Vaio VGN-FE31M Noise

[silma]

Hi ppl!

I believe the graphics card produces noise depending on the load I put on it. It is very little audible in windows, but very intense on demanding 2D/3D operations. It should not be the CPU as in SuperPi it is as audible as it is in windows alone. The hard disk is not to blame as it is hardly more audible when loading windows or other large pieces of software. The noise is like a high pitch buzz with occasional beeps while the graphics card is on load. This noise is similar to the one you will possibly hear if you turn the speakers to the max while attached to a builtin card of a motherboard, kind of like static noise. I tried to lower the volume of the laptop speakers or mute them but the noise is there. In fact, if I use headphones, I can't listen to the noise through the sound card at all! So it must be hardware emmited which alarms me more. It may even be connected artifacts I have observed on the screen for a frame or two while gaming. Should I return the laptop to the retailer? How am I going to convince him on the problem, because I believe that they will not admit they listent to anything. The e-support just doesn't care to even contact me with an automated message!

Apart from that the laptop is what I expected it to be

Any ideas?

[ewm]

Hello,

I have had similar problems with my Vaio C1S in battery mode.

My workaround:

- get rmclock from: http://cpu.rightmark.org/products/rmclock.shtml

- start rmclock and go to the "advanced cpu setting"

- go to tab "platform" and uncheck "enable popdown mode" or "enable popup mode" or both

- if this helps, you can use rmclock and this setting every time

- therefore enable "apply this settings on startup" at "advanced cpu settings" at the "processor" tab and enable also at the "management" menue the checkbox "run applictain automatically when windows session starts"

There may be a small impact on the runtime in battery mode, depending on the activities in battery mode.

Attention: This is only a suggestion for a workaround. With "rmclock" and the settings above some extended power save properties of intels actual processors are disabled. There may be a impact on battery work time, cpu temperature and the runtime and speed of the fan.

But its worth a try till a solution by sony.

There is no instal procedure of rmclock. Just unrar it or execute the unpack .exe file to a folder of your choice. Than start the rmclock.exe. You can remove it without any trace I think. Read the rmclock.htm in the generated folder for further help and explanations.

I hope this helps also with your problems. Good luck an greetings!
ewm

I cannot say if "rmclock" works with vista. So some test results with rmclock and vista are welcome here.

[riddler1980]

Doesn't work for me on my FE41Z. Noise ist still there, about same volume. i run windows vista. maybe on vista it's not that effective...

hope on the sony bios patch to fix this...

greetz

[Thalamus.]

Hi silma, ogarr81, rsalla, danishamin & riddler1980.

Have you been contacted by Vaio-Link..?

[riddler1980]

Hi Thalamus!

Yes i called Sony Support even two times. On first call, the sony supporter said that i should download the bios update from end of february, but the problem resists. then he said that this will be fixed with the next bios update ca. end of march. but i wanted 100% security so i called sony support again two days later and described an other sony supporter the same problem. this supporter had no clue what the problem cause and adviced me to send my book to sony workshop where it (may be) will repaired. so i don't know what to do now. send to sony, wait 2 weeks and get my book back unchanged, or wait for a bios update wich will (may be) never released, or if released, will fix nothing on this problem.

bad situation 😞

sorry if english is bad 🙂

thanks for any answers!

[kee-lo_]

I would save sending it in if a BIOS update is coming out in a week's time. You'll be saving the carbon emmisions - which is good.

[riddler1980]

Hi!
What do you mean with "I would save sending it in"? would you send it in or not? sry for my english, i will improve, promised 🙂

and what is carbon emissions? try to describe plz 🙂

tanks!

[ewm]

Hi!
What do you mean with "I would save sending it in"? would you send it in or not? sry for my english, i will improve, promised 🙂

and what is carbon emissions? try to describe plz 🙂

tanks!

I think he is talking about carbon dioxid (CO2) emission.

ewm

[ogarr81]

Hi silma, ogarr81, rsalla, danishamin & riddler1980.

Have you been contacted by Vaio-Link..?

Hi,
the first time my fe31m went to the sony sat and waiting a month to bring it back, they said that the sounds where normal!!! (my local dealer said that)

Saturday I opened a case in vaio-link, and today they contacted me. They called me and said something about a firmware update (my english is too bad). Tomorrow they will call me again.

[rsalla]

Hi,

I have not been contacted by Sony. Since I was in try period I returned my FE41Z to shop. Now I am the happy owner of a AR31M model, which is very silent :-).

Anyway, this links point to similar discussions on the subject:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=107441
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=101844

Seems it is not a Sony-specific problem. Hope it helps!

[Blencogo]

Just a long shot but someone may like to try it for everyone else's benefit!!

Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Advanced

Scroll down the list and uncheck the box "Use Smooth Scrolling" (last entry under Browsing).

I haven't got the problem but Smooth Scrolling increases the demand on the graphics chip and could cause it to squeal.