Been using the Ultra for one week solid and have not heard it yet. Even using Handbrake.
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Mac studio v1 fan noise - it's going to be one of the loudest Macs at idle.
- Thread starter AdamSeen
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There is also a condition called hyperacusis that makes some people more sensitive to some noises: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/hyperacusis
m1 max arrived today, thankfully can only hear it if I put ear right on exhaust.
I was worried after watching a few videos of the high pitched noise, which was clearly audible.
I was worried after watching a few videos of the high pitched noise, which was clearly audible.
It could very well be the case that Apple recognized the issue and made improvements in later production cycles.
something is going on…
My March 9 preorder, set to deliver April 7 - April 14, just got pushed back by 3 weeks to April 28 - May 5.
Can we please stop with the over the top comments? Will this truly be louder than my 7 fan Windows desktop that has a 3080 in it? That thing is LOUD at idle so to hear comments like this is quite concerning.
Do I have to classify on an Apple forum that I’m talking about Apple computers?
Yes. Because we all don’t exclusively have Apple systems and using generalized terms like all computers needs additional context.
My Lenovo Windows i9 desktop doesn't have a 3080 in it, but it does have a dGPU, and I wouldn't call it noisy at idle at all. It is definitely less noisy than my Studio Max at idle. I wouldn't call the Studio noisy either, but I can definitely hear it all the time from 1 to 2 feet away.
I would bet you might be able to hear it, but it wont bother you.
Max ordered the systems and Apple didn’t provide them. Their channel has shown the order page many times.
Him opening the box was LOUD. We should not base noise levels of audio recordings. Moving a box and opening it is not THAT LIUD. I had to turn my headphones down at the beginning of the video.
I am talking about macs. The thread title also says “loudest macs at idle”. The first post in the thread also has a comparison graph including just macs.
I also have a PC as well.
Are you satisfied?
Yes, but your post saying it's the loudest Mac at idle is incorrect.
My 2019 16" Macbook Pro is loud even at idle - currently it's at it's loudest of all year due to the climate heat I am using it (95 degrees F).
Compare that to my 2022 Mac Studio - I do not hear anything from it - it's a night and day difference with both devices on the same desktop.
Ever since Apple came out with the M1, it's been so quiet I forget there's a fan(s).
My M1 Mini was the first Mac that didn't have any sound (coming from an Intel i7 CTO Mini).
This Mac Studio has got to be as quiet as the Mini!
Unless you went back and edited the post I quoted, you said loudest computers in recent history. Not loudest mac, but loudest computers. If you keep repeating it, be sure to make it clear you are speaking about macs. This post is 26 pages and has been active for some time. I don’t scan all 26 pages every time there is a reply.
All this talk has me very concerned. Speaking of macs, I found my 2019 i9 iMac noisy at idle. But my custom built 7 fan Windows PC should hopefully be louder at idle as it is very noticeable even tucked away under the desk. It’s very loud on the desk.
Also, coming from MacBook pros and iMacs that ramp up the fan if you launch an application (not quite THAT bad but it is bad when and how often the fans ramp up) I prefer louder idle if it doesn’t need to ramp up every time I sneeze! I deal with the same thing on my Windows laptop. The minute I launch Visual Studio the fans get WAY WAY too loud.
I've gone from hating to loving this thread. I set up my new Mac Studio Max on 4/5. (replacing a 2018 Mac Mini i7) Ever curious I had to experiment along with everyone else. My low-tech SPL meter for this is an iPhone 12 Pro running the app Decibel X. The phone is on a small stand sitting in front of me approximately 2 feet from the front of the Max, which sits on my desk. The phone is closer to the Mac than my ears. I downloaded Macs Fan Control to play around with the RPMs.
MY data:
Noise Floor levels in my house on my desk trying to remain as still and silent as possible. Measured multiple times.
Mac asleep- 30db
Mac awake- 33db (average RPMs 1335)
Mac awake- 38db (average RPMs 1978)(ramped up via Macs Fan Control)
Mac asleep- 34db (with the house furnace on)
MY conclusions:
1. Had I never been "alerted" to the possibility of the Max having excess noise I never would have noticed the fans.
2. I can hear the furnace running at 34db but not the Mac at 33db. (forced hot air system)
3. If I were into some heavy computational lifting (as opposed to artificially ramping them up) I can hear the Mac fans at 38db as they ramp up to 1978RPMs.
3a. I hear the Mac at 38db.
4. I hear no whining noise.
5. Great computer. More power than I need. It's a keeper.
That's it. Data and personal conclusions.
MY data:
Noise Floor levels in my house on my desk trying to remain as still and silent as possible. Measured multiple times.
Mac asleep- 30db
Mac awake- 33db (average RPMs 1335)
Mac awake- 38db (average RPMs 1978)(ramped up via Macs Fan Control)
Mac asleep- 34db (with the house furnace on)
MY conclusions:
1. Had I never been "alerted" to the possibility of the Max having excess noise I never would have noticed the fans.
2. I can hear the furnace running at 34db but not the Mac at 33db. (forced hot air system)
3. If I were into some heavy computational lifting (as opposed to artificially ramping them up) I can hear the Mac fans at 38db as they ramp up to 1978RPMs.
3a. I hear the Mac at 38db.
4. I hear no whining noise.
5. Great computer. More power than I need. It's a keeper.
That's it. Data and personal conclusions.
Nothing beats G4 MDD Tower, in this regard. I know, as I had the (dis)pleasure to have one
If you did read the title of this thread it should be pretty clear that this thread is about Macs. ?
Then the Mac Studio will be perfect for you. It will not ramp up for ages unless you explicitly stress it with CPU and GPU intensive tasks at once.
Yes but 26 pages later? Not sure if thoughts or discussion has changed.
It's like so many other social media forums. The folks who are disastisfied tend to keep making posts trying to convince themselves (mostly), they are the knowledgeable ones.
My G4 Quicksilver was probably comparable to that. It wasn’t quite as loud as my previous Power Mac 8500, but that’s because the 8500 was running without a case for additional cooling it after I had added a video card and upgraded the CPU….Nothing beats G4 MDD Tower, in this regard. I know, as I had the (dis)pleasure to have one
There are some earlier posts with graphs that I think capture the core of the issue. Some Mac Studios (but not all) appear to have a steady tone coming out of them, sometimes described as whistling. It's the tone that's bothering people (me included, unfortunately), not the volume. I also hear the regular fan noise, and that's fine (quieter than my 2020 iMac at idle for sure). Because some folks have altered the sound with fan control, that's the most obvious moving part, and it disappears when the fans spin down for sleep, that seems to be the likely source.
To hear it, you have to satisfy two conditions. First, yours has to have the issue, and prior graphs and comments seem to counter the idea that this tone comes from all of them. Second, you need a quiet enough environment to hear it. In my case, at a typical quiet period measure of 29.5-30.5 DB(A), I hear it all the time. A bit higher than that, averaging 35-36DB(A), I hear it most of the time. Higher still, at around 45 DB(A), I don't hear it unless the momentary sound level drops (e.g., between words in the dialogue of television down the hall), but even then it's not enough to be bothersome.
To hear it, you have to satisfy two conditions. First, yours has to have the issue, and prior graphs and comments seem to counter the idea that this tone comes from all of them. Second, you need a quiet enough environment to hear it. In my case, at a typical quiet period measure of 29.5-30.5 DB(A), I hear it all the time. A bit higher than that, averaging 35-36DB(A), I hear it most of the time. Higher still, at around 45 DB(A), I don't hear it unless the momentary sound level drops (e.g., between words in the dialogue of television down the hall), but even then it's not enough to be bothersome.
Interresting ? at how many feet/inches is your mac studio from wall (if any) ?
I’m very disconcerted with such difference in « noise » from every people…
It's under a shelf to the left of me and my monitor. (I bought spacers off Amazon to raise the shelf high enough for it to clear the Max) There is a little support bar under the shelf the exhaust holes might be blowing against an inch away, but moving the Studio around within a 4 inch radius makes no audible difference. Actually, I just bumped the RPM up to 1978 and moving the Mac closer or farther away from that support bar does make different sounds. Having wind blow directly against a solid object would obviously create some sort of noise.
I think your confused about the noise people are referring to. It’s the high pitched whine, beeps and chirps people are complaining about. Anyone with the legit problem are not minding that the system is cooling the Mac Studios efficiently. Do a hardware test, which it will pass, then revise your statement. I’ve returned 2 and after apple requested the hardware test, and the fans kicked on full blast, the sound got even WORSE when back in the 1300 RPM range.
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