Late 2015 iMac - Fan Noise Question

[Bghead8che]

So I received my late 2015 iMac (loaded). I can't hear the fans at all during most tasks. The fan hums along at an almost inaudible 1200RPM.

I have noticed that while gaming and when reinstalling the OS the fans did kick up a bit which is of course normal. The question I have is when your do hear the fans are they fairly loud and noticeable?

I installed the following free app:

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol

Even a minor bump up to 2000RPM and the fans are fairly loud. I'm just wondering the fan sound is normal or possible I have a defective fan? The reason I ask is they are fairly loud when they rev up.

Someone mind downloading the app and setting your fan speed to 2000 to see how loud your fans are?

Thanks!

-Brian

 

[makrom]

I always hear the fan, mainly since I don't have any other significant sources for noise in my apartment (not including my GF and 2 cats). It does get louder at 2000 RPM, but I wouldn't consider it anywhere near loud.

 

[Bghead8che]

Hmmm.... I wonder why my is so loud when ramped up? Mind trying that app and putting it at 2000RPM to see what it sounds like?

Thanks.

-Brian

 

[maxsix]

Some fan noise is perfectly normal. After six iMacs I've got a pretty good idea of what to expect.

The challenge is to quantify what's normal and what's too loud. Reason being there are no reliable decible level values to use as a reference. At least from my experience.

The one variable, ambient noise, as I'm sure most of you know, is very influential in how we perceive the noise levels we are hearing from the computer.

While I certainly haven't helped to identify and resolve the issue specifically, I do know that in my very large circle of decades long Apple users many of which enjoy their iMacs, overheating or noisy fans haven't been a problem for us.

 

[Bghead8che]

To be clear I'm not talking about the default 1.2K fan noise that's running all the time. I have no issues there. The potential issue is when it ramps up its seems unusually loud. Very audible and distracting. So my challenge is to figure out wither or not this is normal sound level (when ramped up). That's why I recommended the app. If you can turn the fan up to 2000RPM and hardly hear it then mine is definitely defective.

Obviously at the max fan settings its very loud but I would assume that's normal.

 

[havokalien]

Yes the 2000 rpm fan noise is normal. Alot less flow as compared to the thick aluminum model. the entry and exit is more restricted and causes more noise in comparison.

 

[iBatmac]

To be clear I'm not talking about the default 1.2K fan noise that's running all the time. I have no issues there. The potential issue is when it ramps up its seems unusually loud. Very audible and distracting. So my challenge is to figure out wither or not this is normal sound level (when ramped up). That's why I recommended the app. If you can turn the fan up to 2000RPM and hardly hear it then mine is definitely defective.

Obviously at the max fan settings its very loud but I would assume that's normal.

In a normal use, can you hear the airflow, even when the fan runs at 1200 rpm (minimal speed)?

 

[faneos]

I agree with the op in load it's definitely audible in a point I don't hear my fart.One of sacrifices due to Apple obsession with thickness.

 

[zhaoxin]

I think you should just remove the app. The default control is good enough.