That New Octo SMELL

[stevetannen]

Hey All,

Long-time lurker, first time poster. I got my new 3.0 Mac Pro Octo via fed ex this weekend. It's blisteringly fast, I've taken it through its paces and am thoroughly pleased. EXCEPT...it stinks to high heaven. It's a plastic-burning type smell, seems almost toxic, the smell coming out the back fan. I have to shut it down and leave the room every few hours to air it out, it's that bad. I've heard about the "new mac smell" and had a tiny taste of it with a new macbook last summer, but this is different - it's intense, nauseating, and makes you feel funny. Friends and neighbors have agreed: this can't be good.

Anyone else had this experience? Does this smell last? Do I bother calling Apple? Do I put it in the garage and run extra long monitor cables in? (If so, do those exist?)

Any ideas, suggestions, snide flames at my ignorance, all are appreciated. I've been trawling the net and can't come up with much. Thank you!
Steve Tannen

[QCassidy352]

call apple. that's not normal; something needs to be fixed or replaced!

[piltupso]

I got a new 2.66 Mac Pro back in August and use it in a small room and never noticed any smell even right out of the box.

[AlBDamned]

Hey All,

Long-time lurker, first time poster. I got my new 3.0 Mac Pro Octo via fed ex this weekend. It's blisteringly fast, I've taken it through its paces and am thoroughly pleased. EXCEPT...it stinks to high heaven. It's a plastic-burning type smell, seems almost toxic, the smell coming out the back fan. I have to shut it down and leave the room every few hours to air it out, it's that bad. I've heard about the "new mac smell" and had a tiny taste of it with a new macbook last summer, but this is different - it's intense, nauseating, and makes you feel funny. Friends and neighbors have agreed: this can't be good.

Anyone else had this experience? Does this smell last? Do I bother calling Apple? Do I put it in the garage and run extra long monitor cables in? (If so, do those exist?)

Any ideas, suggestions, snide flames at my ignorance, all are appreciated. I've been trawling the net and can't come up with much. Thank you!
Steve Tannen

I know this sounds stupid, but have you checked inside it to make sure you removed all the plastic protection film and sheets?

When I got my G5 a long time ago it was covered in the stuff, inside and out, on the bay doors, everywhere.

Otherwise, I'd check inside it thoroughly. it could just be a little bit of something from the packaging that's got lodged somewhere.

Hope you can get it sorted.

[twoodcc]

I know this sounds stupid, but have you checked inside it to make sure you removed all the plastic protection film and sheets?

When I got my G5 a long time ago it was covered in the stuff, inside and out, on the bay doors, everywhere.

Otherwise, I'd check inside it thoroughly. it could just be a little bit of something from the packaging that's got lodged somewhere.

Hope you can get it sorted.

was gonna say the same thing. please check this before calling apple

[Celeron]

Odd, I read the exact same issue on this forum from several months ago. Do a search, I'm sure you'll find it. I think the guy in that thread had the power supply replaced which ultimately stopped the smell.

Edit: Found it, it was at the Apple support forums, not these ones. See here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4057680

User describes the EXACT same symptoms. Apple replaced his power supply.

[stevetannen]

was gonna say the same thing. please check this before calling apple

Yes, I looked inside. Nothing obvious. I'm amazed to hear a computer maker would wrap parts inside with plastic, that seems...problematic. A bit like plastic wrapping the car engine parts under the hood.

I have searched "mac smell" in these forums, but I mostly come up with complaints about co-workers body odor.

Thanks for your help everyone - to Apple's phone lines I go, armed only with a powerful smell.

:)

[stevetannen]

Odd, I read the exact same issue on this forum from several months ago. Do a search, I'm sure you'll find it. I think the guy in that thread had the power supply replaced which ultimately stopped the smell.

Edit: Found it, it was at the Apple support forums, not these ones. See here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4057680

User describes the EXACT same symptoms. Apple replaced his power supply.


AWESOME. Thank you. Great to hear someone else had something like this, and it gives me a thread to pursue. You rock, thank you.

Steve

[AlBDamned]

AWESOME. Thank you. Great to hear someone else had something like this, and it gives me a thread to pursue. You rock, thank you.

Steve

Would be great if it was just the power supply as that's a pretty easy fix. :)

[Jiddick ExRex]

Have you repaired permissions?

Also try reset PRAM.

:)

[disconap]

It sounds like something is a bit off in the cooling. I don't really know the physical architecture of the new line, but I would definitely call Apple immediately. At very least, they can tell you what to do.

[PhotoGraphic]

Odd, I read the exact same issue on this forum from several months ago. Do a search, I'm sure you'll find it. I think the guy in that thread had the power supply replaced which ultimately stopped the smell.

Edit: Found it, it was at the Apple support forums, not these ones. See here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4057680

User describes the EXACT same symptoms. Apple replaced his power supply.

I contributed to that particular discussion thread yesterday. A few hours later my posting was removed (together with a good few others, including postings by stevetannen who started this thread here). On top of that, Apple locked the topic for further discussion! The most recent posting in the thread now dates from the 11th of March which means the topic has disappeared from it's top position in the list of discussions.

It is most likely that the content of my posting triggered this attempt at censorship, perhaps I hit a sensitive spot. I am therefore quoting myself here (from memory, therefore not verbatim):

"I have had my Mac Pro (2x 2GHz) for nearly two weeks and the smell is constant, meaning it is getting neither better nor worse over time. Luckily the weather has been mild here in Ireland over the last weeks so I can work with the windows open, I could not bear it otherwise.

According to this thread the power supply seems to be the problem. Before I will approach Apple to have it replaced I will check out how much it costs to have the air in my workspace analysed. If it does not break the bank I will do that. And if it turns out that the smell contains carcinogenic substances, then replacing the power supply will be the least of Apple's worries."

The fact that Apple does not like the discussion to go down this road and wants to suppress it makes me even more worried.

[xJulianx]

I thought my MacBook smelt like pineapple when I got it out of the box.

[jimN]

I contributed to that particular discussion thread yesterday. A few hours later my posting was removed (together with a good few others, including postings by stevetannen who started this thread here). On top of that, Apple locked the topic for further discussion! The most recent posting in the thread now dates from the 11th of March which means the topic has disappeared from it's top position in the list of discussions.

It is most likely that the content of my posting triggered this attempt at censorship, perhaps I hit a sensitive spot. I am therefore quoting myself here (from memory, therefore not verbatim):

"I have had my Mac Pro (2x 2GHz) for nearly two weeks and the smell is constant, meaning it is getting neither better nor worse over time. Luckily the weather has been mild here in Ireland over the last weeks so I can work with the windows open, I could not bear it otherwise.

According to this thread the power supply seems to be the problem. Before I will approach Apple to have it replaced I will check out how much it costs to have the air in my workspace analysed. If it does not break the bank I will do that. And if it turns out that the smell contains carcinogenic substances, then replacing the power supply will be the least of Apple's worries."

The fact that Apple does not like the discussion to go down this road and wants to suppress it makes me even more worried.

Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.

[PhotoGraphic]

Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all.

Please point out to me where I am slandering anybody. Thank you.

[yagran]

Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.

i agree with you there jimN, but i do feel sorry for you PhotoGraphic and i understand your annoyed that you mac stinks out the place, but slander is not the way forward if your seriously looking to persue legal action :P

[yagran]

you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

[FireArse]

you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

Yagran has a point about damage to reputation without legitimate reason.

However - I've worked with heavy duty PSU's in consumer electronics (52-port 3Com switches) and I saw a lot of them go in all sorts of ways. It was my job as a Reliabililty Engineer to make them fail. None had me worried about the fumes given off.

F

[PhotoGraphic]

you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

I wish you would read my posting carefully before replying. I said that I want to have the air in my workspace analysed (if affordable). I said that Apple will have worries if the smell contains carcinogenic substances.

I have not suggested anywhere that Apple may be giving me cancer.

Again: please read my posting before replying. Do not reply to something you imagine I have written.

[bartelby]

Again: please read my posting before replying. Do not reply to something you imagine I have written.

It's an odd thing to say if you don't actually think it does!

Why would you pay for analysis if you don't think it will come back positive?

[bearbo]

I contributed to that particular discussion thread yesterday. A few hours later my posting was removed (together with a good few others, including postings by stevetannen who started this thread here). On top of that, Apple locked the topic for further discussion! The most recent posting in the thread now dates from the 11th of March which means the topic has disappeared from it's top position in the list of discussions.

It is most likely that the content of my posting triggered this attempt at censorship, perhaps I hit a sensitive spot. I am therefore quoting myself here (from memory, therefore not verbatim):

"I have had my Mac Pro (2x 2GHz) for nearly two weeks and the smell is constant, meaning it is getting neither better nor worse over time. Luckily the weather has been mild here in Ireland over the last weeks so I can work with the windows open, I could not bear it otherwise.

According to this thread the power supply seems to be the problem. Before I will approach Apple to have it replaced I will check out how much it costs to have the air in my workspace analysed. If it does not break the bank I will do that. And if it turns out that the smell contains carcinogenic substances, then replacing the power supply will be the least of Apple's worries."

The fact that Apple does not like the discussion to go down this road and wants to suppress it makes me even more worried.
there are few substances that are not carcinogenic. Table salt is a carcinogen, however at a much higher level of consumption than say, benzene vapor. Because of the fact that in this very un-ideal world, nothing can be burnt completely, therefore it's very likely that there is carcinogenic substances in the resulting vapor that smells like burnt. However the presence of those substances doesn't mean it will be cancer causing.
Also, a substance doesn't have to be carcinogenic to be harmful. Lots of substances can result in damage in health at a low concentration over a period of time long before it can cause cancer.

Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.
But he didn't actually accuse Apple of anything. He merely said he'd like to look into that, would that still be illegal?

[bearbo]

It's an odd thing to say if you don't actually think it does!

Why would you pay for analysis if you don't think it will come back positive?

one might suspect it does, but not sure. and more importantly, hoping it'd come back negative.

have you never had any medical exams, and you hope the result of which will come back negative (and mostly believe it'll come back negative) but just want to be sure?

more obviously, have you not seen those pregnancy testers sold in grocery stores that women use to see if they are pregnant (and hoping they arent)

[bartelby]

one might suspect it does, but not sure. and more importantly, hoping it'd come back negative.

have you never had any medical exams, and you hope the result of which will come back negative (and mostly believe it'll come back negative) but just want to be sure?

more obviously, have you not seen those pregnancy testers sold in grocery stores that women use to see if they are pregnant (and hoping they arent)

I've never suspected anything was wrong and had an exam, no.

[bearbo]

I've never suspected anything was wrong and had an exam, no.

so you always knew something was wrong before you had a medical exam?

All workers at chemical plant (or related field) have to take a drug test before they are allowed to work there. This is to ensure that they are not under the influence of any illegal drug. But that doesn't mean that they are all suspected to be on crack.

[yagran]

But he didn't actually accuse Apple of anything. He merely said he'd like to look into that, would that still be illegal?

not specifiacally but slander is more about damaging a reputation. which comments may do, for instance browsing a forum and seeing it may be carcinogenic could lead to a bad rep and consequently loss of sales...

[Henri Gaudier]

Christ! He said "If" and "May" 2 enormous words.

2 small words that get the Apple defence storm troopers rabid.

Why can't you stand discussion of your beloved Apple Fuhrer if it has the potential of a negative aspect? PhotoGraphic was right to have concerns - give him sage council and stop acting like part-time Apple legal execs.

deeeeeeeefr - my cat Kaspar's contribution as he walked across my keyboard.

French elections today - Crash and burn Sarko!!!!

[bartelby]

so you always knew something was wrong before you had a medical exam?

All workers at chemical plant (or related field) have to take a drug test before they are allowed to work there. This is to ensure that they are not under the influence of any illegal drug. But that doesn't mean that they are all suspected to be on crack.



Scenario 1) I think Apple's computer maybe causing the air to be carcinogenic, I'd best get it tested.

Scenario 2) I've got a mole that wasn't there a week ago, I'd best get it tested.

Scenario 3) I think I'm pregnant, I'd best get a test to see.

Scenario 4) We don't want employees who are involved in illegal activities as we think they are a too high of a risk to have working here. We'll have drug tests to filter out these people.

Can't you see the difference between Scenario 1 and the other 3.

[jimN]

This all seems to have hi-jacked the OP's point. The consensus would appear to be that what he is experiencing is not the "new mac smell" but rather something suggestive of a fault.

My earlier point stands. I can understand why apple might not like comments suggesting that a burning smell could be linked with carcinogens, and that was certainly implicit from photographic's post. And I still feel that he has managed to sabotage a thread in the apple support forums that might otherwise have been of use to the OP.

With regards to pregnancy tests and medical exams. You get them because you are worried that they might be positive. If I strongly suspect something to be negative I tend not to waste my time and effort. Generally the more significant the positive outcome the lower the threshold for investigation, ie more likely to get a nasty looking mole checked (possible outcome:death) than to have a cough reviewed (likely outcome:cold, now eff off out of my surgery).

[yagran]

mmmm...

you may have said if and may and all that jazz.

dont matter. negative outlook frm apples perspective.

so can you expect them to host it? no

is it slanderous? questionable

loss of sales? mebe

you take legal action they would counter claim your ass for loss of sales.

thats all i said. so :p

[whooleytoo]

not specifiacally but slander is more about damaging a reputation. which comments may do, for instance browsing a forum and seeing it may be carcinogenic could lead to a bad rep and consequently loss of sales...

I don't think pondering whether something could be carcinogenic could be slanderous, but that assumes the law has some degree of common sense..

In any case, Apple has every right to moderate their own forums as they choose. If they removed the post as it's likely to unnecessarily scare users, they're probably right to do so. If they removed it while knowing/suspecting there is a problem, it's extremely irresponsible of them to do so.

[MalcolmJID]

So what's happening then....are you gonna get your air tested, or just get the computer replaced by Apple?

[yagran]

So what's happening then....are you gonna get your air tested, or just get the computer replaced by Apple?

i think you should get it tested now. after all this lol. :D sorry i didnt mean to come across as against you earlier, was in a mood i guess.

[PhotoGraphic]

not specifiacally but slander is more about damaging a reputation. which comments may do, for instance browsing a forum and seeing it may be carcinogenic could lead to a bad rep and consequently loss of sales...

Yagran, please go to Wikipedia and educate yourself about the definition of slander. Thank you.

In fact, accusing me of slander when in fact I am doing nothing of that sort amounts to libel. (You may want to look up the definition of "libel" as well.)

[Redwill]

First of all, sorry about my english, i just registre here to coment the case that i have the same odor problem too in my 1week old Macpro from Europe.

Mac Pro Assambled in Cork (Ireland) on the xx/04/07

Conf.2,6Ghz, X1900XT

And i have the same problem, like a grase burning, or plastic melting, just how much i used more bad smell.

For all of those who are not sure if they have the problem, the smell is noticiable, isnt like the brand new smell of electronics, is a day persisten smell easy to notice about.

[meshuga]

good grief! dude is discussing Apple products in an Apple Product theme forum. He is expressing concern for a product which he was not happy with. No slander was made. Apple simply removed his posting to stop that line of thought from snowballing, which I can understand. Get the air tested, i'd like to be the first to know the results when u get them simply because i would like to have knowledge from sources other than apple :)

[phillipjfry]

I thought my MacBook smelt like pineapple when I got it out of the box.

I thought my first iMac smelled like angels would smell like. :)

[PianoPete]

If a burning smell/fumes make you nauseous and dizzy to the point where you have to leave the room I would imagine it's not very healthy. Your body is reacting to something toxic and the nausea is a survival mechanism. Definitely get it tested.

As far as the legal issues go I am no attorney so I'll withold comment. The 'carcinogenic' comment is certainly inflammatory though.

[uws]

Well put me on the list too. It smells like a sort of ammonia and that is not healthy at all. If you stay in the room you get dizzy after a few minutes. I ran the Mac Pro for a few days but it won't go away. And: You don't have to have a very sensitive nose to realize the smell. It definetely comes from the power supply of the Mac Pro (mine is a 3 GHz quad). Called my retailer and they will come and check.

It looks like a faulty part in the power supply or they forgot to remove some plastic in there.

Cheers

Update: problem solved...they changed the psu and now it is OK. Can't say what it was, because you can't look into the psu, the Tech suggested it may be a faulty part and that the psu would have died anyway somewhen later.

BTW. the Mac Pro is also an "inside" beauty. Changing the psu took three minutes....


Update 2: contrary to what I thought before, the problem is NOT solved. It takes longer now to produce the problem, but after running about 2 hours the Mac Pro stinks like he did before. It is so intense that you can't stay in the room. I tried to let the machine run for four days in a closed room, hoping that ot will go away didn't help. So I call the tech again....

[Redwill]

Can the affected like me post here the place showen on Coconut identitycard (http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutidentitycard/index.html) about the place and the estimated date of build of your MacPro.

Mine is shipped in Europe (Spain) is a 2,6Ghz whit Ati 1900XT

Build in Corck, Ireland, on xx/04/2007

Thanks for all, for me, i left the Macpro turned on about 45Hrs and now seems that the smell is gone in the room, meabe is some plactic that have been left in the fabrication that has veen burning.

[PhotoGraphic]

Hi Redwill,

As far as I know all the Macs for the European market are assembled in Cork, Ireland. My one also dates from mid-April 2007, but the specs are all different (2 GHz, different graphics card...)

The machine is now with the local Apple authorized repair shop, they are exchanging the power supply unit.

Results from the lab re. air test should come in next week. It took ages to get the test kit, thanks to the combined "efforts" of Parcelforce and GLS. I'll post the results when I have them.

[macenforcer]

you are suggesting that apple may be giving you cancer, with out this being a fact it is slanderous as it may damage their reputation without legitimate reason...

remember that if you did take up legal action and were found to be incorrect. expect a counter claim for damages

Rediculous assumption. He is stating IF the smell contains something bad he will sue. He is not saying it is cancer causing but IF it is he will do something about it. That is NOT slanderous.

That is like me saying, "If Steve Jobs comes over and kills me, he will be in big trouble." I never said he killed me. GET IT?

[BioChron]

Well, I hope you get this fixed asap and Apple doesn't give you any hassel!

[PhotoGraphic]

Update: The repair shop just rang me and said that the smell comes from a chip with heatsink on the logic board and that this chip seems to be overheating. They have ordered a new logic board.

This is interesting insofar as all smelly macs that I have read about had the power supply unit replaced.

[Redwill]

Thats new!!!, meaby because of that some one says that replacing the PSU doesnt solve the problem .

I have to say, that the first time i smell the problem, i hope that was the Radeon or meaby the Processors that were burning, so that claims that meaby the Chipset or something in that area is the cause acording for what you say.

Most probably that is the final cause, now is time to identify the heatsink, i will try to.

Thanks and sorry about my english

[Frankf300]

This thread reminded that I need to seek legal advice. I may have to file claims against myself. The other day I farted and the smell was unbearable, I got this bad headache and it hasn't gone away yet. Boy, I don't know what I'm in for. Sorry, I'm half asleep. :o

[iW00t]

Can you honestly blame them for removing an accusatory posting. Had you found out that there were no carcinogens would you have apologised for the slander - legal actions work both ways after all. It seems all that you managed to do was stop the OP from getting help that he wanted.

Overreacting much?

All the OP said is his Mac Pro stinks up his room, where did all this talk about carcinogens come from? Guilty conscience?

[PhotoGraphic]

This morning I went to the repair shop where The Stinker had undergone a logic board transplant. They had it running overnight in a very small cubicle of a room.

The smell had not gone, as the repair person acknowledged. But it was definitely much reduced. So what was I to do? Go for yet another logic board transplant? Give the machine back to Apple? I decided to bring it home and give it another few days. Damn, I have to go through hundreds of RAW files today and can't bring myself to do that on the old G4. :-(

At home I noticed that they had given me an old mouse with dirty scrollball and grit and biro marks on the cable. Clearly not the mouse that was in the box!!!

When I wiped down the greasy pawmarks which the machine had all over it, I noticed a 2 cm long scratch right on top of the housing. While I'm sure the repair shop will eventually give back the original mouse, I wonder what I should do about the scratch because it will affect the resale value - and if I decide to give the computer back to Apple, this scratch might become a problem. Any advice?

If I could turn back time, I would have given The Stinker back to Apple right after the first day, then ordered a new computer. This would have saved me a LOT of time and hassle...

[yagran]

saying it may be give him cancer not slander, posting it on apples forums in the way he did, is slander. simple as that. sorry if you felt offended, im simply stating the truth, you have to be careful what you say on big companies forums, say for instance a reporter had picked up your thread and ran a story, who would be liable for damages to apple if the claims added to nothing? the reporter for sure, but ultimately the source would have been you. i was just trying to make you realise apples point of view. :)

[PhotoGraphic]

saying it may be give him cancer not slander, posting it on apples forums in the way he did, is slander. simple as that. sorry if you felt offended, im simply stating the truth, you have to be careful what you say on big companies forums, say for instance a reporter had picked up your thread and ran a story, who would be liable for damages to apple if the claims added to nothing? the reporter for sure, but ultimately the source would have been you. i was just trying to make you realise apples point of view. :)

You show a lot more concern for for a possible drop in computer sales than for the health of the users. Do you not think you have your priorities backwards?!

[CaTV]

Yes, absolutely ditto. It makes my nostrils shut entirely and I feel both nauseous and a bit weird. I bought my Mac Book Pro in 2007, and this only started a couple of months ago. It becomes unbearable when the fan is running. Does ANYONE know what the hell this odour is? I've heard that one of the Mac Book Pro smells may be linked to leukemia. To the person who first posted this: I was just about to buy a new computer today, and the vendor said I should take my problem to Apple and they will probably replace it.

[Spacedust]

I got the same in Mac Pro 2006. That's why I have to sell it after just half a year. Now my brand new Mac Pro 2008 have no smell at all (self build from parts).