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mediahound · Sep 8, 2005, 10:00 AM

Has anyone installed CHUD (requires Developer Tool Kit install from
OSX CD) to disable the NAP mode on your G5 in order to make it not beep
and click as much?:

http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G5/G5_noise_tips.html

any ill effects in using it or anything?

Boochie · Sep 8, 2005, 10:22 AM

No problems at all. Works as advertised.

Maflynn · Sep 8, 2005, 10:44 AM

I have but running the nap all of the time isn't recommended. turn that off makes the cpus run at 100% and not cycle down inbetween computer instructions. The result is increased heat which may adversely affect the longevity of the G5. I have this problem on my PB and while turnning off the nap feature works, I see the temp just sky rocket.

Mike

mediahound · Sep 8, 2005, 01:47 PM

Yeah, that makes sense. I monitor my CPU temps regularly and going in the NAP off mode on my dual 2.0 G5 doesn't make them get overly hot. It did raise the average temps by about 10 degrees Farenheit but I haven't seen them get hotter than 148 degrees.

I guess I'll use that mode just when I feel like it.

danman · Sep 8, 2005, 04:56 PM

I installed it and have nap turned off all the time. I have applecare so I dont care if it shortens the life. 3 years from now I'll have a new Powermac anyway. I hate the noise from the psu when nap is on.

mediahound · Sep 8, 2005, 05:09 PM

does having NAP on really make the CPUs run at 100%?

i'm asking because when i use a CPU monitoring application, it certainly doesn't show the CPUs 'running at 100%'.

i think that statement is not correct.

danman · Sep 8, 2005, 05:12 PM

No, it doesn't. My procs are always at the low percentages. The only time they are at 100% is when encoding a video.

That guys PB runs a G4, not a G5. I dont know why he would disable nap in the first place.

Maflynn · Sep 8, 2005, 09:08 PM

I used a poor choice of words. The CPUs do not cycle down inbetween cycles meaning that they run at full power all of the time, that is full electrical power, not that there executing instructions any faster or slower.

Mike

Boochie · Sep 9, 2005, 07:54 AM

For the heck of it last night I called up Apple Support to ask them about this noise issue. To my astonishment, the tech I was speaking with said he'd never heard about issues with G5s making noise! And he claimed that he fielded 50 calls a day. Pretty remarkable. Anyhow, he pointed me to this Apple KB article:

http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n86523

which seems to suggest that certain types of noises are within the bounds of what Apple considers normal. Pretty damned weird.

Todd Madson · Sep 9, 2005, 11:16 AM

Some G5 units are quieter than others.

Most have found that the noise is primarily related to what kind of G5 machine
you have and whether or not the video card is being used heavily.

I am told it is primarily power supply related but I am not so sure about this -
I really believe that it is related to the video card. At least for some of the
noises.

There's a software application which purports to play a musical scale using the
power supply but my own machine does not do this (it was a former display
machine for Micro Center so it's quieter than most). Mine is a G5 2.5 dual
with the ATI Radeon 9600 XT.

But I've found there are ways to MAKE it be noisier (i.e. play games that stress
the video card and use high cpu levels simultaneously).

Turning nap mode off doesn't make it run at 100% all the time but doesn't allow
the CPU to "rest" (doze) between cycles.

If you are in a well ventilated area (i.e. not a sweltering hothouse) you should be
okay with this.

Psycho Therapist · Sep 9, 2005, 05:46 PM

The noises don't bother me too much. A few years back I put up with an extremely loud fan on an aging PC for nearly a year, that would grind & hiss. If I can put up with that, I can easily ignore barely audible beeping.

mediahound · Sep 10, 2005, 04:00 PM

ya, i'm getting used to the sounds actually.

Orbit · Sep 11, 2005, 09:58 PM

it's a ground loop issue if you're hearing it through your speakers. true, there may be some additional noise coming from the power supply itself, but that's very quiet relative to any any audio you're likely to be playing. you can sort it out by getting a new audio interface, or reading the following article:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86655

i was using an m-audio firewire 410 which was noisy as hell and had to use cpu nap.. now i have a motu 828mk2 with balanced out and it's very very quiet.