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Odd problem with high-pitched noise

I

inhalexhale1

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 17, 2011
1,101
745
PA
I already set up a return, so I'm not sweating this, but I'm at a loss to what is wrong with the iMac.

Opening certain apps on the iMac cause it to make a high pitch squealing noise. Not incredibly loud, but noticeable, and it's loudest near the USB ports. Unplugging a USB device and then plugging it back in briefly stops the noise, but then it continues. Some apps cause a fainter hum, and others nothing. The sound is always intermittent. This happens with devices connected or disconnected, so it's not an external hardware issue. Maybe it's the processor? Apps like Maschine cause the worst noise and are more CPU intensive. I don't think it's the SSD. Not sure what else it could be. Any ideas?
 
inhalexhale1 said:
I already set up a return, so I'm not sweating this, but I'm at a loss to what is wrong with the iMac.

Opening certain apps on the iMac cause it to make a high pitch squealing noise. Not incredibly loud, but noticeable, and it's loudest near the USB ports. Unplugging a USB device and then plugging it back in briefly stops the noise, but then it continues. Some apps cause a fainter hum, and others nothing. The sound is always intermittent. This happens with devices connected or disconnected, so it's not an external hardware issue. Maybe it's the processor? Apps like Maschine cause the worst noise and are more CPU intensive. I don't think it's the SSD. Not sure what else it could be. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Yes, it's broken. Forget about it, why waste time or effort if you're returning the thing.
 
Where abouts is the noise coming from?

I have a high pitch crackling noise which is related to the screen panel. It only happens at low brightness and is usually triggered by the screen rendering something new.

Incidentally, I don't have the same problem in windows.
 
It's loudest by the USB ports. I also discovered changing the sampling rate in audio applications will change the pitch of the noise. It almost sounds like coil whine. Just glad it happened during the return period.
 
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