27" iMac hard drive noise

Hi all!
Just wanted to post an update!
I feel truly blessed right now! I called Apple support and we agreed that I should have a new iMac.
And the thing is...
wait...
wait...
wait for it...

It's quiet!!
Sweet mother of god I hope it doesn't start after awhile.! Been using it for a week now and loaded the HDD with music and movie, making it sweat a little.
I have compared the specs, and it also has the Seagate ST31000528AS, but a quiet one!
So to end this: If you aren't happy with your iMac, get a new one! And fingers crossed, you will get nice quiet iMac that you could ENYOJ (without earplugs or music lol)
(BTW, I'm Rayon)

Hi Ryan. I am very pleased to hear your good news. I hope the silence continues! Can I ask you please if Apple delivered a new one and picked up the old at the same time, or were you without a Mac for a while? Please let me know how you get on over the next few weeks with your silent machine... 🙂 As you will read, I have had 4 machines now - and finally settled with the one that was silent for 10 days and then started rumbling and ticking (and still is - but not as loud as the others) - so I would like to get the same support from Apple as you have had. The support I have had so far has been from PCWorld under their 28day exchange policy - but as I am out of that now I need to go through Apple Care. Look forward to hearing positive news from you soon. 🙂

To answer your question, I'm currently sitting with two iMacs on my desk!
The day after I talked to Apple Support and ordered the second iMac, TNT called about the return of my old one. He suggested a pickup for the next day but I asked him if it could wait, so that I would get the new iMac before sending back the old.
He said, Sure, no problem! and gave me a telephone number and a case number. So that I can now decide when I want them to pickup the noisy one!
I have now had plenty of time for transferring my files and stuff from the old one to my new.
I think I'll give TNT a call today:)

Great support! My iMac now feels totally worth the relatively high price!

Hope u get lucky next time!

Message was edited by: Ryon13

I too have the same hard disk and do a lot of noise when loading, it reads, or writes data!
Seagate confirms the problem and says it is resolved by upgrading the firmware. Since Mac is a closed system, the apple will do something to solve the problem?

sorry for my English. I am Italian.

Hello! I'm new in this forum.
I have the same problem with the 1TB Seagate ST31000528AS on my 2010 iMac 27 bought this month.
If Seagate says that the problem is solved with a firmware update, we have to wait for an Apple firmware update. I hope that they do this soon!!

Since there are imacs with same specs but some with hdd noise and some without it, I don't think it's a firmware update issue - Unless Seagate sold Apple some units with their firmware already upgraded. In this case, since the firmware update exists, why Apple hasn't provided us with it?

killhippie, Stop telling people to "enjoy their Mac", holy moly I'm really tired of hearing you say that. At my work we have eight iMac 27 i7's and two of them are making the sound, a VERY annoying sound. If people pay $1,400 to $3,000 for a machine it **** well better work! This is ridiculous! It's like being in a restaurant and everyone orders the same meal and 2 out of the five 5 meals have dog turds on them...but oh no, we should just enjoy our meal. I just bought the iMac 27 i5 and now on my second unit in less than a week because of this crap. Paid $2,200, and this sound is driving me crazy, I am ******, especially since I work from the same machine at work and it's whisper quiet. If your iMac is causing problems LET APPLE KNOW ABOUT IT!!! They're not going to fix this problem unless people stop 'enjoying' their noisy iMac and start holding this manufacture accountable!!!!

hmmmm....... I read this thread and the MacRumors thread end to end in the last 2 days. I own a 24" aluminum iMac with a Seagate drive, and it makes noise. To be honest, I didn't know there were people out there who had completely silent hard drives.

I just un-boxed and set up my new 27" core i7 with a 1 TB Seagate drive. ST31000528AS

Yes it makes noise, but only the normal hard drive noise (and it is much quieter than my 24"). These things are very hard to quantify, but so far this is completely normal and an improvement over my 24" in terms of sound. I will certainly keep an ear on it, but I am not too worried. I also asked them to tell me what drive it had, before I purchased it via serial number, but they wouldn't (couldn't). I also checked every 27" iMac on the Apple Store floor - all Seagate.

I'd agree to a point. The problem for me was that my previous iMac, a 24" Intel, had a virtually silent 320GB WD. It just made a kind of low level 'whoosh', with no audible seek sounds. It was fantastic and I got used to that.

The 1TB Seagate my new i5 iMac made audible seek sounds. I've since replaced it with a SSD and have an ideal computer. Over 300 quid and a possible warranty hassle for a sixth of the capacity, but there it is.

Funnily enough, I've put the Seagate in the 24" older iMac and the noise isn't as obvious - so I'd guess the cases are a factor.

FWIW we're only noticing the HDs because the rest of the computer is so quiet. It's the sort of thing a PC user takes for granted.

Well people have choices, but putting up with it is probably the most logical, I spoke to Apple they heard the sound so I was not saying don't complain, you just assumed that. I listened to others, more make the noise than do not, and getting into a loop sending macs back can lead to other issues maybe, we all have the right to say what we like within reason, and do what we like about issues, to most I would say if it bugs you beyond belief try for a new one, but if your machine works well, has no other issues, and since the noise is recognised for Seagate models as well as some Hitachi drives, the chances are you will get a noisy one back, so that's why I say put up with it, get apple care and stop worrying, I have a right to say what I feel since I own a machine that does it, well in fact two, but Apple have heard from me saying that its annoying and they say the chances are you will get another that will make the same sound and tbh I cannot be bothered as I have had iMacs with other issues that are far worse. Time to move on, life's to short 😉

Putting up with the noise is not logical. Not putting up with you waffle is. Mate, I understand from your previous posts that you have issues, however there needs to be a balance here otherwise users like those in this forum will get despondent. Like AA this is a group which "let's it out" for others who experience problems but don't know what to do or how to proceed. Frankly Apple need a good rogering over this issue and I have been active putting my money where my mouth is by both writing to the local store manager, our department of fair trading and to Mr. Jobs himself. BTW if anyone wants his email let me know and I will send it. I received responses from all three and have had my machines updated with WD Black 2TB drives on the house. Problems now totally solved to my satisfaction. Don't get mad get busy. So remember - an Apple a day keeps KillHippie away 😉

Message was edited by: BOFHMAN

Message was edited by: BOFHMAN

Hi everyone,
Yesterday I picked up the 27" iMac Quad Core i7
My screen is perfect visually, but I have the dog-whistle (very high pitched) sound from the LCD inverter. Really irritating.
I also have a noisy HDD. My Mac Mini was right on my desk, and quiet as a dead mouse - but this one churns away.
After spending £1800 on a new system - I do expect it to work without an intolerable sound. The HDD as noted in a previous post - I could live with - but the high pitched sound just gives me a headache.

I don't mind swapping the Macs - I'd even buy another one just to compare it at home - but the thing that's really ******* me off is the time I am wasting on a brand new system.

If it helps:
I have the WDC WD1001FALS (Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB) drive
My system serial number is the W8 ** range which is Shanghai China

I'm going to give it a week - but I can't face swapping for a new Mac with new problems

I've had loads of trouble with my 27" i7 1TB iMac. In summary:

iMac #1 - Dead Pixels
iMac #2 - Faulty PSU
iMac #3 & #4 - More Dead Pixels
iMac #5 - Excessive HDD Noise
iMac #6 - OK so far.

I've had several visits to the Apple store and a few from Applecare with the replacements. Call me mad but I just had to have one of these systems. I finally got one without issues but it's been a terrible experience with Apple. I would expect much much better.

With regards to the HDD noise, I had the 1TB Seagate and it suffered from a really load stomach growl each time it was loading. Now on my 6th unit, I still have the Seagate HDD (Model = ST31000528AS) and whilst I can hear it working in the background when in my quite bedroom it's the normal sounds I'd expect. It's certainly not the rattling suffered from the previous version.

My suggestion is to return the stock until you get a decent one...number of times within reason of course..in my case that was unit #6 😉

Check for dead pixels in the store if possible...just ask them to open the box up in store and power it on until the start screen, you can take a good look over it to detect any dead pixels...

Apple certainly need to raise their quality standards with the iMac.

I have a Late 2009 iMac 27" with 1TB Hitachi Hard Drive. It has always made the Stomach Grumbling Sound. I had 3 exchanges for other reasons. The only HD that did not make any noise was the 21" iMac with Seagate 500GB HD.

Hi Bofhman,

I have been experiencing the same issue with my new 27" imac since July of this year and I am currently on my 5th machine, which has been to an apple service provider who needed to replace the logic board and seagate hard drive. The noise from the drive is still sending me nuts but apple appear reluctant to exchange anymore. Can you let me have the e-mail of Mr Jobs as I think its time to submit a formal complaint

Hope you can help

Harvals