So how silent is the M2 Pro Mac Mini?

[Freida]

Same here. A lot of tiny little glitches all over the system. I think the M chips are a bit overhyped for what they actually bring.

Maybe Apple needs a bit more time to polish things up.

My M2 Pro is also silent. Still yet to hear the fan speed up from its idle setting, but I am generally disappointed with the speed increase coming from the i7 Intel mini, not to mention other issues that remain.

 

[gusping]

Same here. A lot of tiny little glitches all over the system. I think the M chips are a bit overhyped for what they actually bring.

Maybe Apple needs a bit more time to polish things up.

Agreed. For some reason I think headless Macs are particularly prone to Mac OS glitches (based on my past decade plus of Mac ownership, and it has got much worse in the past 3-4 years). I have an issue where the 3.5mm jack causes my speakers to pop even with no audio playing is still present (started occurred when I upgraded my 2018 mini to Big Sur and happens on my M2 Pro). But the main issue I have is the M2 Pro mini only wakes up one of my two displays half the time, which is even worse than my 2018 mini. Have one more day to decide if I return it and go back to my 'trusty' old 2018 mini.

 

[Poakwoods]

I've been testing my Mac Mini M2 Pro 12c for several days. Even under heavy load (12 hours of 3D rendering with the CPU busy at 99%) the Mini is pretty quiet. At a distance of one meter you can only hear a slight breath, not at all annoying, while from two meters you hardly hear it. Quite a difference from the Mini Intel i7, which with the same workload could be heard from another room...
Regarding the temperature, it remains lukewarm, while the Mini Intel i7 gets quite hot.

 

[jmpage2]

I've been testing my Mac Mini M2 Pro 12c for several days. Even under heavy load (12 hours of 3D rendering with the CPU busy at 99%) the Mini is pretty quiet. At a distance of one meter you can only hear a slight breath, not at all annoying, while from two meters you hardly hear it. Quite a difference from the Mini Intel i7, which with the same workload could be heard from another room...
Regarding the temperature, it remains lukewarm, while the Mini Intel i7 gets quite hot.

Thanks!

Sounds very similar to how my M1 based 14" MBP behaves. When the fan is going it's a very soft whirring noise and not even slightly annoying whereas my 27" i7 iMac sounds like a jet trying to take off.

 

[C-Dub]

Another data point, I just migrated from a 2018 intel i5 mini to a 2023 m2 pro 10c mini with 16GB memory, 1TB SSD and confirm it’s absolutely silent. I tried hard by sticking my ear next to it and could not hear a thing.

 

[Freida]

What temperatures did your CPUs and GPUs got to, please?

I've been testing my Mac Mini M2 Pro 12c for several days. Even under heavy load (12 hours of 3D rendering with the CPU busy at 99%) the Mini is pretty quiet. At a distance of one meter you can only hear a slight breath, not at all annoying, while from two meters you hardly hear it. Quite a difference from the Mini Intel i7, which with the same workload could be heard from another room...
Regarding the temperature, it remains lukewarm, while the Mini Intel i7 gets quite hot.

 

[marklcfc]

Does anyone know yet if the 12 core runs hotter than the 10 core and is more noisy?

 

[saberfi]

The iMac fan runs at 1200rpm when idle + light tasks. That's audible for sure, and I can hear it constantly.

I find it hard to believe that the 1700rpm idle fan of Mac mini is "dead silent" - or is there a major difference in sound insulation somehow?

Either way, I think many people here are missing the point as far as fan noise goes. I think the primary concern is that in 2023 there is absolutely zero excuse for any fan to be heard in idle and light tasks (e.g. web browsing). I would wager most people understand if there is some noise when engaging in demanding workloads, but with these low-wattage and efficient M-series chips, I cannot fathom why idle fan noise would be OK.

Constant fan noise is so pre-2020.

Still, perhaps I need to try out the m2 Mac mini with the studio display, which I've been hoping to replace the iMac with, especially if my work laptop would also function with the screen. Apologies for sounding sour, but I enjoy silence. Thus, will keep tracking this thread for further opinions regarding idle fan noise. 🕵️‍♂️

 

[Truben]

Does anyone know yet if the 12 core runs hotter than the 10 core and is more noisy?

Yes, I also want to know that. I finally ordered for extra 12c CPU, 32GB Ram, and 1 TB, under the presumption that overkill always pays, especially, when all is about noise print at 5 dB, the official number from Apple specs.

 

[Freida]

I think it does as when I watch Max tech videos (even though the guy is a clickbait annoyance) and I do the same tests etc. I don't get the temperatures as high as him on my 10c 16gpu.
It makes sense that if you get 2 extra cores and 3 extra gpu cores that those cores emit more heat.

Does anyone know yet if the 12 core runs hotter than the 10 core and is more noisy?

 

[Freida]

You never told us what you need the 32gb ram for ;-)

Yes, I also want to know that. I finally ordered for extra 12c CPU, 32GB Ram, and 1 TB, under the presumption that overkill always pays, especially, when all is about noise print at 5 dB, the official number from Apple specs.

 

[^^BIGMac]

From where I sit my new Mac Mini Pro is completely silent...

Been editing 4k/60 video and using Lightroom with amazing results. Coming from my 2015 27" iMac it's like a new world. No complaints! Happy I made the move!

BTW I use some of Topaz Labs AI products and it simply blew my mind how fast the programs work now...! Incredible.

 

[Truben]

You never told us what you need the 32gb ram for ;-)

) Yes, I did! I'm old, and my poor eyesight loves to work with three monitors 4K, and whatever is coming in the next four years, the rational lifetime of this configuration. Better being well-equipped than not. You would understand this eccentricity only if you'd used a fluorescent monitor in the eighties. That was something!

 

[Freida]

Well, I did use those CRT monitors in eighties - I grew up on them.
But in your case, monitors don't need more ram. I think you can save that extra cost and put it aside (or hell, even buy AAPL with it) and use that to buy new computer later when you need it. That investment will be better than just getting 32gb now for 'just in case'.
Up to you but I would reconsider it.

) Yes, I did! I'm old and my poor eyesight loves to work with three monitors 4K, and whatever is next in the next four years, the lifetime of this configuration. Better being well-equipped than not. You would understand this eccentricity only if you used a fluorescent monitor in the eighties. That was something!

 

[MuckSavage70]

I find it hard to believe that the 1700rpm idle fan of Mac mini is "dead silent" - or is there a major difference in sound insulation somehow?

There is zero noise coming from my mini.

 

[Freida]

Well, you are comparing 2 different fans but usually with iMac I could hear what mentioned.
The Mac Mini fan is audible when you are about 5cm above it with your ear.
As I sit about 1m away from it I can't hear that 1700rpm. For me it becomes audible at around 2200rpm.

Now, if i was in a recording studio which is dead silent room then maybe i could hear the 1700rpm but because i have normal quiet room (its silent but not dead silent like those studios) then I don't.

The rpm is not really a good measurement between machines as each machine has slightly different fan design.

The iMac fan runs at 1200rpm when idle + light tasks. That's audible for sure, and I can hear it constantly.

I find it hard to believe that the 1700rpm idle fan of Mac mini is "dead silent" - or is there a major difference in sound insulation somehow?

Either way, I think many people here are missing the point as far as fan noise goes. I think the primary concern is that in 2023 there is absolutely zero excuse for any fan to be heard in idle and light tasks (e.g. web browsing). I would wager most people understand if there is some noise when engaging in demanding workloads, but with these low-wattage and efficient M-series chips, I cannot fathom why idle fan noise would be OK.

Constant fan noise is so pre-2020.

Still, perhaps I need to try out the m2 Mac mini with the studio display, which I've been hoping to replace the iMac with, especially if my work laptop would also function with the screen. Apologies for sounding sour, but I enjoy silence. Thus, will keep tracking this thread for further opinions regarding idle fan noise. 🕵️‍♂️

 

[Truben]

Well, I did use those CRT monitors in eighties - I grew up on them.
But in your case, monitors don't need more ram. I think you can save that extra cost and put it aside (or hell, even buy AAPL with it) and use that to buy new computer later when you need it. That investment will be better than just getting 32gb now for 'just in case'.
Up to you but I would reconsider it.

Given that the workflow of my home studio is voice-over, translating, and writing, I have more expenses. I want to buy a compressor before summer. I had a Cinema Display that served me well for fifteen years, and a new Apple Display is coming with a better webcam than the latest. Perhaps, by then, I bet it will be a 6K.

This is a funny issue. Let me elaborate. They say after fifty your eyesight doesn't go longer than 2K. So, these monitors are like candy if you knew what a CRT monitor looked like. Same thing with hearing. But now I am listening again to my old rockers because I never had these marvels of headphones that we can enjoy in 2023 for seven hundred bucks. It's like a damn déjà vu.

 

[Freida]

Not true, its physically impossible to be zero as there is a moving fan which produces sounds. Zero noise is not the same and inaudible to you. Don't mix those two

There is zero noise coming from my mini.

 

[Freida]

Again, thats perfect. You literally don't need 32gb of ram. Save the money and use it towards a better monitor or something that will benefit you directly.

Given that the workflow of my home studio is voice-over, translating, and writing, I have more expenses. I want to buy a compressor before summer. I had a Cinema Display that served me well for fifteen years, and a new Apple Display is coming with a better webcam than the latest. Perhaps, by then, I bet it will be a 6K.

This is a funny issue. Let me elaborate. They say after fifty your eyesight doesn't go longer than 2K. So, these monitors are like candy if you knew what a CRT monitor looked like. Same thing with hearing. But now I am listening again to my old rockers because I never had these marvels of headphones that we can enjoy in 2023 for seven hundred bucks. It's like a damn déjà vu.

 

[Truben]

Again, thats perfect. You literally don't need 32gb of ram. Save the money and use it towards a better monitor or something that will benefit you directly.

I would regret it later. I love to have headroom, as the sound engineers say. You will never know when China and Taiwan send us to the Dark Age.

 

[Freida]

Well, its only headroom in your head as they say. Did you check the benchmarks and tests to show practically no difference between 16gb and 32gb in real applications?
Up to you, I would advice against as that saves you $400.

I would regret it later. I love to have headroom, as the sound engineers say. You will never know when China and Taiwan send us to the Dark Age.

 

[C-Dub]

Well, you are comparing 2 different fans but usually with iMac I could hear what mentioned.
The Mac Mini fan is audible when you are about 5cm above it with your ear.
As I sit about 1m away from it I can't hear that 1700rpm. For me it becomes audible at around 2200rpm.

Now, if i was in a recording studio which is dead silent room then maybe i could hear the 1700rpm but because i have normal quiet room (its silent but not dead silent like those studios) then I don't.

The rpm is not really a good measurement between machines as each machine has slightly different fan design.

I run the m2 pro mini with Apple Studio Display and it works like a charm, absolutely silent too even under some stress test. the thunderbolt connection to my work laptop works pretty well as well

 

[espacioami]

Today I received my M2 Pro 10 cores 16/512/10 and happy. Dead silent even after 20 min running Cinebench R23. Hope this info helps.

 

[eelpout]

The iMac fan runs at 1200rpm when idle + light tasks. That's audible for sure, and I can hear it constantly.

I find it hard to believe that the 1700rpm idle fan of Mac mini is "dead silent" - or is there a major difference in sound insulation somehow?

I don't think people know what dead silent is unless they live in an anechoic chamber. which I suspect some here do.

I've been in a lot of quiet recording studio booths and even that can be unnerving, can't imagine a silent test chamber.

most people live constantly at around 30 dB or more of noise, which would likely mask the sound of the 1700 RPM fan. holding a dB meter close to the back of my M2 Pro Mini is around 34 dB level at that idle speed. If my external spinner Time Machine drive is awake it drowns everything out at 55 dB up close.

Constant fan noise is so pre-2020.

heh, not if you're running a big box with a lot of drives in it, which I'm sure some of us still are. my media server is around 40 dB, which has several fans, but a lot of foam .

 

[Jeremy M.]

I don't think people know what dead silent is unless they live in an anechoic chamber. which I suspect some here do.

I've been in a lot of quiet recording studio booths and even that can be unnerving, can't imagine a silent test chamber.

most people live constantly at around 30 dB or more of noise, which would likely mask the sound of the 1700 RPM fan. holding a dB meter close to the back of my M2 Pro Mini is around 34 dB level at that idle speed. If my external spinner Time Machine drive is awake it drowns everything out at 55 dB up close.



heh, not if you're running a big box with a lot of drives in it, which I'm sure some of us still are. my media server is around 40 dB, which has several fans, but a lot of foam .

My new Mac mini m2 pro is quieter than my old 2013 Mac Pro at idle, and I was pretty impressed by how quiet my Mac Pro was at the time of purchase all those years ago.