Mac pro fan knocking

[peejack]

Hi guys,

I have a new mac pro and am ultra happy with it.

One tiny problem is the front fan is making a knocking noise like it's tapping on something, not incredibly loud but something i would like to fix.

It is defiantly the fan as i stop it with my finger and the knocking stopped and it does appear to be touching anything.

It this something that will wear off in time or something I should try and do something out?

Many thanks

 

[bigbird]

A couple of comments: As the fan spins up it may move slightly and indeed be touching somewthing. More likely the base of the fan where it is anchored to the frame may be loose. I'd check the fan mounting base first for loose screws and centering on its frame.

 

[peejack]

A couple of comments: As the fan spins up it may move slightly and indeed be touching somewthing. More likely the base of the fan where it is anchored to the frame may be loose. I'd check the fan mounting base first for loose screws and centering on its frame.

Right thanks il give it a go.

 

[peejack]

I have had a look from opening the side and all appears to be ok, but it's still making the noise i really need to see it from the front is there anyway I can do that?

Thanks

 

[peejack]

Grrrr this is getting really annoying now seems to get louder and louder, has anyone got any ideas what I should try?

I have only had this a few days I brought it from a store that about 2 hours away from me I don't want to ring applecare and for them to tell me they need to repair and take it away or take it back back to the store, would the send me replacement if necessary and swap at the same time even if i didn't buy the macpro online?

Thanks

 

[peejack]

Does anyone have any opinions on this? Should I call the store or apple care?? Would it be possible for them to swap or would I have to go back?

 

[maharajah]

Mac Pro fans idle at very low speeds. These low rpms can cause some fans to "rattle". Try using smcFancontrol and see if increasing that fan's rpm to 700 or 800 reduces or eliminates the "rattle".
If you still have problems exchange it immediately. Most people never notice small noise issues like this, but it drives me crazy, and it sounds like it annoys you also.

 

[peejack]

Mac Pro fans idle at very low speeds. These low rpms can cause some fans to "rattle". Try using smcFancontrol and see if increasing that fan's rpm to 700 or 800 reduces or eliminates the "rattle".
If you still have problems exchange it immediately. Most people never notice small noise issues like this, but it drives me crazy, and it sounds like it annoys you also.

Yes it really is annoying me, ill give that a try and see what happens.

Do you know if it possible exchange via post if you have brought in a store?

 

[maharajah]

Yes it really is annoying me, ill give that a try and see what happens.

Do you know if it possible exchange via post if you have brought in a store?

Not sure on the exchange. A quick call to the Apple store should provide you with an answer.

 

[peejack]

Not sure on the exchange. A quick call to the Apple store should provide you with an answer.

Cool thanks for your advice been a long weekend waiting for Monday

 

[shinji]

Don't know if it's the same on the new Mac Pro, but I have this on the old one. Though not quite a knocking sound, sometimes it's more of a bipbipbip and other times it kind of whines. I just got used to it, but I probably should get some kinda lube for it.

 

[peejack]

Great!

Spoken to the store and apple care have to return it that means a 2 hours drive back to the shop, I asked if they do any compensation they said NO! bloody great thats another day of my time gone and they won't even give me anything for causing this problem.

 

[TuomasP]

Well, I guess my new 8x 2.8GHz mac pro has the same problem described here. Sometimes it doesn't make the sound but when it starts, the computer is not silent anymore. Otherwise the sound is just a thin white noise kind of whisper. Sometimes the sound comes and goes but last night it remained for many hours. I guess it is a problem with the fan bearings or something. It is definitely coming from a fan in front of the case.

Btw, is there a software for adjusting the fan speeds which works with the new mac pro's? The smcFancontrol didn't work. It doesn't recognize my mac.

edit. Tried the fancontrol again and it did work. Thanks.

 

[davidwsica]

I also noticed an intermittent buzzing sound from my new Mac Pro. I really don't want to bring it back but I don't know if I'll be happy with the noise. I'm not sure adjusting the fan speed is a "good" solution.

David

 

[metakinetics]

Here Too

Same problem here. It gets really loud sometimes, and it sounds like the fans are revving up and down in RPM in about a 2 to 3 second cycle. This noise is so annoying! I have packed it up and plan to return it for a full refund.

If you are using a Mac for pro audio work and you cannot put the computer in a closet or different room altogether, a Mac Pro is not a very good choice for silence. Music production or mastering requires the utmost quiet. It is definitely quieter than your average tower, but it is also not nearly as quiet as an iMac. The iMacs are almost completely silent, at least 20 decibels quieter than the Mac Pros. You cannot hear an iMac on unless you get very close to the machine and put your ear near the housing. You can definitely hear a Mac Pro from 10 feet away in a quiet room, even if it is not a defective one.

 

[n8236]

Have you seen my video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjmYiUdybI

I had to be very persistent to have this fixed. The problem is with the fan not being able to sustain high rpms, it's a mechanical problem.

When I first playing 3D games, i noticed the noise was low, then it got progressively louder and louder. For me, it was not easy to duplicate because it didn't do it all the time, though it did most times. What I did was take a video of the problem and showed it to the Mac Genius and also tried duplicating the issue when there.

I believe I had the fan assembly replaced twice before they got it right.

 

[Infrared]

Same problem here. It gets really loud sometimes, and it sounds like the fans are revving up and down in RPM in about a 2 to 3 second cycle. This noise is so annoying! I have packed it up and plan to return it for a full refund.

If you are using a Mac for pro audio work and you cannot put the computer in a closet or different room altogether, a Mac Pro is not a very good choice for silence. Music production or mastering requires the utmost quiet. It is definitely quieter than your average tower, but it is also not nearly as quiet as an iMac. The iMacs are almost completely silent, at least 20 decibels quieter than the Mac Pros. You cannot hear an iMac on unless you get very close to the machine and put your ear near the housing. You can definitely hear a Mac Pro from 10 feet away in a quiet room, even if it is not a defective one.

You posted that exact same reply in another thread!

I'm all in favour of recycling to help the environment, but...

 

[Infrared]

Have you seen my video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjmYiUdybI

I had to be very persistent to have this fixed. The problem is with the fan not being able to sustain high rpms, it's a mechanical problem.

When I first playing 3D games, i noticed the noise was low, then it got progressively louder and louder. For me, it was not easy to duplicate because it didn't do it all the time, though it did most times. What I did was take a video of the problem and showed it to the Mac Genius and also tried duplicating the issue when there.

I believe I had the fan assembly replaced twice before they got it right.

Ouch! That noise is bad. I suspect it's one or two orders
of magnitude worse than the Mac Pro noises people are
speaking about, though.

Well done for making that recording. It really helps in
understanding what you are talking about.