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Got a Loud PowerMac? Exchange the power supply!!
- Thread starter jeremy.king
- Start date
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I finally got a shipping update
Just thought you might "enjoy" this note I just got from Apple ......
Dear valued Apple customer,
Thank you for participating in the Power Mac G4 Power Supply Exchange Program. Due to an unexpected supply delay, limited quantities of the kits will begin shipping at the end of March 2003. There has not been a change to the original lead time Apple quoted you when you placed your order.
Product availability can change rapidly, and order status updates will be sent as soon as new information becomes available. Please do not call requesting order status.
We appreciate your understanding.
Ummmmm.......no comment from me at this time...Tim
Just thought you might "enjoy" this note I just got from Apple ......
Dear valued Apple customer,
Thank you for participating in the Power Mac G4 Power Supply Exchange Program. Due to an unexpected supply delay, limited quantities of the kits will begin shipping at the end of March 2003. There has not been a change to the original lead time Apple quoted you when you placed your order.
Product availability can change rapidly, and order status updates will be sent as soon as new information becomes available. Please do not call requesting order status.
We appreciate your understanding.
Ummmmm.......no comment from me at this time...Tim
Hi All,
This is my first post, its been quite very hostile in this thread, hopefully I won't be on the receiving end...
Re: 10.2.4 date problem, as you all no doubt now know it IS a 10.2.4 problem (confirmend by Apple to affect only certain G4's), and it has been FIXED in the 10.2.5 seed.
Re: Power supply.
This is good. If this issue was not raised, Apple may have continued to use loud fans in future models. Audio professionals ARE affected by this, as are Joe public. (No I am not an audio professional). Before you scream "Apple say nothing about the volume of their products", apply the idea of excess noise (or any other behaviour) to other products and see if you would buy them.
I do not know the ins and outs, but I know there ARE laws (in the UK at least) on the noise emitted by computers in the workplace, as there are for radiation from monitors etc. Previewing a mac in a shop (high ceilings, open plan etc) is very different from hearing it in a closed space.
If you do not want to replace it you don't have to.
Re: shouting at someone because they take 30 mins to install a power supply...why? Not every mac user out there wants to rush in, rush out. Not every mac user CAN rush in rush out. He made some very good points in his post which were overlooked.
Finally not everyone can preview a mac, and it is not unreasonable to expect that a new computer (new usually means technological ADVANCES) will not be overly noisy, there is no way of predicting this. Look at the old iMac advertising material, Apple blab on for ages about its lack of a fan making it the "world's quietest computer". While G4 towers are not iMacs, we would expect a company to be consistent with its "values"
All that was IMHO.
This is my first post, its been quite very hostile in this thread, hopefully I won't be on the receiving end...
Re: 10.2.4 date problem, as you all no doubt now know it IS a 10.2.4 problem (confirmend by Apple to affect only certain G4's), and it has been FIXED in the 10.2.5 seed.
Re: Power supply.
This is good. If this issue was not raised, Apple may have continued to use loud fans in future models. Audio professionals ARE affected by this, as are Joe public. (No I am not an audio professional). Before you scream "Apple say nothing about the volume of their products", apply the idea of excess noise (or any other behaviour) to other products and see if you would buy them.
I do not know the ins and outs, but I know there ARE laws (in the UK at least) on the noise emitted by computers in the workplace, as there are for radiation from monitors etc. Previewing a mac in a shop (high ceilings, open plan etc) is very different from hearing it in a closed space.
If you do not want to replace it you don't have to.
Re: shouting at someone because they take 30 mins to install a power supply...why? Not every mac user out there wants to rush in, rush out. Not every mac user CAN rush in rush out. He made some very good points in his post which were overlooked.
Finally not everyone can preview a mac, and it is not unreasonable to expect that a new computer (new usually means technological ADVANCES) will not be overly noisy, there is no way of predicting this. Look at the old iMac advertising material, Apple blab on for ages about its lack of a fan making it the "world's quietest computer". While G4 towers are not iMacs, we would expect a company to be consistent with its "values"
All that was IMHO.
AWESOME! The noise is GONE.
Just recieved and installed the new power supply and fan. Huge difference in noise level. I never could hear the hard drives before because the fan was so loud, and now it is the hard drives that make the loudest noise. I'm so thankful Apple did this. Other people (including my neighbors) will be able to sleep at night while I work!
The installation took a good 30 minutes, but wasn't too difficult.
Just recieved and installed the new power supply and fan. Huge difference in noise level. I never could hear the hard drives before because the fan was so loud, and now it is the hard drives that make the loudest noise. I'm so thankful Apple did this. Other people (including my neighbors) will be able to sleep at night while I work!
The installation took a good 30 minutes, but wasn't too difficult.
Parts Disposal
The enclosed paper titled Parts Disposal says "The parts you have replaced as part of this exchange program should be disposed of in accordance with local laws." ther is no mention anywhere of sending them back to Apple. I thought they wanted the parts back??? Now what am I supposed to do with them?
I think I'll drop them off at the local Apple Store!
The enclosed paper titled Parts Disposal says "The parts you have replaced as part of this exchange program should be disposed of in accordance with local laws." ther is no mention anywhere of sending them back to Apple. I thought they wanted the parts back??? Now what am I supposed to do with them?
I think I'll drop them off at the local Apple Store!
There's a video here to see the difference before and after installation.
http://homepage.mac.com/bsharp1/iMovieTheater14.html
It does sound a bit better. Can't wait for mine.
http://homepage.mac.com/bsharp1/iMovieTheater14.html
It does sound a bit better. Can't wait for mine.
That's actually a video to the differences of a power supply muffler...
I've been hearing very good reports (from g4noise.com) about the quieter levels from the new PS and 120mm fans. Now someone just needs to report about the differences in processor/internal temps with the new stuff installed.
I'm just got my fan today and I gave it to my local AASP. They gave me a 3-5 business day wait for them but at least I don't have to pay for any of it.
I'll post my reactions when I get my PMac back....till then....I'll be on my PC....urrrggghhhh......
I'll post my reactions when I get my PMac back....till then....I'll be on my PC....urrrggghhhh......
I've just finished installing my new PSU and fan and to my amazement it is ACTUALLY LOUDER then the one it replaced. Now I have to go to the trouble of replacing the new with the old. What a pain in the A@SE !!!!
Wish me luck
Since, this was my first thread with any volume. I thought I would let everyone know I got my fan last night, FINALLY.
My first impression...ITS MONSTEROUS! I am going to try to install tonight and will try to take some pictures of the process and maybe post somewhere.
Wish me luck, this doesn't look easy.
Since, this was my first thread with any volume. I thought I would let everyone know I got my fan last night, FINALLY.
My first impression...ITS MONSTEROUS! I am going to try to install tonight and will try to take some pictures of the process and maybe post somewhere.
Wish me luck, this doesn't look easy.
Alright, I just got mine back from my AASP. It does sound quieter. Comparing it to the old, I can live with this one. Of course I might add that I didn't have to pay for the installation either..... that and I don't even have to ship back the old one.
In my opinion, Apple did good.
In my opinion, Apple did good.
I guess the current round of PS shipments are done... Now it's going to be another 4-6 weeks for the next batch.
Check out g4noise.com
Yes, I got charged the 20 bucks. I thought my AASP would charge me but they told me I didn't have to. Thank God!
Woohoo! Good Day
Do you think they'd do the 100+ machines I have at work?
It could be a good excuse for a road trip I think!
If they don't want the parts back, why the $20 for shipping? I think shipping the whole machine is around $25.
cheers!
John
It could be a good excuse for a road trip I think!
If they don't want the parts back, why the $20 for shipping? I think shipping the whole machine is around $25.
cheers!
John
Originally posted by Chisholm
Do you think they'd do the 100+ machines I have at work?
It could be a good excuse for a road trip I think!
If they don't want the parts back, why the $20 for shipping? I think shipping the whole machine is around $25.
cheers!
John
Wow! You have 100+ MDD's at work?!? That must be a crazy kinda loud!
I think that the $20 pays for the shipping and a very small part of the cost of the new PS. I'm sure Apple is taking a sizable loss on these, but if you have 5000 people replacing their PS's, that's $100K to ease the financial blow. I have a feeling that they crunched the numbers and figured out it would cost them a lot more to process the returns: return shipping, manpower to process it, disposal fees, etc.
I'm just happy that they answered all of the complaints about noise. $20 is a small price to pay.
I received my kit last week... installed it in about 15 minutes (but I've been inside my MDD many, many times since I got it a month after they were released). My computer wasn't unbearably loud beforehand, but just loud enough for me to notice that it's much louder than all my other Macs I've owned before. Overall, I'd say the hardest part of the installation was the power supply. Make sure you push in both ends of the power supply at the same time (just a little tip). oh, and the fan power connector will almost certainly break. Oh well, no biggie.
Overall, I think it's a pretty big improvement over the original noise level. It can still be slightly noisy when "revving up" (ha), but it's still quieter, on average about the same level as my Power Mac G3 beige minitower. The biggest noticeable difference is when you turn it on. The Papst fan is definitely a lot quieter than the old Delta, but it seems to have minor stability inconsistencies... the fan blade assembly wobbles a little at times, and makes noticeable sound pulses.. but overall it's a big improvement and worth $20. However, unless you seriously NEED the near-silence of the Verax solution (g4noise.com has more info on that), I wouldn't pay the 100-some dollars for it. In my opinion, the $20 apple solution is worth it overall.
oh, and the fan power connector will almost certainly break. Oh well, no biggie.Overall, I think it's a pretty big improvement over the original noise level. It can still be slightly noisy when "revving up" (ha), but it's still quieter, on average about the same level as my Power Mac G3 beige minitower. The biggest noticeable difference is when you turn it on. The Papst fan is definitely a lot quieter than the old Delta, but it seems to have minor stability inconsistencies... the fan blade assembly wobbles a little at times, and makes noticeable sound pulses.. but overall it's a big improvement and worth $20. However, unless you seriously NEED the near-silence of the Verax solution (g4noise.com has more info on that), I wouldn't pay the 100-some dollars for it. In my opinion, the $20 apple solution is worth it overall.
Agreed. Got mine about a fortnight after I ordered it (in the UK delivered from the Netherlands). Getting the new PS in was a bit of a pain with pushing, shooving and generally swearing then suddenly 'Click!' it's in. Yep and the fan connector is a bit delicate....be GENTLE! I didn't snap mine but it looks an easy thing to do if you're a bit heavy handed...Originally posted by blufire
Overall, I'd say the hardest part of the installation was the power supply. Make sure you push in both ends of the power supply at the same time (just a little tip).
It's quite a bit quieter now but by now means silent. The loudest thing is when the superdrive starts up.Loud Powermac?
Try loud like a 747 revving up in my living room. It sounds almost as bad as my Pee Sea. Come a long way from the cube days--in the wrong direction.
Try loud like a 747 revving up in my living room. It sounds almost as bad as my Pee Sea. Come a long way from the cube days--in the wrong direction.
Got my new PS today.
Yep, I got my new power supply and fan. I got it all installed and there's quite a difference, even from the mod I made to the first PS (installing Thermaltake's). Now it's pretty quiet except I hear one frequency in the 1K-2KHz range. I figured out that it's the case itself! I put something heavy on the top of it and it almost went away. I guess I'll have to get in there one more time with some foam to stop the vibration.
Anyway, I can finally hear my CD drive spinning...so it's a big improvement from what it was originally!
Yep, I got my new power supply and fan. I got it all installed and there's quite a difference, even from the mod I made to the first PS (installing Thermaltake's). Now it's pretty quiet except I hear one frequency in the 1K-2KHz range. I figured out that it's the case itself! I put something heavy on the top of it and it almost went away. I guess I'll have to get in there one more time with some foam to stop the vibration.
Anyway, I can finally hear my CD drive spinning...so it's a big improvement from what it was originally!
I did it
So yeah, when they say be careful with the clip for the fan lead, they mean it. Thats the only thing I screwed up.
Total time: maybe 20 mins.
Total reward: My PC now reigns as the loudest computer in my office.
WOW! What a difference. I highly recommend if you haven't done so already, order the replacement.
I am now happy <-----see
Now...any ideas as to what to do with the old one? Besides dispose of it properly?
So yeah, when they say be careful with the clip for the fan lead, they mean it. Thats the only thing I screwed up.
Total time: maybe 20 mins.
Total reward: My PC now reigns as the loudest computer in my office.
WOW! What a difference. I highly recommend if you haven't done so already, order the replacement.
I am now happy
<-----seeNow...any ideas as to what to do with the old one? Besides dispose of it properly?
Re: I did it
Save it for a backup power supply...sell it on eBay...use it for a doorstop/paper weight....take out the circuit boards/fans and use it as a mailbox/birdhouse...mount the 120mm fan on top of your monitor and have your own personal cooling fan...mount the 2 60mm fans on either side of a hat and have stereo cooling...the possibilities are endless!!!
Save it for a backup power supply...sell it on eBay...use it for a doorstop/paper weight....take out the circuit boards/fans and use it as a mailbox/birdhouse...mount the 120mm fan on top of your monitor and have your own personal cooling fan...mount the 2 60mm fans on either side of a hat and have stereo cooling...the possibilities are endless!!!