New Retina Macbook Pro - strange whining Sound

hmm.. how has your performance been?

My rMBP seems to be getting bogged down with simple things like zooming in on pdf documents in viewer or opening multiple web pages etc. When I check activity monitor cpu usage isnt up I can only assume the HD4000 graphics cant keep up with the retina display and/or the graphics card isnt kicking in when it should - dunno.

Also you're new comp been intermittent with the noise or is it just a lower volume of noise? Sorry for all the questions - just trying to figure things out since you've been having similar problems with a similarly spec'ed out machine.

So, my new rMBP just started making this noise about an hour ago. I just found this thread. This is really, really annoying. I guess I'm going to have to go to the Apple store this weekend. I downloaded the audio file in the first post, and it's definitely the same sound.

According to Apple Care and I guess a lot of people who have this computer and have not posted about this proble.. this is unusual and you should return your computer for a replacement. My advice is to take a recording to have some proof when you go into the Apple store (if your computer is like mine where the problem occurs intermittently) - if its always happening then you shouldnt have a problem just showing it. Do you also have the 16gb upgraded ram or the standard unit sold at the stores?

By the way, mine was also the same 2.6/512/16.

Anyway I returned it for a full refund withing the first two weeks since it was also affected by the infamous image ghosting issue.

Definitely a poor quality control.

I'm hearing the same sounds for the first time. Had the unit for 3 days. Updated to 10.8 yesterday. 2.7/768/16 I'd really rather not return it, but I'd like to know what is going on. I'm on the phone with AppleCare (as I type this I'm on hold) They are aware of this issue, and are transferring me to a "senior adviser"

it would be nice to know what they end up telling you. I had this problem in lion so i dont think its due to the update.. also the sounds manifested after a few days on my first unit and after a few hours on my second unit. Havent received my 3rd unit yet.. hopefully its not re-occuring.

Just got off the phone with them. Of course while I'm on the phone I was unable to get it to make the noise, but they said they are aware of similar complaints. I'd recommend that everyone who has this issue just call it in, and make sure they work on it. The more complaints they get, the harder they will work on fixing it.

It is a hardware problem. Seems to only happen when the carger is connected and charging the battery or the system is drawing power from both the battery and the AC at the same time. Which is what happens when all Mac notebooks are put under load as the AC adapter Apple supplies are not big enough to power the system fully when it is under load.

I have had this problem with both my units whether it was in or out of the charger... what I did notice though was turning off automatic graphics switching would stop the noise - leading me to believe it was the integrated graphics causing the problem.

I noticed that whenever I watched certain things on Vimeo or Vevo this problem would happen. I un-installed and re-installed a newer version of Flash Player, and I haven't had the problem since. I don't know if this could have something to do with it. I actually remember that whenever I would move my cursor over the "play" arrow on a Vimeo video, then this problem would start. I'm an optometry student, so I have no idea if there's anything to this...or if this is just coincidence. Maybe some of the really tech savvy people here could provide some insight? I called Applecare, and they said that since I couldn't reproduce the problem right then, I would have to call back leter when it happened again. They also said that I could take it to the Apple store to have them check it out personally.

So my retina macbook has developed this same annoying sound. Any word on how Apple is addressing this? It's hard to take it in to a mac genius and have the sound occur on command. It comes and goes. Sometimes it won't make a sound over a full battery charge, and sometimes the sound doesn't stop. It concerns me that a new $3000 laptop does this. I am past the 14 day refund period. I took it to a "Genius" and he just ran the diagnostics tool and got a bunch of pretty green check marks and said everything seems okay and I can't hear the sound and sent me on my way. I guess I have to record the sound somehow to show them.

I mentioned this before in this thread.. you should always have some evidence of your problem when talking to Apple Care or going into the Apple store. So next time you experience the issue, record the sound - I did this with my iPhone (actually took a video to show it was my macbook pro retina) and while it wasnt the best recording it demonstrated the problem clearly.

The Apple store was less inclined to acknowledge the problem - but it didnt matter anyways because I purchased my computer from Apple.com since I got the upgraded ram and the only way to get a replacement is to go through Apple.com (Apple Care) *not the Apple store (at least this is what I was told). The Apple store can create a case file for you though - but thats it.

Whoever told you that is flat out lying. You can get a replacement at the store whether you bought it online or not. My sister got her imac replaced when she was having problems with her screen from the apple store even though she bought it online.

Keep in mind Apple retail stores do not carry the 16gb version of the retina MBP, this is likely why they guided me back to Apple.com. What I meant with my comment was the Apple retail store wont go through the process of setting up a replacement if its a custom order with Apple.com; the online retail section has to do that, the physical retail stores only deal with in stock items not custom orders.