[zaimbat]

I've just bought my 1st MAC and it's the mighty Power Book 17''. It's the best machine I've ever had, although I'm still trying to get to know it properly (coming from a PC backgroud there are a "few" things to learn!). I have a question that I hope somebody can answer: I keep my Power Book switched on for at least 7 hours a day, plus I put it on "STOP" for another 5 hours, before switching it off. At times, especially upon exiting some screen savers (e.g. FLUID), the machine starts making a weird noise; it sounds as if the HD is swapping, but all the applications work fine. It's something similar to the noise of a vent that lasts only 1 second, and goes on loop for 5-10 minutes. Today together with that noise (that I have located on the left side of the PAD in the middle of the base), another one equal started on the right side of the Power Book. The latter was even louder and reminded me of a small engine that tries to accelerate. I repeat, all the applications work fine during those noises, and I'm not sure I should be worried or what ?! Am I the only one who experienced this ? Comments are welcome ! Thank you :-)

[xylon]

Hmm, well, there are a couple of noises that 17" owners have pointed out. I'm not sure if you're aware of all of them.

1. The sizzle
At times (especially during screen savers or moving windows)one may hear a hissing or sizzling sound. It's rather high pitched and seems to eminate from somewhere behind the keyboard. I don't think anyone's really found what exactly was causing the sound (right?).

2. The Pop
This speakers go to sleep to conserve power. Upon waking up, they make a popping noise.

3. The turbine engine(something I've noticed).
A sound eminating from the left hand side of the computer resembling a small turbine engine spinning up. The sound grows on a cycle (ie, as each cycle passes, the sound gets higher pitched). It's nowhere near as loud as a turbine engine. I finally figured this is due to the fan spinning up. It tends to last 5-10 minutes.

All of these sounds aren't ominuous, so don't worry. I hope I got the sound you were trying to describe.

{edit}I believe there are two fans, which would explain your hearing the sound on two sides of the computer. I could be wrong though {/edit}

[morlium]

also, when it wakes (or starts up), the superdrive tends to whirr and click momenrarily.

if you haven't tried it yet, that f*cker is loud ... (louder than the fan at any rate), so don't be alarmed.

[slffl]

Originally posted by xylon:

1. The sizzle
At times (especially during screen savers or moving windows)one may hear a hissing or sizzling sound. It's rather high pitched and seems to eminate from somewhere behind the keyboard. I don't think anyone's really found what exactly was causing the sound (right?).

Well there are two different sizzle noises. The high pitch hissing sound when you move windows, etc. Then there's the sizzle sound that would happen every once in a while. But as of right now, it's sizzling ALL THE TIME! I didn't mind it before, but this constant sizzling is so annoying. And of course it started after getting it back from Apple after sending it in for a DVI problem that was never fixed.

[zaimbat]

xylon - thanks a lot man :-) The noise I am experiencing is what you called "the turbine engine". I'm happy to know it's not just my baby making that noise. I'd never want to bring the baby to be checked in Apple and separate for a couple of weeks (pretty slow service here in Italy), just to find out that the noise was normal and they ****ed up something else (e.g. slffl - what the hell !!)

[zaimbat]

FYI: I went to check an apple store today and brought the machine with me. After 10-15 minutes of FLUID Screen Saver the noise started and the technician told me it's just the vent - no worries then !