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Loud Grumbling (Stomach Rumbling-Like) Sounds coming from iMac?

Hello,


I bought a 27 inch iMac around the beginning of June and have been impressed with it ever since. As a frequent customer of Apple's I have purchased alot of Apple's products over the years including 'The New Ipad', 2 iPhone 5, Apple TV and some older generation iPhones.

When I first purchased this iMac i noticed a small sound comming from my iMac. I ignored the sound as I am a previous PC user and was used to the loud Computer sounds. The sound exculated more and more until nowit is easily heard and I can even hear it a couple of feet away from my computer. I can also hear it even if my display is off (I can even hear it now). Its very iritating and can only be closely descirbed as a Stomach-Like rumbling noise. I began to worry that this may become a bigger problem like Hard Drive failure or some other types of problem as these sounds do tend to warn me and so took the precuation of taking my iMac into the Apple Store, White City, Westfields in London. The technician there ran some quick tests and tried to find the sound however above the music in the store and the hastle of people going forth and back, was unable to hear it. We asked her if she could take it inside at the back of the store which she did. She ran a few test (Note that we werent with her when she went to the back of the store) and ran a few tests one where she maxed out the CPU and tried to see if any fault was visible or heard. She was unable to locate the sound and therefore had no choice but to return it to us. (Also note that we have an extended 3 year Apple Care Agrement).

I was dissapointed and hoped maybe it may stop when i set it up again at home but was unhappy when the sound began to reoccur. This happens often however once it begans its a while until it stops and can be very iritating especialy when working infront of it or trying to focus on some work on screen. I just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions or any other solutions experiences like me with this peculiar sounds because as far as I can rememebr paying over £1,600 and paying around £135 for an extended waurentee and being a loyal customer who has purchased alot of apples products I would like my product to be as described on the website. Noiseless (Or Silent). I hope that theres a simple explanation maybe a hard drive fault (As it happend in 2009) and if so i hope Apple has the decency to recall its products or hard drives for new ones (faultless i hope) otherwise i think that this could trigger some legal matter into the description of the supposingly 'noisless iMac'.

Also I noticed that many others have this problem and hope that maybe even an apple techinicain can help because this does effect my thoguhts about Apple and i hope that sometime, somehow someone will help.


Thank You


I have not tampered with anything on the system by neither opening it or tryign to fix it myself and therfore not liable.

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), iOS 6.0.1, Extra 1TB Apple fitted Hard Drive

Posted on Nov 9, 2012 10:15 AM

Reply
24 replies

Nov 9, 2012 11:48 AM in response to SoufyanABBAS

I would also suspect the hard drive - mine was having digestive problems ever since I got the iMac earlier this year. The hard drive was just now replaced compliments of Apple care and all is quiet now. Since you have Applecare, call them - I don't know about the UK, but in the US if you live within 50 miles of an authorized repair center, you can ask to have them come to your home for a repair, so you might as well ask.

May 12, 2013 5:20 AM in response to babowa

Sorry for the late reply,


I booked an appointment went to apple and plugged it in. However when we tested it there, no sound came out at all or maybe she said there was no sound! She tested it and concluded that there wasnt anything wrong. I went home plugged it in and it all started again. Maybe its because im in a quiet enviornment at home but that shouldnt mean that the iMac apple advertised as Silent should make nothing to little noise. I've backed up and have no clue what to do now!

Dec 31, 2013 7:40 AM in response to babowa

Okay its been a while but I sen tit to Apple Authorised Repair centre, Amsys. They rectified that there was a problem and said it was from the hard drive so they replaed my hard drive and sent it back.


Obviously I was glad it was just a simple problem. But just as I turn it on I find that the sound comes back, the same as before. Now this was before I had even backed everything back up. So the issue isnt obviously wto do with strain or over working it. Its a genuine malfunction with the porlbme and im fustarted that I might have to send it back cause i have exams that I need my iMac for. Also now I am pretty sure that over time this sound is getting louder and louder now. Which also worries me that it might fail at any time....


Thank you

Jan 21, 2014 11:11 PM in response to SoufyanABBAS

I went to Apple told them there was a problem. They said it was the fan after we heard the noise. So they took it in and said taht they would replae all fans. After 3 days they call to say the iMac is ready. So i go in and they tell me that the problem was with the optical drive and the optical drive fan so they replaced all the fans and the optical hard drive.


Took it home and......problem started all over again. So far they've replaced the Hard Drive (2TB), all 4 fans and the optical drive and the issue is still not solved.... This is becomign really annoying and I'm fed up because ifits taking so much of my time, money and my work because I dont have to the iMac to use and im using a Sony Laptop instead. Any Suggestions please??


Thank you

Jan 22, 2014 12:31 AM in response to SoufyanABBAS

Frankly, it sounds like they are gradually replacing every component in your Mac ... and perhaps because they just don't have the answer. If this is the new, super slim, late 2013 iMac and under warranty, I would be inclined to ask that it be replaced. Insist on talking to the store manager and have with you a dated diary of events and the repairs that have been done as support for your argument.

Jan 22, 2014 9:06 AM in response to SoufyanABBAS

Just to clarify this - you say it was bought "only under 2 years ago", but in your original post, you say you bought it around the begining of June (which is 6 months ago by my calculations). So which is it?


Did you buy it new? Is it the 27" mid-2011 model you refer to in your signature? If so, where did you buy it from - there are retailers who sell off old stock, but not normally as late as 18 months after the model was discontinued. And Apple remove all older models from sale on the day a new model comes out.


If you bought it secondhand, then your consumer rights are very limited indeed.

Jan 22, 2014 9:07 AM in response to SoufyanABBAS

And you did not buy the Apple Care extended guarantee? If you did (had) you would be covered for all the work done. Have you had to pay for all this work that the repairer has done?


I still think you should approach the store manager where you originally purchased the machine in the way I suggested. But although Andy Ball's suggestion offers an equally practical approach, going via your rights under the 'sale of goods act' could take considerably longer.

Loud Grumbling (Stomach Rumbling-Like) Sounds coming from iMac?

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