iMac 27" - how noisy?

I did mean : when I use it in the night; if the hd don't work it's silent!

the iMac 20" that I have had before this one was totally silent!

You really need an answer from someone using one in a type of set-up similar to what you proposed, otherwise the info wouldn't seem particularly useful, at least to me. Seems as if you'd be introducing potential points of conflict, a source of heat. But at least with the display asleep, heat will be reduced.

Not sure it would really ever "roar." The aluminum iMacs are setup to disperse heat via heat sink concept. If unable to disperse properly and quickly, then the fans come into play. Might depend upon your ambient temps, location, air flow in room, etc, etc.

I'd think the cooler running i7 would best handle it.

....+external display for my MB Pro 13"+.
+I would have it switched on constantly (with the screen set to sleep)+....

I was wondering how well it will function as an external display if the display is set to sleep?

myhighway wrote:
I'd think the cooler running i7 would best handle it.

are you saying that the i7 is running cooler than the C2D ? really, is that so ?

actually mine is noisy. It's not a constant buzzing, its like something reading constantly or loose. weird.

Just kidding with you:)) Ok, got it, only using it sometimes with the MBP, not all the time. Interesting use of the equipment to get everything you need without overbuilding. Mac mini lacks the power you want, Mac Pro has gotten to be $$$$ and the less expensive refurbs are now old tech, plus an extra display wouldn't get enough use, yet you do want the latest big display for occasional use.

In my mind, I can see it working all right. Would be nice to know in advance, but then you're probably thinking you can't get hurt much, if at all, if you have to resell a 27-inch.

That's how I'm thinking now, too. I was thinking the 27-inch is too big, heck I don't even use all the 24-inch iMac display now, but if I can't make a 27-inch work for me, should be easy to resell anytime during the next 3 years for not too much less.

Time for a visit to some Apple Stores:D

+the i7 is running cooler than the C2D ? really, is that so ?+

Don't know the "facts" of this, just assuming the lower powered (maxed-out) processor (2.8 vs 3.33) will generate less heat, since Apple has been steadily trying to lower the heat output of the iMac, at least for ordinary users ($2200 vs $1900) so that they're comfortable with multiple simultaneous uses. I imagine a power user needing hyperthreading will be able to get the temp up to the same range, but that should be much tougher for the ordinary household to do.

More cores = lower temps.

Message was edited by: myhighway

My imac G5 HD is actually more quiet than this new 27 inch core i7 HD. Of course, there was more fan noise on the G5 that drowned out the HD a bit, but still..

When I'm browsing I hear the HD alot, even as I am typing this message. It's also louder than my external HD.

It's the seagate model, for those of you who have the same issue, what is your model HD? Did anyone call apple yet about this, and what did they say?

Thanks.

If this can be of any help, my first 27inch Imac had a Seagate drive and was very noisy (I could hear any disk access very loudly).

I had to replace it for a different reason (broken screen) and the replacement came with a Hitachi drive which is almost silent.

also my 27" has a noisy Seagate! as I have told on another forum, it is a shame that a so beautiful machine has a so noisy HD!

anfat wrote:
also my 27" has a noisy Seagate! as I have told on another forum, it is a shame that a so beautiful machine has a so noisy HD!

is there any way to find out what imac 27'' has which drive (seagate vs. hitachi) inside before purchase ? are the 1 TB from one and the 2 TB models from the other manufacture or what is it random ? i don't understand.

About the sound level of a quality laptop. Much quieter then my Toshiba laptop, but similar to my little Atom netbook or my nearly silent IBM laptop.

The only operational sound I've heard so far is the HD, which I didn't notice until late at night after I'd turned off my laptop and there wasn't any other noise in my place or outside. Even then it took me a while to realize it was coming from the system, both because it was so tiny and because it seems to emanate from the back of the system and was reflecting off a wall.

When the lcd is off, I'd have a hard time telling if the system was powered or not unless I put my head close and listened quietly.

So dparis, are you saying that apple is using multiple model hds in the same imacs? Hitachi and seagate? Why are they doing this? Is this normal?