iMac 24" Noise

[pancho]

I got my 24" iMac recently and it's so quiet that if it weren't for the light when it's on sleep mode I could not tell that it is turned on at all (yes, that quiet!).

However, from time to time, it makes a "buzz" sound, some times for like 1-2 minutes and other times just 10-20 seconds but for a few times until it finally stops. It's buzzing right now and I'm not using much CPU or memory at all, so it seems kind of random.

The noise isn't loud, but it can be annoying at times, kind of like if there was a bug trapped inside it trying to fly away. Since it doesn't happen all the time I assume it's normal, but can anyone tell me what exactly it is and why it does that?

Thanks

 

[cbrain]

Kind of like if there was a bug trapped inside it trying to fly away.

Perhaps that is your problem!

 

[pancho]

Perhaps that is your problem!

Hehe, I knew that'd be the first reply. Sadly, I checked and there is no flying bug fighting for it's life on my iMac

Also note I'm not talking about the normal noise you can hear from the CPU when it has more usage, it's something different, louder and more annoying. Didn't happen again since I posted.

 

[Curren~Sea]

Mine buzzes also. It sounds like it's coming from the screen. It sounds like a bad flourescent bulb. It happens all the time and I think it has become louder. Searching threads to see if there is a resolution or if it's just a bad display... (iMac 24").

 

[pancho]

Mine buzzes also. It sounds like it's coming from the screen. It sounds like a bad flourescent bulb. It happens all the time and I think it has become louder. Searching threads to see if there is a resolution or if it's just a bad display... (iMac 24").

Thanks for the response, but I don't think mine is coming from the screen, nor ir happens all the time. I'm starting to think it's only when I'm using a lot of CPU for a while (when I was gaming on windows for example), would that make any sense?

 

[Keirdre]

And it's definitely not a fan?

 

[cyberddot]

Yeah, don't forget, you've got the whole computer residing behind your screen. My g5-iMac frequently has fan sounds and HDD sounds emanating from it during regular use. Granted, neither sound like a bug to me, but that's the biologist in me.

<edit>If you're concerned, take advantage of the warranty and have it checked out at an authorized service center.

 

[pancho]

It could be a fan I suppose, I'm not really concerned, just curious because it doesn't do it all the time. Thanks for all the responses, if it starts doing it constantly I might check it with Apple but I doubt it will.

 

[Dice-K]

Hi,

My new iMac 24" does that too! I just set it up yesterday and this crackling noise is most prevalent when you first boot up the computer. It happens intermittantly when I'm using the net and usually when I click on an icon on the dock...and right now its buzzing...this can't be normal, can it? I'm thinking I should just call apple and see what they say, but thought I'd check here for more opinions first. Thanks!

Kelvin