High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Sander Wichers]

Hi,

My inspiron 8600 (intel centrino/855PM) is producing a strange high pitch
sound which comes from within the machine (definitly not the speakers) when
the acpi processor module get's loaded. When I unload the processor module
the high pitch sound goes away.

Luckily I'm not the only with a dell inspiron having this problem. So far
I've seen bug reports from people with an inspiron 8x00 / and lattitude C840
/ C600 series:
http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0307.1/index.html#2247
http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0305.1/index.html#628

The workarounds displayed in the links above don't do anything with the real
problem....

I've tried to turn of frequency scaling, this doesn't influence anything. I
also tried the apm workaround > no luck either. (apm isn't supported in my
bios)

This isn't normal behavior, is it? The noise is very annoying, it makes you
not want to sit behind the machine! Is there a workaround for this?

thanks,

Sander



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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Nate Lawson]

On Fri, 26 Sep 2003, Sander Wichers wrote:
> My inspiron 8600 (intel centrino/855PM) is producing a strange high pitch
> sound which comes from within the machine (definitly not the speakers) when
> the acpi processor module get's loaded. When I unload the processor module
> the high pitch sound goes away.

With the IBM T23, this was an issue that was addressed with a BIOS
upgrade.  I believe it was an embedded controller issue but I'm not sure.
Now my laptop just makes a quiet high pitched noise when it is suspended
which may be timer-related.

-Nate


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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Pavel Machek]

Hi!

> > My inspiron 8600 (intel centrino/855PM) is producing a strange high pitch
> > sound which comes from within the machine (definitly not the speakers) when
> > the acpi processor module get's loaded. When I unload the processor module
> > the high pitch sound goes away.

Try running while1 program, see if it helps.

If so you might want to disable CX sleep states.
-- 
				Pavel
Written on sharp zaurus, because my Velo1 broke. If you have Velo you don't need...



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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Sander Wichers]

Pavel, thanks for your reply!

> > > My inspiron 8600 (intel centrino/855PM) is producing a strange high
pitch
> > > sound which comes from within the machine (definitly not the speakers)
when
> > > the acpi processor module get's loaded. When I unload the processor
module
> > > the high pitch sound goes away.

> Try running while1 program, see if it helps.
Yes!, when there is intensive processor activity the sound goes away.

> If so you might want to disable CX sleep states.
What's the name of the directive? Or do I have to manually remove some
portions of the code?

thanks,

--Sander



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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Pavel Machek]

Hi!

> > > > My inspiron 8600 (intel centrino/855PM) is producing a strange high
> pitch
> > > > sound which comes from within the machine (definitly not the speakers)
> when
> > > > the acpi processor module get's loaded. When I unload the processor
> module
> > > > the high pitch sound goes away.
> 
> > Try running while1 program, see if it helps.
> Yes!, when there is intensive processor activity the sound goes away.

This unfortunately seems fairly normal; at least all four notebooks I
had for testing produced some kind of cpu-related noise.

> > If so you might want to disable CX sleep states.
> What's the name of the directive? Or do I have to manually remove some
> portions of the code?

Manually remove... [And I'm not sure which portion, either ;-). Look
into acpi's idle loop.]
								Pavel
-- 
When do you have a heart between your knees?
[Johanka's followup: and *two* hearts?]


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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Nate Lawson]

On Sun, 5 Oct 2003, Pavel Machek wrote:
> > > > > My inspiron 8600 (intel centrino/855PM) is producing a strange high
> > pitch
> > > > > sound which comes from within the machine (definitly not the speakers)
> > when
> > > > > the acpi processor module get's loaded. When I unload the processor
> > module
> > > > > the high pitch sound goes away.
> >
> > > Try running while1 program, see if it helps.
> > Yes!, when there is intensive processor activity the sound goes away.
>
> This unfortunately seems fairly normal; at least all four notebooks I
> had for testing produced some kind of cpu-related noise.

It's a *feature*.  I've implemented a Cx driver for FreeBSD and it's
useful to be able to tell if the code really is entering the desired state
by holding the laptop up to my ear.  I can differentiate all the Cx states
but not in the Px states.  :)

-Nate


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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Pavel Machek]

Hi!

> > This unfortunately seems fairly normal; at least all four notebooks I
> > had for testing produced some kind of cpu-related noise.
> 
> It's a *feature*.  I've implemented a Cx driver for FreeBSD and it's
> useful to be able to tell if the code really is entering the desired state
> by holding the laptop up to my ear.  I can differentiate all the Cx states
> but not in the Px states.  :)

;-))))))))))))))

Well, if you have to *hold it up to your ear*, then yes, its a
feature. Unfortunately, I can hear it while working normally :-(.

								Pavel

-- 
When do you have a heart between your knees?
[Johanka's followup: and *two* hearts?]


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RE: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Grover, Andrew]

> [mailto:acpi-devel-admin-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org] On Behalf Of 
> Pavel Machek
> > > This unfortunately seems fairly normal; at least all four 
> notebooks I
> > > had for testing produced some kind of cpu-related noise.
> > 
> > It's a *feature*.  I've implemented a Cx driver for FreeBSD and it's
> > useful to be able to tell if the code really is entering 
> the desired state
> > by holding the laptop up to my ear.  I can differentiate 
> all the Cx states
> > but not in the Px states.  :)
> 
> ;-))))))))))))))
> 
> Well, if you have to *hold it up to your ear*, then yes, its a
> feature. Unfortunately, I can hear it while working normally :-(.

Apparently it is a hardware problem. Says someone who knows:

"Well, it's not normal, but it means they used cheap capacitors. This is
known as the acoustic noise issue. It's related to PCB vibration as a
result of the piezo electric effect on the caps. What is the timer tick
frequency? For Windows, it's 15.6ms or 10ms by default, but can go as
frequent as 1ms. The 1ms gives a nice 1kHz tone. It's related to the
voltage change of C4 exit."

Since Linux (2.6 anyways) uses a 1ms timer tick, this will be seen more
frequently on Linux. If it's really a bother, using a longer tick might
be something to try...

Regards -- Andy


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Re: High pitch noise produced when ACPI processor module loaded

[Pavel Machek]

Hi!

> > [mailto:acpi-devel-admin-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org] On Behalf Of 
> > Pavel Machek
> > > > This unfortunately seems fairly normal; at least all four 
> > notebooks I
> > > > had for testing produced some kind of cpu-related noise.
> > > 
> > > It's a *feature*.  I've implemented a Cx driver for FreeBSD and it's
> > > useful to be able to tell if the code really is entering 
> > the desired state
> > > by holding the laptop up to my ear.  I can differentiate 
> > all the Cx states
> > > but not in the Px states.  :)
> > 
> > ;-))))))))))))))
> > 
> > Well, if you have to *hold it up to your ear*, then yes, its a
> > feature. Unfortunately, I can hear it while working normally :-(.
> 
> Apparently it is a hardware problem. Says someone who knows:
> 
> "Well, it's not normal, but it means they used cheap capacitors. This is
> known as the acoustic noise issue. It's related to PCB vibration as a
> result of the piezo electric effect on the caps. What is the timer tick

Well, that means that thinkpad 560X, toshiba 4030cdt, hp omnibook xe3
and arima notebook (at least) have cheap capacitors. And it happened
in 2.2 days with apm, too, so I do not think it is too timer-tick
related.

> Since Linux (2.6 anyways) uses a 1ms timer tick, this will be seen more
> frequently on Linux. If it's really a bother, using a longer tick might
> be something to try...

Its not *that* bad, but I'd not call it feature, either.

								Pavel
-- 
When do you have a heart between your knees?
[Johanka's followup: and *two* hearts?]


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