I just picked up a 27" iMac with the 1 T HD. I can hear the hard drive any time the computer is "working". Took the first one back to the Apple store and exchanged it, thinking I had a defective machine. The replacement makes the same noise.
Anyone else having this issue? Are these things supposed to be this noisy?
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!!)
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!
i think it must be the hitachi HDD, i recently upgraded the hdd of my sony vaio. and it started rumbling like a train. its driving me crazy too. good thing my imac is silent as a lamb.
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?
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?
Whoa!! Thank goodness!! I thought I was the only one, I just saw this thread. GOod to know people are having the same problem. And I am BUMMED!!! about this, it makes me want to take my iMac back.
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.
