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Is This iMac A Timebomb Or A Watch?

B

BenEndeem

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 25, 2008
301
0
England
This post is regarding an iMac 27" mid-2010, for your reference.

I've noticed a ticking sound at one second intervals coming from inside my iMac when it is switched off but the plug is switched on at the socket. The noise doesn't occur in other instances. It doesn't matter whether it has been on for a while or whether it has been sat cold for a few hours. Is there meant to be some sort of analogue timer in there or did a watch get dropped in during production :p ?

Anyone else have this? Thanks.
 
sorry has something to do with the powersupply , i expected it had something to do with the material aluminium , as i know that strage ticking noice from older alu motorcycle engines , when different parts shink in different rates when cooling doen , but it isnt the case the suspect is the powersupply as far as i know , but i could be wrong there ,but there had been a thread about that little problem somewhere on the forum , cant find it at the moment , but have a look around
 
Do you have your iMac connected to any sort of UPS? I know some produce stepped sine-wave power when on battery which can give the power supply in newer iMacs indigestion and cause the PSU to make a clicking sound when on battery. A true sine-wave UPS usually solves the issue. The APC Smart-UPS range are suitable for the new iMacs but their older Back-UPS range is not.
 
DanielCoffey said:
Do you have your iMac connected to any sort of UPS? I know some produce stepped sine-wave power when on battery which can give the power supply in newer iMacs indigestion and cause the PSU to make a clicking sound when on battery. A true sine-wave UPS usually solves the issue. The APC Smart-UPS range are suitable for the new iMacs but their older Back-UPS range is not.
Click to expand...
No it's plugged directly into the wall, plugging it into a surge protector or another socket makes no difference.

Could this be a problem or cause anything serious? I'm getting a bit fed up of these computers, if this is a problem it will be the third broken iMac in the same number of months.
 
BenEndeem said:
This post is regarding an iMac 27" mid-2010, for your reference.

I've noticed a ticking sound at one second intervals coming from inside my iMac when it is switched off but the plug is switched on at the socket. The noise doesn't occur in other instances. It doesn't matter whether it has been on for a while or whether it has been sat cold for a few hours. Is there meant to be some sort of analogue timer in there or did a watch get dropped in during production :p ?

Anyone else have this? Thanks.
Click to expand...

You have inadvertently bought a late 2010 MacMood model. They are assembled in a cave in Pakistan and include an IED option. Hence the ticking you hear.
 
The advisors have no idea, both the regular ones and the higher level ones.

Apparently they can't replace a replacement computer, so only a repair can be done. Also, because it isn't covered by additional Apple Care, a collect and return was only possible as an 'exception' (I explained that I am going to purchase additional Apple Care for it, but Christmas has strained cash flow for now!). So now I'm waiting for it to be collected.

Any, even remote idea as to what it could be? Does it pose much threat to the computer? Because I'm a little dubious about this entire sending away to be repaired idea, but onsite 'just isn't possible'. Thanks.
 
A technician from Amsys, the repair company Apple have assigned to deal with the problem has stated that his recommendation would be to send it in.

Thanks for your email, I have had a chat with a few of the technicians here, we have seen this fault before although it is rare. You are correct in that there are many parts that can cause this issue, from PSU to Fan or Hard Drive.

Whether you would like to send it in now or after the christmas and new year period would be completely up to you, personally I would recommend getting it in straight away and getting it sorted but as you have stated your a busy guy and there will be delays due to not only the weather and festive period.
Click to expand...

Just great.
 
Its the Power Supply making that sound. Whether or not its a problem is anyone's guess however. If its working fine, I wouldn't worry about it. However if you are having intermittent problems with starting up, I would get it replaced ASAP.
 
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