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Having hardware issues with MP 2010 (5870 high pitch noise, fan whirring, etc.)

2contagious

2contagious

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 29, 2008
755
0
UK
Hi,

I noticed that my Mac Pro (2010, 6 core) makes a 'BRR' sound right after I push the power button. Afterwards all the hardware starts working (fans, etc.) Is that BRR sound normal or is this some fault? :confused: It also makes kind of a click noise before all the power is taken when powering off the Mac Pro.

see you,
2c

EDIT: after a while I found a whirring noise as well:

I also noticed that my ATI 5890's fan makes a slight, but audible whirring sound.. is that normal behaviour or is there something wrong with the fan? (Is that why some people claimed the 5890 was loud?)
Click to expand...

I just noticed the whirring sound isn't coming from the graphics card (or not only at least).. it's coming from the power supply above. I am not sure if it's a buzz or a fan whirring :confused:

EDIT: AAHHH this is getting worse and worse... my 5870 makes horrible high pitch noises (sounds like it's being electrocuted) when something graphically intensive is being displayed. I just started Steam and Portal for the first time and it really doesn't sound normal :O Is my hardware crapped up?

EDIT: I have recorded it. Around 00:21, I start Portal (intro screen is being shown). At 00:31, it's loading the game and at 00:34 I am in the game shooting (mouse clicking sounds = me shooting).
https://files.me.com/christianschmeer/m4lu7j.mov

WHAT THE HELL :(

EDIT: and this is what the power supply sounds like (iphone's microphone directly next to the power supply at the back):
https://files.me.com/christianschmeer/n4kqzz.mov
 
I think mine does that too. Along with the click.

Though I don't have the 2010 Mac Pro.
 
Just noticed it does it when going to sleep / waking up as well. Does everybody else get this sound?
 
SpookyLars said:
Yes, my 2009 MP also makes this sound.
Click to expand...

So I am guessing it's normal. hm.. sorry guys.. I am a little OCD when it comes to buying new products.. especially if they are this expensive. I also noticed that my ATI 5890's fan makes a slight, but audible whirring sound.. is that normal behaviour or is there something wrong with the fan? (Is that why some people claimed the 5890 was loud?) Please have mercy with my new-product-OCD :rolleyes:

see you,
2c
 
My Mac is dead silent, but I have a stock nVidia card. Sometimes I hear only the hard drive when performing seeking operation. I think that sound you hear is normal behavior. Don't worry, just enjoy yourself with your MP :)
 
I also noticed that my ATI 5890's fan makes a slight, but audible whirring sound.. is that normal behaviour or is there something wrong with the fan? (Is that why some people claimed the 5890 was loud?)
Click to expand...

I just noticed the whirring sound isn't coming from the graphics card (or not only at least).. it's coming from the power supply above. I am not sure if it's a buzz or a fan whirring :confused:

EDIT: AAHHH this is getting worse and worse... my 5870 makes horrible high pitch noises (sounds like it's being electrocuted) when something graphically intensive is being displayed. I just started Steam and Portal for the first time and it really doesn't sound normal :O Is my hardware crapped up?

EDIT: I have recorded it. Around 00:21, I start Portal (intro screen is being shown). At 00:31, it's loading the game and at 00:34 I am in the game shooting (mouse clicking sounds = me shooting).
https://files.me.com/christianschmeer/m4lu7j.mov

WHAT THE HELL :(

EDIT: and this is what the power supply sounds like (iphone's microphone directly next to the power supply at the back):
https://files.me.com/christianschmeer/n4kqzz.mov
 
Are you sure it's not vibration? Do you have the MP sitting on something solid? I wouldn't ever put it right on a desk where you're working.
 
reel2reel said:
Are you sure it's not vibration? Do you have the MP sitting on something solid? I wouldn't ever put it right on a desk where you're working.
Click to expand...

I tried it on both my desk and the thick, soft carpet.. it's definitely a whirring/buzzing power supply as you can hear in the sound file that I uploaded.. It also buzzes when the Mac Pro is sleeping, but not as much... and the 5870 is still doing the same whine thing under load. :( should I send my Mac Pro back?
 
2contagious said:
I tried it on both my desk and the thick, soft carpet.. it's definitely a whirring/buzzing power supply as you can hear in the sound file that I uploaded.. It also buzzes when the Mac Pro is sleeping, but not as much... and the 5870 is still doing the same whine thing under load. :( should I send my Mac Pro back?
Click to expand...

Sounds like capacitor screeching or something. Honestly bring it to an apple store (if theres one nearby) or call support and try to get a replacement. They shouldnt make those noises. You could try to ignore it but you'll still have hardware thats potentially defective. I would try to get apple to fix it while its still new!
 
The 5870 noise can definitely not be normal, but I am wondering.. do you guys have buzzing power supplies? :confused:

I will call Apple tomorrow :(
 
I do not own a MP, but I am certified to work on computers, the sounds that your computer is making is normal. The fans that are installed are considered variable fans in that they spin at different RPM's based on need to keep things cool. Both fans are relatively small and as such have to spin at a much higher RPM to keep things cool. When I read your thread you said, clicking (me shooting) I assume you are gaming, in which case, both fans would need to spin faster to compensate for generated heat. That being said. after listening to the sounds of your fan's vs the sound of your click I would like to think your computer is damn near silent lol. I wouldn't worry. if it makes a 'ticking' sounds or grinding sound then worry.
 
that's all totally normal in my opinion. you will hear fans and hard drives up close. if you're gaming, the GPU fan is going to scream (as it should) to keep up with the thermal load being placed upon it.

just enjoy it man :)
 
I'm pretty sure the graphics card's whine isn't coming from its fan. the fan doesn't speed up while showing the menu of Portal and the whining sound shows up from one second to another. Also (you can't hear it that well in the sound file), but every time I shoot, the graphics card's whine changes... it almost sounds like the graphics card is making sound effects :confused:

EDIT: Also, the power supply's whirring sound can't come from the fan either, no? since it buzzes when the mac pro is sleeping as well.. when the mac pro sleeps, no fans are spinning or am I wrong about that? :/
 
2contagious said:
The 5870 noise can definitely not be normal, but I am wondering.. do you guys have buzzing power supplies? :confused:

I will call Apple tomorrow :(
Click to expand...

I don't hear any buzzing from mine. Are you listening from the back or do you have the side door detached from the MP?
 
reel2reel said:
I don't hear any buzzing from mine. Are you listening from the back or do you have the side door detached from the MP?
Click to expand...

I can hear the buzzing especially when the Mac Pro is on the table next to me (even if the door is closed). It's very audible if I put my head closer towards the back of the mac pro, where the power supply is. The buzzing is not that audible when the mac pro is on the floor under the table because it's further away, but A) it's still annoying B) I don't want to have bought a faulty product :(

If you listen to the back of your Mac Pro, can you hear a buzzing sound coming from the top (where the power supply and power cable is)?

I found this: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=11958727&#11958727 Might be the same issue?
 
I would say its definitely not normal. If you can hear the MacPro with the case cover on, theres something wrong. The GPU does make noise, but its more of a whooshing. Some harddrives you can hear, but it should be very muffled. Any electronic screeching is indicative of something not right IMO. When you're shelling out this much for a macPro, you damn well better get a perfect machine. Not one that works fine, but makes cringeworthy noises. Its a xeon workstation, not a bargain basement Dell.
 
OptimusP83 said:
I would say its definitely not normal. If you can hear the MacPro with the case cover on, theres something wrong. The GPU does make noise, but its more of a whooshing. Some harddrives you can hear, but it should be very muffled. Any electronic screeching is indicative of something not right IMO. When you're shelling out this much for a macPro, you damn well better get a perfect machine. Not one that works fine, but makes cringeworthy noises. Its a xeon workstation, not a bargain basement Dell.
Click to expand...

I can live with loud fans of a graphics card if it's being pushed.. but this screeching doesn't sound normal to me. I mean.. I am not even pushing it.. it's just displaying the menu of Portal at a very low resolution. A weird thing I noticed was that when I run the game and press the 'volume on/volume off' button on my keyboard, the graphics card stops making that screeching sound for about a second and then comes back.

The buzzing of the power supply also sounds weird to me.. my old Pentium 4 computer with a Zalman PSU did not make any buzzing noises, just fan sounds.

Is there some kind of electric overload going on in my computer? lol
 
Dude, ya know... you're not ever going to resolve any of this by talking on a Mac forum. You'll get a buncha different opinions and ultimately end up with... not much, a lotta different opinions.

You just spent a lotta money on a very expensive computer and you can get a brand new one without any problems for free. So... why not do that then?

If your replacement is *EXACTLY THE SAME* well, maybe learn to live with it or adjust your medication :rolleyes: Dunno, I have OCD too, not a big dis, just a reality-based suggestion. Rather than posting a new msg every half hour, just call up Apple or take it to an Apple store, and get yourself a replacement.

FWIW: I really do have OCD too, after reading back my own msg I felt a little bad, so I went and listened to your audio samples. It's difficult to tell how abnormal or normal your fan is, because I get the feeling you're holding the mic right next to it. But your power supply makes a sound I don't ever hear on my Mac Pro.

Yes it's annoying to get the thing replaced, but life is annoying sometimes. This is just my input. Just take care of it, get a new one, and go onwards from there.
 
Schismz said:
Dude, ya know... you're not ever going to resolve any of this by talking on a Mac forum. You'll get a buncha different opinions and ultimately end up with... not much, a lotta different opinions.

You just spent a lotta money on a very expensive computer and you can get a brand new one without any problems for free. So... why not do that then?

If your replacement is *EXACTLY THE SAME* well, maybe learn to live with it or adjust your medication :rolleyes: Dunno, I have OCD too, not a big dis, just a reality-based suggestion. Rather than posting a new msg every half hour, just call up Apple or take it to an Apple store, and get yourself a replacement.

FWIW: I really do have OCD too, after reading back my own msg I felt a little bad, so I went and listened to your audio samples. It's difficult to tell how abnormal or normal your fan is, because I get the feeling you're holding the mic right next to it. But your power supply makes a sound I don't ever hear on my Mac Pro.

Yes it's annoying to get the thing replaced, but life is annoying sometimes. This is just my input. Just take care of it, get a new one, and go onwards from there.
Click to expand...

10+

Besides.................. I'm eager to buy a refurb 2010 MP. :p
 
Schismz said:
Dude, ya know... you're not ever going to resolve any of this by talking on a Mac forum. You'll get a buncha different opinions and ultimately end up with... not much, a lotta different opinions.

You just spent a lotta money on a very expensive computer and you can get a brand new one without any problems for free. So... why not do that then?

If your replacement is *EXACTLY THE SAME* well, maybe learn to live with it or adjust your medication :rolleyes: Dunno, I have OCD too, not a big dis, just a reality-based suggestion. Rather than posting a new msg every half hour, just call up Apple or take it to an Apple store, and get yourself a replacement.

FWIW: I really do have OCD too, after reading back my own msg I felt a little bad, so I went and listened to your audio samples. It's difficult to tell how abnormal or normal your fan is, because I get the feeling you're holding the mic right next to it. But your power supply makes a sound I don't ever hear on my Mac Pro.

Yes it's annoying to get the thing replaced, but life is annoying sometimes. This is just my input. Just take care of it, get a new one, and go onwards from there.
Click to expand...

You're right.. I am just freaking out a bit because it was a pretty big purchase for me and getting it replaced will take ages again. Also, I haven't been very lucky with other purchases recently :(

I will contact Apple tomorrow and see what they say, hopefully they can get me a new one quick.
 
ok I listened a little closer with headphones on and there does seem to be something amiss, especially with the power supply sound.
 
w00tini said:
ok I listened a little closer with headphones on and there does seem to be something amiss, especially with the power supply sound.
Click to expand...

What kind of sound does your power supply do? Just a regular fan noise?

I'm on the phone to Apple Care at the moment (again).. they first wanted me to get it repaired myself at the Apple Store :)eek:), but now they're going to replace it for me. I hope I won't have any issues with the next one.
 
i cant hear my PSU at all. all i hear is the case fan and the occasional hard drive spin up when i'm using one of them after a sleep. i can also hear the fan on the GPU when i'm gaming.

but there's a specifically troubling whirl in yours that sounds like bad bearings.
 
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