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Mac Pro 2012 exhaust fan noise?

R

relbbircs

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 26, 2007
103
0
Got new 2012 six core. Set it up. Am starting to come back from vacation and so am paying more attention to how it works. Since I record audio six feet from the machine I pay attention in particular to noise. The 2012 is much, much louder than my old 2008 eight core, most of that noise coming from the exhaust fan. I've tried using fan control set at the lowest possible setting for the exhaust fan, but there's still too much noise. I'm guessing the fan is defective though it might (just) be within spec.

I've read through several threads on fan replacement but am not sure I see what the options are. Anyhow, in addition to the general question "What to do?" I'm wondering whether fans are a user replaceable part such that if Apple sends me a new fan I can replace it myself? Or would they insist (probably) that I drag the machine into an Apple store for repair? The latter being a big pain in the butt and it's easier to buy a sheet of 2" open cell foam and cut it into pieces and glue them together in a makeshift enclosure...

Or does anyone know of success at wiring/replacement of Apple fans with higher quality, silent fans? That would be, by far, the best option.

Thoughts?
 
I would suggest taking the pro back, it should be whisper quiet under almost any condition you throw at it
 
Mine is so quiet that in order to be certain that it is working, I either have to put my ear right up to it, or my hand in front to feel the air flow. This is true even under maxed out CPU load.
 
ActionableMango said:
Mine is so quiet that in order to be certain that it is working, I either have to put my ear right up to it, or my hand in front to feel the air flow. This is true even under maxed out CPU load.
Click to expand...

IF there's something touching the blades - even a shred of plastic film or foam from some packaging that came with the machine - then it would make the fan very loud indeed.

But not as loud I think, as my silver door twin GPU G4. Now that machine was quite deluded. It seemed to think it was a commercial airliner.
 
ActionableMango said:
Mine is so quiet that in order to be certain that it is working, I either have to put my ear right up to it, or my hand in front to feel the air flow. This is true even under maxed out CPU load.
Click to expand...

My exhaust fan has a periodic rattle. I set it at 500 rpm min., which helped, but it is just plain noisy. Every twenty seconds or so it'll rattle for a few seconds. Bad bearings, or something. All the other fans are silent.

I'd hate to have to lug the machine into a store... but if that's the only way to fix it I'll consider it.

Isn't there any relatively easy -- but possibly expensive -- fan replacement?!
 
Melbourne Park said:
IF there's something touching the blades - even a shred of plastic film or foam from some packaging that came with the machine - then it would make the fan very loud indeed.

But not as loud I think, as my silver door twin GPU G4. Now that machine was quite deluded. It seemed to think it was a commercial airliner.
Click to expand...

Despite how noisy they were, it brings back fond memories of a time when Apple sold Mac towers that cost less than $2K.

Sigh, sweet memories. I wish those days would return.
 
zorinlynx said:
Despite how noisy they were, it brings back fond memories of a time when Apple sold Mac towers that cost less than $2K.

Sigh, sweet memories. I wish those days would return.
Click to expand...

And $8,000 for a good 20" Cathode Ray Tube. How easily we forget! And we didn't know about the radiation!!!

Now, a Quad can be $1900 (in the USA - they are more in Australia where I am) for refurbished at the moment! And the refurbs are new machines - just superseded. Good buys in some other superseded's as well. A PC that is less upgradeable, would cost at least $1,500, without including the cost of Windows.

To upgrade the Mac to Hex, cost is around $500, without selling the Quad. If one was not worried about warranty then one could sell the Quad for $300 some say - which comes to $2,100 for a Hex. Not bad IMO. Although a bought a twin ...
 
relbbircs said:
My exhaust fan has a periodic rattle. I set it at 500 rpm min., which helped, but it is just plain noisy. Every twenty seconds or so it'll rattle for a few seconds. Bad bearings, or something. All the other fans are silent.

I'd hate to have to lug the machine into a store... but if that's the only way to fix it I'll consider it.

Isn't there any relatively easy -- but possibly expensive -- fan replacement?!
Click to expand...

There is a really good fan thread here. But the gist of it is that Apple uses analog-controlled fans and the overwhelming majority (or possibly all) readily available computer fans use digital PWM for control. The poster never could find a compatible non-Apple replacement.

I see in your future a trip to the Apple store.
 
Just fyi, AppleCare is sending a technician to my home to replace the fan.
 
relbbircs said:
Just fyi, AppleCare is sending a technician to my home to replace the fan.
Click to expand...

Please let me know the outcome, I've sent two MacPro's back to Apple due to noise of the fan, if the 3rd is the same I'll see what your result is before deciding.
 
Yea mine is noisy too. I just got a refurb quad core and it's definitely louder than what I'm used to coming from a silent iMac. My Mac pro makes a sound like someone is mowing thier lawn off in the distance. My nearest apple store is over 100 miles away so that isn't going to happen. I plan on calling apple and seeing what they can do. I didn't know they can send out technicians. That might be a solution.
 
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