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Fan SCREAMS on light use (with graph!)

I have an older 2007 Mini (2GHz Intel Core 2 duo) that originally came with 1 gb RAM.

When I first got it I was surprised at how quiet it was. My previous computers all had fixed-speed fans, and the fans on the Mini seemed silent. They didn't seem to ramp up under even under load. I didn't even know they did ramp up.

As the HD got close to capacity, the mac slowed, of course. Trying to extend the life of it rather than buying a new one, I doubled the RAM and put in a 500 gb HD. (I did this myself.)

This sped the computer up, but I also noticed fan noise for the first time. All it takes for the fan to ramp up to a high pitched whine is scrolling in Safari. The fan speed does vary with temperature, and temperature varies with use.

It's so freaking loud that I moved it to under the desk because it annoys me so.

Possibilities:

Maybe the various upgrades and changes in web pages over time put more load on the processor, but I didn't notice it before the upgrade as the HDD and RAM limitations slowed the computer rather than taxing the processor.
The fan ramped before, but physically it was much quieter than it is now (dust/bearings/wear problems).
Mac overreacting to temperature.
Incompatible hardware.
Poor installation of some kind.

Here's a chart of temp vs fan speed (I just sampled some numbers while loading on the mac by opening tabs and scrolling):

User uploaded file

Diagnostic things I've done:

I checked to make sure the cables were reattached, I made sure the foam "T" was in the same place as before. Vents are not blocked, no buildup on fan.
Did the reset thingie. (unplug, restart -- whatever the procedure was. I looked it up at the time.)
I put the old HD and RAM back in. Still with the screaming.
Did search after search. Other people who actually had this resoved hadn't connected the cables properly or got fixed with the reset. Others like me didn't get a resolution.

Any suggestions/advice/sympathy?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jul 28, 2012 9:59 AM

24 replies

lillynews Author

Level 1

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Jul 29, 2012 2:32 PM in response to BDAqua

Ha! I'm sure I'm the one who borked it, albeit unintentionally.

I did install smcFanControl as a diagnostic step. I didn't have it (or the other) installed before the problem started. I have popped a command that limits the top fan speed to 3500 (which it forgets each time the computer goes into sleep mode), but I don't particularly like that because if the fan actaully needs to go faster, it won't, and it still spends a lot of time in the 3000-3500 range, which is still annoying. Not 5500 annoying, but irksome.

If other diagnostic steps don't work, I may use that other program to force a more normal fan control on it. But of course, I'd prefer to fix. So I'll keep digging.

Still downloading (slowly) an ASD disc.

Thanks!

den.thed

Level 9

77,272 points

Jul 29, 2012 2:59 PM in response to lillynews

Be sure to fully quit smcFanControl before uninstalling (moving it to the trash) and then reset your iMac's SMC after getting rid of it.

see > FAQ

and > Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller

Fan Control was actually made for the two fan notebooks, but I like it better for my Mini because once you set it up the fan progressively speeds up and down as the temperature goes up and down.

lillynews Author

Level 1

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Jul 29, 2012 6:55 PM in response to den.thed

While waiting for my diagnostics disc to d/l, I tried this:

quit and uninstalled smcfancontrol
reset SMC
--NO CHANGE.
Installed Lobotomo fan control
set parameters fairly high
--NO CHANGE
reset SMC
--NO CHANGE

Here's Lobotmo fan control being ignored by my naughty mini:

den.thed

Level 9

77,272 points

Jul 29, 2012 7:39 PM in response to lillynews

Run the Apple Hardware Test, as per Using Apple Hardware Test

Because it's starting to seem more like either a loose, pinched sensor cable or a faulty sensor.

lillynews Author

Level 1

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Jul 30, 2012 6:26 PM in response to den.thed

I've done the Apple Hardware Tests (short and long versions), and nothing flagged.

Given that all the temps listed in iStatPro show normal temperatures, do you think it's a bad probe causing the fans? (note: in challenging this, I don't have any other suggested paths to follow.)

I checked the SMC version -- it's 1.19f2. There doesn't seem to be a firmware update for the macmini2,1:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237

den.thed

Level 9

77,272 points

Jul 30, 2012 7:04 PM in response to lillynews

I'm not sure what's up at this point? The only other thing that I can think of is to do a Spotlight Search for SMCFanControl just in case there is a second installation somewhere on your system.

lillynews Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 31, 2012 7:50 PM in response to BDAqua

ASD disk flagged nothing. All ok.

There are no hidden fan control programs I could find. That was unlikely the problem as I hadn't installed any fan programs before my fan went haywire.

I know we all have Fan Tedium, but any other steps I could take? Any means of overriding? It doesnt seem the fan control program slows the fans. Maybe the greater speed (between fan control and Mac) is the one used?

BDAqua

Level 10

239,375 points

Jul 31, 2012 8:16 PM in response to lillynews

My guess is the sensor or whatever that controls the fan speed ist kaput, & were up a creek. 😟

Dec 5, 2012 6:25 PM in response to lillynews

I realize this thread is a few months old but I just want to vent my spleen on the piece of garbage that I call my 2009 Mac Mini on OS X 10.6.8, barely used. My problem is the same: high revving fan under no load for no reason with all temperatures well within limits. I reset the SMC on three separate occasions, ran the AHT disc which says everything is OK (liar), and have searched the internet for a solution all to no avail. I downloaded the latest smcFanControl and it wouldn't even work so I removed it.

Another problem with this Mac Mini: it would not open any flash based websites, so I moved it across the room and everything worked fine (on a wireless network). When I was trying to troubleshoot it some months earlier, I had plugged it into the router via ethernet cable and it wouldn't even work. Weird.

I have come to the same conclusion as BDAqua about lillynews' Mac, but my Mac Mini is a total lemon, and absolutely useless as I can't even get smcFanControl to work on it.

Fan SCREAMS on light use (with graph!)