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Crackling Noise Macbook Pro Retina Early 2015

About three weeks ago my Macbook Pro Retina (Early 2015) that I only bought at the very end of July 2015, has been making a weird and loud crackling like noise towards the upper right side of the laptop. It sounds like a bad hard drive going out but obviously with the Macbook Pro Retina's having SSD that is not possible. I took it into an Apple store about 10 days after it first happening because I was in transition from one country to another, however during that time I did not use it at all. I took it into the Apple store, luckily right before I was going to leave the genius bar the noise started happening and they heard it. They didn't know what it was but they said they would take it and clean the fans and look in the inside. Diagnostic checks turned out picture perfect and no issues turned up there either. Fast-forward a week later and I picked up my laptop, they said they cleaned it but didn't see anything inside that would be the cause. I took it back hoping it was fixed, but after about 24 hours the noise happened again. The noise comes on randomly, sometimes I can use the computer for many hours before it happens (or doesn't happen) or it will start about 20 minutes after turning it on. I'm trying to fit in another trip to the Apple Store nearest to me but it takes a lot of planning due to my schedule and the time to get there.

As I write this it came on for the first time today but lasted maybe 3-5 minutes and has since stopped. The computer is not overly warm, there is no burning smell coming from anywhere and the fan is not running at high speeds. Just wondering if there has been issues with this type of noise or sound previously or if anyone thinks they know what it could be.

Thanks

Posted on Mar 17, 2016 6:51 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 27, 2017 2:30 PM

check to reset the NVRAM: How to reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support


that worked for me.


Good luck!

47 replies

Oct 11, 2017 8:08 AM in response to juanolo208

I reset the NVRAM, and it seems to have worked! Took me a few tries to get the timing right. The time it worked, I shut down, turned on, immediately held Alt + Command + P + R, saw the apple, heard the 1st start-up sound, the screen glowed black, let go after the 2nd start-up sound, then there was a 3rd start-up sound. (Something like that. The screen glowed black for longer than it had when it didn't work.)

Oct 30, 2017 12:19 AM in response to parkermatt21

This started happening for me in the last two weeks. I have a Genius Bar appt later today. For those that are struggling to constantly reproduce this issue (mine was intermittent too) I downloaded a copy of Cinebench as something that would push the GPU & CPU as I suspected it was a heat or rendering issue. I can now reproduce it every time. Thats good and bad 🙂


If Apple refuse to do anything ill just replace the fan myself.

Dec 10, 2017 1:04 PM in response to parkermatt21

My Macbook overheats by having just two programs open at a time, which it has done ever since I got it, and with that comes that loud crackling sound from the top right of the keyboard. I recently had the Macbook checked, due to a touchpad issue, but nothing appeared out of order. Shutting down all programs usually takes care of the fan, but the noice continues for a while afterwards.

Jan 13, 2018 3:10 PM in response to parkermatt21

EXACT same problem here. Crackling noise. Bottom right. Exactly like the link somebody posted recording the noise. So based on everything in this discussion forum, it is the fan that needs to be replaced correct? Some people talked about resetting NRAM or SIM or something. But it's the fan right? Sorry, not a computer savvy dude.

And will Apple take any responsibility for this? It's obviously very common. My MacBook is 13 months old so just out of warranty. But this seems to be a known problem.

Getting frustrated with Apple. First issues with my iPhone battery causes slowdowns created by Apple. Now this. May be a good time to migrate back to PC.

Frustrated and not fixed yet.

Is there danger of causing more problems if I don't get it fixed ASAP?

Crackling Noise Macbook Pro Retina Early 2015

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