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iMac 5K 2017 fan noise - is this normal?

Sheza

Sheza

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 14, 2010
2,091
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I hear a lot of people say that their iMac fan is whisper quiet when not under load, and whilst I understand there has to be some airflow, I noticed that my brand new iMac is making a sort of 'ticking' sound together with the fan. It's not just the sound of airflow, you know?

I hope this video can help you to understand what I mean. It's not exactly LOUD I would say, but it is noticeable and to be honest a little irritating!


Thanks
 
Sheza said:
I hear a lot of people say that their iMac fan is whisper quiet when not under load, and whilst I understand there has to be some airflow, I noticed that my brand new iMac is making a sort of 'ticking' sound together with the fan. It's not just the sound of airflow, you know?

I hope this video can help you to understand what I mean. It's not exactly LOUD I would say, but it is noticeable and to be honest a little irritating!


Thanks
Click to expand...
That ticking sound is nowhere near normal under any circumstance. How long have you had the iMac? Did you buy it from Apple online or at an Apple Store? Whatever the case, I would exchange it.
 
PieTunes said:
That ticking sound is nowhere near normal under any circumstance. How long have you had the iMac? Did you buy it from Apple online or at an Apple Store? Whatever the case, I would exchange it.
Click to expand...
I have had it for less than 24 hours. Delivered to me from the Apple online store.
 
Sheza said:
I have had it for less than 24 hours. Delivered to me from the Apple online store.
Click to expand...
Ugh, that sucks! Getting all excited for a sexy new machine, having it delivered and unboxing it, turning it on, and then.... that sound! :( I’m sorry this happened to you! Apple will gladly exchange it, the worst part is having to wait again for another machine.
 
PieTunes said:
Ugh, that sucks! Getting all excited for a sexy new machine, having it delivered and unboxing it, turning it on, and then.... that sound! :( I’m sorry this happened to you! Apple will gladly exchange it, the worst part is having to wait again for another machine.
Click to expand...
BasicGreatGuy said:
Definitely return it, aa that is not a normal sound.
Click to expand...
nambuccaheadsau said:
Take it back and demand another.
Click to expand...

Thank you all. After a little more consideration and the fact that I could hear it from my BED (you know how certain sound waves can be heard better & more far away than others? Yeah, this is that). I think you're all eight, it's not a loud ticking but it definitely doesn't sound right. After I woke the Mac from sleep the ticking was gone, but came back later, and then I literally heard it 'wind down' and stop, so my inexperienced diagnosis is that the fan is making a ticking noise one it goes above a relatively low RPM.

The problem is that I can't afford for them to take my Mac away while they send me another custom-built one. I have commitments to selling my previous devices which means I would be left without a computer, and I have a lot of Uni work to prepare for.

How would you guys recommend going about this? Should I call Apple Store Online help, or should I visit a store and explain my situation to them?

Thanks again.
 
Ring apple to find out what store has the imac in stock, then take it back to the apple store for a exchange.
 
My first action would be to call Apple, explain situation, see if they'll ship you same version asap and you'll ship back the one you have now for full refund once you receive the replacement and verified it's OK.
 
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Some vendors will ship out a replacement before you ship back the defective unit, but only if you pay for the replacement then they issue a refund once the defective is returned. Ask if they can do something like that. Worst case you have $2000 temporarily sitting on a credit card...
 
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That’s exactly what I will ask them to do, thank you guys!
 
I purchased a mid range model but after a couple of days decided to go for a higher spec. So I made a BTO and charged it to my credit card. When the new machine arrived, and only then, I took the original purchase back to the store, they did a return and refund on it and I then took ownership of the new one all in a couple of minutes. All this happened within the same charging period of my credit card and within the return period of 21 (?) days. So what danielwsmothee suggested can be done. I was not without a computer at any time.
 
Dc2006ster said:
I purchased a mid range model but after a couple of days decided to go for a higher spec. So I made a BTO and charged it to my credit card. When the new machine arrived, and only then, I took the original purchase back to the store, they did a return and refund on it and I then took ownership of the new one all in a couple of minutes. All this happened within the same charging period of my credit card and within the return period of 21 (?) days. So what danielwsmothee suggested can be done. I was not without a computer at any time.
Click to expand...
The issue is that I bought it with the Beats promotion :/
 
iMac 2017 - i7 - SSD
=> I do not experience the ticking sound but the fan can make a lot of noise while

in MacOS HS:
- using e.g. chrome - watching YouTube 4k (both windowed and full screen), no other application running
- some 3D games - to retest, not 100% sure

in Win10 Bootcamp:
- 5 min of playing a 3D game (Battlefront/...) => CPU temp goes to 100°C within a minute, (checked via MSI
afterburner), Fan goes in turbo/vacuum cleaner mode (very, very loud) at 2200 + rpm
GPU temp around 70-80°C but the GPU Fan speed is displayed as 0 rpm o_O
(can someone confirm he/she has the same numbers?)
 
Sheza said:
The issue is that I bought it with the Beats promotion :/
Click to expand...
I see. In that case, phone Apple and ask for their advice. Not sure about the UK but here in Canada, Apple Store customer service is excellent. I would expect them to do what you want.

Is that promotion still active? You may have to return both items but get new headphones with the new machine.
 
Dc2006ster said:
I see. In that case, phone Apple and ask for their advice. Not sure about the UK but here in Canada, Apple Store customer service is excellent. I would expect them to do what you want.

Is that promotion still active? You may have to return both items but get new headphones with the new machine.
Click to expand...
Sadly it expired the day after I ordered the iMac.
 
Thanks for all your responses guys!

I have called Apple and they said that, as I need it for a University course, they can forego the usual returns procedure (which would be to start building the new iMac as soon as the old one gets scanned in at a drop off point) they can build the new one and ship it to me right away, and then I will be contacted separately to arrange the return of the noise iMac.
 
Dc2006ster said:
Good news. Others may disagree but this is the sort of customer service I have come to expect from Apple. Do you keep your headphones?
Click to expand...
He didn't say anything about the headphones (though he did acknowledge that I had ordered them when he was pulling up the order details).

It's something I will talk to the 'Order Specialist' about, I suppose. I have already committed to giving them to a friend so it's likely I won't have them in my possession by the time they call me!
 
So here’s an interesting one...

The iMac hasn’t made the rattling sound for a few days now. It’s been totally fine.

My replacement is due to arrive very soon :S
 
Sheza said:
So here’s an interesting one...

The iMac hasn’t made the rattling sound for a few days now. It’s been totally fine.

My replacement is due to arrive very soon :S
Click to expand...
May i ask how you were able to convinve Apple support to get a replacement? I have the same problem, only that theres no rattling but extreme fan noise.

I purchased my imac from a authorized seller but not directly from Apple.
Tried to return it but reseller has 5 day return policy and i brought it back 7 days after the purchase.
So, i couldt just get a refund.
Took it to apple store.
Apple genius bar guy said he thinks the fan noise is normal despite me measuring loudness levels of 73 dB!

Apple said only thing theyll do is replace the fan but no replacement of entire imac...
 
Samurai Shampoo said:
May i ask how you were able to convinve Apple support to get a replacement? I have the same problem, only that theres no rattling but extreme fan noise.

I purchased my imac from a authorized seller but not directly from Apple.
Tried to return it but reseller has 5 day return policy and i brought it back 7 days after the purchase.
So, i couldt just get a refund.
Took it to apple store.
Apple genius bar guy said he thinks the fan noise is normal despite me measuring loudness levels of 73 dB!

Apple said only thing theyll do is replace the fan but no replacement of entire imac...
Click to expand...
I had bought it directly from the Apple Online store. So they were able to do replacement via the existing order.
 
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