Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Read about 5 threads on Mac Pro buzz sound . . . Help!

Luba

Luba

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Apr 22, 2009
1,819
389
Hi all, I am getting random (at least it seems random to me) buzz sounds coming from my 2009 2.66 Mac Pro that only lasts for a second. Some suggestions from the other threads recommend that I touch the case when it buzzes but by the time I reach for my MP the buzz stops. I've tighten all the screws in my sleds and pushed them so they are snug in the bay.

Some have thought the buzz comes from the latch but my buzz sounds like it's from the front of the MP. A Mac Genius told me circuit boards can make a buzz sound from electricity going through it??

Others have said the buzz comes from the PSU (power supply unit). Where is the PSU in the MP?

I haven't shaken my MP, which is one of the suggestions I read.

I think it might be coming from the Super Drive. I took out the Super Drive for about a week and don't recall hearing any buzz sound.

rgetter recommended re-aligning the ribbon cable (see quote of his post below), but how do you do this? I didn't see a ribbon cable when I took out the Super Drive.

rgetter said:
I came home from shopping today and as soon as I opened the door to my house, I heard a loud buzzing sound. I quickly traced it to my 2008 Mac Pro. It was still running, but sounded really bad. I did some searching (on another computer) and found the problem.

Occasionally, the ribbon cable from the SuperDrive will slip back a bit and touch the fan behind the housing. Just open your Mac, turn it on its side and, with the door lever still in the "up" position, pull up on the metal case that holds the optical drives. It slides right up. Then you can reposition the ribbon cable.
Click to expand...

Any other reasons why my MP is randomly buzzing for a second? Otherwise all I hear is the peaceful hum of the fans.
 
I had the exact same buzzing noise. It's always been random. I think the noise is generated by an aluminum bracket that's behind the optical sled. The bracket is secured by two screws on the top, and has two tabs that slide into notches in the bottom. I believe the panel's tabs are vibrating in the slots, causing a kind of Sympathetic resonance. My solution was to use a simple glue gun and place small dabs of hot glue where the tabs insert into the slots, and coving the two screws on the top (just a dab will do ya). This will dampen the resonance between the bracket and the case. So far I've had the MP running about 15 minutes and NO noise yet. I'll post a follow up later today with more results..

-Dougie B



Luba Cox said:
Hi all, I am getting random (at least it seems random to me) buzz sounds coming from my 2009 2.66 Mac Pro that only lasts for a second. Some suggestions from the other threads recommend that I touch the case when it buzzes but by the time I reach for my MP the buzz stops. I've tighten all the screws in my sleds and pushed them so they are snug in the bay.

Some have thought the buzz comes from the latch but my buzz sounds like it's from the front of the MP. A Mac Genius told me circuit boards can make a buzz sound from electricity going through it??

Others have said the buzz comes from the PSU (power supply unit). Where is the PSU in the MP?

I haven't shaken my MP, which is one of the suggestions I read.

I think it might be coming from the Super Drive. I took out the Super Drive for about a week and don't recall hearing any buzz sound.

rgetter recommended re-aligning the ribbon cable (see quote of his post below), but how do you do this? I didn't see a ribbon cable when I took out the Super Drive.



Any other reasons why my MP is randomly buzzing for a second? Otherwise all I hear is the peaceful hum of the fans.
Click to expand...
 
I made Pictures.

Over 4 hours and still no vibrations!

3923515350_70d94d6091_o.jpg


3922728633_780342723a_o.jpg


3922728697_ac4efae089_o.jpg


3923515426_e78e1267d4_o.jpg


http://www.flickr.com/photos/10550957@N05/sets/72157622253552309/
 
I used to have a buzzing sound when the superdrive spun at high speed (very very loud). Just touching the sled would stop the vibration. So I just jiggled it around a bit and haven't had the problem since. Just seems like if the sled is in the precisely wrong position it will vibrate against the rest of the case.
 
Thanks for the pics. :) At least I know the problem isn't anything serious. I am not that handy so probably won't put use the glue solution. I am afraid I get it all over the place.

So if the optical sled was made ever slightly larger and thus more tightly installed, no buzz? Of course if Apple did that it would be more difficult to slide the sled in and out.

In another thread a poster talked about a ribbon cable not lined up correctly causing the buzz, but his MP was a 2008. Perhaps our 2009 MPs don't have a ribbon cable. Can't find it if has it.
 
ribbon cable

The ribbon cable is there, well maybe not a ribbon per-se

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/3922728633_780342723a_o.jpg

3922728633_780342723a_o.jpg


This is the Sata cable that attaches to the optical drive(s).

Someone thought this cable was rubbing against the fan, but in the 2009 Mac Pro there is a fan guard that would prevent the fan making contact with the sata cable.

If you don't want to use hot glue, perhaps try some kind my moulding putty, as long as it can withstand heat. Anything will work that fills the gap between two metal surfaces and dampens vibrations.


-dougie


Luba Cox said:
Thanks for the pics. :) At least I know the problem isn't anything serious. I am not that handy so probably won't put use the glue solution. I am afraid I get it all over the place.

So if the optical sled was made ever slightly larger and thus more tightly installed, no buzz? Of course if Apple did that it would be more difficult to slide the sled in and out.

In another thread a poster talked about a ribbon cable not lined up correctly causing the buzz, but his MP was a 2008. Perhaps our 2009 MPs don't have a ribbon cable. Can't find it if has it.
Click to expand...
 
The buzz sound (for me) was coming from the front fan that was barely touching the HDD on bay 1. I just put my hard drive on bay 2 and the sound is gone. :D
 
Mine doesn't sound like that. Yours is more constant while mine is a random burst of buzz then goes away. And I don't have the clicking sound you have. If you can reproduce it I would bring it in.



drifter7508 said:
My new Mac Pro sound like this. Buzzing irritating sound from time to time.
Gonna try and see if the glue thing works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie1ds9bcLgk

Turn up the volume! Bad lighting but in the first sequense i got the
camera behind my Mac pro, then in the front of it.
Click to expand...
 
Mac Pro, 2009 version also buzzing

thank you very much for this thread! :)

My buzz was every 10 seconds, fading in and out during that time period, but starting to drive me nuts. (more so than I usually am :) )

So, my fix was trying touching the case. and this actually worked if I pressed hard on both sides about half way up towards the front.
This would get rid of 95% of the noise.

since I didn't want to have to constantly hold it hehe. I tried another way:

I raised the front of the computer about one inch, and let it drop. I did this twice, and the noise stopped completely.

That fixed it. and it is still fixed 3 hours later.

Yes, the computer was running. but I'd suggest doing this when it is off.
 
Abidubi said:
I used to have a buzzing sound when the superdrive spun at high speed (very very loud). Just touching the sled would stop the vibration. So I just jiggled it around a bit and haven't had the problem since. Just seems like if the sled is in the precisely wrong position it will vibrate against the rest of the case.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same here, moved it around a bit and it stopped.
 
billtech66 said:
since I didn't want to have to constantly hold it hehe. I tried another way:

I raised the front of the computer about one inch, and let it drop. I did this twice, and the noise stopped completely.

That fixed it. and it is still fixed 3 hours later.

Yes, the computer was running. but I'd suggest doing this when it is off.
Click to expand...

Wow, thats awesome!
 
is this a common problem?

with 2009 mac pros? What do you mean fixed by lifting one inch and dropping the front of the computer? Did you raise it or something?


billtech66 said:
RE: buzz, fixed by lifting one inch and dropping the front of computer:

STILL FIXED at over 4 months later.

hasn't buzzed since.

:)
Click to expand...
 
In my 09 MP the buzz come from the hard drives bays supports make a little paper stick and putting over the bays and the sound goes off..

I tested ejecting the disk from the MacOs and the sound disappear.

Hope this helps
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back