[Aluminum]

This ticking noise comes off and on, I would say you could hear it like 5-10% of the time, ticking from the middle of the keyboard, I know its NOT the hd, but I remember someone saying that it could be the airport card, does that even make sense though? I have a 15" 1.25ghz Albook, 1 gig ram, 5400rpm 80 gig hd, superdrive. Anyone else experience this and actually talk to apple about it? It's more annoying than anything else. Any comments or input are welcome.

[sniffer]

Are you sure it isn't from the HD? I have a BTO Hitachi 80 Gig HD in my 12" rev. C. that makes a ticking noise once in a while, and it's not from disk access (read or write). The tickings comes and goes in like ten seconds intervales and lasts for around equal as long (haven't timed it). It has only appeared when the drive have been spinning (active or idle but active) for a good amount of time. I often leave it on over night etc. I called Apple about it, and they told me it was normal. I have good backup and two years warrenty (local consumer laws), so I am not too worried myself luckily.

[Aluminum]

i swear its not coming from the hd, but I do leave my powerbook on all the time, by leaving it on all the time you mean not shutting it down right. I let mine sleep once and awhile, but its running all the time, playing music at night when I sleep, taking notes for class during the day, and browsing the web/checking email during the day. So maybe thats why I am seeing this once and awhile, its annoying though, especially when your trying to study, I will listen closely again and see where its coming from but I am pretty sure its coming from the middle of the keyboard.

[d.fine]

Originally posted by Aluminum:
playing music at night when I sleep, ...

Why do you do that ?

Airport card making a clicking sound sounds strange, it doesn't have any moving parts. The HDD sounds more probable.

[Aluminum]

yeah I know it does, but its not coming from that area, and why do I play music while I sleep you ask, well it helps me fall asleep, I don't think I am alone here, or maybe I am

[Jaeger]

You may wish to check the CPU power setting in the energy control panel. The ticking went away when I switched from Auto to High, or the other way around - I forget which now.

[Aluminum]

well I have mine set on high all the time, so maybe switching down to auto will do the trick, anyone know how much performance you suffer from moving from highest to auto?

[spotze23]

i think it is the cpu. there were threads about this "sizzle" noise. perhaps its the same. my powerbook has the same annoying ticking. it comes up when i use any quicktime or java application.

applecare ignores the problem. i sent in the powerbook three times. not just because of this problems. 2 harddrives, 2 touchpads, 2 keyboards, usb-port, 2 monitors, damaged after repair (bend slotin!). ah. its so annoying. my ugly dell has next day repair. apple instead has wait-three-weeks service.

[Aluminum]

damn, talk about a bad experience with apple, all those problems, and I thought I had it bad when I had to send mine in for a failed hd after 2 weeks. My first albook had a huge dent in it, and I was like, you have to be kidding me, sent it back, they send me a new one, everything was fine, then the hd failed 3 weeks later, they replaced the hd and the screen, because of all the white spot issues although my screen was fine, they still upgraded it to their new model which was nice. Since then its been running like a champ, for a year now. Nothing is worse than computer problems, something you depend on for so many things. That noise issue doesnt bother me that bad, but next time I hear it I am going to switch down to auto and see if that makes a difference.

[d.fine]

Originally posted by Aluminum:
well I have mine set on high all the time, so maybe switching down to auto will do the trick, anyone know how much performance you suffer from moving from highest to auto?

There's no loss in performance. The CPU will go full-out if you ask it to. It is just a matter of regulating the voltage when in low use, and therefore also a difference in temperature.

[Aluminum]

then whats the point of having a highest setting?

[d.fine]

Originally posted by Aluminum:
then whats the point of having a highest setting?

Highest setting if you dan't want this to happen :

"Reduce processor performance"

Also known as "PowerStep," this option allows the software to change the microprocessor's clock speed and/or turn off the L3 cache, slowing down to conserve power or speeding up when more speed is needed."

Having your PB CPU on highest setting when using battery will decrease the time that you can operate on battery, because it uses more power, even when this power is not needed. You can setup Energy Saver to set CPU to highest when plugged in AC and to set CPU to Automatic or Reduced when operating on battery power. It's a matter of how long the PB lasts on battery power, but it also has some effect on how hot the PB CPU gets ...

Highest setting will see to it that you have instantaneous full use of the CPU speed at all times, but it will also make the PB run hotter.

[Aluminum]

i have it set to highest when plugged in, and reduced when running on battery, wouldnt this be the best setup?

[Aluminum]

when I think about it now actually, when its on highest and reduced, I have heard that ticking noise, maybe its time to set them both to auto eigh?

[d.fine]

Originally posted by Aluminum:
i have it set to highest when plugged in, and reduced when running on battery, wouldnt this be the best setup?

I think it is. It will let your PB last longer on battery power.

As for the tickling noise, you can try with settings on Automatic ...