MacBook c2d fan noise!

[zshev]

Hi all,

Today I received my new White MacBook Core 2 Duo, 80gb 2ghz.

Can someone tell me how many CPU fans this type of machine should have?

The reason I ask is that the MacBook fan is pretty damn loud and constant. It comes on just a couple of minutes after poweron, even if idle, and doesn't go off. I have a Powerbook G4 aswell, and compared to my new MacBook it is virtually silent, and only comes on to a level that I can hear when I'm being very CPU intensive!

I'm therefore trying to confirm if my MacBook is defective. I downloaded the smcFanControl program to play with, and it reports that Fan #1 is rotating at around 6200 RPM but Fan #2 is rotating at 0 RPM!

I'm not sure if MacBooks have one or two fans? If they have 2 then something is differently going wrong.

I'd appreciate any advice/diagnostic recommendations whatsoever!

Thanks in advance

PS: My CPU temperature sits at around 86C according to smcFanControl

 

[Nermal]

I don't know about the standard MacBook, but my Pro is silent unless I'm playing games. I suspect that something is going wrong if you can hear the fans all the time.

 

[Fearless Leader]

The program Only reporting One fan is extremely common If not all Of them. In fact I've ever Seen a post repOrting 2 I'm Not positive but I Think It just has One.

pS: are you making it go 6200? It might not be the Same but my mbp has a hardware limit of 6000

 

[mattster16]

I know MBPs have two fans, I'm not sure about the MB.

If should definitely not be turning THAT fast though.

 

[scott523]

...pS: are you making it go 6200? It might not be the Same but my mbp has a hardware limit of 6000

Yea, I just hate it when people ask dumb questions like, "I'm running CoD2, why isn't my MacBook quiet?"

Back to the OP, you should tell us what programs are your actually running. None of the new MacBooks should have any fan troubles, unless people have sensitive ears that can't take it. And yes, MacBooks only have 1 fan.

 

[mckvakk]

Hi all,
PS: My CPU temperature sits at around 86C according to smcFanControl

That does not sound right. my macbook lies on around 55-60C, and when it hits 70-75C the fans come on at full blast so it quickly goes down to "normal" temperature.
I'm btw using temperature monitor

 

[zshev]

Thanks for the replies guys.

To answer a couple of questions:

No, i'm not using smcFanControl control to make the fans faster/slower... but merely for monitoring.

With regards to usage: Today I turned it on after it had about 10 hours powered off. I launched Firefox to connect to this website to check replies and within about 4 minutes, boom, the fan is on full again.

I've downloaded TemperatureMonitor and it reports that my MacBook is sitting at 78C (again only firefox open). I have it sitting on a flat wooden table, so there should be plenty of air flow.

This isn't the way it should be, right? It's unacceptable in my opinion.. For those first 4 minutes it was silent, and thats the way I think it should be unless i'm really beasting it.

What do you guys think? And what do you think I should do about it?

Cheers

PS: I bought from Amazon.. not sure if that affects Apples customer care?

 

[Zegna]

From what I gathered, the fan is supposed to be running constantly post firmware update.

And that is exactly what is happening to mine since the very beginning.

It's not bothering me, honestly. Plus I rather have it running cool with a bit of noise, instead of completely silent but running hot.

Is yours completely silent with no fans running at all within the first 4 minutes you mentioned earlier?

 

[clicq]

If your fan is running at full speed, and your temp is at 78C, you probably have some zombie process using your CPU. If you run Activity Monitor (located in the Utilities folder under applications), you can see what your current CPU utilization is, and then see what process is using up your CPU.

And when you say "10 hours powered down", is that shutoff or sleeping?

 

[Liza]

I recently visited the Genius Bar about another issue with my MacBook, and he told me that the fans are NOT supposed to be running all the time.

I have two new MacBooks, and on both the fans only come on occasionally, they run a few minutes at most, and then shut down. Even when the fans are running, they're extremely quiet.

 

[Zegna]

I recently visited the Genius Bar about another issue with my MacBook, and he told me that the fans are NOT supposed to be running all the time.

I have two new MacBooks, and on both the fans only come on occasionally, they run a few minutes at most, and then shut down. Even when the fans are running, they're extremely quiet.

Do you mean that at times it is dead silent with no fans whatsoever (e.g. zero RPM according to smcFanControl)?

I'm somewhat worried now. I really appreciate it if you can check that.

 

[Liza]

Do you mean that at times it is dead silent with no fans whatsoever (e.g. zero RPM according to smcFanControl)?

I'm somewhat worried now. I really appreciate it if you can check that.

Yes, for example, I've been working on this MacBook all morning, and it's dead quiet -- maybe the fan came on once, but then shut off again after maybe a couple of minutes. The other MacBook is just as quiet, fan turns on only occasionally.

Sorry, I don't have smcFanControl - or if I do, don't know where to find it - I'm only reporting to you what I don't hear -- and that's absolutely nothing! A good thing, too -- because I'm extremely noise sensitive, and wouldn't be able to tolerate a constantly running fan.

 

[Zegna]

Yes, for example, I've been working on this MacBook all morning, and it's dead quiet -- maybe the fan came on once, but then shut off again after maybe a couple of minutes. The other MacBook is just as quiet, fan turns on only occasionally.

Sorry, I don't have smcFanControl - or if I do, don't know where to find it - I'm only reporting to you what I don't hear -- and that's absolutely nothing! A good thing, too -- because I'm extremely noise sensitive, and wouldn't be able to tolerate a constantly running fan.

Thanks so much, Liza. That explains it perfectly.

I'll make a call to them regarding mine (with constant 17xx RPM fan), and see what they think of it.

By the way, smcFanControl is a third party app, you have to download and install it if you want it in your system.

 

[Liza]

Good luck with it! Let me know what they say, if you wouldn't mind posting any info you learn.

Maybe the fans in my MacBooks are too sluggish.

 

[clicq]

Thanks so much, Liza. That explains it perfectly.

I'll make a call to them regarding mine (with constant 17xx RPM fan), and see what they think of it.

By the way, smcFanControl is a third party app, you have to download and install it if you want it in your system.

I have a C2D Macbook, and I can confirm that it does not go any slower than about 1700 rpm in smcFancontrol, though the fans are pretty much inaudible at this point (i.e. if I didn't have smcfancontrol, I wouldn't be able to tell they're running).

I think what the Genius meant is that they're not supposed to be running at full speed all the time...

 

[Liza]

I think what the Genius meant is that they're not supposed to be running at full speed all the time...

Doesn't sound like they're on at all, but you might be right.

 

[Apple Corps]

1 fan - 1 fan only.

You can go to ifixit.com and check out the fan replacement procedure.

 

[imMAColata]

My macbook fan is a different kind of noisy. It whines at certain RPMS. at 2600, 3100 and 3700 rpms, the fan whines as if it oscillates and makes vibrations. It is a quite annoying sound and loud enough that I can hear it from 6 feet away, even with people talking around me.

Ive asked Apple about fixing it but they will give no promises. I have to take it to a repair shop and they will look at it. and then maybe possibly repair it. Unless its "within specs" in which case they will bill me for wasting their time. Am quite annoyed by this noise.

Has anyone noticed this kind of whine on their own mb?

 

[jimsmac]

My C2D MB runs at about 55 degrees C all day, with the fan at about 1700 rpm and inaudible when idle. Pushing it (such as with a game), causes the temperature to increase and the fan to kick in, at which point they do become loud. (almost like a hair dryer!)

 

[imMAColata]

The hair dryer sound is fine by me. But the whine is not. The whine only occurs at certain intervals as I described. The old Macbook didn't have this annoying "feature".

 

[Neptunian]

I'm using a MacBook Core Duo 1.83GHz. Normally, it runs at temperature between 55 to 60C. Seldom hit over 70C, unless I'm runnig a lot of apps at a time. The fan will spin (the noise from the fan is noticeable), but only for awhile (a few minutes or less) because the temperature will drop back to normal range by then.

 

[clicq]

The hair dryer sound is fine by me. But the whine is not. The whine only occurs at certain intervals as I described. The old Macbook didn't have this annoying "feature".

My fan had a motor hum/whine sound, though it occured at all speeds, but just changed pitch and volume. I asked a Genius at the Apple store to take a listen, and he confirmed that it was louder than normal, and Apple swapped out the fan. I think had I not gone to the Genius first, I would have been shot down for a repair (based on the Applecare guy hassling the Genius about the fan noise...). I'd suggest taking your Macbook to an Apple store but I'm guessing you're not near one .

My replacement fan is inaudible up to about 3500rpm, and then after that I mostly hear just the sound of air whooshing by, and maybe a hint of motor whine, but not enough to bother me. In contrast, my original fan was audible as soon as it turned on and just got louder.

My Macbook is also in the range of 55-60C after several hours of being on, with the temps around 60 with iTunes playing and Safari open. Playing a 1080p trailer puts it at about 70-72C.

 

[imMAColata]

unfortunately, there are no apple stores in Denmark. It was shipped to me directly by Apple from China. When I contacted Apple Care, they could even hear it over the phone. But they would not commit to anything. I would have to take it down to one of their service partners. So I called those, and was told that they would promise nothing, and if the fan noise was 'within apple's specs' they'd just bill me for wasting their time... So that left me with no option really but to return the macbook. Apple can't commit to fixing it, and there's no way Im going to risk paying for not-happening repairs already.

I'd be fine with a fan that was inaudbile up to 3500 rpms. Most times it hovers around 2300-3000 unless I do something really demanding. Mostly I just type and surf, and that rarely gives any sweat. But it whines at several intervals, and it just grows louder as the machine heats up overall. After an hour it is quite distinct from 6 feet away when its in the "dreaded whine zone"

 

[Zegna]

Good luck with it! Let me know what they say, if you wouldn't mind posting any info you learn.

Maybe the fans in my MacBooks are too sluggish.

I went to an Apple Store yesterday, and I asked about mine. They say the fan is not supposed to be running the whole time, even if its at a very low speed. Exactly like you just said earlier.

I was told to make an appointment for a Genius to let them see what's what on mine. And here's one thing, I was also told that if the fan does need a replacement, it could be done in store. Sounds excellent.

I'll post an update later on, but in the meantime, have a wonderful new year to all!