2017 27" base model noisy fan?

[mcomp112]

For those of you who own a silent iMac from whichever year, can you confirm that you hear no difference between idle and shutdown?

I am currently working on a Macbook Pro which has a fan/airflow that is audible to me when idling, but not to a degree that is disturbing.

Should the imac be less noisy than a notebook if it is not faulty? I have been hesitant about getting an iMac because of thinking bigger fan = bigger airflow = bigger noise.

I have both the latest MacBook Pro (mid) and the latest iMac (base).

The difference between the two is that most people can always hear the iMac, so you'll hear fan noise even at idle. It's a gentle swooshing sound so it's not too bad but over time it can get a bit annoying. However, in the base model iMac, I've never heard the fan go above the idle fan speed, even when I've pushed it hard.

The MacBook Pro fans are almost always on as well but they're much more difficult to hear on idle. You really have to put your ear next to the keyboard to hear it and you won't be doing that very often. However, on the rare occasion that the fans ramp up (like when I play a YouTube 4K video [no VP9 support ] with 3-4 VMs, 30 Chrome tabs, Premiere and Photoshop projects open), it gets decently loud but the fan noise gradually dies down to idle speed/silent in 2-3 minutes after cooling.

I personally prefer the fan behaviour of the latest MacBook Pros because I rarely hear it (even on the rare occasions that the fan ramps up I can just dock it to a monitor to have it further away and not hear anything for those few minutes). But others may appreciate the more consistent noise of the iMac.

 

[passingapple]

I could clearly hear mine in a 100% quiet room sitting about 80cm away and up until about 1.5m standing up.....

Like I've said in previous posts, I was more worried about that clicking noise. Passingapple, did you listen to the audio files?
[doublepost=1503124789][/doublepost]I must say that I miss the 5k screen already... Marking students work on my 27" 2011 iMac is a struggle.... Maybe partly because it's Saturday afternoon and I'd rather be watching AFL.....

Just listened to the audio and at first I only heard a floor of room ambient noise to hear anything else when tried to listen it through my imac internal speaker. With a headphone, yes I did hear what you were referring to.

That noise you usually hear from machines that have been used for years and is probably not from the fan. Heard it all the time from my powerbook G4 (14+ year old b4 recycling) after 7-8 years whenever it was loading something, anything. Ditto for my Mac pro (2008). You also hear that "processing noise" from some old PCs. I don't hear that from my 5+ year old MBA yet.

Can't say by itself will be an issue other than being annoying as I don't think by itself will result in machine failing or anything, but you shouldn't hear that audible processing noise from a brand new iMac when idle or just browsing web, etc, that's for sure. Seems like you already replaced it, so there you go.

 

[Mallor]

I did some research listening to two 2017 iMacs and one 2011 model in super quiet environments and can confirm the fan noise from the new iMac is clearly audible and definitely louder than the old model, with a strong air stream exiting from the vents.

Perception is always subjective. To me personally, the idling fan noise is right on the verge of where it can get annoying and where it is still possible to filter it out most of the time. I can definitely understand why some people think there might be something wrong with their fans (excepting clicking or other sounds, of course).

It is most definitely not a silent machine. However, I am sure you will never hear it when not working alone in an office, any kind of ambient noise like opening a window will drown it out immediately. Not a great comfort for those living in cooler climates and working by themselves, though.

For me it is now the difficult choice between the screen estate that I need and the quiet that I want – apple won’t give me both, unfortunately.

Still interested to hear of those who got a replacement if they notice any difference in sound.

 

[294307]

I have the base 27-inch iMac (2017) with Radeon 570 and I can definitely hear the airflow at 1200 RPM when the room is completely quiet. While it would be nice for the fans to be quieter, I really do not think hearing subtle fan noise is an indication of an underlying hardware problem. In the grand scheme of things, the fans are much quieter than other all-in-one computers.

 

[Mallor]

While it would be nice for the fans to be quieter, I really do not think hearing subtle fan noise is an indication of an underlying hardware problem.

They used to be quieter. This is clearly a step backwards. If you are coming from a quieter model, hearing the 2017 might make you think there was a problem with the fan.

 

[Ramboaroundtheworld]

i'm going to return mine and order another one but i don't know what options to pick.

 

[JLOAKS]

I recently just purchased a base 27'' model with 512gb of storage... and can confirm that I also hear an idle fan at 1200 rpm. Its subtle, but definitely noticeable.

I don't remember it being this loud when I set it up earlier in the day. But since setting it up I had also set up boot camp, installed Overwatch, and installed "Macs Fan Control" to manually adjust the fan to cool down the computer even more. Since booting back into the Mac side, setting the fan speed to "auto" (displaying its bare minimum at 1200 RPM), I can audibly hear the fan in a quiet room.

The best way to test this is to shut off the computer in a dead silent room, get used to the silence, then turn it back on. It will definitely be noticeable then.

 

[mcomp112]

It's well established now that the 27 inch 5K iMac has audible fan noise at idle.

However, has anyone with a 21.5 inch 4K noticed the fan on idle? It would be helpful to know.

 

[SaSaSushi]

It's well established now that the 27 inch 5K iMac has audible fan noise at idle.

Really? I didn't get the memo.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I currently have the 2017 27" iMac 2 TB FD (ordered a 1TB SSD model today while my return policy is active). I too have very faint fan noise. I am in a very quiet room and I have to get out of my chair and practically put my ear to the back of the iMac fan port to hear the noise and feel the air coming out. At the moment, I am surfing the web and have 2 downloads going.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the iMacs. I think too many people around here have unrealistic expectations with the new iMac. And it may be possible that some here are obsessing so much, that they are looking for problems that aren't there, just because it is Apple and the price paid is high.

 

[JLOAKS]

Really? I didn't get the memo.

Does your iMac make no noise when at idle? So when you turn it off/on in a silent room there's no difference?

If so, I am concerned mine is somewhat defective. But it's weird because plenty of people are reporting the same concern (not just in this thread).

 

[SaSaSushi]

Does your iMac make no noise when at idle? So when you turn it off/on in a silent room there's no difference?

The room I am in is relatively quiet but there is more than a zero level of very slight ambient background noise. Turning all external peripherals and A/C off, etc and then turning the machine on, I am saying that standing two feet in front of the machine I cannot hear any difference in noise level whatsoever when I power on the iMac. I hear no spinning fan. I have excellent hearing. I could hear a pin drop at the ambient noise level we are talking about.

If I put my ear to the back of the iMac, I can hear it clearly, even at idle. I can also hear it loud and clear when it ramps up above, say 1800rpm.

I agree with what BasicGreatGuy said above. A lot of these issues come from unrealistic expectations. Maybe in a room with zero background noise you can pick up the slight whisper of the fan spinning at idle if you carefully listen for it. That's a complaint?

 

[Ramboaroundtheworld]

The room I am in is relatively quiet but there is more than a zero level of very slight ambient background noise. Turning all external peripherals and A/C off, etc and then turning the machine on, I am saying that standing two feet in front of the machine I cannot hear any difference in noise level whatsoever when I power on the iMac. I hear no spinning fan. I have excellent hearing. I could hear a pin drop at the ambient noise level we are talking about.

If I put my ear to the back of the iMac, I can hear it clearly, even at idle. I can also hear it loud and clear when it ramps up above, say 1800rpm.

I agree with what BasicGreatGuy said above. A lot of these issues come from unrealistic expectations. Maybe in a room with zero background noise you can pick up the slight whisper of the fan spinning at idle if you carefully listen for it. That's a complaint?

this is patently ridiculous. chalking up everyone's complaints as having unrealistic expectations is asinine at best and damaging at worst. you seem to be in every thread telling everyone to stop bitching because your computer is fine. if yours is fine, great, go life your best life. in the meantime, many of us have actual problems with this very expensive computer that we've invested in. consistently downplaying that for no other reason than to stroke your own ego isn't helping anyone.

 

[SaSaSushi]

this is patently ridiculous. chalking up everyone's complaints as having unrealistic expectations is asinine at best and damaging at worst.

I, like you, am entitled to my opinion. Do tell, how have I damaged you?

you seem to be in every thread telling everyone to stop bitching because your computer is fine. if yours is fine, great, go life your best life. in the meantime, many of us have actual problems with this very expensive computer that we've invested in. consistently downplaying that for no other reason than to stroke your own ego isn't helping anyone.

I said the fan makes no discernible noise at idle from two feet in front of the machine. I still say that because it's true. Maybe your whiny reply above is just you not liking me pointing out your unrealistic expectations.

Also, the iMac is a computer, that is to say, an object that is in no way linked to my ego.

 

[andrinho14]

I've just revisited the posts related to the noise issue in the macrumors forums.

@SaSaSushi: I, like very likely many others, highly appreciate the effort and time that you spend in this forum to help others. However, I agree with Rambo... in that it is not very helpful to those who struggle with the noise of the 2017 iMac fan to see your comments in every single thread that deals with this topic, in which you try to tell us that we are wrong.
Again, my 2011 all SSD iMac is silent FOR ME (!), sitting 50-60 cm from the screen (yes, a flow of air is audible when I move really close to the machine). In other words, I cannot hear a difference between the 2011 iMac and my 2014 MBP in idle. I have very good hearing, and the 2017 iMac base model was a non-starter and I sent it back.

Quite a few people - not only in this thread - feel the same. The 2017 model seems to be louder that previous models . Talking about "truth" in this context seems to be a stretch...

I received a new order today, and I have not yet opened it.
@Tjmckay4: any news on your side?

 

[passingapple]

Hmm so this thread is still active, I see.

Suppose folks claiming to hear audible noise from their 2017 imacs sitting in front, they can hear them. I have no reason to question/doubt it. Not like I am the one hand-made and selling these. Am just a fellow consumer.

But at the same time, you won't see folks coming here to create threads and boast on how they don't hear any audible fan noise when sitting in front using it. That would be a rather boring thread and quickly dead and buried beyond date columns. So keep that in perspective. If judging solely on these posts, one might think 2017 imacs are just plagued with this issue. Anyway if it bothers one enough to want to rid of it, then by all means - whether it is by venting here, exchanging, returning, whatever.

As I've written before, my 2017 base model (512GB SSD) is silent during my normal use - browsing, watching movies, etc, that is, non CPU/GPU intensive works, which I have yet to try - even in wee hours when everything around is quiet. I have zero issue on this front with mine. Not going to argue how my hearing is better or worse than others - no point, why bother. Mine is not absolutely perfect, by all means - muddy/boomy internal speaker, a minor backlight bleeding in some corners against 100% black backdrop. But nothing that really puts me off.

 

[USAntigoon]

The deeper root cause in my opinion is the fact that the current iMac 27" platform, with the Memory upgrade door, has a cooling system that might have reached the limit of its design once a i7 CPU is put to work. Once you run a set up that encroaches that design boundary the typical production quality variations are becoming very important. Might explain why there is such a variety of "fan noise" experiences amongst the users..
The 2017 iMac indeed seems to have reached a saturation with the current cooling design. It's promising to see that the iMac Pro has addressed this cooling configuration..I have made up my mind and will go for the new iMac Pro.

 

[SaSaSushi]

However, I agree with Rambo... in that it is not very helpful to those who struggle with the noise of the 2017 iMac fan to see your comments in every single thread that deals with this topic, in which you try to tell us that we are wrong.

I have never told you nor anyone else in these threads that they're wrong or that they're lying about the noise they hear. As I have written, it could be a difference in an individual's auditory acuity, sensitivities or ambient noise.

If such fan noise is perceptible to you and bothers you, then you're probably better off returning the iMac for something else.

But at the same time, you won't see folks coming here to create threads and boast on how they don't hear any audible fan noise when sitting in front using it.

Not to mention that the number of people posting to these threads to begin with is such a small subset of the overall iMac-using population.

 

[andrinho14]

If such fan noise is perceptible to you and bothers you, then you're probably better off returning the iMac for something else.

Fully agree! However, here's the problem: what exactly is the "something else"? I am deeply invested in the Mac and I need more computing power than my 2011 iMac can offer. How can I get this? Buying a 4 year old Mac Pro at a - let's be honest - ridiculous price? A Mac Mini, which is even slower than my 2011 iMac?
The only option would be a Hacintosh, and I am not willing to go down this route.

 

[mcomp112]

Fully agree! However, here's the problem: what exactly is the "something else"? I am deeply invested in the Mac and I need more computing power than my 2011 iMac can offer. How can I get this? Buying a 4 year old Mac Pro at a - let's be honest - ridiculous price? A Mac Mini, which is even slower than my 2011 iMac?
The only option would be a Hacintosh, and I am not willing to go down this route.

15 inch MacBook Pro (with eGPU, if you need extra graphics power; Apple sells one with the RX 580).

 

[robeddie]

A sound recording of the fan. I put the phone up just underneath the fan vent. Hear that clicking sound? Machine is completely idle at 1200rpm.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/aany90ctekdst67/Voice 002_sd.m4a?dl=0

This sound is NOT normal, particularly for a base level i5 Kaby Lake processor, which is the coolest running processor in intels history.

 

[Tjmckay4]

OK, I received my new base model 512gb 2017 on Monday and have been using it the last few days.

After setting it up on the table and connecting the power, I turned it on and...... the fan came on. It was no quieter than my previous one. When the room is quiet I can easily hear it from up to 1.5 metres away. My 2011 iMac is still quieter.

I reckon though, as our Mother's used to say, it's just the wind....from the fan. Also, I don't hear the annoying clicking sound as per the audio file. That's what was worrying/annoying me the most.

I'm going to live with it and keep the iMac. Beautiful screen, especially for text, and it fits on my Ikea 70cm x 70cm bar table perfectly. I can't really think of any other setup/system that would fulfil my needs like this.

 

[robeddie]

OK, I received my new base model 512gb 2017 on Monday and have been using it the last few days.

After setting it up on the table and connecting the power, I turned it on and...... the fan came on. It was no quieter than my previous one. When the room is quiet I can easily hear it from up to 1.5 metres away. My 2011 iMac is still quieter.

I reckon though, as our Mother's used to say, it's just the wind....from the fan. Also, I don't hear the annoying clicking sound as per the audio file. That's what was worrying/annoying me the most.

I'm going to live with it and keep the iMac. Beautiful screen, especially for text, and it fits on my Ikea 70cm x 70cm bar table perfectly. I can't really think of any other setup/system that would fulfil my needs like this.

I can only offer my strong recommendation, but don't just 'live' with it. It's not normal - something is wrong with the computer.

It's under warranty, so if you ask me, it's inexcusable to not take it in and have a registered Apple tech take a look at it.

 

[JLOAKS]

I can only offer my strong recommendation, but don't just 'live' with it. It's not normal - something is wrong with the computer.

It's under warranty, so if you ask me, it's inexcusable to not take it in and have a registered Apple tech take a look at it.

I managed to compare my iMac alongside another base-model 2017 27'' iMac. The fans were actually slightly LOUDER on the base model 27''. The idle fan noise you hear is actually designed with this iteration. Unless someone could say that both brand-new iMacs I listened to were defective.

 

[Tjmckay4]

I can only offer my strong recommendation, but don't just 'live' with it. It's not normal - something is wrong with the computer.

It's under warranty, so if you ask me, it's inexcusable to not take it in and have a registered Apple tech take a look at it.

This is my replacement to the one that had the clicking sound (the audio file you listened to), ie. I returned it and ordered a new one.