Is it ok if my iMac buzzes when it goes to sleep?

[eddvedd]

Just got my replacement i7 today and everything seems perfect (no yellow screen, debris under the screen, backlight bleed, dog whistle, ect), with the exception that it buzzes when it goes to sleep. The sound comes from the top of the computer, just left of center, so its probably the main power source thats producing it from what I've read.

This noise isn't going to bother me, since its relatively quiet and if the computer is asleep, obviously I'm not using it. I just want to make sure that this isn't a sign of problems to come. If the sound is no problem, I think I finally have a keeper!!! Thanks.

 

[ideal.dreams]

Well, I'm not too sure what it could be. I have the late 2009 17" MacBook Pro, and it makes no noise when it goes to sleep.

It could be the fan; I know those are right near the location you described the noise coming from.

 

[eddvedd]

Well, I'm not too sure what it could be. I have the late 2009 17" MacBook Pro, and it makes no noise when it goes to sleep.

It could be the fan; I know those are right near the location you described the noise coming from.

Doesn't sound like a fan at all, it has a distinct electrical kind of crackle to it. This iMac is actually a replacement for another that had the same sound, except that the sound was always present, not just during sleep. Apple care said something about it being a power source. This one on the other hand isn't worth returning, as it's not going to bother me so long as its nothing that's going to come back and bite me in a few weeks or months.

 

[raynold2010]

It's a common issue to the new iMacs. Check out my thread.

 

[byron_hinson]

Doesn't sound like a fan at all, it has a distinct electrical kind of crackle to it. This iMac is actually a replacement for another that had the same sound, except that the sound was always present, not just during sleep. Apple care said something about it being a power source. This one on the other hand isn't worth returning, as it's not going to bother me so long as its nothing that's going to come back and bite me in a few weeks or months.

It is an issue with the PSU when the screen dims, you can make it do it by reducing the brightness too. Personally I returned mine as the actual Power Supply has a fault and further down the line it may go altogether.

 

[eddvedd]

It is an issue with the PSU when the screen dims, you can make it do it by reducing the brightness too. Personally I returned mine as the actual Power Supply has a fault and further down the line it may go altogether.

The computer that I returned did have the buzzing when going to sleep and when reducing the brightness. My new replacement on the other hand only exhibits the buzzing when going to sleep, its dead quiet when I adjust the brightness. The buzzing when its asleep is also much less severe than it was in the other computer. I probably wouldn't even notice it if it hadn't been the reason I returned the other one. Does this mean that its probably something else? Or perhaps a less severe PSU defect?

I really hope that its no indicator of future problems. I would call applecare but I know that they'll just tell me to take it in to apple or to replace it, both of which I'd like to avoid.