Noise on new G5´s

How do you run the hardware test? I don't recall seeing a hardware test CD.

The install DVD no.1 is labelled with: "To use APPLE Hardware Test, hold down the Option key as the computer starts up"
So just hold down "alt" and it will start the test from the DVD. 🙂

The fan on the 6600 must participate in the noise made by all the fans in the machine. But the whole noise is still a very low noise.
Especially if you consider that my Mac is in a very quiet environment (at home) where I can hear it very well...

ricky2000,
I see the red light for half a second when I turn off the computer or put it to sleep and again for about a second when I wake it. Seems like normal behaviour to me. I've also just noticed how beautiful the white pulsating sleep light is - Apple's attention to detail never ceases to amaze me... and I'm not getting paid to say any of this either, in case you wondered!

Antoine,
Have you allready heard the original G5 RevA's noise in such a quiet environment like your home ???
Without any application it's make some buzz or electric shaver like sound... You can never hear that noise in any shop or office ! That's why Apple told us the noise is ok for them but not for anyone at home work or playing music at low level... Apple don't Care Service are not usefull on this issue

Any Apple costumer hopes this trouble is corrected on the new Isight G5 !!!

If the video card has a fan, then you can definitely hear it. I just installed an X800 Radeon and the little fan is driving me crazy. I'm looking into a fanless cooler mod already or the card will take a hike.

Finally took the plunge on Saturday and purchased a dual core 2.0GHz to replace/supplement (not decided yet) my Mac Mini. However based upon the posts I have read in this format I am not impressed by the noise the system is making.

When you guys say 'it makes no noise' and 'i can hardly hear it' do you mean it really is almost silent? Mine is making a fair amount of noise, and when i look inside i see all visible fans (drive bay, logic board, and CPU fans) spinning merrily away.

Changing the processor performance to highest makes no difference.

At the moment it is sounding about the same as a 3 yr old pc. Is this normal? I have downloaded and paid for hardware monitor and am waiting for the license key to arrive so will be able to see the fan rpm then, but at the moment I am wondering if the noise levels I am experiencing are normal.

On a side note, when I run the hardware quick test, the fans really start to spin. Sounds like an aircraft ready to take off......

Hi Simon,

My G5 isn't completely silent under load. There's a clearly audible whirr. Then again, my bedroom is mostly silent. What you can do to try to lower noise is to ensure adequate ventilation in front of and behind the G5 tower.

The SMU that controls the fans in the G5 needs the OS to tell it that everything is peachy. If it doesn't get the signal, it ramps up all fans to maximum airflow as a safety precaution. That is why a G5 sounds like a turbine when the system crashes or Apple Hardware Test is running. Apple Hardware Test is designed to consume minimal resources. I guess Apple left out the the fan system control.

Hi Benny

Thanks for your reply. I would expect 'under load' that the system would make some noise, but even when it is turned on doing little it is making noise. For example if I am not using the system, and the only programs open are mail and safari and a couple of chat progs, it is whirring away, whilst cpu is only 1 or 2%. Can you hear yours when nothing else is running?

Hi Simon

I see in your signature that you have both a new dual core PowerMac and a Mac Mini. How would you compare those two machines in terms of noise? Have you stressed the mini for long periods of time so as to test how loud it can get?

Thanks for your answers!
Tomas

Isn't more relevant to compare noise on dual core G5's to previous single core G5's than to a mac mini ?

Hi Helge,

If you read the whole thread you will notice that I had already done that. I got a very informative answer from ricky2000 that I quote here:

"I also owned the late 2004 Single before I got the new Dualcore.
I didn´t compare them one on one, but if I I compare the DC to my memory of the Single, the DC isn´t louder at all, maybe even a bit quieter."

So, asking for a comparisson between a PowerMac 2.0 Dual Core and a Mac mini seems relevant as it will give me the complete picture.

Hi Tomas,

In response to your question, the dual core is very noisy in comparison with the Mac Mini. When the Mini is under 'heavy' load it makes about the same amount of noise as my dual core does when it is idling. Normally the Mini is completely silent though.

I checked my fan revs on the G5 using hardware monitor, and they are all running normally, so either the dual core is supposed to sound like this (and my hearing is sensitive) or somewhere something isn't right.

I guess I have to live with it until i find someone else close by who owns a dual core so i can compare noise levels.

Simon

Of course I have to admit that the DC isn´t literally "silent".
But the comparison with the Mac mini isn´t fair either.
The mini features Laptop technology, as it actually is an iBook with no display.

Additionally you can´t compare the speed/heat production... 🙂.
I don´t know, where you have placed the DC, mine ist under the desk, where I actually can hardly ever hear anything from it. If its on the desk, right in front of your face, then it might be clearly audible all the time, of course.
In relation to its speed and the noise of its predecessors, I would still consider the DC to be pretty quiet. 🙂

Edit: with the brandnew 10.4.3 update it seems that the idle temp has fallen to 38-40°C.

New 2.3 GHz dual core - added 2G RAM and another SATA HD - essentially no noise at all, even under load (FCP 5 or DVDSP 4). (The loudest thing on the machine is when the stupid DVD tray slides in and out.) Don't know what to tell you, except that perhaps my hearing is not as sensitive as yours (I seriously do have some high frequency hearing loss, but I don't think it's that bad...).

Good luck.