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[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Yesterday I picked up a Kinectless Xbox one. After updating the console, a dreadful ticking/scratching sound, similar to a IDE hard drive from the early 90's could be heard anytime I have the console on the dashboard.

Going through the most recent Xbox owners thread has brought this up:-

Ouch. Seems I am one of the unfortunate ones that had to wait since november last year for the console to be officially released, only to get one of the numerous (all of them?) kinectless consoles which make noise in the dashboard.

At the time of writing the thread on the official xbox support forum is up to 447 replies.
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/xbox_support/xbox_one_support/f/4269/t/1805665.aspx
I can't find any thread on Neogaf which makes me wonder how widespread it really is.
It also makes me wonder if people actually think it is supposed to sound like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skqwBNGH8VU

Got my Xbone. I thought it was supposed to be quiet, but whenever it's turned on it makes this weird, almost creaking-like noise. It's not very loud, but it is very annoying. Is that normal, or is something wrong with it?

It seems very widespread - to the point where it's about to redefine what's "normal", I guess. But no, it's not supposed to sound like that. There's a big thread about it on xbox forums. I'm getting a replacement on Monday, but I don't expect it to be issue free, either. Gonna send it in for repairs when I've at least played some of the "launch" games.

Aforementioned thread:
http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/xbox_support/xbox_one_support/f/4269/t/1805665.aspx

Anyone else having bought a new Xbox One recently, and is having a coil whining noise from the console when not playing games?

Microsoft thinks it's hardware. They're telling people to take the consoles back to the store for a replacement. People do that multiple times and each time return with an Xbox One with the same problem. One of you non-Juniors should create a thread so this issue gets more visibility. I'd have owned an Xbox One right now, but multiple attempts to buy one resulted in consoles exhibiting this problem so I gave up. My Destiny White PS4 arrives on Tuesday. MS' loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OW9jFwngFw

Early update for this guy. November 22nd, 2013.

This noise issue is definitely related to the Kinect not being plugged in. I've had mine since launch, and it's always been dead silent, but the Kinect has always been plugged in. Recently I was painting a room and moved the XB1 to another room and didn't have the Kinect plugged in, and sure enough I was noticing it making some small noises. It sounded like a noisy hard drive making access noises. It could be described as minor clicking. It was only audible when things were quiet though.

Anyways, moved the XB1 back to the main room and it's been completely silent since I plugged the Kinect back in.

So don't bother returning your console. It's clearly not going to be fixed with a replacement. I'd imagine a firmware update is coming that will fix this.

Chalk up another one to this noise issue, bought the console yesterday.

No sense in taking it back if it's so widespread, as it'll just happen again.

Loud on the dash, loud when it's in standby.

Don't know how it would sound with a disc based game because the only one I got was Dead Rising 3, and I'm still waiting on the motherfucking 16 gig update

Welp

My Xbox One has a quiet fan, about the same level as the quietest fan level of my slim PS3. It also has a slight noticeable hard drive noise. I can hear it from about six feet away when the console on the dashboard, but only when things are quite quiet.

I'm presuming it's a hard drive noise, because it sounds pretty much the same as the hard drive in my PC does. It's also louder than it used to be right back when it was bought... but the internal hard drive on the machine is about 90-95% full now, which probably doesn't help. It never comes close to being audible above normal volume gameplay.

If it wasn't for all the talk about consoles crackling and ticking, I'd probably be okay with all this. But with the widespread worry and panic about it, every Xbox One session is now tinged with an 'Aaaaargh! It's noticeable! Noticeable is bad!'.

I've even got the decibel meter on my phone out, and held it right up to the machine to test it. Decibel readings came in at 40-42dB... pretty much exactly the same as those reported by Digital Foundry back at launch (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-xbox-one-hardware-test).

But (maybe just because of the issues others are having), it still doesn't feel quite right.

My dB reading is showing 43-45. Is this in the "normal range?"

I read the Xbox one Support forums here and it seems word for word the same problem.

As it seems to be something related to Kinect, it should be something easy to test, but im still saying this "might" be a problem as it could just be that more recent batches of the console have had more defetive units.


UPDATE:

Here is a better video demostrating the noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrP-nwdZL9U

UPDATE 2:

It looks like it is coil whine.

I have experienced this a few times.

Both with kinect consoles and ones without. Exchanges changed nothing. It has nothing to do with kinect.

It is clearly not related to the fan or hard drive. It is a coil whine from the power regulation circuitry. The noise will change based on the power draw at the time. It is heard infrequently in standby, constantly while idling and not at all under load.

This can also be seen in pc components with cheap parts. If there is a correlation with kinect being plugged in, it's only because kinect increases the power draw enough to stop the noise in some systems.

I gave up on exchanges and simply leave the console in power savings mode and straight into game. I should have gotten my money back but I just bad to have forza.

The noise is so annoying that it's impossible to use the TV passthrough functionality or netflix etc.

Ms is definitely a software and services company. No matter how much money they throw at hardware they just can't do it.

Yes, those high-pitched noises are definitely coil-whine and are usually fixed under full load. The firmware"fix" would be to always run the xbox at full load. Would take huge amounts of energy but the whine would most certainly be gone.

UPDATE 3

Microsoft is saying to the media they are aware of the issue and to send the xbox to them.




TL;DR

If a Kinect is not plugged into your XBO currently, there is a chance it could start making a awful noise that goes away when its plugged in. Discuss.


UPDATE 4:-

Supposedly the issue is due to coil whine that occurs when the system is in a low power state. Microsoft has fixed it with the October update so wait for that if you have this issue [/B]

Examples:-

I wouldn't be worried. Both my XB1s are super silent now.

Why would they be unsafe? The Kinectless version was the noisy one, and now the noise issue is fixed if you're in the preview. For those not in the preview it'll be fixed in a week or so I guess.

I can confirm it worked for me. Update fixed it! Yyyyyyyyaaaaayyyyyyyy!

Super silent now.

It fixed mine mate. Very silent now.

 

[Iacobellis]

Why is this only being discovered three months after the price drop?

 

[Disaster Nebraska]

Why is this only being discovered three months after the price drop?

#gamersgate flushing out all dem conspiracies.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

Noooo. Don't say things like this.
Oh, it's only an annoying sound in the dashboard. I was having an RROD flashback there.

Still, this doesn't sound good. Not what I wanted to hear with my unit practically being dispatched as I'm typing this.

 

[10k]

It's Microsofts not so subtle way of encouraging you to buy Kinect

This sounds like a really weird coincidence. Maybe a bug in the firmware causes the disc reader to spin when there is no Kinect present?

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

It's Microsofts not so subtle way of encouraging you to buy Kinect

This sounds like a really weird coincidence. Maybe a bug in the firmware causes the disc reader to spin when there is no Kinect present?

Its not the disc drive. Its most definitely something to do with the hard drive. It sounds like it is constantly seeking data.

 

[friskykillface]

is it the buzz saw noise, the disc drive side that makes the noise?
whats funny is my brother did a "fonzie" and tapped it a few times and it stopped

it would make the noise when on the dashboard and a heavy noise when playing a game , this was back on launch day last year

haven't had problems since, but i dunno, could be a new noise

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Why is this only being discovered three months after the price drop?

Not sure. Thats kinda why I created this thread. I don't have a kinect, but if it is just because of the Kinect it should be easy enough to test.

Only thing that ive seen that seems constant is that issue was introduced in the June firmware update.

is it the buzz saw noise, the disc drive side that makes the noise?
whats funny is my brother did a "fonzie" and tapped it a few times and it stopped

it would make the noise when on the dashboard and a heavy noise when playing a game , this was back on launch day last year

haven't had problems since, but i dunno, could be a new noise

For me its the opposite side and sounds like its coming from the hardrive. Like I said it sounds like a hard drive constantly seeking data, almost like defraging a drive and putting it to your ear.

 

[Guevara]

Its not the disc drive. Its most definitely something to do with the hard drive. It sounds like it is constantly seeking data.

Poor Xbox is constantly seeking its Kinect :-(

 

[Timmay]

I've wanted an Xbone since the Kinectless models went on sale. I went through 4 from Amazon. After the 4th, they told me I needed to take a refund because they couldnt continue to replace the units. I then took my business to Target. After the 3rd one at Target, I got another refund and essentially just gave up. I tweeted Phil, Major, Albert about the issue many times. Ignored. I posted a thread about my experience at the Xbone sub-Reddit and it got downvoted out of existence. So come mid-June and I was done with MS for good.

The other day I started seeing threads pop up here, at Reddit, Gamefaqs, IGN etc etc. All the same thing pretty much - "Is this noise normal?" I followed a link to the official Xbox support forum and found the huge thread. This problem is affecting gamers in all the countries Xbox One just released in. And the problem shows itself exactly how mine did. It goes pretty much like this:

- Turn unit on, initiate mandatory update. No noise whatsoever except for the very quiet purring of the fan
- Update finishes and the Xbox One reboots itself. Huge change in noise
- Go to the main UI, loud scratching sounds persist. Go to Netflix, it persists. Use any app, it persists.
- Load a game, noise goes completely away
- put Xbox One to sleep, noise persists albeit quieter
- come out of sleep, terrible noise returns.

Xbox support each and every time responded the same way - Do a hard reset. That's their answer for everything. Hard reset. So it's months now since my situation and I see that support is still as clueless as ever about this problem. Users in all these new countries are being told to return the units to the store for a new one, only to be given another defective unit. Requests for help from support via Twitter results in "Do a hard reset? Didn't fix it? Go return it or we'll do a repair for you." One user I noted had MS repair it only to be given an Xbox One with the same exact problem.

Many of the angry consumers have taken to use #xboxnoise on Twitter to track the messages.

For me I took it as a sign from the gaming gods that I should spend my money on a white PS4 bundle and some PSN cards.

And by the way, Kinect never played a role in my situation. I plugged in a Kinect to a couple of my defective units and the buzzing continued. Several users on the support forum say the same thing. Microsoft reached out to me after I told my story on the support forum, but I let them know I'd given up months ago. It's amazing how quickly you can turn a 360 fan into a big, smiling PS4 fan.

 

[furious]

I've wanted an Xbone since the Kinectless models went on sale. I went through 4 from Amazon. After the 4th, they told me I needed to take a refund because they couldnt continue to replace the units. I then took my business to Target. After the 3rd one at Target, I got another refund and essentially just gave up.

 

[iamjohn]

Thanks for making this thread -- this issue needs more awareness. I'll be getting a refund tomorrow and won't be buying another one ever again. Not worth the hassle anymore.

 

[Exploratory]

Word.

 

[BruiserBear]

Please read my quote in the OP. I don't see any evidence to suggest this is anything more than a bug in a recent firmware update. When the Kinect isn't plugged in, the console makes a mild noise similar to a hard drive being noisy when accessing.

It will likely be fixed in a future update.

To be clear, this problem does not present itself while playing games.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Quick search of the #XboxNoise hastag

 

[djshauny]

Lets hope this gets fixed soon.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

Please read my quote in the OP. I don't see any evidence to suggest this is anything more than a bug in a recent firmware update. When the Kinect isn't plugged in, the console makes a mild noise similar to a hard drive being noisy when accessing.

It will likely be fixed in a future update.

To be clear, this problem does not present itself while playing games.

If it's likely to be fixed in a future update, Microsoft should probably inform their support department of this instead of having them tell people to pointlessly return units to various places.

 

[Timmay]

Please read my quote in the OP. I don't see any evidence to suggest this is anything more than a bug in a recent firmware update. When the Kinect isn't plugged in, the console makes a mild noise similar to a hard drive being noisy when accessing.

It will likely be fixed in a future update.

To be clear, this problem does not present itself while playing games.

Mild? Have you actually heard it? I wouldnt return a functioning console making a mild noise. It's incredibly loud when it's happening.

 

[angrygnat]

Actually I know someone that took a laptop back and got 4 different models from Walmart. She said they were all broken. Turns out they just had Windows 8 on them. (True story!) she's also elderly, heavily medicated, and insane so there's her excuse.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Please read my quote in the OP. I don't see any evidence to suggest this is anything more than a bug in a recent firmware update. When the Kinect isn't plugged in, the console makes a mild noise similar to a hard drive being noisy when accessing.

It will likely be fixed in a future update.

To be clear, this problem does not present itself while playing games.

Its only mild if your frame of reference is a 360 or OG phat PS3.

And its not so much the volume, its the pitch. My PS4 is louder when the fans are going full blast, but its a easier noise on the ear.

The hard drive noise just goes right through me.

 

[PhatSaqs]

Actually I know someone that took a laptop back and got 4 different models from Walmart. She said they were all broken. Turns out they just had Windows 8 on them. (True story!) she's also elderly, heavily medicated, and insane so there's her excuse.

lmfao.

 

[BruiserBear]

If it's likely to be fixed in a future update, Microsoft should probably inform their support department of this instead of having them tell people to pointlessly return units to various places.

I definitely agree. I have no idea why they're not explaining this better.

Mild? Have you actually heard it? I wouldnt return a functioning console making a mild noise. It's incredibly loud when it's happening.

Everyone's opinion on such things will vary. The sound might even vary between units. Mine makes the sound when the Kinect isn't plugged in, but I'd say it's pretty minor. If there is any noise happening in the room I wouldn't notice it.

 

[Mononoke]

I definitely agree. I have no idea why they're not explaining this better.



Everyone's opinion on such things will vary. The sound might even vary between units. Mine makes the sound when the Kinect isn't plugged in, but I'd say it's pretty minor. If there is any noise happening in the room I wouldn't notice it.

Must be a big problem if that many people are saying it's loud. Damn.

 

[stephendedalus]

Hope this is fixed soon, or is fixable at all. Those types of noises ain't no good! Preferable fix before the white Sunset Overdrive bundle releases!

 

[Omnii-chan]

I have a launch unit and it is really quiet. Only a bit of a hum from the power supply, not too loud. My hard drive doesn't tick or click. I hate hard drives that do that. I suspect they've changed the brand or model of hard drive since launch possibly to save money. Maybe it has a louder seek. The ticking would be the arm moving. It varies by hard drive and usually is stated on every hard drives specification list.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

I have a launch unit and it is really quiet. Only a bit of a hum from the power supply, not too loud. My hard drive doesn't tick or click. I hate hard drives that do that. I suspect they've changed the brand or model of hard drive since launch possibly to save money. Maybe it has a louder seek. The ticking would be the arm moving. It varies by hard drive and usually is stated on every hard drives specification list.

This is with kinect unplugged?

 

[Toki767]

It definitely sounds like a software bug if Kinect being plugged in is what prevents it. At least there aren't reports of disc drives grinding when a disc is in anymore.

 

[badboy78660]

Yesterday I picked up a Kinectless Xbox one. After updating the console, a dreadful ticking/scratching sound, similar to a IDE hard drive from the early 90's could be heard anytime I have the console on the dashboard.

Going through the most recent Xbox owners thread has brought this up:-





















I read the Xbox one Support forums here and it seems word for word the same problem.

As it seems to be something related to Kinect, it should be something easy to test, but im still saying this "might" be a problem as it could just be that more recent batches of the console have had more defetive units.

TL;DR

If a Kinect is not plugged into your XBO currently, there is a chance it could start making a awful noise that goes away when its plugged in. Discuss.

It's not a Kinectless-Xbox-One-specific issue. My first Xbox One console WITH a Kinect unit exhibited this same issue after the very first system update. I ended up swapping it out at the Best Buy I had purchased it from.

 

[VibratingDonkey]

I have a launch unit and it is really quiet. Only a bit of a hum from the power supply, not too loud. My hard drive doesn't tick or click. I hate hard drives that do that. I suspect they've changed the brand or model of hard drive since launch possibly to save money. Maybe it has a louder seek. The ticking would be the arm moving. It varies by hard drive and usually is stated on every hard drives specification list.

It better not be a hardware issue... Mediamarkt support has been sucking shit. Probably wouldn't respond to my RMA request just like they haven't replied to my order cancellation requests. Would probably have to go to their stupid store that's an hour's drive away and wait in line and *grumblegrumble*

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

It definitely sounds like a software bug if Kinect being plugged in is what prevents it. At least there aren't reports of disc drives grinding when a disc is in anymore.

Well, thats what has been suggested here, mostly by BruiserBear.

Thats kinda why id like a couple more XBO owners with Kinects to chime in. If its just a Software issue, people can just put up with it, buy a Kinect or pack their console away till its fixed.

But if its a hardware issue, they need to be sending their consoles off to Microsoft.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

It's not a Kinectless-Xbox-One-specific issue. My first Xbox One console WITH a Kinect unit exhibited this same issue after the very first system update. I ended up swapping it out at the Best Buy I had purchased it from.

This is more worrying. I can't be arsed personally playing lucky dip with consoles to find one that sounds acceptable. Some people with this issue are going through several returns before they get a quiet system.

 

[Metfanant]

Its the second GPU...


Sounds like the Xbone needs its stability updated

 

[Vestax]

Holy shit! I have an SO Bundle pre-ordered....I think I'm gonna cancel until this gets fixed by Microsoft. This sounds like a widespread manufacturing issue. I already went through the whole RRoD with my 360, don't want to go through this again.

Thanks for making this thread.

EDIT: I owned a launch XBO at one point and had no issues, seems like the latest batch of XBO are the culprits.

 

[Indiedevs]

I bought my first console without Kinect in June, and that one had the noise issue. I replaced it three times, but every console had the same issue. Then I waited four months for Xbox One to be official released in Norway, but nope, still the same noise. I got my money back, and now i`ve just given up.

This thread has 531 replies at the moment regarding the noise issue, but still nothing official from Microsoft.

http://forums.xbox.com/xbox_forums/xbox_support/xbox_one_support/f/4269/t/1805665.aspx

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Holy shit! I have an SO Bundle pre-ordered....I think I'm gonna cancel until this gets fixed by Microsoft. This sounds like a widespread manufacturing issue. I already went through the whole RRoD with my 360, don't want to go through this again.

Thanks for making this thread.

EDIT: I owned a launch XBO at one point and had no issues, seems like the latest batch of XBO are the culprits.

I wouldn't make any rash decisions like that. This issue may very well be sorted by the time SO launches, IF its a software issue.

If its a hardware/cost reductions on Hard drive issue, then yeah. Id stay away unless you tuck your consoles in a entertainment centre and game at least 8 feet away.

 

[Indiedevs]

Here in Norway, almost every bundle out there is affected by this.

 

[Timmay]

I wouldn't make any rash decisions like that. This issue may very well be sorted by the time SO launches, IF its a software issue.

If its a hardware/cost reductions on Hard drive issue, then yeah. Id stay away unless you tuck your consoles in a entertainment centre and game at least 8 feet away.

If it was software, it would affect every single console. There's multiple theories. Not sure if I believe any of them. One suggests coil whine. Another is that there's a speaker inside the Xbox One that is emitting static from consoles plugged into a power strip instead of directly into the wall as MS suggests (I tried both ways and the same noise persisted. I even changed homes it was plugged in at. No difference). Another theory is that there's a second smaller fan that cools the box when not in a game, and this fan is enabled by the initial update. Seems far-fetched.

 

[0ptimusPayne]

I guess the X1 really is "better with kinect" all jokes aside, please use your warranty and have them fix it ASAP.

 

[Social]

Original Xbox: needed a worldwide power supply replacement because of bad soldering.

Xbox 360: RROD fun

Xbox One: Makes weird loud noises

This fucking company!

 

[Portman]

If it was software, it would affect every single console. There's multiple theories. Not sure if I believe any of them. One suggests coil whine. Another is that there's a speaker inside the Xbox One that is emitting static from consoles plugged into a power strip instead of directly into the wall as MS suggests (I tried both ways and the same noise persisted. I even changed homes it was plugged in at. No difference). Another theory is that there's a second smaller fan that cools the box when not in a game, and this fan is enabled by the initial update. Seems far-fetched.

Yeah some of those (speaker and fan) are far fetched after seeing inside of them. I do want to recall a speaker being in it but don't hold me to that with out double checking a teardown. My memory is of it being like an old PC speaker.

 

[Indiedevs]

Many people tried to get their console repaired, but Microsoft told them nothing was wrong.

 

[Garrett 2U]

Many people tried to get their console repaired, but Microsoft told them nothing was wrong.

I don't think this is the case, sir.
Have only heard great things about their support.

Although now I see that thread. I'm not sure, I know this was an issue at launch.
I doubt they'd flat out offer no assistance though.

 

[Indiedevs]

I don't think this is the case, sir.
Have only heard great things about their support.

Their support is great, but they didn`t notice what was wrong.

 

[Freaky Fred]

I've wanted an Xbone since the Kinectless models went on sale. I went through 4 from Amazon. After the 4th, they told me I needed to take a refund because they couldnt continue to replace the units.

are you keeping them on a wine cooler subwoofer?

 

[Draper]

are you keeping them on a wine cooler subwoofer?

Haha, oh man, you have a link to that thread? I'd like to frolic in the memories.

 

[Indiedevs]

Hope this is fixed soon, or is fixable at all. Those types of noises ain't no good! Preferable fix before the white Sunset Overdrive bundle releases!

I won`t touch another Xbox One until I hear something official about this. I also wanted the Sunset Overdrive bundle, and I bet they will be even harder to replace once I get another console with this stupid noise.

 

[x3sphere]

Man. I just bought an Xbox One a few days ago, haven't opened it yet, now thinking of returning :/

Guess I'll wait another week to see if this drums up any attention from MS before deciding what to do.

 

[Indiedevs]

Man. I just bought an Xbox One a few days ago, haven't opened it yet, now thinking of returning :/

Guess I'll wait another week to see if this drums up any attention from MS before deciding what to do.

Even if you open it, they can always repair it?

 

[KlockreN]

I'm having the same issue, Going to the store today or tomorrow to change it. If it dosen't work i will probably get my money back and wait for ms to fix it.

 

[Indiedevs]

I'm having the same issue, Going to the store today or tomorrow to change it. If it dosen't work i will probably get my money back and wait for ms to fix it.

Unfortunately it`s very likely that all Xbox One console inside this store have the same issue. I tried to replace my four times at the same store, but no luck.