Mac studio v1 fan noise - it's going to be one of the loudest Macs at idle.

[funkahdafi]

As for fan “noise”, this is by design and Apple will not do anything about it.

Again, you don't know whether the fan noise is by design.

Just to recap what we already found out: There doesn't appear to be a fan curve that adapts to different temperatures. Which is *highly* unusual for Apple. Actually, highly unusual for any computer vendor. The fans stay at the exact same speed level no matter the temperature. This *could* be by design, but you don't know that, and it would be a highly unusual design.

 

[m1maverick]

As for fan “noise”, this is by design and Apple will not do anything about it.

This would be a puzzling design choice as everything I've read would lead me to conclude it's a bad one. The data I've seen shows the cooling system is sufficient to keep the system running at, relatively speaking, low temperatures regardless of the workload.

If the system is capable of maintaining, as an example, 53 degrees celcius and a fan speed of ~ 1,350 RPM whether it's at idle or full capability that suggests it's capable of keeping the temperature at 5 degrees with no fan speed. Maybe one of the YouTubers would be willing to pull the fan wires and see what the system temperatures are at idle?

 

[dunanos]

If by significant numbers you mean 20 or so people in this thread and another one, then the answer to your question is simple.

No one writes about it because faulty units with a whine are rare. And we now have second revision of PSU board, so that might have helped also.

As for fan “noise”, this is by design and Apple will not do anything about it.

Some users still had noisy and whistling units even after replacement. These problems were happening with the first orders. New users are only complaining about noise or orders have not yet arrived to new customers. My unit was noisier/whistling with only one fan. I still think the problem is in the motor, bearings or cooling design. I could hear the coils whine when using the GPU and it was very quiet - I had to put my ear up to the cooling vents.

 

[dunanos]

Another interesting video.

 

[Sir Ruben]

All in all the fan on my machine makes very little noise, its just a gentle whoosh of air. However it has gotten me thinking about why I can even hear them at all, especially as my machine is not under any load 95% of the time and is blowing out ice cold air. So, my question is, what's the best fan control software I can use to crank these babies down a notch?

I also think its likely that Apple may adjust the fan behaviour via an update based on customer feedback.

 

[funkahdafi]

So, my question is, what's the best fan control software I can use to crank these babies down a notch?

Not sure if either of these are considered the best, but both are pretty popular options:
- TG Pro
- iStat Menus

 

[alias.archi]

@funkahdafi : Mac Fans Control

 

[dunanos]

Not sure if either of these are considered the best, but both are pretty popular options:
- TG Pro
- iStat Menus

According to the developers, iStat Menus will not change fan speeds below Apple's default values.

 

[bobcomer]

According to the developers, iStat Menus will not change fan speeds below Apple's default values.

Nor can TG Pro, nor any other app I've seen so far, that lower limit is a hard limit.

 

[eddie_ducking]

Macs Fan Control presently certainly allows the fans to be set down to 1100rpm from the Apple default of 1320 or so. They claim reducing further than the hard limit, who knows.

 

[AlphaCentauri]

OK guys, I think it is time for me to give up. You can't stand the noise the fans make (not talking about the whine), you want it to be silent at idle - I understand the desire (I share it myself), I don't understand the lack of understanding of what the Mac Studio really is. It is not laptop or desktop home computer for office work. This is a workstation and it behaves like a workstation designed for constant work under heavy load. You don't agree, that's fine.

You'll probably get your wish with second generation Mac mini with M2 Pro in near future.

Just please, show me ONE computer, Mac or PC with EQUIVALENT CPU and GPU power which is QUIETER than Mac Studio Ultra at idle. Just one...

 

[AdamSeen]

OK guys, I think it is time for me to give up. You can't stand the noise the fans make (not talking about the whine), you want it to be silent at idle - I understand the desire (I share it myself), I don't understand the lack of understanding of what the Mac Studio really is. It is not laptop or desktop home computer for office work. This is a workstation and it behaves like a workstation designed for constant work under heavy load. You don't agree, that's fine.

Just please, show me ONE computer, Mac or PC with EQUIVALENT CPU and GPU power which is QUIETER than Mac Studio at idle. Just one...

My 3080GTX 5800X3D PC is quieter than the Mac studio at idle, the GPU is significantly more powerful than the Max and CPU fairly close.

I appreciate it’s a “workstation” class computer, whatever that means anymore, but the iMac Pro also was and had a more power hungry CPU - It’s much quieter than the Max studio.

 

[Jrshelby]

Just please, show me ONE computer, Mac or PC with EQUIVALENT CPU and GPU power which is QUIETER than Mac Studio Ultra at idle. Just one...

The 14 and 16” MBP vs Mac Studio Max.. Max and Ultra run same temps.

 

[eddie_ducking]

My 3080GTX 5800X3D PC is quieter than the Mac studio at idle, the GPU is significantly more powerful than the Max and CPU fairly close.

I appreciate it’s a “workstation” class computer, whatever that means anymore, but the iMac Pro also was and had a more power hungry CPU - It’s much quieter than the Max studio.

At idle ? maybe I'm in a minority, but if I buy a "workstation" class machine, it's cause it needs to "work", it's never (or at least rarely) at idle. As an aside, how does it feel paying over £300+ (probably over £500) a year for increased electricity costs for your PC over a similar speed Studio ?

 

[richinaus]

Can people clarify if they have an Ultra or Max, as it appears to me the majority of people mentioning fan noise are Max owners.

I have an Ultra, and the fan noise in mine is minimal and that is even at 100% loading.

 

[Jrshelby]

Can people clarify if they have an Ultra or Max, as it appears to me the majority of people mentioning fan noise are Max owners.

I have an Ultra, and the fan noise in mine is minimal and that is even at 100% loading.

Was yours CTO and how long have you had it. I think most Max and Ultra stock configs are likely to be effected more as they are stock skus and built long before the launch. Ive had 3 base max studios bone stock and the all whine.

 

[jmho]

I have a (stock) Ultra, and the fan noise is so annoying to the point where it's a relief to turn the machine off.

It's possible I have a defective machine, or certain people are more sensitive to certain frequencies, but as much as I want to keep this machine I don't think I can.

 

[eddie_ducking]

Can people clarify if they have an Ultra or Max, as it appears to me the majority of people mentioning fan noise are Max owners.

I have an Ultra, and the fan noise in mine is minimal and that is even at 100% loading.

👍 Base Ultra. Can't say about GPU loadings, I barely touch them (I'd be happy with an Ultra with the 8x M1 GPU Cores), but CPU and media engine usage being max'd yes, it's been that way solidly for the past 3 weeks and I still can't hear anything.

 

[richinaus]

Was yours CTO and how long have you had it. I think most Max and Ultra stock configs are likely to be effected more as they are stock skus and built long before the launch. Ive had 3 base max studios bone stock and the all whine.

CTO and had it for a few weeks [ordered launch day] and have absolutely no complaints on fan noise.

I will add I max out the CPU and GPU. No difference in the fan noise to mention.

 

[vddobrev]

OK guys, I think it is time for me to give up. You can't stand the noise the fans make (not talking about the whine), you want it to be silent at idle - I understand the desire (I share it myself), I don't understand the lack of understanding of what the Mac Studio really is. It is not laptop or desktop home computer for office work. This is a workstation and it behaves like a workstation designed for constant work under heavy load. You don't agree, that's fine.

You'll probably get your wish with second generation Mac mini with M2 Pro in near future.

Just please, show me ONE computer, Mac or PC with EQUIVALENT CPU and GPU power which is QUIETER than Mac Studio Ultra at idle. Just one...

You are far from the truth. The Mac Studio is NOT a workstation by any standards. This is a disposable, not serviceable, not upgradable desktop computer. There is nothing workstation about it - zero. Storage is not user upgradable, no user expansion whatsoever, and we can also mention that even the fans are not user accessible for cleaning and dusting, and stop at that.

It may have power, yes, but IT IS NOT a workstation class computer.

By your logic, we should go back and remove all thermal sensors from the system (and there are many) and just have the fans blow at full blast and accumulate dust in 6 months or less. Because, you know, this machine is supposed to run at full all the time and we don't care about thermals (and if cooling is really needed) we are just going to blow the fans all the time.

 

[richinaus]

You are far from the truth. The Mac Studio is NOT a workstation by any standards. This is a disposable, not serviceable, not upgradable desktop computer. There is nothing workstation about it - zero. Storage is not user upgradable, no user expansion whatsoever, and we can also mention that even the fans are not user accessible for cleaning and dusting, and stop at that.

It may have power, yes, but IT IS NOT a workstation class computer.

By your logic, we should go back and remove all thermal sensors from the system (and there are many) and just have the fans blow at full blast and accumulate dust in 6 months or less. Because, you know, this machine is supposed to run at full all the time and we don't care about thermals (and if cooling is really needed) we are just going to blow the fans all the time.

Your definition of workstation obviously differs to the poster, and also mine.

Who said exactly a workstation needs to have internal expansion? I believe a workstation is something that offers additional power and stability over and above consumer computers. The Studio Ultra delivers this.

 

[GlenK]

I have an Ultra and it sounds nothing like that video!! I can't hear that much noise if I put my ear against the back of the machine. If mine sounded like that I'd send it back too!!!

 

[Severed_hand_of_skywalker]

You are far from the truth. The Mac Studio is NOT a workstation by any standards. This is a disposable, not serviceable, not upgradable desktop computer. There is nothing workstation about it - zero. Storage is not user upgradable, no user expansion whatsoever, and we can also mention that even the fans are not user accessible for cleaning and dusting, and stop at that.

It may have power, yes, but IT IS NOT a workstation class computer.

By your logic, we should go back and remove all thermal sensors from the system (and there are many) and just have the fans blow at full blast and accumulate dust in 6 months or less. Because, you know, this machine is supposed to run at full all the time and we don't care about thermals (and if cooling is really needed) we are just going to blow the fans all the time.

This is your definition of workstation. I have worked at plenty of agency's that have "workstations" where nothing is upgradable. This doesn't mean you can't do exactly the type of work you need to do on it.

And the studio is upgradable.... at the time you purchase it.

 

[vddobrev]

Your definition of workstation obviously differs to the poster, and also mine.

Who said exactly a workstation needs to have internal expansion? I believe a workstation is something that offers additional power and stability over and above consumer computers. The Studio Ultra delivers this.

Fine, we have different definitions. And who said a workstation need to blow the fans all the time making noise?

 

[Jrshelby]

CTO and had it for a few weeks [ordered launch day] and have absolutely no complaints on fan noise.

I will add I max out the CPU and GPU. No difference in the fan noise to mention.

Ya my problem is with the high pitched noise. I have no problem with the rate at which the fans exhaust air or the sound they make. The fans at 1300 RPM do exasperate the high pitch noise more then when the fans are manually set to 1,100 RPM