Thinkpad T60 high pitch noise Ubuntu 8.10 under no load

[phinn]

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad T60. There is a high pitch noise that comes up whenever Ubuntu 8.10 isn't under load. For example while typing this I hear it. Whenever I'm running an update, loading files, or doing something that seems to be more intensive on the system the noise goes away.

Maybe it has to do with the CPU clocking up and down? Or a problem with the RAM?
I don't think it's the hard drive as the noise definitely isn't coming from where the hard drive is located.

The CPU is an Intel Core 2 Duo, and I have heard about people suggesting it's power management, or the max_cstate settings of the CPU. Either way I only hear it in Linux.

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Workaround:

Adding processor.max_cstate=2 to grub configuration.

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[Baard Johansen (baard)]

This also affects my Dell Latitude D610. A workaround for my laptop is to add:

processor.max_cstate=2

as a kernel parameter. This prevents the CPU from entering the power-saving-states that generates the noises (c3 and c4).

[Michele Mangili (mangilimic)]

Hello!

Thank you for reporting this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better!

Could you please tell us if Baard's suggestion has solved your issue?

Thanks in advance!

[phinn (phinn)]

No that didn't do anything.

I tried using: sudo sysctl processor.max_cstate=2 and it just said invalid key.

I know of no other way to change kernel parameters, so if anyone can tell me how to do that?

It should also be noted that this high pitch noise only occurs when the laptop is not plugged in.

[Baard Johansen (baard)]

Just add the parameter in /boot/grub/menu.lst. Find the section for your kernel and add processor.max_cstate=2:

title Ubuntu jaunty (development branch), kernel 2.6.28-5-generic
uuid a194e608-4679-408f-b126-d3abc31773f9
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.28-5-generic root=UUID=a194e608-4679-408f-b126
-d3abc31773f9 ro quiet splash processor.max_cstate=2
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.28-5-generic
quiet

[phinn (phinn)]

I get the same kinda error when I add it to the grub menu.1st: "Unknown boot option 'processor.max_cstate=2': ignoring"

I would bet this command might be different for my processor as I stated it's a Core 2 Duo 2GHz in my T60. I googled the Latitude D610 and it shows it as a Pentium M (if that's right). So it very well could be different.

Either way that didn't work for me. Maybe a similar parameter I could use for the Core 2?

[Baard Johansen (baard)]

Yes, it's a Centrino (Pentium M), and you're probably right about there being different settings for different CPUs. Even though the workaround eliminates the noise, the battery life is dramatically reduced as well.

I remember the noise was introduced a while back, I believe it was around the time the "default hertz" for the kernel was changed.

http://kerneltrap.org/node/5411

BTW: I read somewhere that the noise is caused by some low-quality components in the computer.

[Baard Johansen (baard)]

"Another point against using a high default HZ value is laptops whose power electronics make noise when the CPU transitions from halt to running. Power management has to be completely disabled on these machines in order to run with a high HZ value and no noise." from http://kerneltrap.org/node/5430

You will have to recompile the kernel to change the default frequency. It would be nice if this had been a kernel parameter that we could tweak.

[xteejx (xteejx)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. You reported this bug a while ago and there hasn't been any activity in it recently. We were wondering if this is still an issue for you. Can you try with the latest Ubuntu release? Thanks in advance.

[J.A. Sully (justin-sully)]

i have a thinkpad t61, running 9.10 and this is still an issue. it's really annoying. the fix involves adding processor.max_cstate=2 to grub configuration. the fix, for me, seems to bring up other issues though, including the obvious issue of power management. short answer is that it is still a bug.

[xteejx (xteejx)]

Thank you for updating us. As per the Kernel Team policy, can you test with a mainline kernel build please. Instructions are at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/MainlineBuilds - this will enable you to be able to test the latest kernel, and if fixed, we can ascertain what needs to be pulled in from that version. Please make sure you get the latest version, and when loading GRUB select that one. After the above is done you can easily go back to a normal system by rebooting, choosing the normal kernel in GRUB, and uninstalling the mainline build. Thank you again.

[xteejx (xteejx)]

We are closing this bug report because it lacks the information we need to investigate the problem, as described in the previous comments. Please reopen it if you can give us the missing information, and don't hesitate to submit bug reports in the future. To reopen the bug report you can click on the current status, under the Status column, and change the Status back to "New". Thanks again!

[Chinoto Vokro (chinoto-gon)]

I have the same problem/annoyance on my laptop. I should check my brother's computer (which is running Windows)
 to see if it makes noise too.

CQ60-215DX http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-compaq-cq60-215dx/1707-3121_7-33496182.html

[Colin Ian King (colin-king)]

I believe the noise is the micro capacitors charging/discharging. It's a physical characteristic of the machines. It's not a kernel bug.