Is my iMac loud or is it just me?

[mtnDewFTW]

Hey guys. This is sort of a weird problem, that's not even a problem really. First of all, my iMac is in my room, so it's really not that loud around me. Actually, it can get rather quiet when nothing is on and I'm all alone.

Now, I don't think I have a loud HDD, because it doesn't constantly make noise, but when it does you can definitely hear it. But that's really nothing to complain about since I have a WD 1TB HDD standing right next to me, and I use it mostly as Time Machine backup and partitioned it, so I have some other files on it too.

But anyway! so like I was saying, when I'm all alone, my iMac is really never quiet. Now that may be the fans, or something else, but if your iMac like this too? Or is it dead quiet when you're doing something?

And also, when your HDD is at work, can you hear it? Or is it also dead quiet?

Thanks so much

 

[mynewromantica]

Mine is usually close to silent. Even when I'm doing some more intense work. It is probably your fans tho. To find out if it is, get SMC Fan Control. It is an app that will allow you to control your fan speeds. This way you can turn them al the way down manually and if it gets quieter, you know that is the issue.

 

[mdewberry]

Hey,

I posted this a while back regarding a steady quite but noticeable noise I constantly had with two of my 2tb iMacs:

This is actually my fourth i5; my first two had the 1tb Seagate drive and I had terrible rumbling from the Seagate drives, but it was not the steady constant noise that you mention.. So I replaced the second 1tb iMac with a 2tb iMac, and my first replacement (sent back for yellow) and now my second have had the issue you describe. Here is how it goes:

I walk up to my quiet sleeping iMac and wake it up

It is quiet, the screen lights up, and then I hear something start in the machine.. I know it sounds funny, but sounds like an airplane engine warming up

Then I hear the constant noise.. Kind of a hum, but not so much a hum when putting it on a mouse pad (as mentioned in this thread) but a steady noise..

When I feel the chin of the machine it has a steady minor vibration the whole time, and it almost sounds like a quiet version of the superdrive spinning.. It definitely sounds like something is spinning up and spinning the entire time I am using the computer...

It is kind of like white noise, and I do get used to it as it is not that loud, but it is noticeable..

Here is the worst part.. when I wake up my machine, nothing I select (Safari, Itunes, etc.) responds until the noise warms up and runs constantly.. Usually takes 20-25 seconds for Safari to respond (and the noise to be running) from the point of the screen appearing from sleep and I select Safari at that point.. I literally need to wait for the noise to start before anything I have selected launches..

I downloaded iStat Pro and the fans seem to be running at normal speed.. Honestly can't tell if it is a fan or something else spinning...

One thing also to mention, I did not notice this noise at all with my 2 1tb Seagate drive iMacs, only on my 2 2tb Hitatchi drive macs..

 

[mtnDewFTW]

Hey,

I posted this a while back regarding a steady quite but noticeable noise I constantly had with two of my 2tb iMacs:

This is actually my fourth i5; my first two had the 1tb Seagate drive and I had terrible rumbling from the Seagate drives, but it was not the steady constant noise that you mention.. So I replaced the second 1tb iMac with a 2tb iMac, and my first replacement (sent back for yellow) and now my second have had the issue you describe. Here is how it goes:

I walk up to my quiet sleeping iMac and wake it up

It is quiet, the screen lights up, and then I hear something start in the machine.. I know it sounds funny, but sounds like an airplane engine warming up

Then I hear the constant noise.. Kind of a hum, but not so much a hum when putting it on a mouse pad (as mentioned in this thread) but a steady noise..

When I feel the chin of the machine it has a steady minor vibration the whole time, and it almost sounds like a quiet version of the superdrive spinning.. It definitely sounds like something is spinning up and spinning the entire time I am using the computer...

It is kind of like white noise, and I do get used to it as it is not that loud, but it is noticeable..

Here is the worst part.. when I wake up my machine, nothing I select (Safari, Itunes, etc.) responds until the noise warms up and runs constantly.. Usually takes 20-25 seconds for Safari to respond (and the noise to be running) from the point of the screen appearing from sleep and I select Safari at that point.. I literally need to wait for the noise to start before anything I have selected launches..

I downloaded iStat Pro and the fans seem to be running at normal speed.. Honestly can't tell if it is a fan or something else spinning...

One thing also to mention, I did not notice this noise at all with my 2 1tb Seagate drive iMacs, only on my 2 2tb Hitatchi drive macs..

What you're saying SORTA describes what I have. However, I don't have that delay that you're talking about. But yeah I have that little humming sound as well, and it's whatever to me. I'm more concerned about the HDD. Since I do have the Seagate one. Mine is sorta quiet, but when I work, I hear it clearly. Not so much when I have music on, but like when I boot my computer up, it's pretty loud. I'm not sure what to make of it. I mean, I don't wanna go to the Apple Store and end up looking like am idiot.

So, basically, when I'm doing something, my HDD makes a deep noise. Not a sharp sound, pretty deep. It doesn't vibrate much, I actually just touched the chin, and it's fine to me, I mean yeah, it feels like the computer is at work, but nothing more than that. In other words, it's not like it would be if I had it off. Which is normal, I think?

 

[PurrBall]

I have an extremely quiet room at times and can hear my 24" (barely, but it's audible), I would say it's normal to hear the fans pushing air.