My 1-day-old Sony Vaio CS laptop has this intermittent whirring noise from the fan when my laptop is on!

pleasance · 10-21-2008, 02:59 AM

I just got this Sony Vaio VGNCS110DP (in Canada, but I see it's available on US BestBuy stores) and every so often when the laptop is on and I am doing non-intensive stuff like surfing the net with nothing else running in the background, the fan starts up and whirrs for 3 seconds, sometimes less, sometimes more, and always ends with a distinctive sound (ok- I've figured out what it sounds like-- a door creaking and somewhat like a click).

Is this to be expected from Sony Vaio laptops, or is my particular one defective? Again, I'm not doing anything power-intensive and it's giving me this intermittent fan whirring that I am sure will drive me nuts (already is!). Otherwise it's very quiet.

Maybe if I got rid of the "bloatware" that Sony Vaio's are infamous for, it would get rid of this annoying fan whirring sound? I have been reluctant to do anything drastic to this laptop since I may just return it if I can't find an easier solution.

Thanks so much!

Phil · 10-21-2008, 03:12 AM

If the noise is really that bad returning it is probably your best option. Although it's hard to judge by just reading your post.

Workarounds include:
-Undervolting your CPU (this can drop your CPU temp a lot.)
-a clean install (or deinstalling bloatware like you said.)

pleasance · 10-21-2008, 03:47 AM

Yes, I can't really think of another way of describing the sound at the end of each whirr cept that it sounds like a plucking sound.

I'd just like to know if this interminittent fan whirring is typical of Sony Vaio's, because my laptop is literally fresh out of the box as I only bought it this morning.

Phil · 10-21-2008, 03:52 AM

Some fan noise is normal with most Vaios, the whirring you describe does not sound normal to me.

eddieaus · 10-21-2008, 05:43 AM

low end sony laptops do have build quality and other issues, i suggest you return your laptop or exchange it. i have a vaio c series laptop, and it interferers with my HDTV reception everytime i plug in the power, other laptops are fine in the same room. my laptop also has an annoying sound coming from left side of the laptop when the battery is in use. i found these issues too late, otherwise i would demand for refund straight away.

pleasance · 10-21-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddieaus

low end sony laptops do have build quality and other issues, i suggest you return your laptop or exchange it. i have a vaio c series laptop, and it interferers with my HDTV reception everytime i plug in the power, other laptops are fine in the same room. my laptop also has an annoying sound coming from left side of the laptop when the battery is in use. i found these issues too late, otherwise i would demand for refund straight away.

You say the laptop has an annoying sound coming from the left side "when the battery is in use" then surely that must mean whenever the laptop is on?! Or are you referring to the optional longer-lasting battery that I assume is available on the market?

And my whirring sound comes from the left side of my laptop as well.

I was not aware this $1000.00 laptop was LOW-END

but lol that's all right. I will be bringing it in for an exchange, but SonyStyle had better not charge me for a restocking fee!

eddieaus · 10-21-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pleasance

You say the laptop has an annoying sound coming from the left side "when the battery is in use" then surely that must mean whenever the laptop is on?! Or are you referring to the optional longer-lasting battery that I assume is available on the market?

And my whirring sound comes from the left side of my laptop as well.

I was not aware this $1000.00 laptop was LOW-END

but lol that's all right. I will be bringing it in for an exchange, but SonyStyle had better not charge me for a restocking fee!

that's not what i mean at all. the sound only starts when i use battery only, once i plug in the power cord the annoying sound will disappear.

pleasance · 10-21-2008, 08:45 PM

Ugh, I went back to the store and got an exchange for a brand new Vaio CS 110 laptop, but the fan STILL goes on and off intermittently ending with a sound resembling a door creaking or a motor whirring.

I am getting really fed up with this bothersome noise. The SonyStyle guys told me that this intermittent turning on of the fans is a feature found in all of the new Sony Vaio lines. I went to another store and got a whole other story... he says that I should not be hearing this intermittent on-off fan going off. And I had such hope that it would work out this time. I'm really very disappointed. If Sony really did purposely put this feature into their laptops, I do not know how they could've thought this would be acceptable. The creaking sound is very noticeable in a quiet room and even after 30 minutes of light usage with the fans going on and off, on and off, I am ready to go insane.

Where do I go to change the fan settings? I don't do anything graphics-intens ive like gaming, so would it really damage the laptop if I were to turn the fan off? Or perhaps try something like a fansilencer program? Will it be irreversible if I do install this program? The laptop is still within the 15 day exchange period so I don't want to damage the laptop and not be able to get a full refund back.

Lattice · 10-21-2008, 10:49 PM

See if you can go into the Vaio's power settings and if there's a "silent" option available vs. the performance option?

pleasance · 10-22-2008, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lattice

See if you can go into the Vaio's power settings and if there's a "silent" option available vs. the performance option?

Yes, I've selected "Silent mode" under thermal control in Power Management and it has absolutely no effect on the fans. The reviews on the US bestbuy site for this particular laptop don't mention any issue with the fans coming on and off intermittently... I wonder if it's just that way for Canadian versions of the VGN-CS110E, or I've just been very unlucky.