Core 2 Duo iMac blowing me away

[volk]

I have a fan right behind the left side of the display that seems to like to spin up and run at a constant RPM sometimes. This activity appears to be completely unrelated to any processes, as I can game and have it not happen, but wake it from sleep and let the machine sit idle and it will roar. I have reset the SMC, zapped PRAM, and played around with it, but to no avail. It wasn't there when I first got the machine, but has been there for about two weeks now. You can hear it from a fair distance away and it is at just the right frequency to really annoy me. Hardware check says everything is OK.

I don't know if the fan is just unseated and vibrating too much, or if it is just combining with the screen hum at just the right frequency, but it is really beginning to vex me. I don't want to send it back, though, because everything else about the computer is stellar. I'm not sure what to do with this.

 

[mongoos150]

I'm pretty sure zapping pram wouldn't have any effect on fans... Completely unrelated.

 

[Ladybug]

20' Intel CD iMac here..Ati X1600 256 VRAM here. As I said, no noise whatsoever. Has anyone called Apple to see what they have to say about this?

 

[dylan]

Mine is really loud as well. It even "moo"'s. I made a thread over here with a sound clip.

 

[04440]

That sucks

I want mine to be quiet as a mouse... Ha..

 

[jimbama]

My fan is quite loud as well (20" C2D). Odd thing is it speeds up and gets louder at odd times. For example, processing on iDVD for 2 hours didn't do it, but a game of Snood or my screensaver makes the thing sound like it's going to take off and fly away. SMC and PRAM reset didn't do anything.

I've been trying to get a reservation at the genius bar and bring it in forever but have had no luck (only thing ever available seems to be at 2:00 in the afternoon), but may just bring it down anyway. I have a feeling they are going to tell me "it is what it is", but it's worth checking out anyway I guess...

 

[Macmadant]

Mine is really loud as well. It even "moo"'s. I made a thread over here with a sound clip.

Jesus, were you holding that right next to the case, mine seems to have decreased in volume or I've got used to it yours sounds like a tank, mines likes that but quieter, well sometimes it loud but i don't think that loud

 

[playm0de]

My Core Duo iMac used to be whisper silent...now I can hear it from my bathroom and even when playing music.

 

[MacManTexas56]

Jesus, were you holding that right next to the case, mine seems to have decreased in volume or I've got used to it yours sounds like a tank, mines likes that but quieter, well sometimes it loud but i don't think that loud

that's bc he's waking it from sleep....all imac's do this. this isn't during normal use only when waking the machine from sleep