Mac Studio Max - it's not that quiet

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Just turned on my Mac Studio M1 Max today.

I definitely can hear my Mac Studio from the same location in my desk setup where my 2019 Mac Pro could not be heard.

I would say the Mac Studio is quiet enough, but I will have to work on moving it a bit. The 2019 Mac Pro had me spoiled I guess.

 

[enricoclaudio]

Good to hear! Made in China or Malaysia?

 

[MaskedCarrot]

Returning the Mac Studio because of that is pretty ridiculous, unless of course it points to a defect (which I doubt).

Imagine having a high pitched ringing sound constantly when the thing is running. It is very annoying to most people, and it was actually giving me headaches.

 

[petvas]

Imagine having a high pitched ringing sound constantly when the thing is running. It is very annoying to most people, and it was actually giving me headaches.

Imagine this being probably a defect. My Mac Studio makes no such sound, no matter what. I also have other friends that also say their Mac Studios do not make any sounds.
The ATP podcast also mentions that the Mac Studio makes a sound that is max 15db loud. This is more than what a 27" iMac had, but still not really something people will hear, under any circumstances. A high pitched sound would be louder than 15db, so I guess your device has some kind of defect.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

I have the Mac Studio with the M1 Max and I hear nothing, even when my room is quiet. Maybe I am not that sensitive, but I guess someone could be annoyed by any sounds if he/she would be looking for them..
Returning the Mac Studio because of that is pretty ridiculous, unless of course it points to a defect (which I doubt).

If I found out that other people's Mac Studio is truly dead silent, I would definitely return mine which is not dead silent. 100% would want that experience if its an option.

Having said that, I can live with the annoying high pitched albeit quiet sound its making now.

 

[[maven]]

There are no "dead silent" Mac Studios. There are just very different levels of interpretation of what silent means, many different environments with different amounts of ambient noise, as well as different sensitivities for perceiving those sounds.

Some Mac Studios have a tonal component to the usual low-level, white fan-noise (at roughly twice the fan RPM frequency) that due to its characteristics is a lot more perceivable (and I'd classify as a defect / unintentional, depending on the level). It's not relegated to just models made in China (or Malaysia), it's been observed in units from either assembly location.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

There are no "dead silent" Mac Studios. There are just very different levels of interpretation of what silent means, many different environments with different amounts of ambient noise, as well as different sensitivities for perceiving those sounds.

Thanks Maven. That helps.

My 2019 Mac Pro was inaudible unless I placed my ear against it, and so that's the only reason the Mac Studio noise level stands out for me now.

My Mac Studio doesn't make any more noise than my Intel Mac mini with eGPU made.

Although having said that, there's no way I'd be cool with setting this under my monitor like in the pictures. Its going under the desk in the corner.

 

[BSPBSP]

There are no "dead silent" Mac Studios. There are just very different levels of interpretation of what silent means, many different environments with different amounts of ambient noise, as well as different sensitivities for perceiving those sounds.

Some Mac Studios have a tonal component to the usual low-level, white fan-noise (at roughly twice the fan RPM frequency) that due to its characteristics is a lot more perceivable (and I'd classify as a defect / unintentional, depending on the level). It's not relegated to just models made in China (or Malaysia), it's been observed in units from either assembly location.

Exactly this. I am contemplating an exchange at the moment to see if I might get lucky. Does anyone know if I have to return the machine I have first? The delivery time would be in March, so I would be without a machine until then...

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

I have one day left to return my unit. The attached recording is worse than it sounds in practice, but it demonstrations the higher pitched tone I hear. It goes away on sleep so it's 100% the fans.

View attachment 1984483

Mine sounds the same.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

I moved mine under the desk into the corner, we'll see how that goes.

I'm glad I didn't sell my 2019 Mac Pro.

I'm glad there's a return period.

 

[petvas]

Mine sounds the same.

Mine doesn’t sound like that at all. I never hear anything

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Mine doesn’t sound like that at all. I never hear anything

Thanks! That's good to know. Perhaps a batch with defective fans I suppose.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Mine doesn’t sound like that at all. I never hear anything

Are you Ultra, or Max?

 

[H-P.]

Cross-post, but interesting article: https://soyacincau.com/2022/03/23/a...o-is-actually-still-being-assembled-in-china/

Apparently some parts of the Mac Studio are made in Malaysia, but still assembled in China. It seems that the lable "Made in Malaysia" is used by Apple to avoid tariffs shipping to some countries from China. In the end, it seems, it shouldn't make a difference whether it says Malaysia or China when it comes to fan noise or coil whine.

 

[aurora_sect]

Are you Ultra, or Max?

Check his sig, Sherlock.😆

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Check his sig, Sherlock.😆

Thanks aurora_sect. I see it now.

 

[Apple2GS]

Has any Mac Studio developed the high pitched whine after running for a few days? Or has it always been from day 1 and never develops over time?

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Has any Mac Studio developed the high pitched whine after running for a few days? Or has it always been from day 1 and never develops over time?

From the very first second I turned it on.

 

[smoking monkey]

Just a crazy thought...
Could this have something to do with age. Those who can't hear it are older and those who can are younger.

Younger people can hear hitch pitched sounds that people over a certain age can't hear.

I doubt it's this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[BSPBSP]

Has any Mac Studio developed the high pitched whine after running for a few days? Or has it always been from day 1 and never develops over time?

From the very first second I turned it on.

First minute I turned it on as well. Also, mine is connected to a PFC sine wave ups, so I can rule out any issues with incoming power/frequency. I will try another outlet later today just to see.

Just a crazy thought...
Could this have something to do with age. Those who can't hear it are older and those who can are younger.

Younger people can hear hitch pitched sounds that people over a certain age can't hear.

I doubt it's this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

You might be right, I have always had very sensitive ears and am not what most would consider old, which is why I might hear it.
I would hope though that when something like this gets developed/tested, they use proper equipment and not human ears subject to aging to find such frequencies

 

[vddobrev]

Just a crazy thought...
Could this have something to do with age. Those who can't hear it are older and those who can are younger.

Younger people can hear hitch pitched sounds that people over a certain age can't hear.

I doubt it's this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

It could be, but I doubt it. I am 52, and double checked with my 14 year old. I cannot hear my MP6,1 and he does not hear it either. Even when the fan ramps up, all we hear from the MP6,1 is moving air. I don't have the Studio and I am not planning to buy it, I can't stand noise on my desk.

 

[Apples Apples Everywhere]

Just a crazy thought...
Could this have something to do with age. Those who can't hear it are older and those who can are younger.

Younger people can hear hitch pitched sounds that people over a certain age can't hear.

I doubt it's this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

I don't think so. My M1 Mac minis are silent. My 2019 Mac Pro is silent. Something is definitely going on with the Mac Studio.

 

[PianoPro]

Just a crazy thought...
Could this have something to do with age. Those who can't hear it are older and those who can are younger.

Younger people can hear hitch pitched sounds that people over a certain age can't hear.

I doubt it's this, but just thought I'd throw it out there.

Some studio's have the "whistle" and some don't.

#415

 

[BSPBSP]

Report: 3 different outlets, with and without PFC UPS, whine is still present, maybe different frequency/oscillation, but that could be imagination.
At this point, I am certain it is the Mac and my partner hears it too, so I am at least not going crazy, haha.

 

[Traverse]

@Traverse The same for me, but I decided to keep it. He works very well and I need it !
my plan is to have it changed under warranty to get a quieter machine.

I am still debating myself, got mine on Monday and am hearing the same as @Traverse and @Vaibye recorded (albeit a ever so slightly different pitch.
Also, for what it's worth, mine, which also makes the sounds, was made in Malaysia since it was a custom config and was shipped later, so it seems like the country might not make a difference after all...

I never thought the country made a difference. Given how many variables there are in office surroundings and individual‘s hearing it’s hard to gauge whether this is a design issue, a variance issue, or a software optimization issue. I considered keeping it and maybe trying to exchange it under Apple Care in the future but I really HATE the hassle of returning items and if it turns out this is never “fixed” and it’s just a lottery I don’t want buy and return until I find a good unit. That is uncomfortable and wasteful to me.

I am actually starting to wonder if it is the fans at all or some interference with the vents on the back.
Since there are that many tiny holes compared to the Mac Pro for instance, I can imagine that there might be some frequency resonance there because of the openings. In that case, not even changing the fan might fix the problem.

It’s the fans. I listed carefully as I put the computer to sleep and woke it up. It makes a very loud wine as the fans start up (which is fine) but then the whine comes back randomly. It must be something in the fan motor or dampening.

I can’t believe how many of these things make the high pitched sound. Is anyone who is returning a Studio buying a 16” MacBook Pro instead?

That’s the route I think I may go even though I don’t need a 2nd laptop.

It may just be puffing, but the Apple Store contact asked me why I was returning it and I explained the issue briefly and they responded “that interesting, we’ve gotten a few of these now. Not sure what’s going on.“