Mac Pro 3.2 ghz Quad Core, ATI Radeon HD 5870--high pitched revving noise?

[ejosepha]

I just got this new Mac Pro yesterday. It sounded fairly quiet on start-up but over the past day I have noticed a high-pitched noise that seems to change its intensity and pitch with the fan speed on PCI using Istat Pro.
At first I noticed while viewing photos and then watching a short video that I could hear a clearly revving up noise that became rather high pitched. After trying to listen to different areas of the tower (haven't opened it up yet) it was rather difficult to pinpoint the source. I don't think it is the large fans in front or back, but I am far from an expert.
I then noticed that when I heard this noise revving up, which happens quite quickly, as if one was putting pressure on a car gas accelerator pedal, that the fan on the PCI was moving from a base of 799 to around 850-900. It's hard to believe such a small jump would kick off this kind of sound but it has been repeated several times. In fact when the PCI fan passes 950rpm the sound seems to decrease with the faster spin.
I could be all off here and down an empty path, but I am curious if anyone has any clues as to what might be going on.
Or perhaps this is quite ordinary with this higher end card ( I did read that this card could make a lot of noise, but more under load).
Other than this, the computer so far is great. I don't want to start with AppleCare or the Apple Store here in Paris if it is doubtful to net me anything.
Thanks for any tips or advice.

 

[johnnymg]

I just got this new Mac Pro yesterday. It sounded fairly quiet on start-up but over the past day I have noticed a high-pitched noise that seems to change its intensity and pitch with the fan speed on PCI using Istat Pro.
At first I noticed while viewing photos and then watching a short video that I could hear a clearly revving up noise that became rather high pitched. After trying to listen to different areas of the tower (haven't opened it up yet) it was rather difficult to pinpoint the source. I don't think it is the large fans in front or back, but I am far from an expert.
I then noticed that when I heard this noise revving up, which happens quite quickly, as if one was putting pressure on a car gas accelerator pedal, that the fan on the PCI was moving from a base of 799 to around 850-900. It's hard to believe such a small jump would kick off this kind of sound but it has been repeated several times. In fact when the PCI fan passes 950rpm the sound seems to decrease with the faster spin.
I could be all off here and down an empty path, but I am curious if anyone has any clues as to what might be going on.
Or perhaps this is quite ordinary with this higher end card ( I did read that this card could make a lot of noise, but more under load).
Other than this, the computer so far is great. I don't want to start with AppleCare or the Apple Store here in Paris if it is doubtful to net me anything.
Thanks for any tips or advice.

Take the side off and isolate the noise. Report back.

good luck
JohnG

 

[ejosepha]

Take the side off and isolate the noise. Report back.

good luck
JohnG

Not sure it is good to run computer while side is off. Was hoping for some firsthand advice from people with similar units. But will eventually have to pinpoint this either on my own or with tech help.

 

[Johnf1285]

As long as you're extremely careful, taking the side panel off with the Mac on shouldn't be an issue. But it it were to stay off as you did some serious work that required serious cooling, the side panel being off would impact the cooling capabilities.

Edit:

These cards are loud. I had an HD4890 which sounded like a jet plane whenever anything graphical came into play. This of course was on a PC which was loud to begin with.

 

[johnnymg]

Not sure it is good to run computer while side is off. Was hoping for some firsthand advice from people with similar units. But will eventually have to pinpoint this either on my own or with tech help.

Firsthand knowledge here: Take the side cover OFF and isolate the noise and report back. Otherwise, take it back to the dealer.

JohnG

 

[ejosepha]

As long as you're extremely careful, taking the side panel off with the Mac on shouldn't be an issue. But it it were to stay off as you did some serious work that required serious cooling, the side panel being off would impact the cooling capabilities.

Edit:

These cards are loud. I had an HD4890 which sounded like a jet plane whenever anything graphical came into play. This of course was on a PC which was loud to begin with.

I see you have a Mac Pro. Does yours have the ATI HD 5870 and does it make this kind of noise? Even if you have the 5770, does it make noise similar to the card you refer to above? If this is the norm for this kind of card, I would certainly like to know that. I know under load this card has been reviewed to be a high decibel card, but not sure about what I've got going on here.
thanks

 

[tengo84]

I have the same rig and it does not make any high-pitched noise. In fact, it's quieter than my HP i7 which has a 5570 card.

 

[ejosepha]

I have the same rig and it does not make any high-pitched noise. In fact, it's quieter than my HP i7 which has a 5570 card.

Perhaps high-pitched is not completely accurate. But does your computer, or anyone with a Mac Pro 2010, have a sound like a fan or motor noise revving up under use, like going to internet sites with media, watching a video, or working in Iphoto.
Letting the machine idle, eventually sound diminishes. I work in a completely quiet environment so this may be relative as well. But this sound is there.

 

[brentsg]

These are quiet machines. You need to take the side off and isolate the noise or take it to Apple. Nothing anyone else can do to help.

 

[ejosepha]

Will eventually take off side or take to Apple. But any other input would be appreciated.
When looking at reviews of this graphic card on Tom's Hardware and elsewhere, they note that the noise level can be substantial. But as has been noted, my noise might not even be connected to graphic card.

 

[ejosepha]

Will eventually take off side or take to Apple. But any other input would be appreciated.
When looking at reviews of this graphic card on Tom's Hardware and elsewhere, they note that the noise level can be substantial. But as has been noted, my noise might not even be connected to graphic card.

Though the new Mac Pros are considered quiet, I would like to know if anyone with this graphic card can hear this card or its fan in any way when doing light internet surfing or Iphoto watching or watching a simple video file? Is there any change of sound at all or none until under heavy load?
Thank you.
PS: Will be getting a call back from technician at Apple Store Paris by Tuesday concerning this.

 

[derbothaus]

It IS audible but the sound never ramps up for me in OS X performing any tasks. Only when I play a video game in OS X. Which is pretty much never. Take it into Apple or post a recording of the sound happening. Too much conjecture going on. Very hard to help. Sorry.

 

[ejosepha]

It IS audible but the sound never ramps up for me in OS X performing any tasks. Only when I play a video game in OS X. Which is pretty much never. Take it into Apple or post a recording of the sound happening. Too much conjecture going on. Very hard to help. Sorry.

Thanks for the response.
I am going to have it checked out. It only seemingly becomes audible to me, as opposed to just hearing the large fans, when it goes from the base idle level 799 rpm to around 900-950 rpm. Maybe the sound I am hearing is what you are referring to as 'audible'.
Thanks again. Any other comments welcomed.

 

[brentsg]

Though the new Mac Pros are considered quiet, I would like to know if anyone with this graphic card can hear this card or its fan in any way when doing light internet surfing or Iphoto watching or watching a simple video file? Is there any change of sound at all or none until under heavy load?
Thank you.
PS: Will be getting a call back from technician at Apple Store Paris by Tuesday concerning this.

None of the tasks you describe here should increase the RPM of the videocard fan.

I have a 6 core MP with the 5770, and I can have a couple virtual machines running while I encode an HD video without any change in the audible characteristics of the machine. It remains completely silent.