High Pitch Noise Coming From Pinebook Pro

[mrozema@gmail.com]

Hi everyone,
Got this problem too, first on stock Debian, then I switched to Manjaro and the noise wasn't there.
And then I ran the keyboard/trackpad firmware update, sound was back.

I didn't see anyone in this thread relating the problem to the trackpad firmware update so maybe I'm the only one, but maybe it'll help figuring out where this comes from.
Up to now my fix is to just to mute the computer.

I updated the trackpad firmware when I got my PBP back in January. I don't recall if the noise was present before that.

[rudism]

The Pinebook Pro I ordered in April and received about a week ago also has this issue. Maximum or minimum brightness makes the whine inaudable, and toggling caps-lock changes the pitch of the tone.

[chetchinglo]

On a 2020 PP as well, experiencing this. I've noticed that is changed while attempting to update keyboard / trackpad firmware. Pitch / volume changes with keyboard indicator leds, low power items plugged into the USB 2.0 ports, and screen brightness.

It seems to go away while charging via USB-C, but not through the barrel jack.

[this_machine]

Same problem with recent batch here. Max/min screen brightness kills the noise, capslock changes the tone, it actually hurts my ears.

Is this something that can be fixed with a firmware flash or do we have to apply epoxy somewhere?

I know that we can report problems and all that, but at the end of the day, I need actual fixes. If a part needs replacing, I'll have to order it soon before classes start. As it stands right now, I cannot use this at the library or in-class because the noise is painfully audible. I'd even say it's unusable without a headset when I'm just using it for around-the-house computing.

[DanBiscotti]

Just commenting to say I am also experiencing this issue, however only when I plug in my wireless USB mouse.
Once I remove the usb dongle the noise disappears as others seem to have mentioned
Screen brightness didn't seem to affect the noise at all in my case
I'm running manjaro i3 (20.06)

[ratel]

I have the same problem only if some USB devices connected. Caps lock and brightness have some affect on frequency but not at the loudness. The power adapter doesn't have any affect.
This sound really makes me mad. But without a mouse it is impossible to work with this trackpad =(

[pivic]

I have the same problem only if some USB devices connected. Caps lock and brightness have some affect on frequency but not at the loudness.  The power adapter doesn't have any affect.
This sound really makes me mad. But without a mouse it is impossible to work with this trackpad =(

Exact same thing here. As soon as I remove my USB plug that I use for my wireless mouse the high-pitched noise vanishes.

I wish this could be resolved via a software update.

[ratel]

I have the same problem only if some USB devices connected. Caps lock and brightness have some affect on frequency but not at the loudness.  The power adapter doesn't have any affect.
This sound really makes me mad. But without a mouse it is impossible to work with this trackpad =(

Exact same thing here. As soon as I remove my USB plug that I use for my wireless mouse the high-pitched noise vanishes.

I wish this could be resolved via a software update.

I found a strange solution. Trackpad really good works with touch-click emulation in Gnome! I don't know why, but touchpad difference in KDE and gnome really grate!  I tryed to use both versions of gnome (from GTK and KDE repo). Now I use GTK repo version (wayland only), but KDE repo have 4 varaiotions (x11, wayland, classic default).

[moonwalkers]

I found a strange solution. Trackpad really good works with touch-click emulation in Gnome! I don't know why, but touchpad difference in KDE and gnome really grate!  I tryed to use both versions of gnome (from GTK and KDE repo). Now I use GTK repo version (wayland only), but KDE repo have 4 varaiotions (x11, wayland, classic default).

Are you sure that is GNOME vs KDE Plasma issue and not libinput vs evdev vs somethingelse issue?

[ratel]

I found a strange solution. Trackpad really good works with touch-click emulation in Gnome! I don't know why, but touchpad difference in KDE and gnome really grate!  I tryed to use both versions of gnome (from GTK and KDE repo). Now I use GTK repo version (wayland only), but KDE repo have 4 varaiotions (x11, wayland, classic default).

Are you sure that is GNOME vs KDE Plasma issue and not libinput vs evdev vs somethingelse issue?

No, I am not sure because I not tracked desktop environment drivers dependences. I am only sure that gnome installed with default dependences improve touchpad experience. Probably it is possible to get the same result on the KDE with some non-default programs.