MAC OS X humming...

My Mac Desktop is making a light humming noise when I turn it on. Sometimes I can get it to stop by turning my MAC off, waiting and then turning back it on. Sometimes, it will stop humming after about 10 minutes. I have cleaned my desktop off so that it does not have a bunch of things to open when I turn it on. It's about 3 or 4 years old which I know makes it a fossil in computer years...If I can't get the noise to stop, I just turn it off and don't get it on it all. but, this is an issue b/c this is my work computer.
Questions for MAC experts: can I continue to work on my MAC? Or will something burn out on it, like a fan? Can I take it to a local MAC repair shop and have this issue fixed?
I bought a good back up hard drive from Other World Computers (OWC) and it will arrive next week...plan on putting my most important documents on it.
My desktop is a MAC OS X, 10.5.8
Thanks in advance for advice!

I would skip your MAC repair shop.
Want gpu, get the ATI 5770 from Amz, B&H, Apple.
Want FBDIMMs: Amazon 2.x2GB (FBDIMMs die and don't last and these are 667 work and $40) RAM can have side effects.
Safe, popular, does a great job - may want to take it out in the garage
Metro Vacuum ED500 DataVac 500-Watt 0.75-HP Electric Duster 120-Volt
www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-ED500-500-Watt-Electric/dp/B001J4ZOAW/
2x2GB FBDIMM DDR2 667MHz @ $39http://www.amazon.com/BUFFERED-PC2-5300-FB-DIMM-APPLE-Memory/dp/B002ORUUAC/
Would never be w/o this:
UPS
http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500PFCLCD-Compatible-1500VA-Tower/dp/B00429N 19W/
SSD: Samsung 830 128GB http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0077CR60Q/
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Hardware Monitor
http://www.bresink.com/osx/HardwareMonitor.html
ATI Radeon 5770
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6Mhttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/726537-REG/Apple_MC742ZM_A_ATI_Radeon_HD_5 770.html

Similar Messages

Mac pro loud hum since installing mountain lion

I have a 2008 mac pro which used to run quietly. Since installing mountain lion i notice it makes a loud hum constantly as if the fan is always on. Is this an issue? Should i turn off i cloud?
Message was edited by: arty4books. made question clearer

I have a 2008 mac pro which used to run quietly. Since installing mountain lion i notice it makes a loud hum constantly as if the fan is always on. Is this an issue? Should i turn off i cloud?
Message was edited by: arty4books. made question clearer

Mac Pro loud humming

Having owned/used an iMac White, iMac Silver, Macbook & MacBookPro. I have never heard a computer as loud as my MacPro.
I am running the default stock standard 320GB Apple/Samsung drive. And 2 other drives - which I suspected could cause the noise, so I removed them and rebooted. But the loud humming is still there.
Its uncomfortable, and in a small room I can't hear myself think. My mum listened and said it sounds similar to a fridge.
I have searched the web and the bottom links recommend shoving towel in the MacPro, or bending the drive bays. I just really don't feel comfortable doing that.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=463342
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=413163&highlight=resonance

Unfortuneatly, noise is subjective so you'll never get a definitive answer as to whether the Mac Pro is noisy. People coming from noisy pcs will tell you the Mac Pro is whisper quiet. People using them in work environments won't notice any noise because of the general ambient noise. (It's amazing how much humming noise flourescent bulbs alone can make.) My Mac Pro is used in a quiet room so the noise is quite noticeable to me. Your description of "fridge" is spot on. Mine sounds like a mini fridge when the condensor kicks in. My only guess is that it's coil resonance from the power supply, because i've pretty much ruled out any visible "moving part". I've booted up with no hard drive connected, briefly stopped each fan individually (including the video card fan) and the humming persisted. Having given up at this point, i simply play music on iTunes in the background while the system is on. I'm fairly certain if i took it in for service, i would be told it is operating normally and be charged for having them look at it so thus far have not taken that route.

Mac making a humming noise

This has just started today; it is not as noisy as my old Windows PC, but still annoying - especially as it was almost completely silent when I first got it. I've searched all the threads on this - some say take it back to the shop (a real pain when you do not own a car!); others say 'clean the fans'. What fans? Where are these? My Mac is a completely sealed unit; I cannot see any fans anywhere. I thought perhaps it was making the noise while backing up, but there is no back-up going on & the noise is still there. It is only a few months old - bought it in July 2012; the OS is Lion 10.7.5.
Thanks.

Reset the SMC:
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord.
Wait fifteen seconds.
Attach the computer's power cord.
Wait five seconds, then press the power button to turn on the computer.
Run the Apple hardware test to see if it points out any hardware issues. Depending where you live, the local Apple store may provide on-sight service (this can vary by country and distance from store).

ICal does not update when calendar changes are made on all my other devices. Prompt that the server does not recognize the password, but the password is correct.

I have an iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, MacBook Air and recently bought an iPad Air. Since I synced my iPad, my iCal on my Macbook no longer updates and every time I open it, this window appears even if I didn't change or forget my password. So I tried changing my password and still this window appears. I hope someone can help me. Thanks!

As if by magic it is now working. I went away from the mac for a couple of hours, came back and it started to work. This is scary as I would expect this kind of action on a Mickysoft machine but not a Mac. Ho Hum - at least the problem has been sorted even if I don't know how.
Chris

ITunes Last Played does not update when syncing from iPod

When I synch any of my Ipods, the last played field does not update in Itunes.
If I play the song from Itunes. (11.1.5) Last Played works fine.
I tried the crossfade solution, but that did not work. My crossfade was already not selected.
Any other thoughts?
Thanks

As if by magic it is now working. I went away from the mac for a couple of hours, came back and it started to work. This is scary as I would expect this kind of action on a Mickysoft machine but not a Mac. Ho Hum - at least the problem has been sorted even if I don't know how.
Chris

ICal does not update status when someone accepts my invitation

If I send a meeting request out from iCal, and someone accepts, their status in iCal does not change, i.e. in the event, the icon against their name remains as a grey question mark and does not change to a green tick. This is annoying because of course the whole point is to see who is or is not coming to your meeting!
Why is this please, and is there a fix?
(I have found references to this issue on here but they are from several years back. Just wondering if there has been a fix since then that I'm missing. Thanks.)

As if by magic it is now working. I went away from the mac for a couple of hours, came back and it started to work. This is scary as I would expect this kind of action on a Mickysoft machine but not a Mac. Ho Hum - at least the problem has been sorted even if I don't know how.
Chris

Cannot access BBC, Amazon, Google etc etc etc but ...

Having cancelled my BT TV service, within minutes of the TV service being switched off, I now cannot access normal sites such as mentioned in the header. I have checked my DNS which is 192.168.1.254. I have contacted BT help but regret to say nit at all helpful. Can get slight access via Fiefox, Any help would be appreciated.
OS X Yosemite ~ Safari 8, Firefox 33, and Chrome 38. Biggest Irony, my iPad & iPhone both connect to all websites with no BT You are trying to access ........ message.

Solved my own problem! The BBC requires Windows Media Player + Flip4Mac add-ons to play their material on an intel Mac.
Ho-hum!

Mac Mini and Audio Interface Hum

Hie Guys,
Whenever my mac mini connect to line 6 pod xt live via USB, it gives annoying hum that never goes away unless I touch the handlebar of the line 6 pod xt live or certain parts of my guitar. It is proven , when I unplug the usb the hum dissappears.
I suspect it is more to mac mini grounding issue but i cannot be certain. Tried some possible solution and yet to try using ground lift isolator and isolator transformer.
Appreciate is anyone can suggest some help here.
Thanks,

I am using:
the Apple wireless keyboard, which uses bluetooth
Microsoft Mouse 4000, which uses some 2.4GHz wireless transmission to a USB dongle
an iPhone USB sync cable
I will switch to a wired mouse and see if it subsides.
Thanks for that suggestion!

Mac Pro 8-core Power Supply Making Humming Noise That Comes And Goes

This is in reference to a Mac Pro 3,1 8-core purchased around Feb 2008.
Lately, I've noticed a strange noise coming from my power supply that sounds like the noise a refrigerator radiator makes. It's a humming noise that rapidly comes and goes, constantly.
The power supply fan speed is running at 599rpm
I'm not sure if the problem could've been caused by adding additional ram (12GB, OWC) or an additional HDD (3rd HDD, WD), but I didn't really notice the noise until after adding these components.
What could be the cause of this problem? What are my repair options if necessary (without Apple Care)?
Thanks in advance.

I know for a fact it is not any of my hard drives because the noise is becoming more frequent no matter what hard drive I use, I actually have a 1.5tb, a 1tb, two 500gb and two 320gb drives, I have set an appointment to take my system in and have it tested, it is starting to crash 5-6 times a day. I can not get a lot of work done with this annoying spinning noise and the shutting down. Thank god for my Apple care, and I have visited various forums that lead me to believe its the power supply going out, with the symptoms it is having. This article and others like it explain what to look for when a power supply is going bad.
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r07 04/24r04/24r04.asp

My Toshiba 1TB 2.5 inch External StorE Art HDD doesn't show up in Finder. The light is on and it hums. Has always worked perfectly and now this. Using it on a 2010 Mac with Snow Leopard 10.6.8

My
Toshiba 1TB 2.5 inch External StorE Art HDD doesn't show up in Finder.
The light is on and it hums. Has always worked perfectly and now this. Using it on a 2010 Mac with Snow Leopard 10.6.8

tried another cable (from a camera) with no joy. However after turning off TM and searching for the EHD and not finding it, I revisited Disk Utility and can 'see' it there. The bad news is that it says,
Verifying volume “Toshiba 1TB”
Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Invalid extent entry
The volume could not be verified completely.
Error: This disk needs to be repaired. Click Repair Disk.
Verify and Repair volume “Toshiba 1TB”
Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.
Invalid extent entry
The volume could not be verified completely.
Volume repair complete.Updating boot support partitions for the volume as required.Error: Disk Utility can’t repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and restore your backed-up files."

Speaker buzz/hum with two Macs

I have recently purchased a Mac Pro Dual 2.8 Quad Core Xeon to go with my crusty MBP 2.16. I am using a Yamaha speaker system (2 desktop satellites and a sub). The Yamaha has two 1/8" inputs on the back of the subwoofer. When I plug the two computers in, one input each, the Yamaha system emits a prominent buzzing/bassy hum. This doesn't occur with either computer plugged in alone, only when both are plugged in. I tried using a Y cord so that both would go into one input, and it still buzzed/hummed. I seem to recall this same thing happening years ago with a different brand of speaker system. Is there a way to hook the two Macs up without the humming?? Any help appreciated. Thanks!

Hello pingvuiini,
It almost sounds like you have a ground loop happening.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundloop%28electricity%29
Are both comps plugged into the same power?
Have you switched the 1/8" cables around to see if one is bad?
Does it buzz if you unplug the MBP from power and run from the battery?
Do you have any audio cables laying on top of the computer power supplies?
Sorry to hit you with so many questions so quickly.
I have a very similar set up:
Yamaha speakers w/sub
(2) 1/8" inputs
MacPro 2.8 quad and a powerbook conected, no buzz.
I would check these things first.
Good luck!
-delton

A stereo, a loud hum, and three Macs

Audio/hardware/electrical issue.
Friend has a brand new Mac Pro, a G5 tower, a MacBook Pro and a killer classic stereo. As of a month ago, he could plug in either the G5 or MBP to the stereo via mini-jack and get great sound from iTunes.
Then something changed, and suddenly the G5 started generating an overpowering bass hum, but the MBP continues to work fine. The new Mac Pro also generates the same hum.
In researching, I suspect it has something to do with the 60 hz ground loop, and I know there are ground loop him eliminators out there, but I don't know enough about this topic to pick a good solution. Computers & stereo are plugged into the same circuit via grounded outlets.
Three questions:
1) what could have changed to cause the G5 to start to hum, after years of working? audio cable is the same. Surge protector is the same.
2) why does the MBP continue to work fine? Something to do with running of a battery vs. a power supply?
3) what's the best way to eliminate the hum in this situation? The stereo is "old" and does not have optical inputs.

If the stereo has a two prong plug, try reversing the plug. It it has a polarized plug (one wide prong) than can't be reversed, try a different outlet.

Humming/purring noise on 27" Mac?

I recently got a 27" inch desktop, and everything has been running smoothly with the exception of the occasional hum/purr it makes.
I can only assume it's from some sort of fan, but the sound is very soft, and can really only be heard if you are close to the mac. The sound is coming from the left of the apple icon on the bottom of the screen. If I give it a little smack in that area, or a light squeeze, the sound stops for a few seconds before coming back.
I sit in front of the computer for long periods of time doing artwork, and after thirty minutes or so of the purring noise, +it is just about enough to drive me crazy+.
Has anyone else encountered this problem?
Side note: I use Photoshop CS2, which in my old MacBook used to make the fans run whenever I was working with a large file, but in this case the humming noise is inconsistent and doesn't always sound when I'm working in that program.

Try doing a SMC reset and if that doesn't take care of it a PRAM reset. Here are the instructions:
_SMC RESET_
• Shut down the computer.
• Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
• Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds.
• Release the power button.
• Attach the computers power cable.
• Press the power button to turn on the computer.
_PRAM RESET_
• Shut down the computer.
• Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
• Turn on the computer.
• Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
• Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
• Release the keys.
Roger

My mac makes a loud humming sound

My mac makes a loud humming sound when i turn it on. The sound is from the base of the MAc and it sometimes get really hot.

Resetting SMC as well as blow out the dust could solve the problem.
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

MAC OS X humming...

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for