MacBook Pro issues and local support - Page 2

Magnus · 20th June 2006, 21:49

Yes, we need to know people's experience, as much as possible.

As I said in my post, we called some Apple resellers yesterday and they gave us what is probably the standard-before-sales-pitch-answer. We shouldn't automatically doubt what they say, but it's easy being skeptical...

We need to hear from people who have actually bought MBPs from local resellers, and probaly more importantly from people who have tried to get their MBPs fixed.

Please, EmiratesMac-crew, gather up your contacts, get people talking, and get them to the site to post what they know!

The only way we're going to get anywhere on this issue is to spread as much light on it as possible. The more people we get involved, the more stories we share, the more we can influence the resellers, and indeed Apple itself (IMC and/or Inc).

Magnus · 21st June 2006, 00:36

I was browsing through MacFixIt and came across this about the noise issue:

"Fixes

Turn on iSight Several readers have reported that turning on the MacBook Pro's built-in iSight eliminates the whining noise.

One reader writes:

"Hi, i have the same problem. When i turn on the webcam the noise disappears, but when the webcam turn off, the noise starts again."

One easy way to turn the iSight on quickly is to use the Mirror widget, simply activating Dashboard whenever the noise becomes apparent. In fact, some users have reported that turning on the iSight temporarily then turning it off results in a lasting elimination of the noise (until the next restart).

Plug in power adapter Some users have reported that the noise goes away when the MacBook Pro is connected to an external power adapter.

Adjusting screen brightness In one variation of the problem, the sound can be eliminated by turning screen brightness to the maximum level, though in-house we found that doing so resulted in emission of a different, yet equally annoying high-pitched noise.

Wait a few days In-house our MacBook Pro suffers from a version of the whining problem is solved by turning display brightness down to zero. Other readers indicate that after a few days of normal operation, the sound goes away. It may just be a side effect of the system being "broken in."

Try tilting the display back and forth a few times Several readers have reported that tilting the display back and forth, or gently squeezing on the screen casing's lower left corner eliminates the noise.

Turn off ambient light sensor MacFixIt reader, Michael, reports that turning off the Ambient-responsive keyboard lighting (go to the "Keyboard and Mouse" pane of System Preferences and uncheck "Illuminate keyboard in low light conditions" resolved the issue:

"I just wanted to chime in. I saw the suggestion about opening and closing the display and noticed that it would stop and start again as the ambient light under the keyboard would turn on and off. On it would whine, off it would stop. So I turned on the room light, the ambient light turned off and the whining stopped. So for me, anyway, the ambient light is what causes the whining."

Turn off one processor core Though not a viable long-term solution, some users have found that turning off one of the MacBook Pro's processor cores eliminates that noise.

In order to turn off one processor, you need to install Apple's Developer Tools (from the install discs included with your MacBook Pro). You will then have access to a System Preference pane labeled "Processor" that can toggle between single and dual-core operation.

Turn on Bluetooth Some users have eliminated the whine by activating Bluetooth then using one or more Bluetooth devices. This workaround reiterates the notion that most cases of whining involve power draw issues."

elchemor · 21st June 2006, 09:42

a very intersting article about the MBP different whining issues, and many other complaints about the MBP in general, with a link to a utility which make you get rid of the annoying noise ;-) Quiet MBP 1.1

Enjoy !

MacUAE · 22nd June 2006, 11:09

I tried QuietMBP... it just keeps the CPUs busy to eliminate the noise. All patch up solutions but I guess the only fix is a new motherboard.

Magnus · 22nd June 2006, 11:23

MacUAE, I don't have a MBP, but I wanted to ask if you know if there's a way that you can test a MBP to see if it's got the heat and whine problems or not? Is there like a little app you can download and run, some particular procedure you can follow, or something like that?

elchemor · 22nd June 2006, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by emiratesmac

MacUAE, I don't have a MBP, but I wanted to ask if you know if there's a way that you can test a MBP to see if it's got the heat and whine problems or not? Is there like a little app you can download and run, some particular procedure you can follow, or something like that?

emiratesmac, my MBP runs constantly at 60~65 degrees, unless there is an application hanging (not responding ) in the background, it reaches the level of 80 degrees. (intel thermal specs for intel core duo is 100 degrees working temperature)

and yes, i cant really put it on my laps while working.... it does burn... now am not sure if thats normal or not, i never used a laptop with an intel duo core processor before !

as for the whining, i have a hearing problem, so am not really bothered with that

and my work environment is very noisy

someone gotta test the whining thing ! but as i said earlier, i hope its gotta be a soft patch from intel to fix this issue, since its clearly a cpu issue !

MacUAE · 23rd June 2006, 02:47

To tax you MBP cores run this command in two seperate Terminal windows:

yes > /dev/null

Use software like CoreDuoTemp to test the temperature. Mine maxs out at 90C

Magnus · 30th June 2006, 14:15

This may be of interest:
http://www.macgeekery.com/hacks/hard...hermal_roundup

Magnus · 6th July 2006, 07:59

I wonder if this will ever happen in the UAE.

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20th June 2006, 21:49	#11 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,395	Yes, we need to know people's experience, as much as possible. As I said in my post, we called some Apple resellers yesterday and they gave us what is probably the standard-before-sales-pitch-answer. We shouldn't automatically doubt what they say, but it's easy being skeptical... We need to hear from people who have actually bought MBPs from local resellers, and probaly more importantly from people who have tried to get their MBPs fixed. Please, EmiratesMac-crew, gather up your contacts, get people talking, and get them to the site to post what they know! The only way we're going to get anywhere on this issue is to spread as much light on it as possible. The more people we get involved, the more stories we share, the more we can influence the resellers, and indeed Apple itself (IMC and/or Inc).

21st June 2006, 00:36	#12 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,395	I was browsing through MacFixIt and came across this about the noise issue: "Fixes Turn on iSight Several readers have reported that turning on the MacBook Pro's built-in iSight eliminates the whining noise. One reader writes: "Hi, i have the same problem. When i turn on the webcam the noise disappears, but when the webcam turn off, the noise starts again." One easy way to turn the iSight on quickly is to use the Mirror widget, simply activating Dashboard whenever the noise becomes apparent. In fact, some users have reported that turning on the iSight temporarily then turning it off results in a lasting elimination of the noise (until the next restart). Plug in power adapter Some users have reported that the noise goes away when the MacBook Pro is connected to an external power adapter. Adjusting screen brightness In one variation of the problem, the sound can be eliminated by turning screen brightness to the maximum level, though in-house we found that doing so resulted in emission of a different, yet equally annoying high-pitched noise. Wait a few days In-house our MacBook Pro suffers from a version of the whining problem is solved by turning display brightness down to zero. Other readers indicate that after a few days of normal operation, the sound goes away. It may just be a side effect of the system being "broken in." Try tilting the display back and forth a few times Several readers have reported that tilting the display back and forth, or gently squeezing on the screen casing's lower left corner eliminates the noise. Turn off ambient light sensor MacFixIt reader, Michael, reports that turning off the Ambient-responsive keyboard lighting (go to the "Keyboard and Mouse" pane of System Preferences and uncheck "Illuminate keyboard in low light conditions" resolved the issue: "I just wanted to chime in. I saw the suggestion about opening and closing the display and noticed that it would stop and start again as the ambient light under the keyboard would turn on and off. On it would whine, off it would stop. So I turned on the room light, the ambient light turned off and the whining stopped. So for me, anyway, the ambient light is what causes the whining." Turn off one processor core Though not a viable long-term solution, some users have found that turning off one of the MacBook Pro's processor cores eliminates that noise. In order to turn off one processor, you need to install Apple's Developer Tools (from the install discs included with your MacBook Pro). You will then have access to a System Preference pane labeled "Processor" that can toggle between single and dual-core operation. Turn on Bluetooth Some users have eliminated the whine by activating Bluetooth then using one or more Bluetooth devices. This workaround reiterates the notion that most cases of whining involve power draw issues."

21st June 2006, 09:42	#13 (permalink)
elchemor Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 235	a very intersting article about the MBP different whining issues, and many other complaints about the MBP in general, with a link to a utility which make you get rid of the annoying noise ;-) Quiet MBP 1.1 Enjoy !

22nd June 2006, 11:09	#14 (permalink)
MacUAE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 353	I tried QuietMBP... it just keeps the CPUs busy to eliminate the noise. All patch up solutions but I guess the only fix is a new motherboard.

22nd June 2006, 11:23	#15 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,395	MacUAE, I don't have a MBP, but I wanted to ask if you know if there's a way that you can test a MBP to see if it's got the heat and whine problems or not? Is there like a little app you can download and run, some particular procedure you can follow, or something like that?

23rd June 2006, 02:47	#17 (permalink)
MacUAE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 353	To tax you MBP cores run this command in two seperate Terminal windows: yes > /dev/null Use software like CoreDuoTemp to test the temperature. Mine maxs out at 90C

30th June 2006, 14:15	#18 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,395	This may be of interest: http://www.macgeekery.com/hacks/hard...hermal_roundup

6th July 2006, 07:59	#19 (permalink)
Magnus Administrator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dubai Posts: 8,395	I wonder if this will ever happen in the UAE.