I want it fixed. I don't do heavy audio processing, so I can turn off one core if I really need absolute silence.

[Spamalot @ Mar 14th 2006 8:19AM]

Apples quality control is teh grabbage.

Fools

http://glovestudio.com/squatsquat/index.php/2006/03/13/squatworthy-applecare-repairs/

[Jordan @ Mar 14th 2006 8:25AM]

I have an iMac Core Duo that's phenomenal, but holy cow does my iPod nano have a scratched face! :) It doesn't bother me, probably because I am desensitized to the money that I spent on it. If it FELT like I spent a lot of money on it, I'd be mad. It just seems like a small purchase to me.

To #6 (Jeff) .. I do know your point. However, as an IT Manager, yes, Dell and HP have these problems and more. Don't get me wrong, most of their models are fairly decent, but some of their laptops especially have some serious issues as well. On the other hand, some of their laptops are great. The Dell 700m is really nice, for example. Note that Apple WILL actually *finally* pay attention to this at some point and fix it, and it may just be a software update, which would be great. I would imagine if people are going things with software to fix it (i.e. turning on the camera program and turning it back off), they should be able to fix it with software.

Anyway, my point it, Dell and HP hit or miss with their models, and due to the fact that they have 12-15 models each, they can do that. You probably already know that most of them are just ODMs anyway. But with Apple, an issue with a model gets A LOT of press, because they have two laptops and three desktop products. They're pretty responsibly about fixing them, as long as it isn't going to cost them an arm and a leg (unfortunately) like the iMac G4 mid-planes and power-supplies.

[Jordan @ Mar 14th 2006 8:28AM]

Man, I should proofread. :)

[mads @ Mar 14th 2006 8:30AM]

well my Dell inspiron 4100 is also whinning in idle. I complained about that years ago. But dell didn't do anything about it because the support couldn't hear the sound through the telephone...

maybe it is just an intel thing :). And all computers make some kind of sound. I can hear my old television to.

[Josh Warner @ Mar 14th 2006 8:46AM]

People, here is the real cause of the problem. I have a Dell D610, and it exhibits a faint whine as well. The whine is not mechanical, nor is it the screen.

Purely and simply, it is a stray ground loop within the laptop. Extra feedback is getting into the audio circuits, and creates noise/whining most of the time. It is worse when the laptop is not plugged in, because then there is nowhere for the charge to go.

I suspect it has something to do with the way circuitry is arranged on the mobo, and the fact that the whole case conducts probably isn't helping anything. Dell had been trying to fix this for years, and (though they have improved it) it has not gone away. Get used to it if you have it, because nothing short of a major hardware revision will fix it (replaced mobo at the least).

[Marc @ Mar 14th 2006 9:20AM]

That whine you hear is coming from the fanboys.

[Whiplash @ Mar 14th 2006 9:29AM]

You know, I have an Mac as well as 3 PC's, and after playing in both camps I've determined that Apple users are complete pansies. If you don't like your shiny, stylish new MacBook because it whines like you, I'll tell you what, I'll trade you for my Hewlett-Packard zd7000 which has a fan noise like the jet engine on an F-14 Tomcat.

It's a freaking computer, just use it and shut the hell up already.

[AeronPrometheus @ Mar 14th 2006 10:02AM]

Thank you valued Apple customer for purchasing a first generation MacBook Pro.

Seriously people, if you want to be an early rider on the Apple bandwagon then you have to accept the fact that there are going to be minor issues with anything brand new. There were issues with the very first G3 iMacs, G4 iMacs, G5 iMacs... the very first anything.

And for the record I've heard this "whine" on one of the MacBook Pro I looked at. The optical drive on my fourth generation PowerBook G4 makes more noise when empty. take any thin laptop into a quiet room, you'll hear things that make your gut cringe.

The real whining here is coming from the Microsoft turncoats that think everything Mac is Jesus-Christ perfect.

[DrWho @ Mar 14th 2006 10:07AM]

The whining comes from the people whining about the fanboys

[Brian @ Mar 14th 2006 10:08AM]

My iPod nano has a terribly annoying flaw that Apple introduced with the 1.1 software update 3+ months ago and still hasn't bothered to fix. Oh wait, they did write a support article that tells me to:

1. Don't touch the iPod controls for at least 5 seconds.
2. Press the Center button up to 4 times allowing 1 second to elapse between each press.
3. If the iPod does not return to its normal screen, either repeat steps 1-2 or reset your iPod using the steps documented here.


Apple's quality control is definitely garbage.

[john Doe @ Mar 14th 2006 10:11AM]

How do you disable the second core?

[ivan @ Mar 14th 2006 10:19AM]

sounds like the chirp problem with the rev A PowerMac G5s. I have one, it chirps just like a lot of those old 80s computers. i think its bad ass. computers do make noises just like anything else, get over it.

[Desert @ Mar 14th 2006 10:51AM]

While your at it, also post about how the screen only angles back 125 degrees, short of the 135 degrees from previous Powerbooks, which makes it short of unusable while using it on your lap.

[Alan @ Mar 14th 2006 11:15AM]

Something with the inductors is my guess. They can whine and screech.

[mike @ Mar 14th 2006 11:39AM]

Apple's quality reputation is definately exagerated. I've owned 2 ipods a 3g and a mini and both have died on me.

[Stewart Dillon @ Mar 14th 2006 11:40AM]

Boo Hoo.

You hear a whining sound when your face is up against the screen I really feel sorry for you. Boo hOO the battery isn't as good as it was on the 15inch PowerBook but its 4-5X faster. People lighten up. The MacBook Pro has no severe problems. I love the fact its just as hot on my lap as an old Pentuim 4 laptop 3 years ago. People are so stupid about these little problems. To me my MacBook Pro is the most solid machine I have ever been on. I can run like 9 programs all at the same time. There is NO OTHER machine like this on the market.

[gopi @ Mar 14th 2006 11:46AM]

(Whoever wrote the javascript that 'verifies' e-mail addresses here needs to read RFC 2821; this thing rejects perfectly valid e-mail addresses.)

The reports I've read say it gets quieter when you use the CPU more.

Sounds like #27 is probably right, it's an inductor.

To convert the voltage coming off the battery to the voltage needed by the CPU, they use what's called a "switched mode DC/DC converter."

It's sort of like a transformer, but switches at a very high speed, tens, maybe hundreds, of kilohertz. Depending on the input voltage _and_ the current being drawn, it may change the speed that it switches at.

If it is switching at an audible frequency, it might vibrate enough for you to hear it. If you start using the CPU more, it'll start drawing more power, and that will affect the switching - in this case, apparently enough to make it inaudible.

It's a common problem on many devices I've used, but it does vary a lot in intensity. Some devices are only audible in a very quiet room, some of them I've never heard.

[Jeremy @ Mar 14th 2006 11:47AM]

I have a MacBook Pro 2.16 / 2GB / 100Gb 7200 HD. I had one of the first in the country. No problems at all. Zero. Zilch.

[Eric Bostrom @ Mar 14th 2006 11:51AM]

I have the money and wifey approval to get a new macbook to replace my 12" 867mhz (1st gen) powerbook. I'm waiting till 2nd rev macbook though, 1st gen apple products traditionally have problems. like overheating/loud fans!

[Matt @ Mar 14th 2006 12:16PM]

Watch this and tell me it's not a big deal:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lm_gfeeORK8&search=macbook

[Matt @ Mar 14th 2006 12:18PM]

Here's a nother video of the sound:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oRp1W_bN4rA&search=macbook

[Daniel Jalkut @ Mar 14th 2006 12:37PM]

I have done some investigating into this problem and come up with a simple application you can run to eliminate most of the "CPU whine." The noise is distinct from the "display brightness" noise. But running my app may be less obtrusive than running Photo Booth or one of the other workarounds.

http://www.red-sweater.com/blog/105/all-work-and-no-play-makes-a-quiet-macbook-pro

[mogo @ Mar 14th 2006 1:23PM]

I have an Intel iMac 2.0 and I also hear the whining sound. Its very faint, but its very annoing! I don't know if its the same issue with the mbp, but the sound is real. I think its an electrical issue with the iMac. I can hear the sound even when the computer is OFF; the sound only goes away whe I unplug the computer from the power outlet.

[Andy Geller @ Mar 14th 2006 4:37PM]

Post #1 is an idiot...I love my mac products but the new MacBookPro I received from Shanghai...where they all come from....had the noise and only messing with the display brightness would stop it...not an option for a new machine costing me $3700! Apple took it in for repairs but couldn't say when replacement part would be shipped from manufacturer so after 2 weeks of having my computer in their repair shop they are replacing my MacBookPro with a new one. Wish me luck.

[Eric @ Mar 14th 2006 5:29PM]

I've read on a few sites for a quick fix for the macbook whine is to install the mirror widget that utilized the iSight camera. Install it, use it, and then you can delete if if you want, something about the cleanup process for that widget has been fixing a lot of people's wining problems.

[Anthony @ Mar 15th 2006 1:39AM]

Will somebody please remind me what the problem with early adopters is?

Oh, that's right - since modern business standards all but forbid truly valid heuristical evaluations, early-adopters are essentially the guinea pig test pool for brand new products.

In other words, your pains in dealing with this issue are a byproduct of your willingness to participate in Apple's cleverly disguised testing phase for their new MacBook Pro, which will most likely be truly ready for purchase in another year or so.

However, rest assured - Apple thanks you for your involvement in insuring a great product for future, more market savvy users.

[DudeAsInCool @ Mar 15th 2006 2:25AM]

To Jason (post #16) - here are a number of ingenious ways to fix the the scratches on your IPod

http://www.xsorbit1.com/users/dennx/index.cgi?board=ipodservice&action=display&num=1035865379&start=45

[Phillip Donley @ Mar 15th 2006 2:30AM]

When the first Commodore 64 came out, it needed some tweeking too, but I bought it anyway because I could afford it (still runs flawlessly). So apple has a MINOR problem that will be fixed in a matter of time. I think it is great that people with a lot of money can go out and buy AMAZING products like this, test drive them for a bit, and let me know I should wait for the 2nd generation. It isn't like we didn't know there might be some issues early on.

I'm happy I have chosen to hold off. Until then... You new MacBook Pro Users should keep photobooth running. :-)

[Arthur @ Mar 15th 2006 4:54AM]

This happened to the Intel iMacs as well, witness this report:

http://www.crazyapplerumors.com/?p=322

[Mo @ Mar 20th 2006 10:59PM]

Wow. I had that exact same whining. I called and they took it back and sent me a new one that is nice and quiet. For a while though - I thought I was losing my mind or hearing things. Nice to know I'm not.

[Bobby @ Mar 23rd 2006 5:55PM]

For everybody that keeps telling the mac fanboys to shut up:
My first Mac, so I'm definitely not a Mac fanatic. I just got a new MacBook with all the fixings, and within 10 minutes of having the thing plugged in I'm searching for "macbook noise". There's a band soundchecking 50 feet away and it's still easy to hear the whine.

So don't just assume that people are whining. It's freakin' loud and beyond annoying. (I have Photobooth running and it's perfectly quiet now, but I'll definitely try to swap it for one that doesn't have this issue.)

[Simon Pettersson @ Mar 29th 2006 7:52AM]

I have a MBP 1.83Ghz and i have this whining sound, turning off the brightness "fixes" it, not Photobooth though. But about that AirPort Express problem, that the connection drops periodically, i fixed that by lowering the TX-rate on my wireless router (D-Link 614+ Rev_B). Hope this helps

[Jonathan Lambert @ Mar 30th 2006 2:02AM]

Well, I have more good news. After reading all of this, and worrying my tail off, I am happy to report (I have a MBP that arrived today, 100@7200, 1GB, 2.13) that my cat makes more noise).

In fact, I can't hear the unit when anything is going on, and whine of my old Dell laptop (A D610) is like a freight train compared to this.

Honestly, after all my worries about noise, and everything I read, I honestly can't hear any noise in my laptop except for the slight hum of the hard drive if my cat is purring next to me.

+1 Apple.

[Geoff @ Apr 3rd 2006 4:21PM]

Just gotta add that a coworker of mine received his from MacMall's first shipment, and the period key cap would, without fail, pop off if your keystroke landed on the forward half of the key cap.

After a call to MacMall revealed that they "don't have that the kind of relationship with Apple" that would allow them to do an exchange for such a problem he called Apple.

Their R&D department wanted it so they could eliminate any potential future occurences of the problem, and prepaid overnight shipping for him to send in the MacBook Pro and exchanged his keyboard, then overnighted it back to him.

It was his first Mac and, after a disappointing Day 1, he was quite happily surprised by Apple's willingness to make sure his experience was a good one. Bonus points for them.

[James Burke @ Apr 5th 2006 10:25AM]

This seems to be fixed in the new Macbook Pro Firmware download available at apple.com/support/download/

[James Burke @ Apr 5th 2006 10:36AM]

Nevermind - I'm just in an area where I couldn't hear it as well. :P

[kevin @ Apr 5th 2006 5:29PM]

the firmware update didnt fix it on my macbook.