27” iMac i5 goes tick, tick tick

[Charliebird]

I’ve gone through a rash of late 2009 iMac’s and three of them including my current 27” iMac i5 make a ticking noise. It’s a quiet noise, the interval is about 25 seconds, and it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly it’s coming from. I don’t think it’s a mechanical component since it keeps making the noise after the machine is off for a minute or two. My only thought is that it’s related to something expanding in the system as it warms up and cools down. I have a Playstation 3 that made a similar noise for about the first six months I owned it. Anyone here having a similar experience?

 

[MacHamster68]

I’ve gone through a rash of late 2009 iMac’s and three of them including my current 27” iMac i5 make a ticking noise. It’s a quiet noise, the interval is about 25 seconds, and it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly it’s coming from. I don’t think it’s a mechanical component since it keeps making the noise after the machine is off for a minute or two. My only thought is that it’s related to something expanding in the system as it warms up and cools down. I have a Playstation 3 that made a similar noise for about the first six months I owned it. Anyone here having a similar experience?

motorcycle engines made from alloy do the same you can hear them ticking alloy is expanding and shrinking and causes a ticking noise ,if there is not enough space to expand , so once it has made itself enough room it will at one point stop with the ticking

 

[peskaa]

Is your hard drive made by Seagate? If so, it'll be the drive ticking!

 

[Charliebird]

It does have a Seagate harddrive however the machine continues to make a ticking noise after it has been turned off for a minute or two.

Is your hard drive made by Seagate? If so, it'll be the drive ticking!

 

[Jarooda]

Could it be a bomb?

 

[Charliebird]

Apple's revenge for me going through six systems!

Could it be a bomb?

 

[tbullock]

Did you ever get this resolved? I have the same thing in my 2011 iMac and don't remember it in my 2009. It's annoying and I am contemplating getting a replacement.

 

[Stan Mikulenka]

Hi tbullock,
this is usually the result of using the new line of "green" drives what almost all manufacturers use ⇒ the HDs park their heads every so often (usually 20 ~ 45 sec) to save "energy". And it can't be changed (at least not on Macs...).

 

[Georgio]

Ah now you've gone and spoilt the illusion of a bomb ticking away, is the keyboard in Afghanistan as well?

Hi tbullock,
this is usually the result of using the new line of "green" drives what almost all manufacturers use ⇒ the HDs park their heads every so often (usually 20 ~ 45 sec) to save "energy". And it can't be changed (at least not on Macs...).

 

[tbullock]

Hi Stan-
Thanks, I can assure you it's not a hard drive issue. The noise persists when the hard drive is spun down. The noise also happens on either side of the iMac at random intervals, and continues after it is powered off completely as it cools down.

 

[Zelnaga]

Im worried! Ive had this problems with external monitors before (PC) and I sleep next to my comp, and the ticking drove me mad I had to return it, cause it goes along time for the ticking to stop.

Is the iMac the same or does it eventually stop? The ticking, while im trying to sleep drives me nuts.