Are monitors supposed to make a high pitched "whine" at high resolutions?

[vi edit]

Does anyone have an explanation for this? I have a 17" Sony Trinitron (Dell branded) that I normally run at 1024x768. My video is the crappy integrated Intel video on the i810 Chipset.

When I try to bump my resolution up any higher than that, the monitor emits this high pitched "whine" that drives me insane. Is this some sort of safety feature to say "hey dumbass, drop the resolution"? Is it sort of like your breaks squeeking when they get close to needing replaced?

 

[dkozloski]

You're hearing the flyback coil. This is normal with practically all cathode ray tube devices with high frequency horizontal deflection circuits.

 

[AmdEmAll]

Is that noise dangerous? Meaning can it do damage if you leave it like that?

 

[Oyeve]

Only harmful to dogs. 🙂

 

[Philly C]

All the monitors at my school make that noise. Crappy Dell monitors. Bugs the hell out of me.

 

[MWink]

Don't worry, my old one did it for years without a problem.

 

[jamarno]

The whine is harmless except to your sanity, and it's caused by a coil in the horizontal output section (usually) or main switching power supply vibrating at a fraction of the frequency being sent through it. Conventional coils can often be quieted by wedging a piece of cardboard or wood between the coil and the core, but if that doesn't work, or the coil is a toroid (donut), it has to be coated with varnish, which also may not work. The varnish should be very runny (warm it up, or thin with mineral spirits) and slow drying. Either brush it on, or remove the coil and soak it in a can of varnish, but in either case apply it several times to saturate the coil.