dadoclare
Level 1 (1 points)

Q: iMac very noisy

a mid-2011 iMac, purchased new in June 2012, running OS X 10.7.5, very noisy. anyone else experiencing this? I was used to this same sort of sound when TimeMachine was running, but this is constant and quite annoying.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), iTunes 10.6.1

Posted on Oct 15, 2012 7:04 PM

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dadoclare

Q: iMac very noisy

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  • Helpful answers

  • by RRFS,

    RRFS RRFS Oct 15, 2012 7:08 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 5 (4,490 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 7:08 PM in response to dadoclare

    What kind of noise are we talking about here? Are the fans running full speed? Is the hard drive making noise like it's searching? Is it an audio hum or buzz from the speakers? You will have to give us more information as we are not able to observe your problem.

  • by dadoclare,

    dadoclare dadoclare Oct 15, 2012 7:27 PM in response to RRFS
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 7:27 PM in response to RRFS

    Hi, RRFS,

     

    I don't know how to answer since I don't know what the fans sound like versus the hard drive versus whatever else is in there. It's a very mechanical sound with occasional surges but with no discernible pattern or rhythm to them. It's by no means a hum or a buzz. Since the computer also gets quite hot -- and always has, for its whole five months of use -- I keep wondering if there's something mechanical that's not quite right.

  • by RRFS,

    RRFS RRFS Oct 15, 2012 7:30 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 5 (4,490 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 7:30 PM in response to dadoclare

    Try doing this Reset:

     

    SMC RESET

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

     

    • Shut down the computer.
    • Unplug the computer's power cord and ALL peripherals.
    • Wait 15 seconds.
    • Attach the computers power cable.
    • Wait another 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.

     

    • The 5 second timing is important to a successful reset.

  • by dadoclare,

    dadoclare dadoclare Oct 15, 2012 7:42 PM in response to RRFS
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 7:42 PM in response to RRFS

    Unfortunately, after 15-Mississippi-ing, then plugging in the power cable and counting to 5-Mississippi before turning on the iMac, it still sounds just the same.

  • by oBs barcode,

    oBs barcode oBs barcode Oct 15, 2012 7:49 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 7:49 PM in response to dadoclare

    I could be the HDD. To me it sounds like you have a faultly drive and its running on browed time. Try booting in safe mode and reseting the PRAM for the fun of it. To reset the PRAM hold down the Command-Option-P-R keys upon the booting the system.

  • by roam,

    roam roam Oct 15, 2012 7:54 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 6 (13,576 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 7:54 PM in response to dadoclare

    As the hard drive is a possible contender for this noise (computers dont have too many mechanical parts ), open Disk Utility and look at the SMART status, to see any indication of a failing drive.

     

    If the noise correlates with disk activity, as with a Time Machine indexing operation, mentioned first, then I suspect the HD. Take it into the shop and get it checked out under warranty.

  • by dadoclare,

    dadoclare dadoclare Oct 15, 2012 8:19 PM in response to roam
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 8:19 PM in response to roam

    Here is the SMART status, obtained per your suggestion. (After verifying the disk, then verifying and repairing disk permissions, I followed the instructions in Disk Utility Help to select the disk and get info):

     

    Name : Macintosh HD

              Type :           Partition

     

              Disk Identifier :           disk0s2

              Mount Point :           /

              System Name :           Mac OS X

              System Version :           10.7.5

              System Build :           11G63

              System Copyright :           1983-2012 Apple Inc.

              File System :           Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

              Connection Bus :           SATA

              Device Tree :           IODeviceTree:/PCI0@0/SATA@1F,2/PRT0@0/PMP@0

              Writable :           Yes

              Universal Unique Identifier :           0A79A0A7-0985-3CEE-BCAC-1F3F9EF54780

              Capacity :           999.35 GB (999,345,127,424 Bytes)

              Free Space :           720.34 GB (720,342,347,776 Bytes)

              Used :           279 GB (279,002,914,816 Bytes)

              Number of Files :           1,010,660

              Number of Folders :           243,095

              Owners Enabled :           Yes

              Can Turn Owners Off :           Yes

              Can Repair Permissions :           Yes

              Can Be Verified :           Yes

              Can Be Repaired :           Yes

              Can Be Formatted :           Yes

              Bootable :           Yes

              Supports Journaling :           Yes

              Journaled :           Yes

              Disk Number :           0

              Partition Number :           2

     

    I might also add that, though I installed an additional 8 mg of DDR3 last week, the computer seems slower. I had rather expected more speed.

  • by roam,

    roam roam Oct 15, 2012 8:28 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 6 (13,576 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 8:28 PM in response to dadoclare

    It checks out OK according to SMART.

    As this forum is not suited to diagnosing noises, you will need a physical appraisal by a technician if you want to investigate it further.

  • by dadoclare,Helpful

    dadoclare dadoclare Oct 15, 2012 8:31 PM in response to roam
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 8:31 PM in response to roam

    Ah, well. The long drive to the Apple Store (again)!

     

    Thanks so much, roam. You too, oBs barcode and RRFS.

  • by oBs barcode,

    oBs barcode oBs barcode Oct 15, 2012 8:43 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Oct 15, 2012 8:43 PM in response to dadoclare

    No problem, also try to isolate the issue by removing any changes.

  • by dadoclare,

    dadoclare dadoclare Oct 16, 2012 3:39 PM in response to oBs barcode
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Oct 16, 2012 3:39 PM in response to oBs barcode

    Dear oBs barcode,

     

    I just found this, 22 hrs later. I feel like a ninny, but though I've used Apple products forever (since the first, steam-powered Mac in 1984), I don't always know what things (or people talking about things) mean. What changes should I remove??

     

    Gratefully, but feeling like "oh, dopey me,"

    dadoclare (actually, Clare's mom: Mary Beth)

  • by Psicología,

    Psicología Psicología Jun 20, 2016 5:16 PM in response to dadoclare
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iLife
    Jun 20, 2016 5:16 PM in response to dadoclare

    Hi dadoclare! I was stranged by your question, because I have the same iMac and it's probably the most silent computer I ever had. Maybe some issue with your fan?