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Noisy hard drive on new iMac 27"
- Thread starter Vidd
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This is pretty common issue. I would ask for a new one if you're within the return period or just replace the HD under warranty. Some HDs are noisier than others
I'd guess it is a Seagate drive like mine in the new 27" - mine makes a lot of noise but I'm learning to ignore it after 4/5 days of use as I know there is no problem with the drive itself. It is either that, return yours and hope you don't get any other problems or the same drive over and over which is possible.
So which imacs don't have a seagate, is that know yet?
I'm currently going to order the high end 21.5 inch model but it would be niceto know which ones don't have the noisy hd's. Thanks.
I'm currently going to order the high end 21.5 inch model but it would be niceto know which ones don't have the noisy hd's. Thanks.
Well I've phoned up to get it replaced. 
Thanks, guys.
EDIT: They said since it was in the 14 day period of the order, it could replaced rather than repaired.
Anyone familiar enough with UK law to know if that sticks with when the order was placed or would restart on arrival of the new unit?
Thanks, guys.
EDIT: They said since it was in the 14 day period of the order, it could replaced rather than repaired.
Anyone familiar enough with UK law to know if that sticks with when the order was placed or would restart on arrival of the new unit?
Well I've phoned up to get it replaced.
Thanks, guys.
EDIT: They said since it was in the 14 day period of the order, it could replaced rather than repaired.
Anyone familiar enough with UK law to know if that sticks with when the order was placed or would restart on arrival of the new unit?
When you received it
Noisy Drive
Got a 27" last week. No noise from Hard Drive but some pixels went out. They replaced it with a new slightly better model, but the thing has the same annoying Hard Drive sound you decribed. I understand the Western Digital HDD are quiet, is that true? And has anyone had success asking the apple store to replace the drive with a quiet one, such as the Western digital?
Got a 27" last week. No noise from Hard Drive but some pixels went out. They replaced it with a new slightly better model, but the thing has the same annoying Hard Drive sound you decribed. I understand the Western Digital HDD are quiet, is that true? And has anyone had success asking the apple store to replace the drive with a quiet one, such as the Western digital?
I just got my new 27" i7 on Friday. I'm loving it! I got it with a 1tb hard drive. It does make noise (like the typical hard drive noise? I don't know how to describe it). My friend who works at an Apple store 9 hours away said it is pretty normal to be able to hear the HD on the 27", something to do with the physical size of the drive itself and it's placement near the vent of the iMac. I do also have one dead or stuck pixel (is there a difference between dead or stuck?) It is not noticeable enough to send back the entire machine for, though, and risk getting a yellow screen or something like that. (Mine currently has ZERO yellow tint that I am aware of/can see).
How do I know if I have a Western Digital or Seagate drive? Under info in Disc Utility there is some info that starts with WDC when I click on my Mac HD. Am I right to assume that WDC stands for Western Digital Co. or something to that effect?
How do I know if I have a Western Digital or Seagate drive? Under info in Disc Utility there is some info that starts with WDC when I click on my Mac HD. Am I right to assume that WDC stands for Western Digital Co. or something to that effect?
Yes, WDC********** = Western Digital. Hopefully my incoming iMac27 also contains a WD disk.
Yes, the 21.5" mostly have the 1TB Seagate (in Europe from what i've read). When my replacement arrives, and it has the same problem/noise, i'll ask for a 2TB which is mostly quiet for the same price. It is however not possible to ask for a specific make (ie wd).
No Noise
I just received the 27" (upgraded to the i7) and I hear NOTHING. My last 27" iMac was the same - very quiet. Apple boasts this and the rep I know said you should not hear anything.
I'd consider returning if you can...
I just received the 27" (upgraded to the i7) and I hear NOTHING. My last 27" iMac was the same - very quiet. Apple boasts this and the rep I know said you should not hear anything.
I'd consider returning if you can...
Update on Noisy Drive
Talked with apple store techs, they said they hadn't had any complaints about HDD from others, but they would be glad to change the drive anytime during my 1 year warrenty. Problem - they only carry seagate in the 1TB drive size, so I am going to see how it goes with this one for a while.
Talked with apple store techs, they said they hadn't had any complaints about HDD from others, but they would be glad to change the drive anytime during my 1 year warrenty. Problem - they only carry seagate in the 1TB drive size, so I am going to see how it goes with this one for a while.
yea i returned mine. I went in and said this is a pain i want a new one. They first said i would have to wait 1.5 hours for a genius to speak with me, but after i brought up console and disk utility on a 27 lots of staff came up to me, the third guy that heard my story said OHH lets get you a new one right now! So they exchanged it with no questions asked never had to take it out of the box to show them it. It was real nice how willing they were to help as long as I was polite. Just be forceful but polite every experience i have had has been great!
By law they don't have a choice within a certain time frame - here in the UK you have 14 days return/replace with no quibble. I always say if you are not happy with something, return it asap until you get what you feel you paid for
I have 27" i5 quad core with a 1 TB WDC drive - no noise at all. I live in Eastern Canada but the machine was assembled and shipped from California. There are no screen whistles or yellowing either.
I don't know if this feedback reaffirms your suspicions but the more people you get comparing their component experiences, the more we'll know.
(New to Mac and love it by the way)
Another update
Returned the iMac with the noisy drive again. The second one they gave me had the same problem. Apparently all of the 2010 builds with the core i3 have the same HDD. The first one I got was a late 2009 build with the Core 2 Duo and they do not have this problem. I took back the iMac, can't live with the noise. Has anyone out there gotten a newer iMac i3 that does not have the problem and where did you get it? By the way, I tested every 27" iMac at our school and not one has the problem, they're the older 2009 build.
Returned the iMac with the noisy drive again. The second one they gave me had the same problem. Apparently all of the 2010 builds with the core i3 have the same HDD. The first one I got was a late 2009 build with the Core 2 Duo and they do not have this problem. I took back the iMac, can't live with the noise. Has anyone out there gotten a newer iMac i3 that does not have the problem and where did you get it? By the way, I tested every 27" iMac at our school and not one has the problem, they're the older 2009 build.
Externals are so cheap these days, if the price for the SSD doesn't bother you, get it. All apps open in 1-2 bounces, I tried opening the entire application folder and I was shocked when everything opened in 5 seconds.
i bought an i5 quad the day it updated a few weeks ago. I exchanged it last week once and now again the hard drive is making such a annoying noise. It seems to start whenever i try to partition my hard disk... not sure if that is what causes anyone elses problems.
I am going in for the third time tomorrow, and that would not bother me except walking with a 27 inch box through the mall of america is not fun at all... I am thinking I will aks for a free upgrade to the 2TB drive.
First question is do you people think that it is quieter? Both 1TB i got were seagates...
second I don't want to sound rude but how can I ask them to upgrade me or that just a stupid thing to ask? Its just such a pain to go back every week for the same dumb problem. And yes it is a problem because it is quiet until i partition it... then even if i reformat the whole drive it still makes noise... but up to that point it silent... Thats what pisses me off is that I know how quiet it can be but then it decides to start being noisy!!!
any opinions would be appreciated... thanks
I am going in for the third time tomorrow, and that would not bother me except walking with a 27 inch box through the mall of america is not fun at all... I am thinking I will aks for a free upgrade to the 2TB drive.
First question is do you people think that it is quieter? Both 1TB i got were seagates...
second I don't want to sound rude but how can I ask them to upgrade me or that just a stupid thing to ask? Its just such a pain to go back every week for the same dumb problem. And yes it is a problem because it is quiet until i partition it... then even if i reformat the whole drive it still makes noise... but up to that point it silent... Thats what pisses me off is that I know how quiet it can be but then it decides to start being noisy!!!
any opinions would be appreciated... thanks