27" iMac fan audible at idle speed

[Dowjohnny]

Hey guys,


I got a brand new iMac 2019 27" with 512GB SSD just about 2 months ago (with apple care of course). From day one I was able to hear the fan right after startup at what I would call "idle speed". Very very silent but distinguishable from about 1m distance. I have very fine hearing and it is my first iMac, so I simply assumed this was normal and it did not bother me. The sound also is just a faint "woosh", so no hint for a bad bearing or the fan not running round. Before I had a MacBook Air in which I only heard the fan ramp up when under heavy load, my iMac hasn't done so because I don't think I challenge it enough

So far I didn't suspect an issue until I had a friend come over today who claims that his 2019 27" iMac is COMPLETELY silent. He also has an SSD in it so no other sound source.

So my questions to the other iMac owners here is: Is it normal to hear the fan at an idle speed (with good hearing ore being really close to the unit) or is it maybe a "bad" fan? I'm not sure if in that case I would bother to have it replaced since it is still really really silent, but I just want to know for sure.

Thanks for your help =)

 

[28Gauge]

I also have a 2019 27" iMac with an SSD and I do hear the fans from time to time while it is under a light load or at idle. I will have to say the fan sound is very, very faint and not distracting at all. With that being said, my hearing is not what it used to be after spending years around loud music, powered lawn equipment and airplanes.

 

[Wolf1701]

So my questions to the other iMac owners here is: Is it normal to hear the fan at an idle speed (with good hearing ore being really close to the unit) or is it maybe a "bad" fan? I'm not sure if in that case I would bother to have it replaced since it is still really really silent, but I just want to know for sure.

Thanks for your help =)

this is normal (I also have a 2019), the fan in idle run at 1200 rpm and some of us can hear this faint whoosh, but not everyone can, or cares, or his house/office is silent enough.

I can tell this is normal because my old iMac 2014 had the same "whoosh".

If this bother you, you can try to change his position (reflection of sound against wall), place some sound absorbing foam behind and under the iMac (on the wall), simply wait (with time the dust will make this sound more... soft) or try one hack to slow down the idle speed to 1000 rpm (not tryed myself).

also discussed here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/recent-27-imacs-are-not-silent.2218800/

 

[Dowjohnny]

Thanks! Much appreciated

 

[hifivoice]

I can also hear it. It is a bit louder than my iMac Late 2014, but it is especially tuned at a difference frequency where our ears are more sensitive. But I can only hear it in a fully silent room. During weekdays when there is some street noise, or with some soft music, the fan noise is already masked by the surroundings.