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Level 1

5 points

21.5' iMac fan speed is to fast

Hi all,

I've got a problem with my new 21.5' iMac. According to iStat the hard drive fan is spinning way to fast. Now this has been happening at least once every 8-9 days since I got this machine about 4 weeks ago. I've been searching this forum and the net to find a solution and there doesn't seem to be any. When I called Apple last week the CSR told me that when I'm not using the comp I should shut it down. I'm sorry but that's not the solution. Has anyone heard if Apple is going to fix this issue?

Wow! As I'm typing this the fan is now increasing in fan speed. Under iStat it's saying that it's the hard drive fan that's the issue. It went from 1099rpm and it's continuing to climb in speed. It's now over 4800rpm and still climbing. In the past I've never been at the comp when it's started doing it. I did take it to a local Apple authorized repair shop and form 2 days they ran some tests and couldn't get the comps fan to reproduce the issue. The tech said he called Apple and they are not even saying there is a problem. he seems to think that at some point Apple will send a firmware update down to fix the issue. Now I've had my comp back from the repair shop for 8 days now and low and behold I had the fan problem right on schedule. What should I do? Should I call Apple again?

Thanks so much,
Chevy

21.5' Imac, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 20, 2010 10:46 AM

527 replies

Apr 14, 2010 8:37 PM in response to chevy2410

Hi
I am new to the forums but I have also been having problems with my fan. I received my computer in February 2010. I started documenting the dates and it is happening every 7 to 8 days. The fan noise gets extremely loud. I can only shut down the computer and bring it back up to take care of the problem.

I have not called apple warranty yet as I was hoping there would be a fix found on the forums. I hate the thought of having to send in my computer. It doesn't look like there is a fix for this.

Hersheys Mom

Apr 14, 2010 8:51 PM in response to Hersheys Mom

Well, I took my machine with the same problem to Apple repair service today. I will report back in couple of weeks if replacing the drive and the sensor/cable assembly fixes the problem.

dpw700

Level 1

8 points

Apr 15, 2010 11:36 AM in response to chevy2410

I got the same problem too. I get a fan speed of ~6500 RPM. If I put the machine to sleep it goes away. I haven't measured the interval between events, but I'm pretty sure its more than 8 days (as reported previously). More like once a fortnight or month.

chevy2410 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 15, 2010 2:37 PM in response to Richdave

Well have some news to report. I called the repair shop back to see if they had any new info from Apple as to what is the problem. They told me that Apple had no news for them. So either Apple doesn't know what the problem is or they do and they aren't saying until they have a fix for it. So what these guys at the repair shop said to me is "well we are going to replace the fan and see if that resolves the issue". What really!! You think it's the fan! After telling me that the hardware test came back fine and no issues. Ok it's not the fan.

So I called the senior tech advisor I'm dealing with at Apple and told him what the guys at the repair shop said to me and he was floored. He couldn't believe it. So after a further conversation he sent me a program called Capture Data. What he wants me to do is when the issue arises again he wants me to run the program for about 30 secs. and then send him back the data file it generates. That file will then go to the engineers to look at and see if they can figure out whats going on. I'm not sure what else can be done as far as repair goes especially if they don't know what it is. I figure I have to be close to getting a new machine. It's been 7 days since the fan last acted up, so sometime tomorrow it should go.

I'll let you all know what happens and report back.

Chevy

Apr 15, 2010 2:40 PM in response to chevy2410

Chevy,

If your senior tech advisor is interested in data captures from another machine with this problem, I would be delighted to help. He can reach me at apple@pane.net.

John

chevy2410 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 15, 2010 2:42 PM in response to Hersheys Mom

You need to call Apple about this issue. The more reports they get the better. You should run the hardware test on your machine just to see if it's a hardware problem. Hopefully the CSR at Apple will ask you to do that. Make sure you have both of your Apple discs handy. Report back and let us all know what happens. If they tell you get the fan replaced tell no it's not the issue.

Chevy

Apr 15, 2010 2:45 PM in response to chevy2410

Oh, I did!

They told me to take it to a store, and I was reluctant to do so until I had some confidence a) they would believe the problem and not want to reproduce it, which could take a week, and b) they would have a real fix and not want to do something silly like replace a fan and my hard drive.

chevy2410 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 15, 2010 3:06 PM in response to john_apple__

I would think the more data the better. So what I will do is once my machine goes ballistic tomorrow and I send the tech advisor the data file I will then ask if he would like data from another machine with same issue. I should ask if it's ok to pass out the program to you. Can I send it to the email you posted?

Chevy

Apr 15, 2010 4:00 PM in response to chevy2410

Yes, that would be fine. Thanks.

Apr 16, 2010 7:13 AM in response to chevy2410

Yes, I will do what I can to help solve this problem.
Thanks,

Hersheys Mom

chevy2410 Author

Level 1

5 points

Apr 16, 2010 1:27 PM in response to chevy2410

Hey all,

I just want to let you all know that today is day 8 and my computer is right now going fan crazy. I ran the capture data program from Apple and have sent in the data file. I'm hoping it won't take to long for the Tech Advisor to get back to me.

I'll report back any news I get.

Cheers,
Chevy

Opi-Opi

Level 1

11 points

Apr 16, 2010 6:04 PM in response to chevy2410

Hi all,
After decades of PC and Windows I bought an iMac last week; the system is a few months old (9/2009) and the seller mentioned a noisy fan.

My iMac's hard drive fan starts at about 1000 rpm, the same as the other 2 fans.
The system is silent.

After 1-2 minutes it increases to 2000+ rpm. after 5 minutes to 3000 rpm (noticable whirring) and within 10-15 minutes it runs at 5000+ rpm, which is very loud!

It does this every time!
The other 2 fans run at approx. 1000-1200 rpm.
All temoperatures are normal, e.g. CPU 35-50 degrees, GPU 50-60 deg., PSU2 ca 45-55 deg. and the Hard Drive itself 35-38 degrees. Ambient 20-22 degrees.

Now the interesting part - going for about 5 seconds into Sleep mode resets the fan speed to normal, e.g.1000 rpm.
Then the whole sequence starts again.

I have not yet contacted Apple, wanted to check this Forum out first.
I'd be loathed to have them start to replace, change etc. Also, having just spent days installing everything and setting it up, I don't fancy losing all this.

Watch this Space, as they say...

Richdave

Level 1

8 points

Apr 16, 2010 6:55 PM in response to Opi-Opi

Do you have the original disks that came with system? If so get the disk with AHT on it and boot up holding the D key.

Run diagnostic test - tick the extended test box. This should tell you if you have a faulty sensor somewhere

Apr 16, 2010 7:24 PM in response to pauvregaspard

yesterday's SMC firmware update is supposed to fix this issue

Opi-Opi

Level 1

11 points

Apr 17, 2010 6:17 AM in response to Richdave

Thanks Richdave for the feedback.
Yes, I have the original diks. The previous owner kept everything ''as new''!
I shall run the tests you mentioned and come back with the answers (I am writing this on my PC).
By the way, the temps and speeds I read from the iStatMenus program I installed.

21.5' iMac fan speed is to fast