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New iMac: Since when can you hear the fan?

I also have this problem with clicking sound from the fan (I think it is the fan). I have i7, m395x, 2TB fusion.

I have tested a bit, and when computer is idle at desktop, I can't hear the fan, but if I launch a GPU intensive game, the clicking starts usually when I get to the game menu, after the game has loaded. Pretty fast in other words. But if I play the game for a while, the clicking disappears when the fan goes even faster. And then the clicking comes back when the computer is cooling down, and when it has cooled down, the clicking stops again. Definately have to return the computer.
 
AnTaR3s said:
Interesting... maybe they were stressed out and dropped a couple of them :p I would return it, especially after people here said that it should be dead silent...
Click to expand...

Maybe... Mine did sit at Dublin airport for a few days. :p
 
hroar said:
I also have this problem with clicking sound from the fan (I think it is the fan). I have i7, m395x, 2TB fusion.

I have tested a bit, and when computer is idle at desktop, I can't hear the fan, but if I launch a GPU intensive game, the clicking starts usually when I get to the game menu, after the game has loaded. Pretty fast in other words. But if I play the game for a while, the clicking disappears when the fan goes even faster. And then the clicking comes back when the computer is cooling down, and when it has cooled down, the clicking stops again. Definately have to return the computer.
Click to expand...

Mine only occurs when at idle. Maybe it is because the fan gets louder and drowns out the click but I only notice it when the computer isn't doing much.
 
SeanD1 said:
Maybe... Mine did sit at Dublin airport for a few days. :p
Click to expand...

Mine also came from Ireland, but part from the week I had to wait before it shipped, everything seemed ok up there. When did yours ship?

Ireland 10/22/2015 8:17 A.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS
Cork, Ireland 10/22/2015 7:45 P.M. Departure Scan
Dublin, Ireland 10/22/2015 10:30 P.M. Arrival Scan
Dublin, Ireland 10/23/2015 2:15 A.M. Departure Scan
Tamworth, United Kingdom 10/23/2015 5:26 P.M. Departure Scan
...
 
AnTaR3s said:
Mine also came from Ireland, but part from the week I had to wait before it shipped, everything seemed ok up there. When did yours ship?

Ireland 10/22/2015 8:17 A.M. Order Processed: Ready for UPS
Cork, Ireland 10/22/2015 7:45 P.M. Departure Scan
Dublin, Ireland 10/22/2015 10:30 P.M. Arrival Scan
Dublin, Ireland 10/23/2015 2:15 A.M. Departure Scan
Tamworth, United Kingdom 10/23/2015 5:26 P.M. Departure Scan
...
Click to expand...
Haha...On the same day as yours except mine didn't make it to Tamworth until the 26th. Bad batch of fans maybe? Or a dropped container?
 
I have the same "clicking-noise" as the thread opener. It sounds exactly like the audio file in the first post.

When cranking the fan up to 2400rpm, it runs "smoothly" and only the regular fan noise can be heard. Back to 1200rpm, however, the clicking is back (not very loud, though). It somehow sounds as if the fan is not perfectly running smooth at 1200rpm.

PS: My box had no visible drop-marks or anything. The iMac was although assembled in Ireland last week (shipped on the 22nd). Maybe they had a badge of malfunctioning fans?

MY specs:
4GHz i7 and 512SSD
 
Mr_Blonde said:
I have the same "clicking-noise" as the thread opener. It sounds exactly like the audio file in the first post.

When cranking the fan up to 2400rpm, it runs "smoothly" and only the regular fan noise can be heard. Back to 1200rpm, however, the clicking is back (not very loud, though). It somehow sounds as if the fan is not perfectly running smooth at 1200rpm.

PS: My box had no visible drop-marks or anything. The iMac was although assembled in Ireland last week (shipped on the 22nd). Maybe they had a badge of malfunctioning fans?

MY specs:
4GHz i7 and 512SSD
Click to expand...


Welcome to the club. SeanD1's and mine were also shipped on the 22nd. Something must have happened...
 
AnTaR3s: is yours a 27" as well? How is the replacement policy? They only will ship a new one once the old is returned or do they swap them right at the door (via UPS for example)?
 
Mr_Blonde said:
AnTaR3s: is yours a 27" as well? How is the replacement policy? They only will ship a new one once the old is returned or do they swap them right at the door (via UPS for example)?
Click to expand...

Yes mine is also a 27" and the replacement takes quite a while for me. It's really simple though: You can either call them or fill out this return form online (I called). Then you will get a call within 48h from their contractor (whoever this is) and as soon as the return package is scanned in, they will process a new shipment and send it out. The woman on the phone even said that I would get priority over new customers, but I somehow doubt that...

EDIT: So no swap at the door, but as soon as you hand over your damaged iMac, they will send the new one
 
AnTaR3s said:
Yes mine is also a 27" and the replacement takes quite a while for me. It's really simple though: You can either call them or fill out this return form online (I called). Then you will get a call within 48h from their contractor (whoever this is) and as soon as the return package is scanned in, they will process a new shipment and send it out. The woman on the phone even said that I would get priority over new customers, but I somehow doubt that...

EDIT: So no swap at the door, but as soon as you hand over your damaged iMac, they will send the new one
Click to expand...
Oh no. I was hoping I would be able to swap at the door. Don't really want to send mine back with all this hassle and wait for another. Thats such a tease. Might just get a refund.
 
SeanD1 said:
Oh no. I was hoping I would be able to swap at the door. Don't really want to send mine back with all this hassle and wait for another. Thats such a tease. Might just get a refund.
Click to expand...

Yes I know, but what can you do?! I guess for someone living closer to the distribution center it's much faster. I have to wait for about a week from shipment to delivery...
 
I got mine 2 days ago (i5, 395X, SSD only). I was a bit surprised that I could hear the fan spinning. I do live in a hose in a very small town, my house walls are really thick and awesome window isolation, also I get like 1 car per day driving by - so my room is dead quiet. I presume that it is because of the quiet area, but I too was a little surprised. I have 0 clicking noise as some of you have. Unsure if I should call Apple because of it... I honestly do not want to send mine back and wait for a few weeks for a new one only to realize that there is no issue for me here :/
 
Laai said:
I got mine 2 days ago (i5, 395X, SSD only). I was a bit surprised that I could hear the fan spinning. I do live in a hose in a very small town, my house walls are really thick and awesome window isolation, also I get like 1 car per day driving by - so my room is dead quiet. I presume that it is because of the quiet area, but I too was a little surprised. I have 0 clicking noise as some of you have. Unsure if I should call Apple because of it... I honestly do not want to send mine back and wait for a few weeks for a new one only to realize that there is no issue for me here :/
Click to expand...

Do you have a comparison with an older model? For my 2012 model I can't hear a thing even if I concentrate hard. I also have almost no background noise where I live since I do not face a street.
 
So, just received the call from the contractor. They are gonna pick it up this afternoon. :)
 
AnTaR3s said:
Do you have a comparison with an older model? For my 2012 model I can't hear a thing even if I concentrate hard. I also have almost no background noise where I live since I do not face a street.
Click to expand...
Sadly no. I do have rMBP 15", rMBP 13" and a MacMini, all of them are dead silent. But like said, my room is extremely silent...
 
Laai said:
Sadly no. I do have rMBP 15", rMBP 13" and a MacMini, all of them are dead silent. But like said, my room is extremely silent...
Click to expand...

My rMBP 15" is also silent in comparison, however the iMac is much more powerful with a desktop processor and higher end graphics. I wouldn't worry about the noise if its a consistent wind like noise. I think the new iMacs fans are always supposed to be on. Helps keep the components cool.
 
hroar said:
I also have this problem with clicking sound from the fan (I think it is the fan). I have i7, m395x, 2TB fusion.

I have tested a bit, and when computer is idle at desktop, I can't hear the fan, but if I launch a GPU intensive game, the clicking starts usually when I get to the game menu, after the game has loaded. Pretty fast in other words. But if I play the game for a while, the clicking disappears when the fan goes even faster. And then the clicking comes back when the computer is cooling down, and when it has cooled down, the clicking stops again. Definately have to return the computer.
Click to expand...
I have checked a bit more, and the fan does indeed stay at 1200RPM when I get the clicking sound. But what I did notice, is that when I lean the screen back the clicking disappears, and when I tilt it back to normak viewing angle, it starts clicking again.
 
hroar said:
I have checked a bit more, and the fan does indeed stay at 1200RPM when I get the clicking sound. But what I did notice, is that when I lean the screen back the clicking disappears, and when I tilt it back to normak viewing angle, it starts clicking again.
Click to expand...

That could hint at the bearing of the fan not being properly. This would also explain why the clicking goes away by shaking the iMac or at higher fan speeds. Rocking the iMac could tilt the axis of the fan and increasing fan speed could stabilize the axis.

Another possibility would be a cable which is not properly fixed and gets in the way of the fan. Question would remain, though, why is it not in the way of the fan at higher speeds. That's why I doubt it is something like this.
 
I've been using my new 27" i7/395/ssd iMac since Monday and I have only heard the fan when it spins up during heavy load. At normal load, I can't hear it at all - even when the room is otherwise completely quiet. I definitely would not accept a clicking fan sound though.
 
Got the same issue, 27"/2TB FD. I think it's they fan and not the HD. If it's the HD then it's a crappy HD. I don't mind it makes a bit of noise but this is unacceptable in my opinion. Apple will pick it up and will return it for a new one. Please keep us posted with your experiences.
 
I hear the fan noise all the time when its quite. The fan does not dip below 1200 RPMs for me. I honestly don't mind it at all. It just doesn't bother me. Its very quite.

richwoodrocket said:
Ive never heard a fan on any Mac I have used.
Click to expand...
But you use Macs in loud settings like school ;)
 
Last edited:
I was thinking.. does the GPU have its own small fan, or is there only one fan in the computer in total? I mean... my problem only occurs when the GPU get some load on its processor, but the RMP of the fan reported by istat menu does not change. Its around 1200rmp both when the clicking is there and when its not.
 
I was watching a 4k video on youtube and the fans got up to 2300rpm just after about 5 mins in the video, the noise was so loud so had to close the browser.
 
Back at home, I rocked my iMac a bit and turned on handbreak. After having almost 800% CPU load for a while and the fan being at full speed, the clicking noise is gone so far. I think, I will monitor this and see whether it comes back or not...

For the moment I am happy that the noise is gone as I do not want to return my shiny new iMac. :) Especially as I am completely happy with my screen (no light leak, etc.).

And in case it should come back, I have a one year warranty which should cover it.
 
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