The suggestion was to use an app to get an IDEA of the ambient sound pressure level in a room, not to get an exact reading. Apps are more than accurate enough for that.
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Recent 27" iMacs are NOT silent
- Thread starter motrek
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The suggestion was to use an app to get an IDEA of the ambient sound pressure level in a room, not to get an exact reading. Apps are more than accurate enough for that.
| Sound Power Levels (Bels) | Sound pressure level from operator position (dB) | |
|---|---|---|
| iMac 2019 | 2.40 | 16.0 |
| iMac 2017 | 2.30 | 15.0 |
| iMac 2015 | 2.25 | 15.5 |
| iMac Pro | 2.10 | 13.0 |
| iMac 21.5" 2017 | 2.00 | 11.0 |
| iMac 27" 2020 | 2.30 | 13.0 |
| iMac 21.5" 2019 | 2.00 | 12.0 |
Thanks for compiling this list. This made me dig a little deeper and I added the 21.5" 2017, 2019 and 27" 2020 model to the list. I copied the data from Apple's website. Sources are at the end of this post. Guess you were wrong, the quietest is the 2017 21.5".
This data also corresponds to my personal experience. I've had them all. Sitting in front of the iMac at idle...:
21.5" 2017: no fan noise,
iMac Pro 2017: I can hear the fan running; it's bothersome to me,
iMac 27" 2017: even worse; unbearable to me. Same as the 2019 model,
iMac 27" 2020: haven't had the chance to test it yet
According to Apple's website, the 2020 model has gotten a bit quieter. If these numbers add up and t's really the same amount of noise than the iMac Pro, I would say that it can still be bothersome for people who are sensitive to noise working in a quiet environment. It's probably not an issue, if there is some background noise, like a heater, refrigerator or an analogue clock ticking. Children would also certainly do the trick ;-) That said, if there is some noise in the background, it will probably mask the iMac Pro/iMac 2020 and you should be fine.
Let me emphasize: All these iMacs run at the same idle fan speed of 1200 rpm, except the iMac Pro which runs at 1100 rpm. According to some people in this forum, older iMacs can be tweaked in a way that the fan runs at 950 rpm. I think that this would make the machine completely silent. I'm only talking idle here. Full load is a completely different story and I would assume the iMac Pro would be at an advantage in this case.
Yes, fans make noise. And yes, the more quiet your environment, the easier for you to pick up other types of noise. Try going into a soundproof chamber and I can guarantee you that you'll be able to hear your heart beating (which is kind of freaky).
But the 2017 21.5" model clearly shows that a silent iMac is possible even at a fan speed of 1200 rpm. So, what has changed? I'm purely guessing here, but I think it has something to do with how the air travels in the 27" models. Maybe there is some obstructions, different shapes of air duct which emphasize the noise from the air traveling through it. Either way, to me it's bad engineering and I wonder why Apple themselves have not questioned their own testing results as they all yield different results.
Sources:
iMac Pro (2017) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
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Sound Power Levels (Bels) Sound pressure level from operator position (dB) iMac 2019 2.40 16.0 iMac 2017 2.30 15.0 iMac 2015 2.25 15.5 iMac Pro 2.10 13.0 iMac 21.5" 2017 2.00 11.0 iMac 27" 2020 2.30 13.0
Thanks for compiling this list. This made me dig a little deeper and I added the 21.5" 2017 and 2020 model with the data copied from Apple's website. Guess you were wrong, the quietest is the 2017 21.5".
This data also reflects my personal experience. I've had them all:
21.5" 2017: No fan noise at idle (I can't hear it even with my ears 20 cm away from the outlet),
iMac Pro 2017: I can hear the fan running at idle even when sitting in front of the Mac, it's bothersome in a very quiet environment,
iMac 27" 2017: Even worse, unbearable at idle. Same as the 2019 model,
iMac 27" 2020: Haven't had the chance to test it yet
According to Apple's website, the 2020 model has gotten a bit quieter. If it's really the same noise than the iMac Pro, I would say (according to my own experience with the iMac Pro) that it can still be bothersome at idle for people who are sensitive to noise working in a quiet environment. It's probably not an issue, if there is some background noise, like a heater, refrigerator or an analogue clock. If there is some noise in the background, it will probably mask the iMac Pro/iMac 2020.
Let me emphasize: All these iMacs run at the same idle fan speed of 1200 rpm, except the iMac Pro which runs at 1100 rpm. According to some people in this forum, older iMacs can be tweaked in a way that the fan runs at 950 rpm. I think that this would make the machine completely silent. I'm only talking idle here. Full load is a completely different story and I would assume the iMac Pro would win in that case.
I really have to strongly disagree with some folks here. Yes, fans make noise. And yes, the more quiet your environment, the easier for you to pick of other types of noise. Try going into a soundproof chamber and I can guarantee you that you'll be able to hear your heart beating (which is kind of freaky).
But more effort could have been made to make these iMacs silent at idle. And the 21.5" model clearly shows, that it is possible even at a fan speed of 1200 rpm. So, what has changed? I'm purely guessing here, but I think it has something to do with how the air travels in the 27" models. Maybe there is some obstructions, different shapes of air duct which emphasize the noise from the air traveling through it. Either way, to me it's bad engineering and either an oversight or ignorance on Apple's part.
If you want complete silence while typing an email, don't get an iMac. Get a used iMac 21.5" 2017, a MacBook Pro 13", a Mac Mini (1.3/5dB, https://support.apple.com/kb/SP782?locale=en_US) or buy an analogue clock ticking in the background. Children also help ;-)
Sources:
iMac Pro (2017) - Technical Specifications - Apple Support
support.apple.com
I just returned my 2020 iMac as the fan noise is audible and annoying at 1200rpm. Same as the 2019 in my opinion. Despite being told in another thread I must have super hearing to pick up on it. I’m more surprised people don’t hear it.
I'll have to take your word for it. Not an issue for me at all.
Perhaps that my body is 32" away from the screen accounts for the fact that I just don't hear it (only reason I know is that I measured the distance for my eye exam last week).
My 2010 27" always varied between Noticeable and Good Grief! Before I removed the HDD, it was always noisy. Even then, it was way quieter than my G5.
On the rare occasions I fire up my G4, I'm reminded that I put up with noisy computers since my Mac+ and its noisy SCSI drive.
Yes. My eyes are that far from the screen. Long story but it's not practical to sit closer. Also, it lets me see all three monitors easily.
I have the eye doctor make fixed-focus lenses for computer use only. Since they serve no other use, have no coatings etc. they're quite inexpensive.
Wow! I can't believe I stumbled upon this thread. I just unboxed my 2020 27 inch iMac with in store top tier i7 and I could immediately noticed that the fan was louder and more "course" sounding somewhat like an old notebook hard disk very, very quietly reading data off its platter if I come to within 15 inches of the screen. My 2017 27 inch i5 BTO with SSD is quieter by a decent margin and sounded more "refined" WITHOUT the noise characteristic I mentioned above.
I have very sensitive hearing and my computers are placed side by side in the same room about 15 inches from the wall. I checked the fan noise by listening from the front, sides and back. The 2017 is definitely quieter than the 2020. I have no idea if the fans have changed or if the internals have changed to account for the noise difference.
I have 14 days to decide if I want to return or exchange it. I am somewhat relieved that I wasn't imagining the increase noise despite what Apple is publishing regarding their new 2020s being quieter.
Thanks for your input - stuff like this makes me really nervous to purchase the 2020 iMac as I'm quite sensitive to noise.
Hi All
I am quite sensitive to fan noise also and really am getting driven a bit mental by it. My partner thinks I am crazy and cant see the issue.
TBH I found the iMac Pro the best computer I have had in terms of fan noise and my current 2019 16” MBP is Killing me.
I also got a custom PC built recently and the fans are terrible when running normally, but I also run the gpu and CPU at 100% and the fans remain the same for some reason.... but that is actually a relief in comparison to the iMac Pro, imac and MBP which all sound like they are going to take off into space doing the same tasks [at half the speed.....].
The thing for me is I don’t run computers as the average person so really the PC I got built is probably the best I have had overall as it can go under the desk and doesn’t go crazy when pushed.
However for a daily driver I am going to have to get something else and am really looking forward to AS which I am hoping will have cooler temps and thus less fans.
We will have to wait and see.
Back on topic - I think peoples comments on sound always vary due to what their acceptability is and what they are actually doing. Light stress doesn’t really make the fans do much so that is when people state that ”the imac is whisper quiet”
I have fallen for this too many times now thinking all is improved when in fact on the first day I will have the fans going crazy. So no more of that ....
Laptops and AIO shouldn’t be stressed and they will sound ok.
For anything that is going to be stressed a Mac Pro or custom built desktop is the answer.
I am quite sensitive to fan noise also and really am getting driven a bit mental by it. My partner thinks I am crazy and cant see the issue.
TBH I found the iMac Pro the best computer I have had in terms of fan noise and my current 2019 16” MBP is Killing me.
I also got a custom PC built recently and the fans are terrible when running normally, but I also run the gpu and CPU at 100% and the fans remain the same for some reason.... but that is actually a relief in comparison to the iMac Pro, imac and MBP which all sound like they are going to take off into space doing the same tasks [at half the speed.....].
The thing for me is I don’t run computers as the average person so really the PC I got built is probably the best I have had overall as it can go under the desk and doesn’t go crazy when pushed.
However for a daily driver I am going to have to get something else and am really looking forward to AS which I am hoping will have cooler temps and thus less fans.
We will have to wait and see.
Back on topic - I think peoples comments on sound always vary due to what their acceptability is and what they are actually doing. Light stress doesn’t really make the fans do much so that is when people state that ”the imac is whisper quiet”
I have fallen for this too many times now thinking all is improved when in fact on the first day I will have the fans going crazy. So no more of that ....
Laptops and AIO shouldn’t be stressed and they will sound ok.
For anything that is going to be stressed a Mac Pro or custom built desktop is the answer.
So this is idle speed measurements. I know my 2019 is ridiculous compared to my 2013 under load but that 2013 only had an i5 with 780 graphics but neither cpu or gpu got hot like my 2019 v48 i9.
I look at it this way, if the AS iMacs are a bust price or support of titles I can still get a 2020 refurb in a year
I look at it this way, if the AS iMacs are a bust price or support of titles I can still get a 2020 refurb in a year
2020 iMacs don't have spinning hard drives anymore unless you specifically order the 21.5" with the optional Fusion Drive. Otherwise there are only two possible sources of noise originating from an iMac: a spinning fan and coil whine / electrical buzzing.
FYI, I really love this thread because it proves that I am neither crazy nor alone in my hunt to find a silent work environment. The 2017 27" with the fan slowed down to 950rpm and the internal HDD shutdown thanks to an external is a godsend
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Yes, we are all completely and 100% aware of the fact that your specific 2019 iMac 5K is the quietest computer on this planet, quite possibly even this galaxy or, who knows, maybe even the entire universe. A fact that you have stated repeatedly in this thread (without anyone asking I might add) since January 7, and for some reason feel the need to reiterate over and over (and over) again. Can you maybe go play somewhere else? Because no matter how often you will keep repeating this statement it doesn't make it any more true.
I expect ours to arrive in a few days. Although I don't expect it to be noisier than the old 2011 (I pulled its HDD about 6 years ago), there's always the possibility, I suppose.
If noise is noticeable, I will order up a set of these and place them on the wall behind the iMac. Less than $15.
Sound absorption panels
If noise is noticeable, I will order up a set of these and place them on the wall behind the iMac. Less than $15.
Sound absorption panels
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We all know it isn’t though
probably doesn’t do anything to push the system at all. Really if you want a silent machine the iMac isn’t the right choice.
A fanless laptop with Apple Silicon is very possible and this will become my daily computer ( if they do it in a 14” mbp)......just my dream! In the meantime the box tucked away under the desk is far better than having it in your face, as an AIO does.
have you used this method before and it’s worked to absorb sounds coming from the Backside of the computer?
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It works by minimizing or eliminating the reflection of those sounds off the wall behind the iMac.
The quieter the machine, the less difference you'll notice—likewise, the exact distance to the wall makes a difference as does the surface. That's the reason I won't order them till after the installation is in place. One set is 6 sq ft in 1 sq ft panels — more than enough.
We never felt she needed them for her 2011. Compared to the near silence of my iMac Pro, it is barely noticeable.
Got the shipping info from Apple yesterday — should be here within the week. Then the fun begins.
Can you clarify this apparent contradiction? you say iMac Pro is the best and then you say it sounds like a spaceship.....
Thank you for this thread, fellow fan noise haters! I work pro audio at very low volumes so I need a new silent iMac. My 2015 top-tier i7 was SILENT for for 2-3 years (except for brief bursts when rendering audio) but even though I had the fans cleaned twice recently, they come on more often under low and medium loads and get loud.
I am disappointed (but not surprised) that reports of the 2020's are not good. Reading this thread I see the 2017's are quiet and some say the iMac Pro's are quiet. I hate to think I need to pay $2000+ MORE to avoid fan noise, and I would love to hear people's opinions about which iMac Pro to look into (or to wait for an update this fall?) and IS IT REALLY SILENT? or do I need to find a new 2017 iMac?
I am disappointed (but not surprised) that reports of the 2020's are not good. Reading this thread I see the 2017's are quiet and some say the iMac Pro's are quiet. I hate to think I need to pay $2000+ MORE to avoid fan noise, and I would love to hear people's opinions about which iMac Pro to look into (or to wait for an update this fall?) and IS IT REALLY SILENT? or do I need to find a new 2017 iMac?