iMAC G5 making noise

Question

iMAC G5 making noise

Hi MacUsers !!!
I'm a recent switcher from Wintel to MACs (and new in this forum)

Just one month ago I've got iMac G5 17", 2Ghz., 512RAM, 160HD
Sometimes It makes incremental noise like a humming (like a fridge, or little remote control airplane) overall when is working more than one hour, I know very well PCs fans sound and I think this is uncommon.
I asked to apples authorized technical check this problem, and after spent FIVE days with PC, they told me they didnt hear the noise !!!!!

Is this a normal situation for this models ? (I'd think it doesnt because noise is drilling my brain)

Is there something that I can do, check or fix by myself?

How can I record noise to send it tech guys ?

Thanks in advance !!!

Posted on Oct 15, 2005 4:02 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 15, 2005 4:12 PM in response to reporteminoritario

Sounds like your fans.
What are you doing when this occurs(how many apps open, what apps, etc.)?

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Answer 2

Oct 15, 2005 4:23 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

Usually Im using iTunes or HDMovie, but Ive seen that occurs when Safari is loading a very heavy pages too.
My concern is that this happened only after one hour of work, but nowadays is it happens just to 10 after turn it on.

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Answer 3

Oct 16, 2005 1:10 PM in response to reporteminoritario

I agree - mine gets ridiculously loud too! I'm used to loud machines (owning some Wintel boxes and a G4/350 before)... of course this is all subjective... I know my Mac shouldn't be "whisper-quiet", but after paying a premium for the thing, why does it sound like it's going to explode?

I took my iMac G5 (17" 1.8 GHz Rev A) to my local Apple Store twice and (after having the thing for 5 days) they said that the sounds coming from it are "within spec" - what in the world are they smoking?

After I get the G5 back I'll be calling Apple Support to see if I can fare better and maybe get a (component or machine) replacement.

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Answer 4

Oct 17, 2005 6:30 AM in response to reporteminoritario

hey reporteminoritario,

I have an imac G5, first generation and the fan noise is exactly as you described. i sent it in twice and the apple store said they "could not recreate the problem" i asked if i could sit with the technical person and "recreate" the problem for him but they said they don't do this type of service.

in all honesty, i am very disappointed with apple since i got my imac G5

another problem was my dvd drive (that was supposed to burn dvds), it could not burn dvds. i sent it in for repair and to my horror, I found out that they installed a drive that could only burn CDs instead. I had to send it again.

if not for the fact i need my imac for daily work, i would have banged on the doors of apple to repair the fans. i've read that some people have had some positive results after numerous replacements.

apple is turning into a corporation that does not care about quality control or service.

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Answer 5

Oct 17, 2005 11:32 AM in response to Joshua Lim

Joshua,
wow !!!!, mine it had same problem with DVDs drive, fortunately they fixed problem at first try,

It seems to me that it is a common and HUGE quality control error from Apple.

Is there way to record this kind of fan noise ?

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Answer 6

Oct 17, 2005 11:45 AM in response to reporteminoritario

It is likely the CPU fan at the lower left:

http://scienceman.com/pgs/00_imacG5.html

This thread contains some downloadable sounds of the iMac:

http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@@.68ba898a

Have fun,

Jurgen

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Answer 7

GreenT

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2005 4:57 PM in response to Jürgen Kraus

I purchased my G5 in August and have always had this noise. I tought it was normal! My son purchased one in November and his is totally silent. He feels there is something wrong with mine. The closest Apple Store is 1 1/2 hours away.

Are there any updates to this problem?

GreenT

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Answer 8

Jephro

Level 1

15 points

Dec 29, 2005 7:25 PM in response to reporteminoritario

About this check my (awful) experience on www.jephro.com

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