27 inch iMac Late 2012 fan concern

[Suffa]

I also think the 2012 iMac is noisy.

Of course it is quiet compared to a standalone PC or something like that but i have to say the previous iMac model was quieter, and it kind of disturbs me.

Sure, make the design thinner, its awesome, but you shouldn't compromise things like this because of that.

 

[iMcLovin]

I also think the 2012 iMac is noisy.

Of course it is quiet compared to a standalone PC or something like that but i have to say the previous iMac model was quieter, and it kind of disturbs me.

Sure, make the design thinner, its awesome, but you shouldn't compromise things like this because of that.

Hmm then I think something is faulty for u. Mine is almost completely silent. I don't hear a thing almost. So my previous iMac was silent, but this one is a lot more silent.

 

[Suffa]

"I dont hear a thing, almost"

Yea, neither do I, but its not silent. And what would the problem be? The fan is running at 1198 rpm, normal, it doesnt sound strange its just the way the new iMac sound.

My iMac has the same subtle click-sound from the fan.

 

[Suffa]

I would really like to hear anyone else's late 2012 iMac with Fusion drive, to see if they are as "loud" as mine.

Maybe I am oversensitive to sounds. I keep it on at night and i hear the fan whirring when in bed, 3,5 meters away, in a complete quite room with just background noise (It's as quite as it gets without special equipment. I'd say my room at night is around 28 dB)

 

[Suffa]

No one?

 

[macthefork]

Well, I guess many of the posters here didn't own one of those Mirrored Drive Door G-4 Macs of about 10 years ago. They were also known as the "Wind Tunnel" Macs. Talk about fan noise. Try working on one of those Macs for a few years, just to get your work done. Comparatively, all the recent Macs, including the Mac Pro's are Super Quiet.

BTW... I gave that noisy G-4 to my sister, who is still using it.

 

[hfg]

I would really like to hear anyone else's late 2012 iMac with Fusion drive, to see if they are as "loud" as mine.

Maybe I am oversensitive to sounds. I keep it on at night and i hear the fan whirring when in bed, 3,5 meters away, in a complete quite room with just background noise (It's as quite as it gets without special equipment. I'd say my room at night is around 28 dB)

Is it the fan ... or the disk drive?

You could set your power settings to let the iMac "sleep" when you are not using it, such as when you are sleeping too.

 

[computerstar]

Does anyone else suffer from an imac that always has the fans on 1200 rpm and can hear it a little from the second it boots untill it sleeps?

I dont think it's a problem but if you are worred than take it to Apple.

Thanks.

 

[Mac32]

Is it the fan ... or the disk drive?

You could set your power settings to let the iMac "sleep" when you are not using it, such as when you are sleeping too.

Exactly.. I get hammered sometimes for criticizing the Fusion drive, but if you want a more quiet and cooler running iMac, ditch the Fusion drive and get an all SSD-solution - if you can afford it. The ticking and crunching sound is also typically hard drive noises. Some hard drives makes almost constant noises, even when they are supposed to be idle. That sound is a lot more annoying to my ears than a very soft, hardly audible - but constant fan sound.

 

[Suffa]

Yea the HDD is not the issue, its the fan, which by now i dont really care about anymore. It's quite, but not as quite as the fan of 2009 imac. The HDD in the old imacs are loud as f though.

 

[Chippy99]

BTW... I gave that noisy G-4 to my deaf sister, who is still using it.

Edited for accuracy ;-)

 

[Arfdog]

This all sounds like hot air

 

[Chippy99]

Sad to report my 2nd iMac has this "helicopter" fan sound. The first one (RMA'd because of screen fault) had no such sound - just a gentle whoosh of air flow.

This 2nd one has the helicopter sound. I work in a totally silent room and the fan noise is EASILY audible at working distance and in fact quite offputting. F()**ng annoying in fact. I cannot bear the prospect of ANOTHER RMA and risking getting a machine with another fault or a dodgy screen again. But my Mac Mini is WAY quieter than this.

Rather unimpressed with Apple QC right now to be honest.

 

[Arfdog]

Exactly.. I get hammered sometimes for criticizing the Fusion drive, but if you want a more quiet and cooler running iMac, ditch the Fusion drive and get an all SSD-solution - if you can afford it. The ticking and crunching sound is also typically hard drive noises. Some hard drives makes almost constant noises, even when they are supposed to be idle. That sound is a lot more annoying to my ears than a very soft, hardly audible - but constant fan sound.

The 2012 in sleep mode is dead silent. The computer is totally off in sleep mode.

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Sad to report my 2nd iMac has this "helicopter" fan sound. The first one (RMA'd because of screen fault) had no such sound - just a gentle whoosh of air flow.

This 2nd one has the helicopter sound. I work in a totally silent room and the fan noise is EASILY audible at working distance and in fact quite offputting. F()**ng annoying in fact. I cannot bear the prospect of ANOTHER RMA and risking getting a machine with another fault or a dodgy screen again. But my Mac Mini is WAY quieter than this.

Rather unimpressed with Apple QC right now to be honest.

Well if you have a legit claim, take it back again. Let it be known to Apple if the QC is that poor. What's wrong with the screen? And don't say "light bleeding"....

 

[TX328F]

Does anyone else suffer from an imac that always has the fans on 1200 rpm can hear it a little from the second it boots untill it sleeps?

I just notice this thread. My iMac 2012 (with SSD only) is virtually silent. The fan idle speed is 1200 rpm. If I approach my ear to the rear I can hear a slight clicking sound. But if I sit in front at normal viewing distance I cannot hear it (background noise, even at night, drowns it). My 2009 iMac had a faint noise until they replaced the Seagate drive with a Hitachi one (much noisier!). The 2012 version is much better!

 

[WilliamG]

Exactly.. I get hammered sometimes for criticizing the Fusion drive, but if you want a more quiet and cooler running iMac, ditch the Fusion drive and get an all SSD-solution - if you can afford it. The ticking and crunching sound is also typically hard drive noises. Some hard drives makes almost constant noises, even when they are supposed to be idle. That sound is a lot more annoying to my ears than a very soft, hardly audible - but constant fan sound.

My 2012 fusion 27" is silent, even when the hard drive is accessing. I VERY occasionally hear it spin up, but after it's spun up it's inaudible unless I put my ear to the back of the system.

For people who still think the iMac noisy, you either have superhuman hearing or your iMac is broken.

 

[Mac32]

My 2012 fusion 27" is silent, even when the hard drive is accessing. I VERY occasionally hear it spin up, but after it's spun up it's inaudible unless I put my ear to the back of the system.

For people who still think the iMac noisy, you either have superhuman hearing or your iMac is broken.

Then you might be lucky... A lot of hard drives have this problem with the "crunching" sound, but also many do not. It's a bit of a gamble when you buy a new hard drive. I don't know how much the iMac casing dampens the HD noise though. An iMac with a fusion drive is a sweet deal, but SSD is still a better choice to me anyway.

And to the other guy who quoted me, I have no idea what you're talking about. Of course the hard drive is silent when the iMac is in sleep mode.

 

[Chippy99]

Well if you have a legit claim, take it back again. Let it be known to Apple if the QC is that poor. What's wrong with the screen? And don't say "light bleeding"....

Sorry I missed your post. There was a dead ferret behind the glass. Or some similarly sized piece of crud.

I can't be bothered returning this one to be honest. I will fix the stand leaning to the left with a couple of business cards under the stand. And the sticking power button I will just not press very often. The fan is annoying but it only does it 50% of the time (it's random from one day to the next). When I can finally stand it no longer I will replace it myself or get it replaced. I'd rather do that than risk a 3rd replacement machine with another set of faults.

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My 2012 fusion 27" is silent, even when the hard drive is accessing. I VERY occasionally hear it spin up, but after it's spun up it's inaudible unless I put my ear to the back of the system.

For people who still think the iMac noisy, you either have superhuman hearing or your iMac is broken.

I think your definition of silent is different from mine. Even my "quiet" Mac is easily audible during normal use. No iMac is remotely silent.

 

[Arfdog]

Sorry I missed your post. There was a dead ferret behind the glass. Or some similarly sized piece of crud.

I can't be bothered returning this one to be honest. I will fix the stand leaning to the left with a couple of business cards under the stand. And the sticking power button I will just not press very often. The fan is annoying but it only does it 50% of the time (it's random from one day to the next). When I can finally stand it no longer I will replace it myself or get it replaced. I'd rather do that than risk a 3rd replacement machine with another set of faults.

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I think your definition of silent is different from mine. Even my "quiet" Mac is easily audible during normal use. No iMac is remotely silent.

Well I think you make it sound like your iMac is a trashy computer. I'd disagree of course but if you don't like it, why not just return it for a refund? Also if you have that many problems, I would take it back.

I don't know, maybe I hit the lottery and got the one perfect iMac, but I don't have any of those quality problems you have. My power button is fine, the only reason my imac leans a couple mm is because my desk is uneven, and the fan as you know is quiet to me.

 

[WilliamG]

I think your definition of silent is different from mine. Even my "quiet" Mac is easily audible during normal use. No iMac is remotely silent.

Then YOUR iMac is faulty. If you can "easily" hear your iMac during normal use (1200rpm default fan speed), then you need to exchange it.

I understand that peoples' tolerances vary here, but bear in mind this:

1.) I hear the high-pitched C3 IDLE sound on many computers, and it drives me nuts.
2.) I have to sleep with a white noise machine on because I'm so sensitive to outside noises that they wake me up - even the quietest ones.
3.) I hear everything, to the point of extreme distraction.

So I feel like I'm reasonably qualified to say that my iMac is near 100% silent at normal seating distance. If I put my ear to the very top of the iMac, I can hear a small combination of fan sound and electrical buzzing. But that's only if I put my ear to the top of it.

So exchange your iMac if yours is faulty. But just because YOUR iMac is faulty (and the one before it), does not mean they are ALL faulty. It's a hasty generalization, despite your frustrations with Apple's quality control (valid frustrations, I might add).

 

[Chippy99]

Then YOUR iMac is faulty. If you can "easily" hear your iMac during normal use (1200rpm default fan speed), then you need to exchange it.

I understand that peoples' tolerances vary here, but bear in mind this:

1.) I hear the high-pitched C3 IDLE sound on many computers, and it drives me nuts.
2.) I have to sleep with a white noise machine on because I'm so sensitive to outside noises that they wake me up - even the quietest ones.
3.) I hear everything, to the point of extreme distraction.

So I feel like I'm reasonably qualified to say that my iMac is near 100% silent at normal seating distance. If I put my ear to the very top of the iMac, I can hear a small combination of fan sound and electrical buzzing. But that's only if I put my ear to the top of it.

So exchange your iMac if yours is faulty. But just because YOUR iMac is faulty (and the one before it), does not mean they are ALL faulty. It's a hasty generalization, despite your frustrations with Apple's quality control (valid frustrations, I might add).

Sir, you are drawing incorrect conclusions and making wrong assumptions about other forum members and their equipment.

ALL iMacs have a fan. ALL late 2012 iMacs have a fan that runs at 1200rpm AT LEAST at all times. ALL such iMac fans produce airflow. ALL such airflow is audible as a gentle, quiet air rush sound.

I - like MANY others, I might add - can hear this air rush very clearly in normal use. I am sorry if you have impaired hearing.

 

[WilliamG]

ALL iMacs have a fan. ALL late 2012 iMacs have a fan that runs at 1200rpm AT LEAST at all times. ALL such iMac fans produce airflow. ALL such airflow is audible as a gentle, quiet air rush sound.

I - like MANY others, I might add - can hear this air rush very clearly in normal use. I am sorry if you have impaired hearing.

You're being quite rude. Let's analyse your statements, shall we?

"All iMacs have a fan": Yes
"ALL late 2012 iMacs have a fan that runs at 1200rpm AT LEAST at all times": Yes
"ALL such iMac fans produce airflow": Yes
"ALL such airflow is audible as a gentle, quiet air rush sound": Yes (depending on various factors)

"I - like MANY others, I might add - can hear this air rush very clearly in normal use. I am sorry if you have impaired hearing": No

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Now let's analyse the words, "...can hear this air rush very clearly in normal use."

Define "clearly?" When you glue your head to the back of the iMac? In an office environment? Where exactly are you locating your iMac that you can hear it easily? What are you comparing it to? I've owned quite a few iMacs, and I know for a fact that my 2012 iMac is quieter than my previous 2009 iMac (I had them both side by side, and compared). I do NOT have impaired hearing. My hearing, as stated previously, is excellent. I cannot hear my iMac at all unless it's the dead of night, with all the windows closed, and absolute, ABSOLUTE silence in the room. At that point, it's only slightly more noisy than inaudible.

Like I said, if you hear your iMac to the point that it distracts you, you have a broken iMac.

But clearly you're not to be convinced, so let's leave it, shall we? You'll just be responding to other people from now on, because this conversation is over. Have a great day, sir.

 

[Chippy99]

You're being quite rude. Let's analyse your statements, shall we?

"All iMacs have a fan": Yes
"ALL late 2012 iMacs have a fan that runs at 1200rpm AT LEAST at all times": Yes
"ALL such iMac fans produce airflow": Yes
"ALL such airflow is audible as a gentle, quiet air rush sound": Yes (depending on various factors)

"I - like MANY others, I might add - can hear this air rush very clearly in normal use. I am sorry if you have impaired hearing": No

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Now let's analyse the words, "...can hear this air rush very clearly in normal use."

Define "clearly?"

Sitting in front of it, whilst I am working / typing on the keyboard, reading the screen. I dont have to strain to hear it. In fact i find it hard to ignore it. It's there all the time and clear as day. Thats what I mean by clearly. When my disks spin up, I can't hear it. But since I work normally without spinning disks, most of the time the noise is audible.

I cannot hear my iMac at all unless it's the dead of night, with all the windows closed, and absolute, ABSOLUTE silence in the room. At that point, it's only slightly more noisy than inaudible.

So you have now moved your position from "It's silent" to "I can only hear it if I put my ear against it" to "I can hear it when I just sit there, provided the room is quiet".

This conversation is over. Have a great day, sir.

Thank goodness.

 

[n-evo]

My replacement iMac (27-inch, Late 2012) makes almost twice the noise during idle operations compared to my previous one. The fan almost sounds as if it's actually the HDD that's moving massive files around, which is impossible since there's nothing on there yet. Spotlight isn't indexing anything either. I'm incredibly puzzled by this. I did a PRAM reset four times, but no effect.

 

[mrlukasherman]

maybe not a fan problem

did you consider that hdd/fusion drives make noise too.. would be good have some flash storage user opinion ;-)