Mac Pro Buzzing Power Supply (PSU)

A slight hum emanating from a power supply is normally nothing to worry about . . . if the noise is intense or if your experiencing power loses, fluctuating power or you detect a foul smell, then get it checked out.

Just wondering if you are sure that it is the PSU. Could the buzz come from one of the drive sleds? I would rule that out and make sure that it is the PSU. Take the sleds out and see if it is still buzzing. If the sleds have drives installed, the screws holding the drive in place might need to be slightly tightened (a loose drive will allow the sled to vibrate.) If there isn't a drive in the sled, the sled might be vibrating. Anyway, just a thought.

It would be a good idea to put the machine on a UPS. This will regulate the power flow to your machine. I know that power fluctuations can cause the PSU to do strange things. (And with a MP, I feel that a UPS is a MUST.)

If the power to your computer is steady and the drive sleds are not vibrating, I think it would be pertinent to call AppleCare.

Anyway, hope this helps.
D.

Hi Hatter, regarding your previous post, I have a question.

I purchased an APC Back-ups (Box says model 1300va/780 watts). The selector on the APC site recommended one smaller than this actually, but i wanted to play it safe with what I could afford. Just has the MP, and a 20 ACD with one external plugged in, and only 2 load lights out of 5 light up when I boot.

Seems fine so far, but I wonder if this is too small and could cause a problem with the computer hardware in the future?

No, mine doesn't sound like that, but if it did it wouldn't bother me . . . and herein lies the problem. Noise like beauty is in the eyes (or in this case the ears) of the beholder. I don't mean to imply that the noise isn't there or that you don't find it irritating, I'm only stating that some will and some won't.

D. Fraser wrote:
Just wondering if you are sure that it is the PSU. Could the buzz come from one of the drive sleds?

Just pulled 3 sleds out leaving only the boot drive. Noise still remains and definitely appears to be coming from the power supply. I might make an appointment and take it in.

A couple people had under-powered UPS that was too small.
A couple thought it was somewhat normal.

So if you have UPS, make sure it is 1000VA / 865W or above.

I get the same thing, its like a constant whir but I cant pin point it exactly, its driving me nuts

Same here! Really annoying buzz from the PSU of my new Mac Pro 2009 =(
Also my HD is like "chopping" sometimes. Making very strange sounds.

Message was edited by: drifter7508

I have the noise too.

This is not really what I would expect from such a high end system =(

You should hear how loud are very high end servers are. It's very hard to get great performance silently.

Seriously. Do your new Mac Pros sound like this? =(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie1ds9bcLgk

(bad quality but you can hear the buzzing + the strange ticking HD sound)