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Mac mini very noisy

R

romik

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 6, 2013
11
0
Hi,

I bought a mid 2010 mac mini 2.4ghz model with 8gig Ram and a 120gig SSD.

As soon as I switched it on this fan type sound kicked in and doesn't go away. And it is well noisy. I ran the xScan and it almost immediately pointed out the fan needs to be replaced, apparently it is running at 0 RPM. Image attached. Then I ran the SSD FAN control program, see image attached. Whilst SSD figures I can undedstand 65k RPM (well it doesn't spin) the optical drive is stick on 0 and can't be altered.

So does it mean that the optical drive's fan is not opetating? But what is spinning on that case and sounding like a hovercraft?

Can it be a software issue? One guy suggested that possibly Mountain Lion wasn't installed correctly and that has caused the fan non responsiveness.

Please help :)
 

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Can you open the bottom cover and visually confirm that the fan is spinning when the computer is on? It is either the fan or a disk in the optical drive making that noise.
 
COrocket said:
Can you open the bottom cover and visually confirm that the fan is spinning when the computer is on? It is either the fan or a disk in the optical drive making that noise.
Click to expand...

Hello,

Do I just unscrew it?
 
I had a 2010 Mini, it didn't not come with an SSD, nor was it an option at that time, somebody put it in there prior to your ownership. The hard drive that was in there had a sensor that was at the end of the hard drive and was held on with an adhesive, there was a small black wire that was taped and intertwined with the connection wire that goes to the top of the hard drive. The sensor was NOT specific to any hard drive it just needs to be there.

The other thing that will make the fan run is that the pram ,smc needs to get reset. These directions can be found on Apple site, I can not remember them off hand.
 
This is mid 2010 model & obviously the 120gig SSD was an upgrade done by previous owner. He said when he sent it it was working perfect, so he considers it the fault that developped whilst in transit. I, personally, do not understand advanced stuff, I can do the basics.

He seems very genuine, as he offered me to send it back for a full refund and he will claim damages from the courier's insurance.
 
Last edited:
romik said:
Hello,

Do I just unscrew it?
Click to expand...

To remove the bottom cover rotate the bottom cover counterclockwise to the unlocked position then press on the cover to pop up the opposite side and remove it.

In a mini with an SSD the only moving part is usually the fan . Because it is 2010 though I am guessing it also has the optical drive. Assuming it is not the optical (you don't have a disk running), there is possibly dust on the fan that has been built up into a mass which has come lose in transit and is now flapping. There are two sides to the blades though so unless it is obvious when you remove the base you may have to remove the three fan torx screws and inspect the underside of the fan. Just be careful of the tension on the wires and fan connector on the logic board.

If the noise appears when a DVD is running then you have a more complicated problem. Send it back.

I clean my fan with a soft brush and vacuum every twelve months or so.

Also if the fan is broken you can easily buy replacements online.
 
when you got it opened, check the connectors around.

Though it's fairly easy to upgrade drives etc in the mini (it's not easy, just fairly easy) I've read a lot of posts where people broke something, still put the thing together, still made a boot and still claimed it was ok.
You can not break a wire, a connector or a molex cable without consequences, it's not a 1950s automobile.
 
Thanks for all suggestions, will attempt to open it tomorrow and report back, although it's sorta like looking for needle in haystack as I don't exactly know what to look out for lol
 
Ok I took cover off, there was a bit of dust, can't remove fan cover though as I don't have the right size screwdriver. Fan spins all the time.
 

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COrocket said:
The fan should normally be on always, but if the computer is not under load the fan should be spinning around 1800 RPM and be nearly silent. You can get a torx driver set and take the fan out for cleaning. There are good dissassembly manuals here http://www.ifixit.com/Device/Mac_Mini_Mid_2010
Click to expand...

I guess I have 2 questions:

1. Since there is SSD hd there why the need for this fan? Should it even be switched on? I reckon it's spinning at around 6000+ RPM.

2. Since it IS spinning is it still likely the cause to be dust and can a fan actually be faulty by spinning in this way non-stop when CPU is not being tasked hardly at all?

Thanks.
 
romik said:
I guess I have 2 questions:

1. Since there is SSD hd there why the need for this fan? Should it even be switched on? I reckon it's spinning at around 6000+ RPM.

2. Since it IS spinning is it still likely the cause to be dust and can a fan actually be faulty by spinning in this way non-stop when CPU is not being tasked hardly at all?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes, the fan is still nessissary. The CPU/GPU puts out most of the heat and the fan draws this heat out of the computer.

If it is still going full speed without load try resetting SMC http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
 
As I said in my earlier post it is more than likely the heat sensor that is attached to the end of the hard drive. It is held on with a bit of adhesive, it may be dried out by now and with the jogging around from transit it fell off. These sensors on the mini were not specific to any hard drive in the mini, while I heard on the Imac they were specific. 2010 was the only year that I remember seeing the sensor there.
 
My experience is that the fan in the mini normally runs very slow -- in "normal" use it should be very close to inaudible.

My guess (as good as other peoples guesses).
1- it did not start life with a SSD disk, so the previous owner has opened the case and installed it instead of the factory hard-disk.
2 - when changing the hard disk to SSD it is very easy to misplace or destroy the two small temperature sensors that were taped in place. You can see them poking out from the hard-drive in the ifixit description.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Mid+2010+Hard+Drive+Cable/3171/3
3 - typically the fan goes full speed all the time if the temperature sensors are not correctly installed.

Conclusion: the previous owner botched the change of disk which makes the fun run full speed all the time.
 
I paid £320 for it, it has 8gig Ram & 120gig SSD upgrades, also has Office installed, ilife & iwork.

It's to be used as a home computer. Should I bother getting it sorted or just get a basic new model?


ghellquist said:
My experience is that the fan in the mini normally runs very slow -- in "normal" use it should be very close to inaudible.

My guess (as good as other peoples guesses).
1- it did not start life with a SSD disk, so the previous owner has opened the case and installed it instead of the factory hard-disk.
2 - when changing the hard disk to SSD it is very easy to misplace or destroy the two small temperature sensors that were taped in place. You can see them poking out from the hard-drive in the ifixit description.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Installing+Mac+Mini+Mid+2010+Hard+Drive+Cable/3171/3
3 - typically the fan goes full speed all the time if the temperature sensors are not correctly installed.

Conclusion: the previous owner botched the change of disk which makes the fun run full speed all the time.
Click to expand...
 
The 2010 model when it came out mid year was the new aluminum model, it was I believe $669, and the last year for the CD drive which makes them popular. People use them every day and hooked up to their TV. It was the hardest to change the hard drives because of the heat sensors, in my opinion. It will be 5 years old when the new model comes out.

I would buy the current one, as a refurb, or at least a 2011, You can purchase a external cd player.

This is just my opinion. Luck
 
I forgot it's USD on this board, so I paid about $475 for it
 
Had an Apple guy have a look at it & he advised to send it back as RAM is mismatched, RAM holder is broken & cable fitting going from fan to logic board was pretty much broken, was held on very loosely. That's without looking at an HD. So back to seller it goes. Thanks for all advice!
 

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