Level 1

18 points

Loud fan during screensaver

Hey guys,

I've got a re-occuring issue which is bugging me a bit lately and was wondering if anyone knew the best ways to diagnose this problem. Basically, the fan seems to go crazy loud when I walk away from my desk. Whenever I come back, the screensaver is on but the fan is blasting at full RPM. The strange thing is, when I log in.. it goes away within a minute.

I'm suspecting something is running in the background when it goes idle, but wouldn't have a clue where to start to figure out what it is.

Note: I have already tried resetting the SMC as that was the first solution in my attempts to google myself. It only happens when the screensaver is on, standby/sleep does not activate the fan.

Any help is appreciated, cheers!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 23, 2016 11:00 PM

Top-ranking reply

phrankerco

Level 1

9 points

Posted on Apr 10, 2017 10:47 AM

I've done some research into this issue and have found that the specific screensavers are the cause of this issue. I changed my screensaver to "Classic" using "Aerial" from the "Default Collection" and the issue has not happened since the change. I was originally using the "Flurry" screensaver which did cause the fan issue.

This leads me to believe that the issue is related to the specific screensaver itself and not something running in the background. I believe the new update has caused the specific screensavers that are causing this issue to render the graphics in a different method which is using the processor and/or graphics chip at a much higher level which causes the fan to kick in to cool the overloaded processor and/or graphics chip.

This is without a doubt a bug introduced by the 10.12.4 update and the obvious concern that I see with the introduction of this bug is that it will definitely effect the actual hardware of your device and lifespan of that hardware. I hope Apple sees this post and thread and looks into resolving this issue as soon as possible.

TLDR;

Change your screensaver... using the "Classic" screensaver with a photo set from the "Default Collection" will resolve this issue.

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22 replies

Dini1989

Level 1

4 points

Sep 14, 2016 2:39 PM in response to OlofW

Same issue here. RMBP13 early 2015.

mts74656

Level 1

9 points

Dec 24, 2016 6:47 AM in response to rhung

I have this problem too. I've been researching it a lot. What's maddening, is the number of people (not necessarily on this thread), that dismiss this issue by attributing it to screensavers with high graphic demands. They all say "use a screen saver that is less graphically demanding" or "don't use a screensaver, just turn off the display".

Meanwhile, they are completely ignoring the fact that THIS DIDN'T USE TO HAPPEN!!! I had a mid-2012 MBA, running the exact same Apple Photo Wall screensaver, with the exact same pictures for 4 years, and this never happened. Then I got a MacBook Pro Retina with El Capitan, and it didn't happen. Then I upgraded to Sierra and now it happens. (although I can't be sure it started happening "immediately" after upgrading to Sierra).

This is so obviously a bug. Using a basic, well established, Apple provided, screensaver that been around for years, should NOT be pegging the processor, heating up the Macbook, and triggering the fan. I don't care that I can avoid the issue by not using a screen saver! I want my mac to work properly.

Apr 6, 2017 2:25 PM in response to phrankerco

Same here. I noticed the loud fan noise started during the screensaver after I updated to 10.12.4 on my early 2015 MBA 13".

fernacri

Level 1

4 points

Apr 14, 2017 9:12 AM in response to phrankerco

Totally agree with phrankerco. I've changed my screensaver, and at least my battery is not being drained by some stupid screensaver.

Apr 27, 2017 12:50 PM in response to Sansie2003

Same here. I change it from Arabesque to Ken Burns and it solved the loud fan problem.

Jes2G

Level 1

13 points

May 31, 2017 8:16 AM in response to phrankerco

Thanks for the advice! Just wanted to add that I'm still on 10.11.6, so perhaps it was some other Apple update that introduced this bug and not the 10.12.4 update.

2freet

Level 1

4 points

Aug 9, 2017 2:45 AM in response to phrankerco

Thank you, I was concerned as well.

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Loud fan during screensaver