enryfox
Level 1 (9 points)
Notebooks

Q: Hiss noise from an iBook G3 12" dual USB

I'm playing a bit with an old iBook G3 12" dual USB (snow white from 2001) dual-booting MacOS 9 and OS X (puma).

Everything appears to be working fine (I had to replaced the HDD though) but I can clearly hear a hiss/buzz noise coming from the upper left part of the iBook main body (where the CPU/GPU is)

It appears to be related to the CPU throttling because it suddenly becomes quiet when the CPU occupation goes to 100% (e.g. start a 3D intensive game). I do not think it is related to the display inverter because I can hear it also when the display is turned off for power saving.

Is it a bad sign of a component dying ? Is it something related to ageing which I can live with ?

 

thanks for any help.

bye

Enrico

Posted on Jun 9, 2016 1:48 AM

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enryfox

Q: Hiss noise from an iBook G3 12" dual USB

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  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 12, 2016 2:50 PM in response to enryfox
    Level 6 (14,204 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 12, 2016 2:50 PM in response to enryfox

    Some of those models, or examples within the build year series of white G3 iBook,

    had hardware issues that appeared early on, and sometimes held off until later...

     

    So the symptoms you see could be one of the issues users had noted and some

    had repaired under warranty back in early 2001-03; some problems were fixed in

    the replacement model, the (then new) G4 iBook.

     

    Did you try to reset the Power Management Unit (PMU) to see if the situation changed?

     

    Specific instructions vary across the PowerPC iBook and PowerBook models.

    • Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU) - Apple Support

     

    Then, some also see if this other reset could help; though not so likely, it can't hurt.

     

    The PRAM reset uses the same method to work, as later NVRAM instructions, here:

    • How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    Sometimes an older cable or other component may be failing; so if you are detail

    oriented and good at replacing parts to see if connectors or cables may be part

    of the contributors to the exhibited symptoms, those are items to check... And we

    know the joy of mischief chasing issues in an older white iBook G3 or G4 can be.

     

    • iBook G3 12-inch (white) repair guide - iFixit:

    https://www.ifixit.com/Device/iBook_G3_12%22

     

    Good luck & happy computing!