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

[zlep]

So, I finally set up my new M1 Max Mac Studio and after a few days of working with it, I can say that most of the times it is absolutely dead silent. I can put my ear on it and do not hear anything at all, seriously.
BUT then sometimes it seems like the fans are running and I can hear it even from 1m away. It then also has the high pitch sound.

Isn't that weird? I thought the fans are running at the same speed all the time? This is definitly not the case for me since I can hear them sometimes (maybe if it does Updates, indexing or anything like that? Because even under heavy usage I can't hear the fans, it really seems like a random thing).

So, overall I'm satisfied. Just need to figure out why these fans are running sometimes.

 

[kerochan]

Unfortunately, after several months of use, my Studio Max, which was used in this review, has developed the high pitch noise that so many on this forum have experienced. I've taken some measurements and updated the review.

You can find the updated noise section here: https://fcracer.com/mac-studio-review-for-photography/#noise

Oh I am so sorry to hear this.
I avoided the Macstudio after all the noise reports, went of the Mac Mini 16gbRAM 1TB, the fastest, more silent, coolest and cheapest computer I have ever bought, with an old TB 27 Display and 18 year old 20" Display to one side, all amazing and stable. If the noise is too much for you I would get rid.

 

[zebullon290276]

Oh I am so sorry to hear this.
I avoided the Macstudio after all the noise reports, went of the Mac Mini 16gbRAM 1TB, the fastest, more silent, coolest and cheapest computer I have ever bought, with an old TB 27 Display and 18 year old 20" Display to one side, all amazing and stable. If the noise is too much for you I would get rid.

Same here but with an apple studio display.
The mac mini is powerfull enough for me, except ram can only be spec up to 16GB.
Missing a 32GB option. There should be a mx pro mac mini version.

I really think apple messed up with mac studio.

 

[SmallDane]

Unfortunately, after several months of use, my Studio Max, which was used in this review, has developed the high pitch noise that so many on this forum have experienced. I've taken some measurements and updated the review.

You can find the updated noise section here: https://fcracer.com/mac-studio-review-for-photography/#noise

Other people have also reported that covering one side of the vent holes helps. But since the noise only started after several months, there has to be something else causing it. The mystery deepens...

 

[phrehdd]

Other people have also reported that covering one side of the vent holes helps. But since the noise only started after several months, there has to be something else causing it. The mystery deepens...

I can't help but think how sometimes when walking with a soda bottle when it is windy causes the top of the bottle to produce a tone. These small holes on the vent might collect dust or the direction within for the air slightly changes and catches the edges of the holes. Certainly it takes time to accumulate some dust which would explain why later the sound might happen. Similar can be said with items internally such as the fans themselves. Thoughts?

 

[simacc]

As I said before, completely cover the intake vents at the bottom on any Mac Studio for about 15 seconds...then you'll really hear it whistle away...it's airflow...

 

[phrehdd]

I had a rather odd one today. Nothing was changed with my set up and came as a bit of a surprise. I came back to my Mac that was put on lock screen only to find the fan going a bit faster and the top of the Studio Max was very warm to the touch. I notice in the activity monitor a writing of about 26 gigs. I couldn't find any app associated but it seemed to be a root system based activity. If there is a minor frustration on my part is how to this day it isn't too easy to see what is going on behind some of the activities of root. System is back to normal now but was darn odd if not curious.

 

[kofman13]

Unfortunately, after several months of use, my Studio Max, which was used in this review, has developed the high pitch noise that so many on this forum have experienced. I've taken some measurements and updated the review.

You can find the updated noise section here: https://fcracer.com/mac-studio-review-for-photography/#noise

ive read that some of the noise goes a way if you cover "some of the holes". depending on how much airflow you need, that could be solution

 

[rasampson]

Mine is totally quiet. I was absolutely amazed the day I first got it and still am. Quietest Mac I ever owned.

 

[Apple2GS]

Has anyone tried the electric tape hack to reduce the whine? From https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/the-case-of-the-singing-studio

 

[fcracer]

ive read that some of the noise goes a way if you cover "some of the holes". depending on how much airflow you need, that could be solution

Indeed, covering the holes changes the volume and frequency of the noise. This likely indicates it’s airflow related. I do wonder why the noise wasn’t there when new.

Regardless, at this time, I’m choosing to live with it. At 47 years old, my hearing of 2.5KHz is probably not as sensitive as our younger friends here. It’s annoying, but still tolerable.

 

[doc james]

Apologies if this has already been answered and I've not seen it - does the input voltage affect the likelihood of whine? We're 240v in the UK and we also connect an earth. Are we less affected than 110v?

 

[JohannesO]

Apologies if this has already been answered and I've not seen it - does the input voltage affect the likelihood of whine? We're 240v in the UK and we also connect an earth. Are we less affected than 110v?

I guess not. Mine whistled at 230V mains voltage.

 

[JohannesO]

Has anyone tried the electric tape hack to reduce the whine? From https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/the-case-of-the-singing-studio

It would actually make sense that the whistling is more likely to occur where the openings in the curved area of the Mac corner are turned slightly outwards.

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[lcubed]

I guess not. Mine whistled at 230V mains voltage.

my perception is that many of the early reports were from areas that were 220/240V

i stopped keeping track by geography since my unit has never reached the audible threshold to be noticeable.

 

[JohannesO]

my perception is that many of the early reports were from areas that were 220/240V

i stopped keeping track by geography since my unit has never reached the audible threshold to be noticeable.

😉​

 

[lcubed]

View attachment 2047459

😉​

mine was BTO with long lead times for replacement, so this thread had me second guessing my purchase until it arrived.

stopped worrying after finding my unit was part of the vast majority without issue.

 

[kofman13]

Guys i really dont think its related to voltage or PSU. At this point it's pretty clear that it has to do with the holes on bottom and on back and airflow. and for people who started hearing whistling 3 months later, probably something changed with airflow. probably more dust build up on BOTTOM holes. which correlates to people saying they get MORE whistling when they block the bottom holes. so it must be related to dust build up on the bottom holes causing whine/whistle months later

 

[lcubed]

Guys i really dont think its related to voltage or PSU. At this point it's pretty clear that it has to do with the holes on bottom and on back and airflow. and for people who started hearing whistling 3 months later, probably something changed with airflow. probably more dust build up on BOTTOM holes. which correlates to people saying they get MORE whistling when they block the bottom holes. so it must be related to dust build up on the bottom holes causing whine/whistle months later

or aging of the power supply components ...

 

[Killerbob]

Come on... It has been mentioned NUMEROUS times that there are AT LEAST two different PSUs being used in the Mac Studios. Hence there would be different airflows in Mac Studios depending on which PSU they have...

 

[kofman13]

or aging of the power supply components ...

you think brand new computer PSU would start Aging and failing only 3 months?

 

[lcubed]

you think brand new computer PSU would start Aging and failing only 3 months?

we used to burn components in for a two months prior to field deployment. so yes, definitely

 

[bobcomer]

you think brand new computer PSU would start Aging and failing only 3 months?

Or come that way from manufacturing without getting QC'd out?

It doesn't sound like PS whine to me, it's something else, and not fan blades related either. I'd guess either the holes, or the ducting.

 

[falconer.]

Has anyone tried the electric tape hack to reduce the whine? From https://basicappleguy.com/basicappleblog/the-case-of-the-singing-studio

I put a similar piece of tape on mine about 4 or 5 months ago, it worked and stopped the noise, haven't heard a peep out of it since and it still runs at around the same temperature that it always did.

 

[kofman13]

I put a similar piece of tape on mine about 4 or 5 months ago, it worked and stopped the noise, haven't heard a peep out of it since and it still runs at around the same temperature that it always did.

This is what I wanted to read!!