Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apart from the 4870 fan noise it would be very quiet, maybe wrong to say whisper quiet but considering the amount of fans etc that Dragonforce pointed out it's a lot better than I expected.
The 4870 is the loudest part of the system I've managed to build. (Also a Sapphire, using ATI's reference design, but with increased memory).

It's not too bad, but it's certainly not "quiet" when loaded. :p
 
I have the same humming noise. It's a deep and low frequency hum. It get's annoying if everything else is quiet in the room.
I did try to isolate it but haven't been successful. It's not the hard drives as I've booted with all the drives out. Doesn't sound like the GT120 either. Could be one of the heatsink fans or the PSU.
Anyone else been able to isolate it yet?



Just got a 2009 Mac Pro. And I can't stand it. The Mac Pro makes this low pitched, oscillating humming noise. Not too loud...but definitely there. And because it's oscillating, I can't seem to ignore it. Ugh!

I opened up the case and checked the location of the noise. Not from the hard drive. But seems to be coming from the bottom of the case. It looks like it might be from the CPU heat sink/fans. Is this possible? Should I return the machine? Nothing I've done seems to reduce the noise (pressing against the case, checking screws around the hard drive, cushioning the hard drive, etc).

Help!
 
Its most likely the GT120, just stop the fan for a second or two by putting your finger on it. However, in my case the fan called "BOOSTA" inside the Xeons heatsink makes an oscillating noise that is going on my nerves... AASP said thats normal and I'm just too sensitive :rolleyes:
 
I just bought a refurb Mac pro 2.8. I get the "humming" sound also....humm...humm...humm. VERY annoying. :mad:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/463342/
According to that thread it's the extra hard drives. Sure enough I took out my 2nd drive and no noise. But it's really stupid to buy a machine like this but you can't install extra drives in without this problem. I'll be calling Apple soon and see what they say.
 
Try opening the side panel and see if that brings any changes. Humming usually comes from HDD resonance. I played around a lot with my HDD Bays to minimize the sound.
 
Try opening the side panel and see if that brings any changes. Humming usually comes from HDD resonance. I played around a lot with my HDD Bays to minimize the sound.

You mean open it while the machine is on? Is that safe?

I want to eliminate the sound, not minimize it.
 
I shall reiterate that the hum will be down to either:

HD resonance, for which you should seek new ways of dampening it (although it is only cosmetic in this case)

or (as i have had)

a faulty PSU. I had three of these last year, and they were all confirmed faults by apple technical support. Was eventually fixed by machine replacement alongside considerable gestures of good will to make up for lost time etc

If its oscilating, and you have ruled out it being the hard drive, (and moreover if the noise can be heard most prominently from the top, rear of the machine) then call applecare :)
 
HD resonance, for which you should seek new ways of dampening it (although it is only cosmetic in this case)

I don't think I should have to resort to anything like that. I can feel the vibration in the exact spot where the 2nd HDD is located.

I'll be calling Apple after sales support on monday and see what they say. At the moment i'm inclined to send it back for a refund or swap it over for an imac.
 
So far seems like the 2009 mac pros have problems with bad PSU or fans with buzzing noises. I think I'll wait a few more months for everything to be ironed out first.
 
my ear drum hurts. The buzzing is killing me. Although i do have sensitive hearing. I hear subwoofers when they are just plugged and my screen :).

This is the worst sound i've heard so far. My brother and my flatmate also hear this sound though. Too much buzzzzzz.

Anyone sent a complaint to apple?

thanks
 
I called apple this morning to organise a return and refund. They agreed so i'm happy.

But I've lost faith in tower macs. My G5 cost me $3.5K AUD and lasted less than 4 years. I can't get anyone to properly diagnose the problem with it. And now this mac pro.... it's simply not good enough.
 
I called apple this morning to organise a return and refund. They agreed so i'm happy.

But I've lost faith in tower macs. My G5 cost me $3.5K AUD and lasted less than 4 years. I can't get anyone to properly diagnose the problem with it. And now this mac pro.... it's simply not good enough.

Glad to see that you got a refund, as i said this is a problem that apple will replace a machine for if you call them.

I myself have been increasingly disappointed with apple's recent quality control, just doesn't seem up to the standards that it used to be. I suppose with market comfort comes a relaxing of standards:(
 
4870 fan noise

UPDATE
Just taken the cover off and it's the 4870 fan making the noise, should I try and get a replacement or just put up with it, anyone else have a noisy 4870 fan?

I am also very sensitive to noise and a little disappointed by the noise coming from my new MacPro Octad 2.66. So I opened it and removed parts to identify what noises originate from what parts. Removed the hard disks, the PCI-Fan (easily removable by 2 screws), and the entire graphics card (4870).

My findings: The most annoying sound is coming from the 4870. It is not loud, but the "brrrrrrr" sound is somewhat annoying. I think I am going to try one of the alternative coolers for the 4870. However, it is not that easy because there seem to be heat problems with the voltage regulators once the original cooler is removed. But I will investigate further.
 
I wanted to chime in as well. I had a 2008 2.8 Dual Mac Pro and it was super quiet. Got a 2009 2.26 Dual Mac Pro and immediately noticed this oscillating humming noise. I'm heading back to the Apple store tomorrow for an exchange....

Tuncer
 
My brand new MacPro also got this annoying humming noise.
It sounds like the EMP bomb in 24. Ok, a smaller version of it. :D

The MacPro is such a great machine but this damn noise makes me regret the purchase.
 
I got an exchange today, after 11 days of "considering" oftaking it back I finally did it. The new MP makes exactly the same noise (old one was serial CK9090xxxxxx, new one as well)
 
It has nothing to do with the Nehalem processor. It has to do with the fact that Apple used a cheap motherboard that had low-grade components in it. The sound usually originates from the mosfets around the CPU socket.

With low-grade components, when they go into an energy-saving state, they resonate which causes a high-pitched electronic frequency noise. Apple is at fault here.
 
It has nothing to do with the Nehalem processor. It has to do with the fact that Apple used a cheap motherboard that had low-grade components in it. The sound usually originates from the mosfets around the CPU socket.

With low-grade components, when they go into an energy-saving state, they resonate which causes a high-pitched electronic frequency noise. Apple is at fault here.
What are they using?
 
Anybody experiencing the humming sound: Is it still there when you start the computer with the graphics card removed?

(MacPros will start without the graphics card, no danger or problem involved. But no picture of course :) )
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.