27" iMac hard drive noise

Seems like it Larry. This machine is also buzzing when I dim the brightness, so it's going back. Not sure if I'll try another exchange, or just get my money back. Apple seem to think it's an acceptable noise, which means it's not the computer for me. And the lack of options means the only other choice for silence is the bottom of the range iMac, which lacks the graphics capabilities, which defeats the purpose of owning one.

I might try one more exchange, but if it's the same (I'm sure it will be) I'm ditching Apple. Shame, as I really need one for my university course. I'm at a loss really.

I haven't decided what I'm going to do yet. We have a Dell PC in the house (about 4 years old) that has a hard drive that's a good bit noisier than the Apple, but the PC that I was replacing had drives that were quieter (although in fairness, the fans were a lot louder, so the hard drive noise may have been masked). I just expected that the Mac would be quieter based upon what I had been told from the folks at the Apple store (and I did ask because I do some audio recording).

Best of luck with your decision.

I am getting more and more frustrated with this too – as mentioned before I have the 21” with the same hard drive problems. Already replaced one machine – now this one after three weeks has started with the same noises. It was perfectly quiet up until now. If I take it back again for a replacement I guess that I am going to get the same hard drive and same problem. Is this only with the 1TB does anyone know? If I downgraded to a 500GB I wonder what would happen? Also, mine isn't the very latest model - mine is the 2009 one which although 'brand' new was slightly reduced in price. Does the very latest model have the same problems?

UNBELIEVABLE - or is it? Just been and replaced my iMac 21.5" that had a seagate drive - this now is my third iMac and this time I have the Hitachi HDE721010SLA330. The other 2 were quiet for at least a week maybe 10 days, this one is noisy from that start! So miserable 😟 - what is the answer - what are Apple doing about this? Someone must know whats going on??I can't believe such a bizarre hard drive noise can expel from these beautiful machines - why did I buy a Mac??

To be blunt, live with it, there is nothing wrong with the drives, you cant hear them in a normal PC as you have generally have much larger fans running, also its on the floor out of the way, be happy with your iMac or go back to Windows. Mine makes the grumbling sound, but I just live with it and now I hardly notice it at all. Mechanical drives make some noise that's the way they are, failing that get a pc with a SSD instead.

killhippie - thank you for your bluntness! I do understand to a certain extent what you are saying - but what I am saying is that I don't see why I should put up with a grumbling, irritable, noisy and angry sounding HDD when there are others who have the same machine that is so perfectly quiet that they are totally unaware of the HDD at all.... we have all paid good money for a piece of kit that should be flawless... so why do you think that we should put up with it - Apple should be doing more about this. Its like buying a diamond with a crack in it.. not perfect by any means! When I am alone in the room without any background noise I get very very interrupted by the sound of a hungry tummy inside my Mac... its totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned - but I have no option now other than returning yet again (this one is noisier than the seagate - and making a tick tick sound too) or getting a refund and returning to PC 😟 Apple have got us - if you want a Mac then you have to have a noisy one - right? Not acceptable 😟 - but having to get on and live with it - maybe we'll have too if you want a Mac

Howdy, read my post on page 18. You can make a boot disk and start your mac on it into BartPE. Before you do this save the AAM application onto a memory stick ... fat16, 32 or ntfs formatted. After booting your mac into BartPE plug your stick in and double click the file ...

It would help to check the firmware as you suggest, but I also have a Hitachi drive, (mine is Hitachi HDS722020ALA330 - the 2 TB model) and it also makes a grumbling sound when accessing. I used BartPE and it turns out the drive was already set on "quiet." I'm not sure whether it is true with all of the Hitachi drives, but it may already be set to quiet at the factory.

I am beginning to think that all of the drives are about the same (excepting those that have actual defects), but people have their computers in different environments and have different tolerances. When I first started reading about this "problem" people were saying to upgrade to the 2TB drives because the Hitachi drives were reported to be silent. I don't know how else you account for the different reports on the same drive model numbers. It doesn't make much sense.

I am in a similar situation -- trying to decide whether to return the computer or keep it. I had thought about requesting a replacement, but I think the odds are well in favor of receiving another computer that will be no different. I agree that the solution seems to be (1) live with it; (2) get a computer with an SSD; or (3) return it and buy a PC -- but even on Dell's website they indicate that they use different manufacturer's drives that have different "acoustical properties" and they provide instruction on how to adjust this through the bios.

At the moment, I am leaning toward living with it. My external hard drive makes more noise than the internal and I usually have some music going in the background anyway, but I agree that for the money you would expect better. I think it would have bothered me less had I not asked the Apple store people about noise (because I record audio with my computer) and they assured me that Macs are virtually silent. I have a few more days to decide ...

StressedMum, I wish you luck in deciding how to proceed.

Hi Larry - sorry can't check it now - it's gone back! It is good to hear that someone else feels as I do. (not good to hear you have the same issues) I was beginning to think that I had gone totally mad! My update is that I took the Hitachi back – it actually made more noise and a ticking sound. I was offered the latest model with a few quid off , or the 500GB latest model with a return on the original cost. Or I could try yet another one from 2009 end of line stock. I went for the 2010 model 1TB – got that home and again – in fact more so – rumbling – constantly, and to add fuel to the fire for some bizarre reason the fans were going mad too – that was a Seagate – within hours I took it back and reclaimed my 2nd one back from the Tech guys.. that was the quietest of the 4 that I had, although again a Seagate. I wasn’t offered any discounts by the store – so I am going to now having to learn ‘how to live with it’ that – or NO iMac – but am in the process now of trying to find out who to write to complain – as I think this problem is absolutely appalling. I can’t quite remember how many times I restored from Time Machine now, and how many hours I have spent at the store. It goes without saying that even if you return it for replacement you are probably going to find different noise levels or defects – so I would stick with the one that you can cope with – and although I thought this one I have now is the best of the bunch, it has since developed a new slow low tick on top of the grumbles…. The noise I have can be heard in a quiet room from further than 20 feet away, admittedly it is on a desk angled with a wall behind which could well be throwing the sound back out – but I really don’t find that acceptable… ☹ I have to say also, that I tested the sound and noises on just about every 21.5” and 27” models in the store (most of which were 500GB) but there was one 27” 1TB, and none of them made the gurgle sounds – NONE! I then began to wonder if it was having USB’s connected – but that made no difference. Wifi on/off - no difference. Bluetooth on/off - no difference. Wireless telephones – no difference. Microwaves (??) = no difference. Noisy children in the house – totally different!!!

I really don't feel I can let this go... how many of you feel that this is acceptable? (I have not downloaded before as I have not had my iMac long enough to explore - so I hope these work)

http://soundcloud.com/stressedmum/20101015-185537
http://soundcloud.com/stressedmum/20101016-224515

StressedMum :((

I guess so… for now…
I don't feel like taking my car, load the huge baby on it, and go to the apple assistance…
One day, when I will be tired of it, I will swap the noisy disk myself; ad put an ssd maybe.

Have you ever stuck your head inside a Tower PC to hear the noises in them? Many drives makes these noises yes it a bit annoying if you sit and stress and obsess about it but I don't hear mine anymore, its like having a extractor fan fitted in your home, its annoying as **** for a few days then you tune out, if you sit listening for it you will hear it, but why worry, its how they sound, the drives work, even my late 2009 WD made noises, its on a desk in a small enclosure in front of you, you will hear it if you listen for it.

You have your choices but to go through 4 iMacs should say that you are either looking for perfection you will never get, or you need to go back to a Windows box on the floor as this noise is very common in iMacs, believe me if you heard some of the noises other AIO machines make, well the fan noise on one brand would drive you insane, try getting Apple care and living with it, soon you wont notice it, or move on and get on with your life.

Sorry to be blunt but Apple machines are like any other computers, unless you have an SSD you will hear mechanical sounds, they are not perfect they are mass produced, nothing is perfect in life, but if you used your machine instead of stopping to listen for the noise all the time you would maybe enjoy your Mac?

StressedMum,

the first sound clip sounds somewhat similar to what I am hearing with my computer, the second clip is a sound that I don't really hear. Also, how frequently I hear something varies. Sometimes it's almost silent and other times (when the computer is doing something in the background or when I open a program, for example) it's more noticeable. From your sound clip It is difficult to get a sense of how loud the noises are compared to mine or others, because you have to turn up the volume on the computer to hear it well and I may be turning the sound up much louder than the actual sound.

I'm certain that the sounds are made even more annoying simply because you know they are there and are listening for it. That is not to say that you should just "live with it." I assume you, like me, plan to keep the computer for some time. I think it is important to know yourself and whether it is going to bother you every time you use the computer. If this is the case, then "living with it" probably isn't a great option for you. On the other hand, I suspect that you probably haven't been really using the computer much, but rather have been spending your time "checking for sounds." I have found that when I actually get into using a program and enjoying what the machine is capable of (which is difficult now because I have so much to learn about the Mac generally) the little sounds tend to fade more into the background.

After getting a sense of others experiences by reading the forums, in my case I think the logical possibilities seem to be to keep the Mac or return it and go back to a PC which would give me the option of changing drives myself if I wanted to. I'm not sure I want to go on a search for a better machine, because this seems to otherwise be operating fine.

The bottom line is that we all have our own level of acceptance and what me be acceptable for someone else may not be acceptable to you or me. Ultimately, you need to be happy with your choice.

Best of luck. And please report back as to what you decide to do. I only have a few days left for my decision myself.

Hi Larry and thank you for your considerate and understanding post. I have decided that as I love the machine I am going to stick with it for now - I have Apple Care Plan for 3 years and although these noises are driving me batty I am going to try and get on with it. In the meantime I am putting together my list of events and forwarding the details to Apple Care to see what response I will get if any! SSD sounds like to route to go - but they are expensive and will void warranty unless fitted by Apple - I really don't think they'll agree to that! So, there it is - I am sticking with this one for now... it is the best of the four I have had. The only machine I didn't try was a 500GB - if Apple suggest that - then maybe I will!!

The first clip was the noise I first experienced but this isn't as regular now; the second clip is is there almost all of the time now running for approximately 30 seconds then quite, then another 30 seconds and so on, despite what pages I have open. The first sound grumbles away every few minutes or so - usually at a different time to the second sound. Both sounds can still be heard over itunes playing at background volume. When on video chat to Thailand, the noises can be heard over the mic. (I was asked if I had a woodpecker inside my machine!!)

I bought a 27inch iMac a couple of days ago. The hard drive noise is annoying even when I do nothing and unbearable when I'm working!

If this can be solved by a new firmware, apple should do it ASAP.