Noisy MB "normal" - Apple trying to spin me a line?

[carl201167]

We've had a MacBook since the summer and it'd been great. Two weeks ago, following a firmware update, it began whirring noisily during everyday use

We took it back to the store and they sent it off for checking up. I went to collect it yesterday as they said it was fixed - they'd replaced the fan. We booted it up in the store and it was still whirring/vibrating away. The guy then put an even more recent firmware update onto it and it still did the same thing. The more senior tech guy said "seems unusual - I'll send it back again"

Later on that afternoon, we got a voicemail saying there's nothing more they can do, and that this is within normal range for a MB. Also, we can't get a refund as it is more than two weeks old

I don't want a refund - I want a MB that works like it did. Are they really saying that it is acceptable for MBs to run this noisily/vibrating strongly? (Also, surely the "two weeks old" thing is unfair - it was fine for 5 months until this firmware update messed it up)

We have got to go to the store on Monday with our line straight. What do you think we should do? Insist on a replacement? Accept how it is? Offer to pay the difference and trade up to a MBP??

We're gutted about this - help much appreciated.

 

[Jiddick ExRex]

We have got to go to the store on Monday with our line straight. What do you think we should do? Insist on a replacement? Accept how it is? Offer to pay the difference and trade up to a MBP??

We're gutted about this - help much appreciated.

Don't accept it. If they don't know how to fix it, they should replace it. End of story.

 

[ghanakidd]

We've had a MacBook since the summer and it'd been great. Two weeks ago, following a firmware update, it began whirring noisily during everyday use

We took it back to the store and they sent it off for checking up. I went to collect it yesterday as they said it was fixed - they'd replaced the fan. We booted it up in the store and it was still whirring/vibrating away. The guy then put an even more recent firmware update onto it and it still did the same thing. The more senior tech guy said "seems unusual - I'll send it back again"

Later on that afternoon, we got a voicemail saying there's nothing more they can do, and that this is within normal range for a MB. Also, we can't get a refund as it is more than two weeks old

I don't want a refund - I want a MB that works like it did. Are they really saying that it is acceptable for MBs to run this noisily/vibrating strongly? (Also, surely the "two weeks old" thing is unfair - it was fine for 5 months until this firmware update messed it up)

We have got to go to the store on Monday with our line straight. What do you think we should do? Insist on a replacement? Accept how it is? Offer to pay the difference and trade up to a MBP??

We're gutted about this - help much appreciated.

This is tough. I own an MBP and it's SUPER QUIET. You'd never know the thing is on if you had your eyes closed. So, I can certainly vouch for the latest MBP's (bought mine about 1 month ago). As for your problem however with the Macbook, do you have Apple Care? My understanding is that's the key to a lot of support issues -- if Apple can't fix it, they usually have to replace it. I definitely wouldn't just leave it be if it wasn't making noise previously. Also, what about a full system reset -- I would think Apple techs would be able to restore the computer back to it's factory default settings before all the firmware updates. You'd of course need to back up everything on the HDD, and you'd have to reinstall all your current programs, but I think it would at least get you back to where you were 5 months ago. That's about all I can think of though -- I'm really speculating because I don't have a Macbook and haven't yet had any issues with my MBP. Good luck, though.

 

[mick4394]

There's no way I'd accept that answer. My Macbook runs very quietly. If it ever starts running loud, I'd consider that a sign that something is wrong.

If I were you, I'd listen to the Macbooks in the store. How loud are they? Take the Genius over there and tell him that's how you want yours to sound. If your Macbook already sounds like that, you're going to have to suck it up and realize that you're being too picky.

 

[carl201167]

If I were you, I'd listen to the Macbooks in the store. How loud are they? Take the Genius over there and tell him that's how you want yours to sound

Mick4394 - you're right, that's exactly what I'll do

I'm nervous though of this line they've repeated a couple of times "within normal limits". They could claim that some are quieter than others

 

[XP Defector]

MacBook CoreDuo here, unless I'm working it with some power hungry applications, you cannot hear it. You should download CoreDuoTemp and check what your CPU is doing when your MacBook is making noise. My MacBook sounds like it is taking off when I hit around 70C, then it will balance out around 50/60C and the fans will deactivate.

 

[Grakkle]

MacBook CoreDuo here, unless I'm working it with some power hungry applications, you cannot hear it. You should download CoreDuoTemp and check what your CPU is doing when your MacBook is making noise. My MacBook sounds like it is taking off when I hit around 70C, then it will balance out around 50/60C and the fans will deactivate.

Same with mine. I only really get the loud fans when I'm editing audio or photos - for safari, email, and less processor-intensive tasks it's totally silent.