[ltp] Thinkpad high pitched noise

[wes schreiner]

chris wrote:

>Hi list:
>
>I think this issue has been discussed on this list before, but I can't recall 
>what specifically it was about. Just recently, I am getting increasing 
>annoyed at the high pitched noise that my thinkpad R50 emits while the CPU is 
>working over 1Ghz, I googled around and found out it is due to 2.6 kernel 
>which uses 1000Hz so makes capacitors work a lot harder? But I can't bear the 
>noise any more, replacing the thinkpad it's an option nor going back to 2.4 
>kernel, but changing process.c to 100hz can solve the problem according to 
>some threads, does it slow down the computer or harm the laptop? any one?
>  
>

The slowdown to 100Hz doesn't harm anything, that's what the earlier 
kernels use. You could easily check if this is your problem by booting 
your laptop off of a Knoppix or similar live CD that uses a 2.4.x 
kernel. If the noise goes away then you can go compile a 2.6.x kernel 
with the Hz value turned down to 100. This doesn't really cause a 
slowdown in overall work done by the computer, but it might have a tiny 
effect on latency in some high load situations. It is worth a try, 
though the noise you hear might instead be related to the ACPI 
subsystem, and if that is the case then changing the Hz value might not 
help at all.

wes