Fans running on full with almost no load

I've noticed in the last month or so that my (now out-of-warranty) MacBook's fans have been running at top speed a LOT. Previously only processor-intensive apps would cause my MacBook to howl, stuff like Visual Hub and Handbrake, or decompression apps, but now even simple stuff (say, playing iTunes and running Firefox with a few tabs open) seems to warrant the fans on full.
For reference, I use my MacBook (99.9% of the time) on an iCurve (which is supposed to help keep the system cool, isn't it?) with an external monitor. iTunes is usually open, as are Firefox and Transmission, and occasionally Unison. I did a full backup, reformatted the hard drive and a fresh install of the OS last week hopeful that this might help, but it didn't. If anything, the noise has gotten worse. I never had any problems like these with my old iBook G4, I've got to say.
Short of getting in there and cutting the fans' wires how can I control the noise? It's really aggravating. Am I looking at an impending hardware failure?

Open *Activity Monitor* and check *All Processes* in the CPU window and see if there is anything in the background causing this.

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Case Fan Running at Full Speed

I accidentally shorted the case fan circuitry on my HP motherboard (explanation below) and now the fan runs at full speed all the time. Other than the fact that is was a stupid thing to do, will it be a problem long-term and should I try to reset the fan speed switch?
(Long Version) It is hot around here these days and my computer fans seemed underpowered. I put a splitter on the case fan outlet on the motherboard and added a second fan in addition to the original fan. It all worked fine except the new fan seemed to run pretty slow. I wanted to get a voltage reading from the fan plug but I accidently touched the two sensors on my volt meter and the computer immediately shut down. It started up and worked fine except the throttle was no longer working and the fans were running at full speed. This also explained why the second fan was running slowly before when they were both being throttled.
I guess in the end I got my wish to have my fans running at full power, I just wanted to see if there will be any future problems leaving it this way.
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Hello design_guy,
You should not have any problems with the fans running at full speed other than the fact you may decrease the life cycle of the fan.
You may want to install some software on the computer that will allow you to adjust the fan speed from the computer which may help you prolong the life of the fans and give you a little control over them.
Something like SpeedFan should do the trick.
If I have helped you in any way click the Kudos button to say Thanks.
The community works together, click Accept as Solution on the post that solves your issue for other members of the community to benefit from the solution.
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My iMac G5 Fans run at full speed when using regular everyday applications.

When using just normal everyday applications such as using about 30 min of Safari to surf the web or maybe something else, my fans run at full speed. I have just got a new logic board replacing my old faulty one. How can I fix the fan problem?
Thanks!

Hi again Miriam,
With more news for you and iMacG5 on the fans go crazy. I just got back my computer from the repair center. After more than a week under observation, the technician told me that they just couldn't replicate the problem. They had the computer running non-stop during all this time, not even allowingit to go to sleeo mode and nothing.
The CPU fan never went beyond 2300 rpm (or so) and never went to sleep mode on and off by itself. Furthermore, they ran all possible tests and everything comes back as OK.
Right now I have a movie running on the background, together with a photo processing software open and other smaller processes and the CPU fan is running at 4361 rpm !!! the temp of the CPU is 66.3 Celsius.
Any thoughts??? It's really making me crazy because the computer was neverlike this and now it sounds like a hair dryer. I emphasized with them the fact that this just started after they changed the logic board and as coincidence after Ioaded the security update 2006_04. The technician told me it may be software related. If the computer doesn't go to sleep by itself, then he recommended to reload the operating system.
Any comments appreciated.
Zwirek

Fans run at full speed

As in subject, my brand new iMac Aluminium 20" 2GHz has a problem: fans run at full speed...
After reset of PRAM or SMC, fans start slowly (1200rpm) but rise ti 3500rpm after few minutes and they don't change until a new restore of SMC.
cpu 3-4%,
no apllication opened,
nothing in dashboard.
What's happen?? I've never had a problem with my mac!
PS: sorry for my bad english, I'm italian!
cerion
Message was edited by: cerion86

Hi, just an update -
I ran the Apple Hardware Test on startup, and it returned this hardware error: 4SNS/1/40000000:TpoP
I brought my machine to the Apple Store where I bought it and they ran their diagnostics and said there was nothing wrong. So when I picked it up we booted it up in the store and the fan was about 1200rpm, no problem. We ran the Apple Hardware Test in the store and it didn't give the same hardware error that I'd had before.
So, I didn't really have any ammunition to press them any further on it and for the last week it's been fine. I had the fan race on me again last night but I hope it was an isolated incident.
As for downgrading to OSX 10.4, I'd consider it but I don't feel that I should have to do that to make my hardware perform correctly.
Re. smcFanControl, I thought the purpose of that is to make the fans run faster/more often, but if anyone's used it to stop them from running too fast/too often I'd be glad to hear from you.
Maybe the 10.5.2 version of the OS will take care of this problem, if indeed a problem exists.

Very noisy iMac, fans running at full speed even when performing smal tasks

I have a 2009 21 iMac, recently the computer became very noisy with the fans running at full speed all the time even when checking the email or just using Safari. I don't do anything crazy like 3d renderings so I don't know why the fans wont stop. I recently cleaned it but this didn't seem to solve the problem.
Anyone knows what's the problem and how can I fix it?
Thanks

Hello irisfailsafe
Welcome to Apple Discussions
Reset the SMC > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
+1. Shut down the computer.+
+2. Unplug the computer's power cord.+
+3. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.+
+4. Release the power button.+
+5. Attach the computers power cable.+
+6. Press the power button to turn on the computer.+
Dennis

Macbook May 2010 edition exhaust fan runs at full speed

Bought a new Macbook around February 2011. Yesterday all of a sudden while watching Netflix, the exhaust fan started running at full speed (Approximately 6200 RPM). I thought the machine was overheating. So I immediately shut it down and let it cool. But I noticed the machine was barely warm.
When I started it up again, it started making the same noise with the exhaust fan running at full speed. I installed SMCFanControl and I see that the CPU is barely warm - 35-37C and yet the fan is running at full speed. I looked at the CPU/HDD usage and there is barely ANY usage (~90% idle). Nothing out of the ordinary. So it definitely doesn't seem to be a heating issue.
In order to troubleshoot this I have done the following:
1. Installed latest upgrade - Snow Leopard 10.6.7
2. Reset SMC
3. Reset the PRAM
4. Tried booting from the install DVD. There as well it exhibits the same issue.
Neither of these steps have helped me with my situation. I would really hate to go to the apple store as its always crowded and would end up wasting time. Are there any other steps I could try?
Update: I tried running the Apple Hardware Test from the DVD. This is the error code that I got: 4SNS/1/40000001: TN1D- -1.000
Can someone please tell me what this means?

I don't know what that code means for sure, but it sounds like one of the temperature sensors may have died, so the fans just run at full to cool.
I would take it to the apple store.

G5 fans - runs at full speed

One of my MACs (G5 2.0DP) can't slow down - the fans runs at full speed all the time (OSX 10.3.9) - hardware test - PMU - disconnect powersupply - exit single user mode - I think I did all that's in the "book" - but the fans are still running at full speed - all the time.
any ideas?

Hello,
I am not sure if you have the same issue, but I might be worth it for you to read the archive:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=561296&start=0&tstart=0
And here is the end of my story:
Regarding my issue with the fan fan full force, yes it was resolved... but not without fighting for it!
Fortunately the machine was still under warranty, and I left it with Apple care during an oversea trip in August. End of August I picked it up suppositely fixed and after a few hours of work I noticed the same symptoms were still there! You can be sure I made it clear to Apple service I was not happy. I left the machine again for a week and 1/2 and picked it up again. They told me they replace the logic board. Again a few hours of work of testing and this time I could repeatidly hang up the machine. Back to Apple, I told them I didn't want to pick it up until they REALLY tested it! This time they replace the logic borad again, the power supply and something else?...
Anyway since then the machine works just like it did before : great, no hardware system related issues.
Unfortunately I cannot tell you for sure what was the problem: logic board? CPUs? power supply?... and I could not get the information from Apple care, especially I would have been interested in the specific procedure they follow to fix my problem... but for some reasons they don't want to share this information...
I hope your machine is still under warranty... other wise you'll have to weigh the pros and cons to have it fixed, especially if they replace the logic board ($900 I believe) or any other main components...
I hope this help,
Good luck,
David
Dual 2 GHz PowerPC G5 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Macbook Pro Fans Running At Full Speed When Macbook is Very Cooool

Ok, So now i'm pretty sick of the fan noise.
I've done PRAM reset, Power Management Reset to no luck.
So i decided to do some experiments.
As soon as the computer starts, Fans spool up to 6,000 and stay there. CPU Temp 42 Degrees Celsius.
Now My CPU temp does pretty well staying there. In Activity Monitor, No Processes of what so ever. Computer idles at 99% and only 1% being used by system.
So i decided to put the computer in the fridge. As soon as the temps went down 5 Degrees, to like 30 to 35 Degree Celsius, Fans idled at 2000 and as soon as the CPU temp is 40 Degrees, Fans spooled up and kept going all the way back to 6,000.
See as the temp drops on the computer, the fans do slow back down as the CPU temp drops from 40 to 35.
I called apple and the apple tech i talked to said that it seems the fan specs might be set out of whack. Meaning, the temps as which the monitor spools up the fans is set to low. He said it should be around 50 to 60 even 70 Degrees Celsius's before fans should spool up. He said the problem isn't the monitoring system since it does appear to be slowing down and speeding up the fans between 30 to 40 Degrees but it's spooling the fans up and to low of a temp than needed. He told me to take it to a Mac Genius sometime soon.
so before i do that, any apple geniuses what to take a stab on whats wrong and why it's doing this?

My fan runs continually, BUT, with several monitors watching core AND fan exhaust temps I have noticed something strange. The core indicates 28C while the exhaust jumps from 42C DOWN to -128C and then the fan races. While this is keeping the book cool as a cucumber it is driving my wife and now me up the wall. NO I don't have any hung processes. NO the CPU is not caught in a cycle requiring massive computing power. Regardless of the temp the fan runs at the 6200RPM max. Zapping PRAM and resetting the System Management will soon be followed by gravity resetting through my 2nd story apartment window. One way or another this needs to stop!

Fan running at full speed and all the time!

Hi,
I was wondering what could be the reason for my fan running on full speed at all times?
It is pretty annoying especially when I am in a quiet room. This just started happening this morning and I thought it was just going to stop but it didn't so I restarted my MacBook and shut it down also and still no luck.
Oh...
My battery meter only says 1:45 after I just took it off the charger when it said it was fully charged and I had the green light on my charger.
What could be the reasons for these two things?
Thanks,
Sam

I reset the PMU and the fan is still going at full blast right when the MacBook starts up.
Will I know that the PMU is reset or will it just fix the problem if it is?
Does anyone know a solution?
The computer is running fine but it's just the fan that is really loud and going at full speed and the battery life is extremely short for some reason.

TS1433 Fans run at full speed after computer turns on

Fans run at full speed after computer turns on, and a lot of times while i'm working they suddenly start blowing and won't stop. Tried the reset SMC, nothing happens. Also the unplug powercord-method does nothing.
Anyone?

Exactly what method did you use to reset the SMC, every Mac has different methods and I want to ensure you used the method for an Intel based Imac. The correct instructions are in the iMac SMC and PRAM reset link. Do the SMC reset at least 2X!

G500 fan running at full speed for no apparent reason

I have G500 that worked perfectly for a year now. My operating system is Windows 7 Professional. Yesterday the fan started working full speed while the laptop was idle, I wasn't using it and the software that was running in the background were the usual programs I have been running for the last year. First step was to check the temperature of course, which is normal. Then I checked if anything weird is running in the background and creating high cpu usage, but that was not the case either. What I noticed though was that fanspeed is not recognising the fans or counting their speed. Is it a problem on the hardware? It is really annoying. The speed also fluctuates very often, reminds me of how it should work while gaming and definately not when idle.
Thanks

Hi Zoe,
Welcome to Lenovo Community!
As per the query we understood that you are facing fan issue in your G500 laptop.
Please try to boot the system to safe mode and check for the issue.
Also perform a clean boot and check for the issue, if still the issue persists try to update the BIOS and check for the issue.
Click here for the BIOS update.
Hope this helps. Do post back if issue persists!
Best regards,
Ashwin.S
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Fan runs at full speed all the time

The fan on my brand new iMac 17" runs at full speed all the time, creating an unbearable amount of noise. The activity monitor shows 99% spare time, i.e. nothing much is running.
I updated all software, checked the firmware version (it was the latest already) and performed an SMC reset. I also unplugged it for several hours, as some people have suggested.
I downloaded smcFanControl and it says that the ODD fan is running at 5200 rpm all the time. The CPU and HDD fans seem to run at normal speeds. smcFanControl also reports a cool 39 deg.
Does anyone have any idea of what to try to fix this problem?

I don't have a solution but thought I'd add a computer that showed the same behaivor.
A 20" iMac I was configuring for my company did the same thing, but just once so far. I used it briefly just out of the box and didn't have any problems. It's a stock install of OS X 10.4.8, no other software installed. Turned it on several days later and the fans ran during the 2 hours I used it to run Safari via Airport. I turned if off after it started to smell like hot electrical components. Activity monitor looks completely normal. After shutting it off for two hours, unplugging and re-plugging AC and keyboard, it came back on with no fans. I did not do the SMC reset or any updates between the power cycle.
ps. Repairing permissions is Voodoo
http://daringfireball.net/2006/04/repairpermissionsvoodoo

Mac Fan runs at full Speed from start, even in standby mode!

Hi Folks
Since this night my iMac's fan (summer 2012 model) runs at full speed from the beginning of powering it on. It even runs at full speed when I put the iMac to sleep!
So far I tried to reset the SMC three times, noo effect at all. I checked also the activity log, no processes or other activities are causing this. I read about defect HDD sensors, could that be the problem?
Any ideas how to fix or at least control this issue???
Thank you all for your help!
Matt
PS: That's a pretty annoying sound I'm hearing here, I feel like on the roof top of the Hancock Building at wind speed 200!

I have tried the SMC reset as instructed and the fan is running normally. It is a bit of an intermittent problem so I will monitor the performance of the computer over the coming weeks. If it persists, I will take it in to a service centre while it remains under warranty.
I guess the "cure" I had stumbled across by accident was nothing to do with turning the computer upside down, it was because I was unknowingly performing an SMC reset. The reason I turned the computer upside down was to find the serial number on the base of the stand so I could report the fault to Apple. Of course, when I plugged it back in to contact the support line, it worked fine.
Once again, thanks for your help.

Fans run at full speed sporadically

Hi all,
I know there's been a lot written about iMac G5 fans and I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it.
My iMac fans will occasionally speed up and run at high/full speed. Doesn't appear to be temp related (normally CPU runs 125-130F and CPU temp gets down to about 95F while fans running full) and fans return to normal following restart - this leads me to believe it's software related. I haven't done any software updates for a while (last was 10.4.3 upgrade). Logging out/in doesn't help, a restart is required.
Anyone else seen this? Any ideas?
Thanks,
Brad

I have had my iMac G5 since Dec. 2004. Never had a problem with fan noise until I finally installed Tiger and all the updates. I haven't yet tried any of the fixes suggested in these discussions as each one is different from the next and they will work for some users but not for others.
My fans do not rev up due to amount of time the computer is running. I too believe this is a software issue rather than temperature and something in one of the latest Tiger updates is the culprit or maybe the manner in which I installed them. I am up to ver. 10.4.4
I've been trying to note what I am doing on the computer when I hear the fans rev up. So far it seems that as soon as I log onto a web game that I am an administrator for, the fans rev up. This is a drawing game and highly dependent on Macromedia Shockwave.
Has anyone else noticed shockwave having an affect on the fans? Whatever is causing it, it is unacceptable! I am quite sure this is not a power supply issue as about a month ago, I had the logic board replaced due to the recall on my model and all was fine until I installed Tiger and the updates. BTW, I had no extra fan noise occuring due to the power supply issue.
Over the last few days, the revving fans have taken longer to get going than they did initially. The first time I logged onto that site, the fans revved up immediately and very loud. As I am typing this I have opened another browser and I am logged on to the game I mention above. The fan noise was not present for the entire hour and a half I've been on this computer and now since I logged onto the game site they are slowly getting louder.
iMac G5 20inch Mac OS X (10.3.9)
iMac G5 20inch Mac OS X (10.3.9)

X800 fan runs at full speed all the time. Help!

Hi folks,
Apologies if this has been answered before - I tried to use the search but to no avail!
Anyway, I recently purchased an X800 and installed in my G5 1.8DP (OS X 10.4.9) with the intention of having something to drive my shiney new 30" Cinema display. All booted fine and, in glorious wide-o-vision, I spent the next 30 mins playing with all of this extra screen real-estate. At that point, I started to notice that things were not as quiet as I'd initially anticipated. In fact, the amount of fan noise was so high that I'm not going to be able to use the new card as the machine is part of a project recording studio installation. Doh! So, a quick trawl of the ATI web site lead me to the ROM updates claiming to address fan speed control. Update to the most recent version of the ROM and no change. Similarly, I've installed the most recent version of teh ATI control panel. Odd as other people seem to be saying that they're not experiencing the same problem. And strangely, the GFX card fan runs at a low "normal" speed in Safe Boot mode whilst installing the ROM updates.
Any ideas what to do next? It would be great to get this working but I'm kinda stuck. Otherwise, it's to ebay with the X800 and time to find a 9600 which has passive cooling.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Cheers,
Mike

Hiya,
Thanks for your thoughts. Yup, I'm starting to think this is just one of those things and I need to swap for something with passive cooling. The mac fans seem to be fine although there have been moments when they decide to have a mad minute or two. I think the card next to the graphics card (digidesign core card) is not going to help. Was previously pretty acceptable at normal monitoring levels with the 5200 Nvidia but now you can hear the machine over conversation levels which is tedious. Was thinking about moving the machine to another room or get a quiet rack to house everything but it might be easier to use the cash for a Magma chassic and use my Powerbook. Or stop using Protools and go for Logic? lol! .....
So, anyone want to swap an X800 for a 9600? Ebay, here we come ...
Cheers,
Mike

Fans running on full with almost no load

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