Possible coil whine in my nMP

[Riwam]

Tinnitus or imagination? Not really...

Oh certainly! I've been having no issues at all. In fact even when rendering in FCPX, or running 3D benchmarks I don't yea hear the system. All I hear the light hum of my external HDD's.

In the end he might end up hearing it, even if it's not there. Could be tinnitus for some as well.

..............
Of course everyone could be in such an altered state of mind bringing him or her to see, hear or feel non existent matters.

However if one reads all the posts in this forum related in one way or another to those non expected noises coming from a supposed very quiet computer, there is too much evidence coming from users of different countries and places (some of them too young to suffer from tinnitus) as well as from Apple's own certified technicians in Apple repair shops and Apple stores, who must acknowledge that they hear as well those noises.
Those Apple technicians were not able to suggest any other measure than to replace the noisy computer by another one, in spite of the present long waiting time, a measure that actually took place in many of those cases as one can read.
Strangely it only affects some of those computers while others are truly silent!

I certainly believe in the power of imagination but in this case there are too many facts and people involved to explain it in such a simple way, unfortunately.

 

[dkmooers]

It also sounds way different than tinnitus.

 

[N19h7m4r3]

It also sounds way different than tinnitus.

Well I wouldn't know since don't suffer from it. I can only state I have absolutely no noise issues with my system.

 

[dkmooers]

That's great! Seems like lots of folks report totally silent nMPs, which leads me to believe:

1) A lot of them actually are totally silent
2) Some folks probably have a high ambient noise floor in their rooms, masking the whining sound

In my case, just sticking the thing on the floor behind my desk really was a complete solution. Makes it a little more difficult to access the computer but I never need to anyway!

 

[kfscoll]

...........................
Dear tylmad

Since I should in the next days receive my ordered nMP...and I confess I am very afraid in advance of the "noise" problem, may I know where you are to know the local Apple branch which helped you so much replacing twice your noisy computer until you received a quiet one?

Thank you very much in advance!

Of all things to be worried about this should be pretty low on your list. Wait to see whether your computer actually has a problem (this or any other) before you stress out over it.

 

[Riwam]

,Thank you very much!

Of all things to be worried about this should be pretty low on your list. Wait to see whether your computer actually has a problem (this or any other) before you stress out over it.

..........
Thank you for your kind words.
May I know nevertheless where you are in order to know which Apple local branch helped you?


(Just to make it clear I DO NOT work for the NSA or similar spying institution and do not ask you for such a reason ;-)) only for information)

 

[maplingstorie]

I'm having this issue too. Only when I run graphical intensive apps/benchmarks. I hope you guys here don't mind lending some help in clarifying that weird coiling sound.
Step 1 : http://www.geeks3d.com/20140304/gpu...w-fp64-opengl-4-test-and-online-gpu-database/
Step 2 : run the benchmark at >FHD resolution. Listen for the weird sound.

P.S I noticed one thing though, when I'm running the benchmark/stress test, if you minimise the application or switch it to the background, the weird sound disappears. Awkward. I think the problem lies within the graphics cards.

 

[Riwam]

I made the test

I'm having this issue too. Only when I run graphical intensive apps/benchmarks. I hope you guys here don't mind lending some help in clarifying that weird coiling sound.
Step 1 : http://www.geeks3d.com/20140304/gpu...w-fp64-opengl-4-test-and-online-gpu-database/
Step 2 : run the benchmark at >FHD resolution. Listen for the weird sound.

P.S I noticed one thing though, when I'm running the benchmark/stress test, if you minimise the application or switch it to the background, the weird sound disappears. Awkward. I think the problem lies within the graphics cards.

............................
I made all the tests with my nMP but could hear nothing.
However take into consideration
1) I am 69 y.o. and my highest frequency still audible to me is about 10 kHz, so if the noise is very, very high (!) I would not hear it.
2) I have the D500 and not the D700 that you have.

 

[dkmooers]

Hmm - the whining sound on mine is constant, whether I'm doing GPU benchmarks or just browsing the web. Doesn't seem to change at all under heavy GPU loads.

 

[golf1410]

So the problem is gone? Is it fixed?

 

[reyh]

I have this sound as well on first couple of days but it disappeared..Everytime I copied from network to hard drive, more like a very high pitch noise..I thought it was the ssd hard drive..but I cannot reproduce that anymore...Maybe this needs a break-in of some sort hahaha

 

[beefcoder]

Noooo...fan noise appeared

It is so annoying. I can suddenly hear my mac pro's fan.

My machine (6-core/ 32 GB /D500s /256 GB) has developed a ringing fan noise when not being under heavy load.

I.e. when I am browsing the internet, checking mails and not pushing the machine to the limit, I can clearly hear a metallic (static ??) sound like "ch...ch....ch....ch....ch...." coming out of the computer's exhaust.
It is probably a "metallic flutter". Don't know - but it is not the coil whine.

I assume it is something like an electric impulse given to the fan's motor.

It is not depending on the temperature but it changes with the speed of the fan. (Besides, I guess the noise not to disappear completely but being drowned by the air flush).

So.. I am sitting at my desk in a silent room listening to that damned fan noise.

High-end mac with a high-end fan noise. Great.

 

[dkmooers]

Ah dang! I feel your pain! Sitting in a well-treated recording studio with an $8k mac, figured it'd actually be silent as claimed, but no dice...

 

[Riwam]

It is so annoying.

I assume it is something like an electric impulse given to the fan's motor.

I am not sure if that can happen at all but...is it possible that something entered inside your computer and disturbs the movement of the fan, a very small piece of paper or debris of some kind in your desk for instance, sucked from behind and remained in the fan? Did you open the case to see if you find anything?

 

[reyh]

It is so annoying. I can suddenly hear my mac pro's fan.

My machine (6-core/ 32 GB /D500s /256 GB) has developed a ringing fan noise when not being under heavy load.

.

I dont have this issue, try to clean maybe...FAN is smooth from low to high using iStat

 

[memory-minus]

So the problem is gone? Is it fixed?

I'd be interested to know this as well. I ordered mine Saturday morning.

 

[Riwam]

I'd be interested to know this as well. I ordered mine Saturday morning.

Difficult to know any statistics of users about any noise problems. Only Apple could have data on that.
I can only say I worried a lot in advance because of some people complaining, but after 3 months of receiving my computer it is as quiet as the first day.

What other people mention is also true in my case.
I can only know if it is on or off either by looking at the small light behind, or by feeling the warm air on top of it with my hand. (Warm, but never hot air).
I hope it remains so.

 

[beefcoder]

I am not sure if that can happen at all but...is it possible that something entered inside your computer and disturbs the movement of the fan, a very small piece of paper or debris of some kind in your desk for instance, sucked from behind and remained in the fan? Did you open the case to see if you find anything?

Today I checked out if something had entered the exhaust but I did not find anything suspicious. Maybe a little dust inside but nothing to worry about.

Earlier I gave my local aasp a call and told him: to cut a long story short, I made an appointment on friday. They are going to examine my machine and find out if this "noise is whitin specifications". Hahaha. Very funny.

Hopefully this is not going to develop towards the iphone display roulette.

But I think I am going to let this fan replaced no matter if I will have to pay for it.

I hear that metallic noise and it is super annoying.

I'll keep you informed.

 

[SeattleMoose]

No Noise Here Either

I got my entry level 4 core nMP (only customization was the 500G SSD). I use it for recording (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, etc.) in June. One of the reasons I bought it is that my old computer (MBP) contributed high frequency noise to the recordings (unless sound-buffered). With the nMP my recordings (even with Mic gain set very high)...have ZERO computer noise. Furthermore, when I lean over the machine when running dozens of tracks choked with plug-ins and such, there is still no noise. The only sign that the "load" has increased is the air coming out the top is warmer.

I'm either lucky...or deaf.

 

[menano]

My 6-core base model also makes a very specific noise (whine) when I push the GPUs. I first noticed it playing Mafia II, it also happens on other games and video benchmarks such as Heaven. If I am playing I can hear the noise but as soon as I cmd-tab change the app it instantly goes away.

 

[brentsg]

My 6-core base model also makes a very specific noise (whine) when I push the GPUs. I first noticed it playing Mafia II, it also happens on other games and video benchmarks such as Heaven. If I am playing I can hear the noise but as soon as I cmd-tab change the app it instantly goes away.

I haven't investigated how the GPUs are mounted in the nMP, but coil whine is very prevalent in the current high end videocards as well.

 

[beefcoder]

Today I handed in my Mac Pro to my local aasp.

It was a bit embarrassing because there were several people in the store and as I dragged my Mac Pro out of my backpack D) an explained the fan noise it was dead silent folks listening to my story and admiring that beautiful cylinder.

Then the guy made some tests (some kind of a "network apple hardware test plus") and listened to the fan noise: well they heared it!!! Bearing failure.

Next week they replace the fan.

Puuuuh..

 

[dkmooers]

Today I handed in my Mac Pro to my local aasp.

It was a bit embarrassing because there were several people in the store and as I dragged my Mac Pro out of my backpack D) an explained the fan noise it was dead silent folks listening to my story and admiring that beautiful cylinder.

Then the guy made some tests (some kind of a "network apple hardware test plus") and listened to the fan noise: well they heared it!!! Bearing failure.

Next week they replace the fan.

Puuuuh..

Can you describe what the noise sounds like on your nMP? Is it constant, or only under heavy GPU load? If it's as simple as a bearing problem on the fan, I'll take mine in tomorrow!

 

[DPUser]

Ah dang! I feel your pain! Sitting in a well-treated recording studio with an $8k mac, figured it'd actually be silent as claimed, but no dice...

Machine Room/Closet is The Answer. Unless you are all-SSD (including backups) you need a place for those noisy spinners anyway.

 

[beefcoder]

Can you describe what the noise sounds like on your nMP? Is it constant, or only under heavy GPU load? If it's as simple as a bearing problem on the fan, I'll take mine in tomorrow!

The noise was a slight metallic "ch...ch...ch...ch...ch.." which was best hearable when the fan rotated at 790 rpm. When the fan's speed went up it was obviously overlaid by the airflow.

In a complete silent room with the default rpm it was really annoying.

It had nothing to do with the cpu or gpu load but probably with the temps because the fan is placed in the hot exhaust air. In my opinion it was not coil whine.