Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is your Alum Imac Completely Silent?
- Thread starter mix123
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What????
WHAT THE HELL!??
Why do you care? Do you regularly "put ur head near ur new imac"??
I can tell it's running but it's very very very quiet. My external lacie hdd for instance is much louder (even when there is no hdd access)
I've had four of them and I can certainly say that they differ a lot in noise level.
The first one was fairly quiet. The second one was very quiet, in fact I had a hard time hearing if it was on when the HDD stopped spinning. The third one was very loud.
And the current one is about the same level as the first one, it does however has an annoying humming/pulsating sound. I think it's coming from the CPU fan. I'm considering sending it in for repairs, but I don't know if I can be without it for the next couple of weeks since I have a lot of work to do.
I hope it will get better over time, but fan issues usually only get worse.
The first one was fairly quiet. The second one was very quiet, in fact I had a hard time hearing if it was on when the HDD stopped spinning. The third one was very loud.
And the current one is about the same level as the first one, it does however has an annoying humming/pulsating sound. I think it's coming from the CPU fan. I'm considering sending it in for repairs, but I don't know if I can be without it for the next couple of weeks since I have a lot of work to do.
I hope it will get better over time, but fan issues usually only get worse.
Im not sure by how loud you mean, and whether you mean the fan is mechanically noisy or is going at a high speed.
Search this and other forum sites and you will find several posts with people with the new Al iMacs with the fan (CPU) running at a constant high speed.
The problem with mine (and two others if talked with) is a temperature sensor fault switching on the fan.
I'd suggest you perform:
1.) a SMC re-set (shut down, unplug EVERY cable, wait 15 sec, then reconnect and restart) (the SMC controls the CPU fan)
2.) then p-ram reset (shut down, then push power button, then immediately push and hold command-option-P-R together till you hear two chimes).
If still happening perform a diagnostic hardware test (restart holding the D key) select the extended option (it will take at least an hour so be patient/have a break) and see if you get a error code suggesting a hardware error (something like NSN/1/40000000: TpT), if you do it might need a manual fix from a service centre. (or just accept the noise)
I think there is a problem with mine... I just bought a 24" 2.8, and just opened it up. After about 10 minutes the CPU fan rev'd up to about 3200 RPM. It was loud! I can hear it in the other room.
Now in fluctuates between 2000-3200. All I am doing is listening to iTunes, surfing, and watching a movie or two. After reading about all the "silent" iMacs, I think I am going to try and get a new one, it's only a day old!
Now in fluctuates between 2000-3200. All I am doing is listening to iTunes, surfing, and watching a movie or two. After reading about all the "silent" iMacs, I think I am going to try and get a new one, it's only a day old!
Oh, now my ODD fan has started making noises as well. The noise level is now about the same as a regular mid-tower. And when I increase the fan speed the CPU fan certainly doesn't sound healthy. Sounds as if it will give up any day.
I guess I'll have to send it in for repairs. Just have to do it when I don't have tons of work that needs to get done.
I guess I'll have to send it in for repairs. Just have to do it when I don't have tons of work that needs to get done.
wrong, sorry
Millions of happy Apple owners prove you wrong in fact.
Every Apple computer I have used in the past seven years or so has been whisper quiet, but often runs a trifle hot to the touch after heavy or all day use. Like the vast majority of Apple users during this same period ... I greatly appreciate the quiet, and yet have been completely unaffected by any heat-related hardware problems.
I am not saying that over-heating computers are not a concern, but you are mistaking the excellent heat dissipating qualities of the case with an overheating "problem" IMO.
The alum iMac in particular gets no hotter (I think mine is actually a bit cooler), than the plastic iMac that preceded it, or the "lampshade" iMac that preceded that one, or the "candy" iMacs that preceded it. I have used, owned and serviced all of them and never had nor seen a problem with heat.
These two related issues (heat and noise) are common problems and the solving of them could almost be considered to be one of Apple's core competencies. Nothing says "Apple designed" quite like a virtually silent computer.
It isn't a problem just because you say it is.
Millions of happy Apple owners prove you wrong in fact.
Every Apple computer I have used in the past seven years or so has been whisper quiet, but often runs a trifle hot to the touch after heavy or all day use. Like the vast majority of Apple users during this same period ... I greatly appreciate the quiet, and yet have been completely unaffected by any heat-related hardware problems.
I am not saying that over-heating computers are not a concern, but you are mistaking the excellent heat dissipating qualities of the case with an overheating "problem" IMO.
The alum iMac in particular gets no hotter (I think mine is actually a bit cooler), than the plastic iMac that preceded it, or the "lampshade" iMac that preceded that one, or the "candy" iMacs that preceded it. I have used, owned and serviced all of them and never had nor seen a problem with heat.
These two related issues (heat and noise) are common problems and the solving of them could almost be considered to be one of Apple's core competencies. Nothing says "Apple designed" quite like a virtually silent computer.
My week old 20" 2.4 Imac`s almost as quiet as my old Mini and like you say
that mini is extremly quiet.
Have got a little fan noise in the new Imac tho running some graphic work .
Really looking forward to putting Leopard on this bad boy.
It's funny...I heard some clicking when reading to the HDD once or twice, and I thought the same as some of you..."Oh NOES!! My iMac is not as seilent as the dead!!" Then I turned on my external SATA drive. My external drive has no fan, just a nicely ventilated enclosure...and after listening to that for 5 mins, I can honestly say that even if the iMac is not dead silent, it's bloody well close enough. At the end of the day, it's still a computer after all...it's bound to make SOME kind of noise. the fact that it barely makes any at all blows me away. And for the record, cheap Ikea desk with padded feet, machine's back to a wall.
I will however mention that the machine seems to run awfully warm. temp. monitor says it's running bw 62-73ºC depending on what I'm doing (I do a lot of memory-hungry photoshop stuff), and sometimes the case gets almost too hot to touch. I'm writing this off as natural due to the Aluminum absorbing the heat better than the Plastic case of the G5...but still...damn
I will however mention that the machine seems to run awfully warm. temp. monitor says it's running bw 62-73ºC depending on what I'm doing (I do a lot of memory-hungry photoshop stuff), and sometimes the case gets almost too hot to touch. I'm writing this off as natural due to the Aluminum absorbing the heat better than the Plastic case of the G5...but still...damn
I think there is a problem with mine... I just bought a 24" 2.8, and just opened it up. After about 10 minutes the CPU fan rev'd up to about 3200 RPM. It was loud! I can hear it in the other room.
Now in fluctuates between 2000-3200. All I am doing is listening to iTunes, surfing, and watching a movie or two. After reading about all the "silent" iMacs, I think I am going to try and get a new one, it's only a day old!
In case anyone in curious Apple has agreed to trade me for a new one. They were going to consider this DOA.
I am pretty happy overall. I can see how they could consider this a fairly minor issue, but that fan was very annoying! I feel like a bit of a complainer... but for the amount of money that cost, I want it to work right!
I sure hope the new one is much quieter!