Fan running on imac

[paulfromhudds]

Hi, hope someone can help.

I'm running a iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2017), 4.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, 64 GB 2400 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro 580 8 GB, 8TB fusion drive. Monterey 12.2.

I purchased it last week and is amazingly fast and runs like a dream, It is running 'Macs Fan Control' automatic the speed is around 1938 RPM at 27°C. You can barely here it running.

The question is, is it safe to leave the imac on all the time do to workflow and drop box?

Thank you in advance.

Paul

 

[DeltaMac]

That would be one of the reasons that the fan is running. Doesn't really need that fan control app, unless you have modified something else about the system (it takes care of its own cooling very nicely), so the fan control software is often just personal preference.
Are you concerned about long-term use?
Apple went to fans without mechanical bearings several years ago, fan turns on a maglev device. The only noise that you would normally hear is air moving, and whatever the surroundings for the fan contribute to that noise. So, the mechanical life for the fan will be longer than some years ago, because of the tech that is used.
The hard drive, part of the two-device fusion drive, however, is a mechanical device, and will probably fail before the fans do.
Safe to leave it on? Just watch for lint, dust build-up on the intake vents. Consider opening it up to clean out, if you use it full time for more than about 6 or 8 years. Is there a lot of dust in your area? Do the cleaning more often, check maybe every 4 years. That's pretty much it...

 

[paulfromhudds]

That would be one of the reasons that the fan is running. Doesn't really need that fan control app, unless you have modified something else about the system (it takes care of its own cooling very nicely), so the fan control software is often just personal preference.
Are you concerned about long-term use?
Apple went to fans without mechanical bearings several years ago, fan turns on a maglev device. The only noise that you would normally hear is air moving, and whatever the surroundings for the fan contribute to that noise. So, the mechanical life for the fan will be longer than some years ago, because of the tech that is used.
The hard drive, part of the two-device fusion drive, however, is a mechanical device, and will probably fail before the fans do.
Safe to leave it on? Just watch for lint, dust build-up on the intake vents. Consider opening it up to clean out, if you use it full time for more than about 6 or 8 years. Is there a lot of dust in your area? Do the cleaning more often, check maybe every 4 years. That's pretty much it...

That's great, thank you, yes slight noise just air moving. All my macs are in a very clean, dust free office and have always kept the vents nice and clean. The only concern was the Fan app and why it was there, but like you say was personal pref for the previous owner, I have a 12 month warranty with it too so no concerns there.

Thank you

 

[wilberforce]

Automatic under the free version of macs fan control just means it is using the MacOS system fan control, and macs fan control is just monitoring the fan speed and temps, not controlling them.
What matters most is the CPU PECI temp (55C) and GPU temp (45C), although all temps are monitored by the system.
At the temps in your screenshot normally the iMac runs at idle 1200, not 1900. The fan speed usually starts increasing when CPU/GPU temps reach 80 or 90C (55C for a CPU is only warm).
You may think your office is dust free but you would be surprised how much dust can collect over a long time - just skin sheds dust.
The easiest way to maintain clear air passage through the imac is to run a vacuum nozzle along the underside of the bottom edge where the slits for the intake vents are. There is a screen just above these vents which gets clogged. Look inside with a flashlight (torch). Do this with the machine off!
Yes it is OK to run iMac continuous. As previous poster said, the hard drive is the component with limited life. Assume this will fail eventually.