MacBook emitting high pitched whine

Question

MacBook emitting high pitched whine

I have owned and used my white Macbook (10.5.4, 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) for over a year, and have generally enjoyed it. The hard drive unfortunately crashed 3 months ago. Since then it has been fixed, and I was able to recover some data (I was not backing up).

About one week ago, I noticed my MacBook was emitting a very soft, high pitched whining noise that is EXTREMELY annoying, and usually results in me getting a headache after 20 minutes of using the computer. It seems to sound the loudest near the top of the keyboard, closer to the left side.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is there any solution to stop the noise?

Thank you!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Feb 4, 2009 4:36 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

yinsdianao

Level 1

12 points

Apr 24, 2009 2:04 AM in response to helloiamjenny

Hi,
My Macbook was producing this irritating high-pitched noise recently as well. I was very disturbed and angry partly because I purchased my Macbook precisely to have a quiet computer - and now this.

I then did some web search and found out what this is about - it is referred to as the CPU whine and happens when your CPU is relatively idle.

There actually is a prior thread discussing this topic:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4160414

And the solution posted in that thread, which works for me, is:

1) open photobooth
2) Force Quit (apple optionesc)
3) sleep (no need to close the lid, use the apple menu)
4) wait for pulsating light
5) wait a couple of seconds and wake. the whine will be gone.

Try this.

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Answer 2

gpotts

Level 3

585 points

Feb 4, 2009 8:49 PM in response to helloiamjenny

Does it vary with the brightness of the backlight? Some people have it vary like I did the day after I got my machine but I restarted and it never came back. However, there are others that seem to have other problems.

Is the machine under warranty? Take it in and have them look at it. Record the sound if possible.

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Answer 3

Feb 23, 2009 8:59 AM in response to helloiamjenny

Yes My unibody 2.4 MacBook is intermittently having the same annoying SQUEALING issue. I can never replicate the noise it comes and goes as it pleases. It seems to be loudest under the upper left hand corner of the key board. After pulling a hand full of hair out I decided to investigate the issue. The volume level of the squeal stays the same, however the pitch of the squeal changes when you raise and lower the brightness setting.

Is this common? The squealing noise will "get to you" like fingernails on a chalk board. HELP
Is any one else having this issue?

Thanks,

Next time it happens I will try to record the noise.

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Answer 4

Feb 24, 2009 7:18 AM in response to quackenbush

This is also happening to my Unibody MacBook 2.0. Actually... it's happening right now. I do know what it sounds when it starts up though.

When I started the mac there was no issue, it was when I already had the computer started up for a minute or so and began opening Safari, iChat and the like, that there was an issue. It began very low, and started "charging" up. Quite a lot like a large external flash, only it didn't just rise quickly and trickle off at the end, it stayed high. While it was charging up I got freaked out and pulled the adaptor cord out, noticing that the sound was loudest there, but of course, nothing happened.

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Answer 5

Apr 23, 2009 4:20 AM in response to helloiamjenny

Just letting you know I am having the same noise issue! Its very annoying and it varies with the level of backlight on the screen as already mentioned. It comes and goes intermittently with no pattern. Guess I'll have to take it in to be looked at when I can spare it for a few days and hope it is something easily fixed

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