The 11.6 can get loud if the fans switch on full. I was futzing with software and triggered a software bug and pegged the CPU at 100% for awhile and sure enough the fans went on full bore and it was rather loud. Rebooted the machine and all was well. Haven't yet triggered it in normal use but haven't done anything too intensive yet.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Many recommending the 13 over the 11, but isn't it noisier??
- Thread starter Scott6666
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That is one of the things I dislike most about my original MBA. It sounds almost like the new ones makes it worth an upgrade just for the improvement in fan noise alone!
You bring up an excellent point. My original MBA also had plenty of fan noise.
The 13" is normally silent. You need to do something to make the fans spin up like run multiple webpages with large flash videos or something to make this happen. With the same activity I would bet the 13" is quieter than the 11" since it has larger more capable cooling (that's why it has a faster processor).
Looks like the 11" is pretty damn noisy once you give it something other than simple web surfing to chew on:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1039901/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1039901/
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3991/apples-2010-macbook-air-11-13inch-reviewed/6
The CPU in the 11-inch model, even when under heavy loads, likes to stay at or below 72C (162F). At that temperature, the internal fan doesnt spin above 4000 RPM (usually down below 3400). The 13-inch MacBook Air however is far more likely to generate noise. Running our simple Handbrake test the CPU will peak at over 82C (~180F) and the systems internal fan will ramp up to over 6K RPM to compensate. Not only does the chassis get hot, but the fan gets audible. Its still too small of a fan to really be considered loud in the grand scheme of things, but its loud enough to be annoying.
The CPU in the 11-inch model, even when under heavy loads, likes to stay at or below 72C (162F). At that temperature, the internal fan doesnt spin above 4000 RPM (usually down below 3400). The 13-inch MacBook Air however is far more likely to generate noise. Running our simple Handbrake test the CPU will peak at over 82C (~180F) and the systems internal fan will ramp up to over 6K RPM to compensate. Not only does the chassis get hot, but the fan gets audible. Its still too small of a fan to really be considered loud in the grand scheme of things, but its loud enough to be annoying.
You have both to test side by side or are you speculating? As for getting hot, I've stressed the 13" and even with the fan going full blast it never gets hots. The bottom back gets warm, but if you want to feel hot try a MBP.
So, you're just quoting someone else? I have tested the 13" and it doesn't get "hot" by any definition of the term if you've used any other laptop.
I took the quote from the 11/13 Anadtech review, and referenced the link. They are a reputable review web site.
Yes, they are but it doesn't mean they are perfect. I'll go by my personal observations more than a review on a website.
In fairness, if Anandtech measured both units running the same Handbrake test, and noted that the 13" ran 3 degrees hotter and the fan louder, I'm inclined to believe them.
What doesn't make sense is under the same stress testing, _why_ would the 13" run any hotter than the 11" assuming the productivity output was identical? Meaning, the same video being rendered the same way using the same settings....and at the same speed?
What doesn't make sense is under the same stress testing, _why_ would the 13" run any hotter than the 11" assuming the productivity output was identical? Meaning, the same video being rendered the same way using the same settings....and at the same speed?
I would agree with you. I'm assuming that the 11" throttles and is therefore running slower making less heat while the 13" runs hotter than the 11" since it can dissipate heat better.
But running hotter than the 11" doesn't necessarily mean hot. I've been amazed that even though the fan was cranking the bottom was only a little warm. A MBP would have been too hot to touch (but would have been running faster).
the productivity output was NOT identical. In the handbrake test the 13" performed 35% faster... who knows what they were doing to stress for all their temperature readings, but the fact is.. .the 13" pushes faster and harder generates more heat and sound.. BUT under normal load generates no sound and next to no heat at all. Even when playing WoW my 13" does not get hot on my lap (but the fan is clearly on).
so what does a person want? a faster machine when you want a faster machine (albeit maybe a little louder) or...
most of the time my 13 " is dead quiet. I like having the horsepower when I want it.
Yeah, my 13" won't turn on the fans at all unless I'm running either Skype or Steam. In either case, the fan will start. With just Skype, its barely noticeable...just a soft purring.
But start up a Steam game and that fan starts revving up until its at full throttle once any game has been launched.
Like you, I'm running Fusion in Unity mode and I won't get the fan running at all in that mode. But launch a game and it'll start.
But start up a Steam game and that fan starts revving up until its at full throttle once any game has been launched.
Like you, I'm running Fusion in Unity mode and I won't get the fan running at all in that mode. But launch a game and it'll start.
This is effectively what I was trying to say earlier in the thread. I don't think 11" users are pushing their machines to do heavy lifting, whereas 13" users are likely putting more demand on the CPU/GPU simply because we CAN.
I guess I'd have to have one of each type sitting here and running identical tests to get the true picture.
I have the same MBA. I haven't noticed any increase in either internal temperatures or fan speed from backups with Time Machine to a Time Capsule. For that matter, my MBA has been as quiet as a stone so far.
That's interesting. Since I am just beginning to use my MBA and yes most of time it is very quite but when connect to a WD passport essential se for back up with time machine, I can hear the fan speed up very fast. The different from yours is you are time machine to time capsule. Will continue to look at that
This is to be expected. It's indexing the disk and then copying files to another disk as fast as it can. This will increase the load and temperature.
Yes, same here, and I got worried, but like I said, it is silent 95% of the time (even on subsequent time machine backups).
As for running handbrake tests, I didn't buy this thing to run handbrake on it. I have an overclocked triple core desktop for that.
Would like to update about the fan noise. I updated my WD passport (firmware and software) yesterday evening and installed an enhanced feature of WD for Mac as well. I did the backup again after back from work, I could feel the fan was running but no more noise was noticable. It was in fact yesterday when I first ran my MBA out of the box, I found the battery still had 80% remained so I had not connected to AC power but used the battery power to set up the new machine and ran the first back-up. The battery was only remained 5% after I did everything so probably that induced more stress to the MBA. I fully charged the MBA overnight and had some light work this morning with the machine and again used the battery power to run the 2nd back up now. The process was a lot faster (I had 6.5G to back up) and the fan noise was hardly heard.
Well, the new MBA is really a lovely machine. I will install Win 7 tonight to see how it goes. I will be another happy user and had no regret to get the ultimate version.