My G5 2.5 dual has never exhibited any of this behavior. Strange.

My dual 2.5 makes a noise when I scroll, Expose, drag, resize, etc. I never really though to call it "chirping," though. I was actually planning to post something here once I found an adequate word to describe it... I guess "chirping" works, but it is not literallly like a bird chirping, and I dont think it could be heard if I held a phone up to it. Its actually very subtle, but really weird, and it comes and goes from time to time. I think maybe it is the sound that the Applecare lady said that certain people are too sensitive to in Groovy's experience.

Then again, with my G5 on the desk, its just a little over a foot away from my head... I guess if I get a stand and move it to the ground, I probably wont hear it; like I said, its really subtle. Even if I wont die not having a solution, it would be nice to know exactly what the sound is, I dont think its physical, but I know for sure that its not a sound effect that was made on purpose.

Down suppose theres a similar command for setting processor performance (Lowest, Automatic, Highest)

?

It can barely be described as chirping, but it's more like very high pitched fast pulses/whine that occurs whenever a lot of data is moving across the graphics bus. It kinda sounds similar to that high pitched whine emitted by a TV when you first turn it on.

Some people may not be able to hear because the frequency is too high, but for those that can hear it it gets really annoying, really fast.

It's definitely more of an electronic sound, not mechanical.

Just noticed I get the "chirping also when resizing windows. It is much fainter than when I play WoW. If use the scripts Nugget suggested the sound goes away.

My only question I guess is, what impact is there to the computer if I set cpu_nap=false (ie. stop the squeak)?

The sound it makes other than when playing WoW is not bad. I hardly notice it. But it is very annoying and irritating when playing WoW. It is much louder and constant. Sometimes I just turn up the sound to wash it out. But at night I need to lower so I don't wake the kids. :-)

J...

I didn't say it was a fan on your box. I will repeat what i said

"Why haven't you located the exact sound source? You should have no problem
finding exactly where the sound is coming from be it power supply, fan, or
whatever. (at the very least which air flow section it is coming from)"

To use YOUR words. I don't know how to say it any more plainly. lol

"power supply, fan or whatever" Not plain enough for you? You only saw the word "fan"?


You never answered why you haven't located the exact sound source.
So what is the exact sound source of this chirping? You are sure it is not a fan, great!

So what is the source?

Just take the side cover off then tilt the plastic cover until it is almost level with desktop
but keep the bottom tabs in the G5. This keeps the switch pressed so the fans will not
REV up etc... If you go too far you hear them REV up and a red light will turn on and you
will not be able to hear anything but the fans at full blast. Anyway plenty of room for you
to stick your ear next to all components and find the exact chirping source in under 30
seconds which is all i did to find the exact sound source.

good luck

Well this noise I heard in no way could you say it was electronic or mechanical.
It could have been either. i thought it was electronic until I decided to find the
exact source of the sound.


Anyway what you describe doesn't sound like chirping.
at least not the chirping I had. Mine was really like chirping. In fact there
was a toy years ago i saw that is a simple 2 piece thing where 1 plastic thing the
size of ones pinky with a ring on the end slides inside a plastic tube. When you
spun the ring the plastic parts rubbed against each other and made a chirping
sound. Well same sound i heard. Not as loud or sharp but same kind of sound.
And it turned out it was the bearings and friction related on my fan so sorta
the same concept i guess lol

I've heard noisy computer fans, and this is definitely not the same thing. The noise will be totally synchronized with the movement of your mouse if you're doing something that causes it (resizing, scrolling, etc).

It can sort of be described as something you might not hear, but once you notice it, it sticks out like a sore thumb. When I first heard it, I couldn't tell where in my room it was coming from. It's a kinda "where am I" type of high pitched soft sound, similar to a random out-of-nowhere ringing you may get in your ears, but not as loud. I would try to record the sound, but I'm almost positive the microphone wouldn't be able to pick it up. That's as best as I can describe it.

I didn't see any value in sending the discussion in that direction. It seems to me that you're pretty sure I'm wrong, but I don't mind that you think that. I'm happy for you that it was just a fan in your case.

In any event, I've tried plenty of times to localize the noise with no luck. It's such a high pitched nails-on-chalkboard squeal that it's just not possible to tell where exactly it's coming from. I also think that the "odds" are 1 in 1 that we're talking about two different symptoms and two different issues.

In the interests of better understanding I did take the time to record a little movie that demonstrates both the noise and its responsiveness to "NAP" and video activity. Perhaps this will make the situation more clear to those who are not experiencing this noise on their machines.

For your viewing pleasure:
G5 Squeal (Quicktime, 10MB)

Cheers

That is exactly what goes on with my box. I have the exact same results when I use the scripts you suggested.

By the way, what realm you play on? Horde or Alliance?


J...

i think jamil has what i'm talking about here.. certainly not mechanical...

Looks like you proved me wrong about the noise not being able to be recorded. The noise CAN be recorded obviously (apparently with a good microphone, too), and this is EXACTLY what my PowerMac exhibits. I can usually only hear the squeal when everything is quiet, but when I do hear it, I can't take my attention away from it.

So, who else gets this? Hopefully Apple can fix it via a software update so I don't have to take my machine into the local Apple Store. Come on Apple! You can do it!

yes that is exactly the thing!

WOW. I watched that video and not only is that squeal annoying but your Mac is so loud
I cannot believe it. Mine is so quiet I can hardly tell that its on unless I look at the front
panel. Somethings' gotta be wrong there.

I don't really think his mac is that loud, it's just that he's got the microphone right up to the front grill, and he's playing a game. But you can definitely hear the squeal. Thanks Nugget for finally clearing this up!

Yeah, that video was shot with a microphone placed just an inch or two away from the front grill of the machine (see the little inset photo in the clip). Your Mac would be just as loud if you wore it like a hat!

When I ocassionally get the squeal it is not that loud. I've not had a squeal moment since 10.3.8 I think...
My G5 sits 30cm from my head on the desk...
I agree that the mic is very close to the G5 PSU, if I put my head there I hear a lot more of the machine than usual, which is not surprising.

Also seems that when you disable NAP the fans speed up, so the CPU's are heating up a lot faster all of the sudden?

As soon as I disable NAP the fans spin a little bit faster for two or three seconds, then they drop right back down to their normal slow (and practically inaudible) speed.

Nugget, I don't mean to hijack the thread, but where in Austin do you live? I just moved here for school, down by Riverside Drive and Congress. On Thursday I've got a job interview at the Barton Creek Apple Store, and they're looking to hire about 10 people. If I get it that would Rawk.

But who cares?

I'm in northwest Austin, up by 183 and Anderson Mill Road. "South Dallas" if you ask folks from south of the river.