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ae25 · May 27, 2005, 07:45 PM

FedEx delivered my new dual 2.3 today, and I am kind of dissapointed by the amount of noise the machine makes. The machine is making the chirping noise people talk about here, but even worse, when I am doing an intensive task such as H.264 playback, the chirping noise turns into a constant hum at the same pitch as the chirps. Also, when the machine is idle, it makes a buzzing noise. It sounds kind of like a power tool, only not nearly as loud, but is still quite annoying. Just wondering if this is all normal. Thanks

hldan · May 27, 2005, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by ae25

FedEx delivered my new dual 2.3 today, and I am kind of dissapointed by the amount of noise the machine makes. The machine is making the chirping noise people talk about here, but even worse, when I am doing an intensive task such as H.264 playback, the chirping noise turns into a constant hum at the same pitch as the chirps. Also, when the machine is idle, it makes a buzzing noise. It sounds kind of like a power tool, only not nearly as loud, but is still quite annoying. Just wondering if this is all normal. Thanks

I have the same machine, been using it for a week now. So far it sounds normal. Don't know what you are actually hearing but I have to put my ear against the grill in order to hear any sound from my PowrMac and it's usually the fans or the HD. If what I am doing gets graphically intensive the fans rev up for only a few seconds just to blow air onto the CPU and then they slow right down to whisper quiet and stay this way even while playing Doom3.

Again, I don't know what you are hearing but don't worry about it if the computer is running fine. You have to understand a few things, first it's a machine, second, it has several moving parts with an electronically controlled cooling system. Don't get alarmed at what others on these boards say about noises, they generally don't result in computer malfunction.
Just enjoy your new dream machine and allow something to happen before getting too concerned.
If other than complete silence is unacceptable then you bought the wrong thing.

ae25 · May 27, 2005, 09:41 PM

Ok thanks, I just want to make sure that this is the way the machine is supposed to work, as apple says that it should be whisper quiet. Oh, and to give you a better idea of what the buzzing noise sounds like, it sounds exactly like a toaster when the coils heat up and you get that low buzz. From most of the reports hear people say that they can barely hear their machines, and I can hear mine from outside of the room it is in, so just want to make sure I am getting what i paid for.

hldan · May 27, 2005, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by ae25

Ok thanks, I just want to make sure that this is the way the machine is supposed to work, as apple says that it should be whisper quiet. Oh, and to give you a better idea of what the buzzing noise sounds like, it sounds exactly like a toaster when the coils heat up and you get that low buzz. From most of the reports hear people say that they can barely hear their machines, and I can hear mine from outside of the room it is in, so just want to make sure I am getting what i paid for.

Interesting, it could very well be the graphics card. We have nearly the same configuration except I have the Radeon 9650 to drive my 30" display. Again this would not be a defect but check on ATI's web page and check for any downloadable updates for the Mac in regards to the 9600XT card.
Also note that Apple says the G5's are "Whisper Quiet" which they are but not "Dead Silent", these are not the same two phrases.

If you have ever heard the PowerMac G4 MDD's, then you would really think the machine was defective. They sounded like a LOUD jet engine inside the noisy Apple retail store.

ae25 · May 27, 2005, 11:35 PM

I expected the machine to make noise, but they type of noise i'm talking about is just a lot more annoying than the sound of air moving through the case or something like that. The noise is comming from the hard drive, or power supply, that top area of the case, so I don't think it is a video card issue. I'm going to call apple tomarrow and talk to them about it. I just don't think it sounds right becasue we have three other PC's in our house and all the PC's just make a wooshing sound of air moving through the case. None of them have the buzzing sound I'm referring to. Anyway, thanks for the replies and help.

hldan · May 28, 2005, 01:59 AM

Originally Posted by ae25

I expected the machine to make noise, but they type of noise i'm talking about is just a lot more annoying than the sound of air moving through the case or something like that. The noise is comming from the hard drive, or power supply, that top area of the case, so I don't think it is a video card issue. I'm going to call apple tomarrow and talk to them about it. I just don't think it sounds right becasue we have three other PC's in our house and all the PC's just make a wooshing sound of air moving through the case. None of them have the buzzing sound I'm referring to. Anyway, thanks for the replies and help.

Yeah, go for it, I understand how you feel, if that sound makes you uncomfortable then call Apple. I have made a few calls to Applecare this past week on minor questions and one major one in regards to my 23" Cinema Display which turned out to be defective.
Get the use of the 90 days over the phone support when your hardware is new especially if it sounds like the power supply or the HD.
Good luck, please post back with what is going on.

Big Mac · May 28, 2005, 08:01 AM

Some G5s chirp (never personally heard mine or any other do it though), but they definitely do not buzz. If that's what you're hearing, take it in.

ae25 · May 28, 2005, 10:01 PM

I called apple tech support today, and the first guy I talked to had me do a few things but they didn't end up working so he then had me talk to another guy who told me that the powermacs have 600 watt power supplies in them and that a power supply like that will make noise, and that the buzzing and chirping I was hearing was normal operation. I'm wondering if I should just ask them for a new power supply or something because it sounds like from what you guys are saying, that the buzzing shouldn't be happening. When you say that you cant hear your machine when it is idle unless you put your ear up to it makes me worry. I don't think there should be that much of a difference in sound between two machines that are the same. Are you guys in a noisy environment or anything like that? I'm just wondering if mabie your machines make the same noise as mine but the noise is just being drowned out. Is all your hearing the sound of air moving through the case? Just trying to get an idea, becasue I don't want to go through all the trouble of getting a new power supply, or sending back the machine to have the same problem. Thanks

Big Mac · May 28, 2005, 10:28 PM

Sorry you got no satisfaction, ae25. Some owners have historically reported chirping from the G5s - but never buzzing. Unless it's warm in the room, most all of the time my G5 DP 2.0 (Rev. B) is barely audible, only emitting a low fan noise.

ae25 · May 28, 2005, 11:10 PM

Thanks for the reply Big Mac. I can confirm that the sound is comming from the power supply, its located on the bottom back of the case, not the top. I guess the sound was filtering up toward the top so it sounded like it was comming from the hard drives or the fan up there. Anyway, if I can get a few more replies confirming that their computers don't make this buzzing noise then i'm going to call apple and see if I can get a new power supply. If I asked for a new power supply would I be able to install it myself or would I have to send the computer in? Or should I just see if they can send me another computer? I've never dealt with Mac support before so I'm not sure what you generally do.

hldan · May 29, 2005, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by ae25

Thanks for the reply Big Mac. I can confirm that the sound is comming from the power supply, its located on the bottom back of the case, not the top. I guess the sound was filtering up toward the top so it sounded like it was comming from the hard drives or the fan up there. Anyway, if I can get a few more replies confirming that their computers don't make this buzzing noise then i'm going to call apple and see if I can get a new power supply. If I asked for a new power supply would I be able to install it myself or would I have to send the computer in? Or should I just see if they can send me another computer? I've never dealt with Mac support before so I'm not sure what you generally do.

If the power supply is truly defective you should have Apple send you another machine and send that one back. You just got the machine, there is no reason to have it repaired.

Al G · May 29, 2005, 12:47 PM

The power supply is not considered a CIP or "customer installable part" so you'll have to take the machine to an authorized service provider, either an Apple Store or an independent shop. Apple will likely not be inclined to replace the machine; they will probably tell you to take it in for repair.

If you can convince them to replace it, then more power to you and I'm hoping to get a refurbed DP2.3 so you will help by increasing the refurb stock.

ae25 · May 29, 2005, 02:26 PM

Thanks again for the replies. I found this while searching for info on my buzzing problem.

http://forums.macnn.com/archive/t-180779.html

Looks like i'm not the only one with the buzzing problem. I'm going to drive to the apple store in Novi, MI tomarrow which is about 150 miles away from where I live, but it is the only place I can exchange the computer, and I dont feel like waiting another week or two to exchange from apple. They said on the phone that they would test it out and if it appeard to be a problem then they would exchange it for me. The buzzing is louder than anything else in the computer so I don't see why they wouldn't exchange it for me. Just sucks that I have to drive all the way accross the state to do it.

PS: Hopefully you'll get my dual 2.3 as a refurb AI G. You'll basically be getting a brand new machine. Just hope they replace the power supply for you. :-)

Skypat · May 30, 2005, 03:40 AM

Hi ae25,

I got my new dual 2.3 Ghz last Friday and I have no buzzing problem so far. I installed a x800 card in it and I can hear it ... but that's not that loud. I had a MDD G4 before ... the difference of noise is night and day !

I see that you have only 512 MB of RAM, maybe you should get more RAM ...

I have a few links for you. On a French mac forum, some people have posted recordings of the noise their G5 makes. It might be interesting for you to listen to them and see if you hear the same on your system... Don't know if you speak French, but people on that thread are complaining about the noise as well ...

Here you go :

Look for the file "Audio.mov" then "Audio2.mov" and also "Cigale_g5.mp3"
http://forum.macbidouille.com/index....12&st=2970

On the next page (Page 101), there is also "Bruit_g5.mov"

Hope this helps ;-)

ae25 · May 31, 2005, 02:26 PM

Thanks for the reply and those links skypat. Thats the noise I'm hearing from my machine all right. You can hear it in the background of those audio files you linked beyond the static. It sounds like the coils from a toaster when they heat up. I'm thinking that its the transformer in the powersupply or something. Anyway, I figure since its brand new I shouldn't have to send it in and should just get a new one. I'm heading to novi to return it right now. Also got some pistons tickets off ebay. Figure its a waste to drive all that way just for the computer. :-)

ae25 · Jun 1, 2005, 03:10 PM

Well, apple said there is nothing they can do about the problem, as apparantly all powermacs sound like this. I kept telling the tech guy at apple that the noise was extremely annoying, and he started to get angry and told me in a stern voice that there was nothing they could do, and kept repeating to me that if I wanted I could take it to an authorized apple service center and have them look at it, but if they found nothing wrong with the machine they would charge me. He said it to me like I was a little kid or something which really ticks me off. I read in other threads that people got apple to let them exchange there macs like three times just because of the chirping noise. I have the chirping noise plus this annoying buzzing noise and they wont help me out at all. I paid over $2000 for a computer that is annoying as heck. I would rather have the fans be 10x louder and not have to deal with the cirps and buzzing. Do you guys know if there is anything else I can do?

Al G · Jun 1, 2005, 05:41 PM

So this is some Apple guy telling you over the phone that the sound is normal? How could he possibly tell over the phone?

It's hard to say for sure without hearing it in person, but it's possible that the sound is from a bad bearing in one of the power supply fans.

And by the way, it is very noisy in the 12 Oaks Apple Store (in Novi). You won't necessarily notice the background noise unless you try to have a cell phone conversation or something.

Big Mac · Jun 1, 2005, 05:51 PM

If the sound is annoying to you, then it's out of spec. I would start politely but firmly going up the Apple food chain. If retail stores aren't helping you, start calling corporate contact numbers. Whoever you spoke to was totally out of line to dismiss your claim like that. Present yourself professionally, let them know you are dissatisfied, and you will eventually get what you desire.

ae25 · Jun 5, 2005, 03:04 PM

Well, I finally got apple to exchange the machine. The new dual 2.3 does not make the buzzing noise that the old machine did. The machine sits right next to my head and all I hear are the fans turning and a very low low chirping noise which does not bother me at all. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for all your help. I'm going to be adding more memory and an X800XT in the near future so that should make things run even smoother. :-)

ae25 · Jun 5, 2005, 03:08 PM

Oops, just noticed that my sig still said 2.0. Just changed it :-)

Agent69 · Jun 6, 2005, 09:20 AM

So, you went through all that and now you want to add a loud video card?

ae25 · Jun 20, 2005, 03:02 PM

I didn't think the x800 xt was all that loud. My friend has an x800 pro in his shuttle sff pc, and you can barely hear it. Also, it was the nature of the noise that was bothering me. If the wirring of air through the case was ten times louder than this buzzing, it would not have bothered me nearly as much as the buzzing.

gudrummer · 05:19 PM

Bought my 2.7 last weeks,had no problems 'til yesterday,when it started to have a very soft beep.It's really soft and i have to make an effort to hear it on automatic settings,but,contrary to what people said,when i put on highest processor performance it gets a bit louder.I installed the CHUD tools and when i turn off Nap,the sounds disappears completely.I already called Apple and they said that i can go to the store and ask for a new supply,but it can make things better or worst,because they were going to probably install the same power supply model.Right now it's not bothering me,but i'm going to keep my ears close to the case and check if the beep gets worst or not.