2019 MacBook Air fan is driving me nuts

[mj_]

So I picked up a 2019 MacBook Air today because my 2017 MacBook is once again back at Apple to get a new keyboard under the keyboard replacement program (yay me!). And since Apple doesn't seem to be familiar with the concept of handing out loaners and I needed a mobile Mac for my job I had to purchase something for the sole purpose of returning it again in a few days. My initial idea was to keep the Air for two weeks to get as much use out of the allegedly "fixed" keyboard as possible.

However, I've had this MacBook Air for roughly three hours how and the fan is already driving me bonkers. The lowest setting seems to be 2,700rpm and there is no way to have it running slower than that. Unfortunately, I am one of those super sensitive users that cannot stand any fan noise whatsoever, and that constant silent hum is distracting and incredibly annoying after three hours already. Is there any way to turn off the fan completely? MacsFanControl won't allow me to set it below 2,700rpm, which seems to be the minimum set by the firmware. I always thought the fan was off when idle but this thing is always spinning and humming, but it seems that this is only true for the 13" MacBook Pro and not the 13" MacBook Air.

Any chance to shut this thing up? If not I'll have to return this piece of sh*t again tomorrow and grab a 13" MacBook Pro instead.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

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[mj_]

How did you verify whether or not it is off? Normally, when you can turn a fan off you can do so with MacsFanControl anytime by setting it to 0 rpm. On this system, the minimum fan RPM is not 0 (aka off) but 2700, hence there is no way to turn the fan off.

 

[CPx]

What programs are you running? My fan barely ever comes on.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

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[mj_]

@Erehy Dobon you're right. It took all night but the fan was off this morning, and the current fan RPM in MacsFanControl is a zero in orange text. Thanks a lot.

 

[Aurora823]

So I recently picked up a 2019 MBA (just got it on Tuesday of this week) and had one or two tabs open when the fans started up suddenly. For the life of me I couldn't figure what is was until I opened the Activity Monitor. What was taxing the CPU a lot was the Pinterest tab. Pretty soon after closing that tab the fans stopped...is this normal? I know Pinterest is image heavy but I was surprised it made the laptop heat up so much and the fans go crazy. If I streamed a video it was fine but not Pinterest.

 

[R0ckyRZ]

So I recently picked up a 2019 MBA (just got it on Tuesday of this week) and had one or two tabs open when the fans started up suddenly. For the life of me I couldn't figure what is was until I opened the Activity Monitor. What was taxing the CPU a lot was the Pinterest tab. Pretty soon after closing that tab the fans stopped...is this normal? I know Pinterest is image heavy but I was surprised it made the laptop heat up so much and the fans go crazy. If I streamed a video it was fine but not Pinterest.

Probably all the hidden ads and junkware. That website is a mess.

 

[Aurora823]

Probably all the hidden ads and junkware. That website is a mess.

Yea that site is messy. Again today I tried it and the fans kicked on again but this time it is saying safari is the biggest percent of the cpu (at 129%) and I only have 3 tabs open...this just seems odd to me or maybe I haven't had a laptop in so long that had fans I could actually hear. I want to love this laptop but...there have just been too many issues since it's initial roll out :/