I have never had this issue before with my mac pro (2009 2.93 octo) but there is now a reasonably noisy fan that sounds like it's coming from the front of the machine below the superdrive or something like that. What can I do to figure out which fan it is, what's causing it to be noisy, etc?
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Rather noisy fan?
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DanielCoffey
macrumors 65816
If it is coming from below the superdrive, it will either be the fan blowing over the graphics card, the graphics card fan itself or a loose hard drive caddy.
Take the side off and have a closer listen. Touch the non-moving sides of the case fans and HDDs to see if they are vibrating and just need shifting a little. As for specific fans, you would have to carefully and briefly touch the fan centre while they are spinning to see which one is making the noise.
If you are under Applecare, let them sort it out. If not, go visit an Apple shop and talk to the staff.
Take the side off and have a closer listen. Touch the non-moving sides of the case fans and HDDs to see if they are vibrating and just need shifting a little. As for specific fans, you would have to carefully and briefly touch the fan centre while they are spinning to see which one is making the noise.
If you are under Applecare, let them sort it out. If not, go visit an Apple shop and talk to the staff.
handheldgames
macrumors 68000
The 2009 Mac Pro is prone to noisy CPU FAN A & B. Both fans in my MP were starting to make annoying noises indicative of failure... I like a quiet machine. If you have apple care, have them do the dirty work.
If not, the job to replace them isn't so bad and there are plenty of docs from apple detailing the procedure. A set of fans will cost about $35.00 (see my prior post). It's a bit of a pain, but not so bad. An easier route is to get the entire fan/cpu cage assembly with fans installed on ebay for about $60.
If not, the job to replace them isn't so bad and there are plenty of docs from apple detailing the procedure. A set of fans will cost about $35.00 (see my prior post). It's a bit of a pain, but not so bad. An easier route is to get the entire fan/cpu cage assembly with fans installed on ebay for about $60.
I actually haven't head of any fan failures in the 2009. The 2010, however, is prone to noisy fans.
You're talking about the intake / exhaust fans btw. The CPU fans themselves can not be user replaced as they are build into the heatsink, one per heatsink.
handheldgames
macrumors 68000
There have been several posts about noisy 2009 systems. Mine included.
To be clear on the fans that are prone to failure... It's the ones at the ends of the CPU tray area. 🙄. I initially thought just one of my fans were bad... Turned out to be both of them were making the noise....
The delta fans used look like high quality - probably just a bad manufacturing run... Either way... I ordered them from a surplus company for 4.50 each... Ended up getting a pile more as there is a minimum web order of $30.00. I have supplies to replace both fans 2x more if they crap out.
One more note... The only fan control app that can slow those fans to a "quiet level" is "fan control" not "SMC FAN CONTROL". This app was written by a MR member when we were dealing with max temps playing audio. Running those noise generators @ 600 RMP delivers a near silent machine... I idle around 36.9(c) which is well within spec. I have the fans set to kick up at 50(c)
Generally fans should have a smooth light drone to them... There was a definite light "thump" in each rotation that make it much more loud and distinct.