Please listen to my Retina iMac's (faulty) fan!

[apfelmann]

Hi Mac friends,
I just recorded the noise that the fan of my Retina iMac produces ...
What do you think? Does my Retina iMac have a faulty fan? Is it too loud?

Please listen and comment:
https://soundcloud.com/bioapfel/retina-imac-fan-noise

Thanks!

 

[AlexJoda]

Hi Mac friends,
I just recorded the noise that the fan of my Retina iMac produces ...
What do you think? Does my Retina iMac have a faulty fan? Is it too loud?

Please listen and comment:
https://soundcloud.com/bioapfel/retina-imac-fan-noise

Thanks!

This is definitely not normal! You should get it repaired. I hear a quit whisper of air on my RiMac when I put my head near the fan. I can hear the fan in a totally quit room at working distance only when I am really concentrating on it. Normally I did not notice it at all....

 

[frompast]

Exacly purring sound like mine.

But it will be quiet down eventually just like mine.

IMO those dust somehow piled up in cavity eliminate vibration and rattle.

I am only able to hear whooshing air by now.

So return it or not ,either way will be just fine .

 

[redheeler]

Hi Mac friends,
I just recorded the noise that the fan of my Retina iMac produces ...
What do you think? Does my Retina iMac have a faulty fan? Is it too loud?

Please listen and comment:
https://soundcloud.com/bioapfel/retina-imac-fan-noise

Thanks!

I agree that does sound a little abnormal. If it bothers you get it exchanged.

 

[WilliamG]

Hi Mac friends,
I just recorded the noise that the fan of my Retina iMac produces ...
What do you think? Does my Retina iMac have a faulty fan? Is it too loud?

Please listen and comment:
https://soundcloud.com/bioapfel/retina-imac-fan-noise

Thanks!

I've heard a similar sound from my iMac at times. I've found a sharp tap to the rear casing of my 5K usually shuts it up. I recall my 2012 iMac making the same sound.

It's obviously tricky to get an idea of just how loud that noise is, since obviously I can turn my sound up or down. But, the characteristic is certainly familiar to me.

 

[senseless]

Bad fan bearings usually makes a buzzing sound. It sounds like something getting tapped by the spinning blades, such as a bug, bit of paper or clump of dust. I wonder if vacuuming or blowing out the exhaust vents might free it up.

 

[apfelmann]

Thanks for the replys!
"Dust" can certainly not be the reason for the noise, as the noise was there the moment I unpacked the iMac.

I think I'll send my "noise recording" to apple care and see what they will say ...

I want to avoid the hassle of returning the iMac ... maybe Apple Care can offer me "unlimited apple care service" if the fan ever stops working

 

[steve62388]

There is something wrong, get it repaired or replaced. You can clearly hear a mechanical 'rattle' when you should only be able to hear whooshing air, admittedly quite loud whooshing when under heavy load.