MacBook Pro Retina Fan Fault

I bought the first model of the MacBook Pro Retina back in December of 2012. After about 6 months, one of the fans started to make a strange clicking noise, as if it were hitting something with each rotation. I called Apple, who were no help, and then the problem went away after a day. It came back later that week and then went away again. Now in June of 2014, the right fan is making a strange noise when moving at a fast speed. It sounds like a vibrating buzz. It's very loud and very distracting. I am wondering if it will go away like the previous noise, but i am curious as to what the sound is. Also my MacBook freezes at least once a week and i am forced to hold down the off button. (This has happened on and off for months)

In regards to the fan, run an Apple Hardware Test:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509
In regards to the 'freezing', download and post EtreCheck:
http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck
Ciao.

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2 issues with MacBook Pro Retina - Fan randomly speeds up and USB3.0 Issues

So I just purchased a brand new MacBook Pro Retina 15" 2.40GHz.
Randomly, when nothing but finder is open, the fans will spin at full speed.
I have opened every application on the machine including serato, ableton, photoshop, VLC playing a 1080P movie, iTunes playing music and youtube playing videos in 2 tabs - and the fans do not spin as fast at it does when nothing is open or running (confirmed with activity monitor too).
Secondly, once I eject a USB3.0 drive from the machine, I have to reboot the system before the drive can be mounted, or even recognized at all by the computer. (it does not even show up in disk utility till the reboot). this happens with 2 seperate USB3.0 external hard drives that work fine on other rMBPs. This happens with both usb ports too.
I have reset SMC, PRAM, ran all Apple updates as well as reinstalled the operating system (as well as booted from a known good system in target disk mode).
Please help

There are a few threads reporting the fan issues you are dealing with which you might want to look at. I have now experianced it with four brand new 2013 rMBP.
Threads reagarding fan issues:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4735947?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4744182?tstart=0

MacBook Pro Retina Fan Issues

Hi,
I bought a macBook Pro Retina just under a month ago, and have been experiencing some issues with the fan speeds.
I can be just browsing the web or checking emails or playing music through iTunes, and the fans will spin up to full speed for a minute or so, and then return to normal.
I have reset the SMC, the PRAM and repaired the Disk and Disk Permissions, with no luck, I've also tried a full format and reinstall with no luck either.
I have seen that others have been experiencing similar issues, and wanted to get some advice on where I can go from here.
Attached below is a Screen Grab of my temps and fan speeds. The fans were at normal speed for a few minutes, then went up to a high speed, back down and then back up again, and kept repeating.
Thanks in advance,
James.

Hi all,
I got a call from apple yesterday to say that the screws for my machine were in, and that they had got a response from engineering about the fans, they said that the fan speeds were normal and there was nothing to worry about.
I don't think that this is the case, as I have never owned any other computer that has done this under normal operation.
It also worries me that while some of you have got their machines replaced, others have been told there is nothing to worry about.
When you pay upwards of £1800 you dont expect to be finding these problems, and if you do, a replacement should be provided without question.
If anyone else has a different outcome after taking their machine in to the apple store, let us all know on this thread.
Thanks,
James.

MacBook Pro Retina - Fan/Heat During File Transfer

Hey guys,
I just had my MacBook Pro Retina in for repair because of an 4HDD/11/400000000: Sata (0,0) error and they replaced the SSD. I have a 2.7/16/768 configuration. One of the main issues I noticed was periodically slow file transfers, load times and boots hanging etc. and a secondary reason was a high-pitched buzzing with heavy disk usage.
My question now is... when I'm doing something as simple as a large file transfer, or installing some apps etc. the MacBook really heats up and the fans really start spinning sometimes. I've never known SSD access to heat up a computer so much. Is this normal behaviour that everyone else is experiencing with their systems? To clarify: this happens when not doing anything else with the machine other than copying files around, also when copying files to/from my external drive which is connected through FireWire on the back of my 27" Thunderbolt display which is then of course connected to the MacBook via the Thunderbolt port.
Expected behaviour? Seems odd to me, but this is my first MacBook so don't know if that's the 'norm' or not.

I've managed to get the fan speed down to a reasonable, less audible level by using that old VRAM terminal command to enable me to keep the internal display disabled whilst the lid is open. I've had to shift quite a lot round on my desk to make this happen, but I guess it was the only way. It now runs 3 screens under similar loads at approximately 3500prm.
Taking your advice into consideration, I raised the rear feet and this enabled further decrease in fan speed. I guess one of those laptop stands will augment this effect, and I will look into them.
Anyway, thank you for your help!
Thanks,
Richard

Macbook Pro Retina Fan Speed with 3 vs 2 external displays

Hello,
When I'm in my home office, I often use my MacBook Pro Retina in Clamshell Mode (in a BookArc) with external displays.
Originally, I used 2 external displays (2x 1920x1800), and the fan speed and temperature remained stable at the lowest end of the spectrum (around 2200rpm and 60°C). However, recently I decided to use all the ports available and plug in an extra monitor (1680x1050) for that extra screen real estate. I can tell you that having three external monitors really makes a difference to my productivity. However, just by adding this extra display, the fan speed boosts up to a minimum of 4500rpm and often goes up to around 6000rpm. The temperature is also high (I guess the fan speed is a symptom of this).
I understand that the extra pixels in the 3rd monitor could definately tax the GPU more. However, I am suprised that the fan speed and GPU temperatures go so high, especially as all I am doing is moving around on a Preview PDF file, just from adding the extra monitor (especially with it's modest resolution).
I guess my questions are:
Is this expected behaviour for the rMBP?
Is this going to damage my rMBP with extended use (say, a good 6-8 hours pretty much every day for the next few years)?
Thanks very much,
Richard

I've managed to get the fan speed down to a reasonable, less audible level by using that old VRAM terminal command to enable me to keep the internal display disabled whilst the lid is open. I've had to shift quite a lot round on my desk to make this happen, but I guess it was the only way. It now runs 3 screens under similar loads at approximately 3500prm.
Taking your advice into consideration, I raised the rear feet and this enabled further decrease in fan speed. I guess one of those laptop stands will augment this effect, and I will look into them.
Anyway, thank you for your help!
Thanks,
Richard

Brand new macbook pro retina - fan noise when running hola?

Hi everyone, I need some help here please!
I have a brand new macbook pro retina 13 - just bought in January this year - and have had no problems so far apart from the wifi dropping occassionally.
So I just downloaded hola unblocker for firefox but whenever I stream anything using it on netflix my fan starts whirring so loudly - it's never even made a noise before! and I can feel the base of the mac getting hotter. So I've closed hola/firefox and it stops after a minute or so. I've tried a few times again with the same problem.
I'm just using it to watch US netflix so probably not technically legal anyway.... but other friends manage it no bother - do mac's just know I'm doing something wrong? haha
Thanks for any advice.

Try running Activity Monitor (in the Utilities folder). Click the Energy button at the top and then stream a video. Watch the Energy Impact.
I suspect what you'll see is that your rMBP is doing a lot of work while you're streaming the video, and that makes it get hot. The fan struggles to dissipate the resulting heat in order to prevent damage and makes noise in the process.
It may also have a guilty conscience.

Macbook Pro Retina fan runs constantly

Hi,
I have a mid 2012 15 inch Retina Macbook Pro that was running absolutely fine till last 2 years. Just recently it is creating problem like the fans of the laptop run constantly even under normal cpu load and temperature. I have tried every possible guide and way to fix it but just couldn't solve it.
Then I ran the hardware test and found out the following error:
4SNS / 1 / 40000000 : Th2H - 127.875
After little bit of googling, I found out the error code referred to sensor related problems. Important to mention here, I live in Bangladesh where apple does not have a direct store but 1 - 2 authorised retailers and service providers. So I took my laptop to one of the authorised service providers w/o any delay and they told me I have to change my logic board as there's no other way to fix it. And changing the logic board will cost me hefty usd 1200 approximately which is a lot for me.
So can anyone suggest me what to do now. Is the error code really refers to replacing my logic board? Is there any way to skip the replacement? I mean is there any way to control fan by any app? What best I can do now?
I will highly appreciate if anyone gives me an honest opinion.
Thanks.

Not sure of the feasibility of this, but one potentially cheaper option would be to buy a matching model from Ebay that has a non-logic board related fault (screen, physical damage, etc.) that can be bought cheap and the logic board transplanted to your own. At $1200 you are clearly in the "buy a new one" category. You would have to consider things like whether the MPB is registered (and potentially locked) like iOS devices can be. Not sure if the same security applies to Macs?
If replacement is your only option, then you should still be able to sell your current MBP on Ebay for parts.
Perhaps contact Apple direct and see if you can arrange a direct repair with them? I am assuming you didn't purchase the Applecare cover (which if only 2 years old would still cover your MPB).

Fan noise on Macbook pro retina 15 on low speed!

Hi guys, I'm experiencing a constant low background noise from the left fan (as I'm looking at the screen). The noise is audible always even when the fans are working in their lowest speed possible the noise is there. It seems to me that that is a mechanical failure of the fan itself. It's like something is touching at the fan. When I'm slightly moving my laptop the noise is exaggerated seems like the rotor is going out of place and touching the surrounding structures. I bought the laptop on December and I didn't use it too much. I'm having a similar problem with my older MacBook Pro but the noise from the fans occurs only when I'm moving the laptop vertically and after five years off continues usage. It's anyone having a similar problem? Any advice? Should I replace the fan? Or should I take it to an authorized service?
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013)
2.3 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB
Thank you in advance

If it is under warranty, by all means take it in for service. If there is a mechanical deficiency, it should be repaired gratis. It does sound like an internal fan problem that needs to be replaced.
Ciao.

MacBook Pro Retina 13" fan very loud/overheats when playing full screen video/games

Hi,
Just purchased a MacBook Pro Retina, refurbished (because why not - the same product for a cheaper price) around a month ago. It's the 13 inch and is the model before the most recent one came out (4GB of RAM instead of 8GB - late 2013). From the very first day, playing a full-screen video on any site (be it YouTube, Facebook, etc) just makes the fan much louder than usual (so loud that you can almost hear it more over the video itself). Thought it may have been just a thing with Flash Player being buggy, but the problem has persisted for a while now. I'm not even pushing the CPU to any limits - literally playing a full-screen video on Facebook (not even in HD) makes the fan go crazy.
Just last night I tried installing Borderlands 2 and it was the same thing - FPS rate was fine, no lag, just the fan was so loud that I actually got scared for my computer and turned it off. After closing the app and checking out the fan temperature, it was at 91c.
Never happens when browsing/surfing or doing my usual work.
Should I go give it back to Apple? The thing is I start university in less than a week (and hence will be traveling), so not sure if I can afford to give my laptop in to them for a long period of time (I know it should be free though since mine is a refurb item). May it just be an issue that is quickly repairable or is this worse?

During processor intensive activities—such as processing HD video or playing a game that makes extensive use of the graphics processor—the fans speed up to provide additional airflow.
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4543
Reset SMC. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Choose the method for:
"Resetting SMC on portables with a battery you should not remove on your own".
If this does not help, contact Apple.
Genius Bar reservation:
http://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/
Best.

Macbook pro retina start to make loud fan noise and work slow

I bought macbook pro retina display less than one years ago. For some reason my macbook pro has been making loud fan noise for about five mounth. Whenever macbook pro makes the noise, all the programs start to run slow. Typing, opening safari, and etc takes forever. It takes 20min to 40min for the noise to stop. At first, the macbook pro made noise once or twice in a day, but now it's making the noise frequently; It happens every 2-3 hours. It got to the point where it start to annoying me. Is there a way for me to fix this issue? If not, can I use one year warrenty to fix this problem? Thank you.

If your Mac works slowly when fans turn on, it's quite possible that there's a process which is eating the CPU and/or RAM.
Open Activity Monitor (in /Applications/Utilities), select "All Processes" above "Show" (in the toolbar) and then, order the processes by CPU usage. Do you see any process which is consuming more CPU or RAM? If so, tell us the name.
Additionally, you can reset the SMC > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

Fan like noise - Macbook Pro Retina 13 inch - late 2013 model

If I open Frontline Commando (game app) my brandnew Mackbook pro make fan like noise. (annoying and scary) Could anyone advice please?
my sys configuration:
Model - Macbook Pro Retina 13 inch - late 2013 model
RAM - 8 GB
Processor - 2.4 GHz intel core i5
OS - OS X 10.9.1

Normal during gaming use, fan noise.
A: you notice it more in a quiet room (the typical case) which is normal, all is AOK
B: fuzz and dust has caked onto the blades causing the fan hub to get off balance and make a buzzing sound.
C: fan rotor is going bad and making a whirring or buzz noise (rare).
D: Fan is spinning up due to excess heat from gaming, heavy graphics gaming (typical, all is OK)
A and D are normal
B and C are not.

Retina Macbook Pro strange fan noise

Hi all, i just got my retina macbook pro 2 days ago, however when starting it up for the first time there was a strange noise coming from the computer (probably fans), it was like a blocked fan kicking in loudly but only for a few seconds. I figured that it was nothing but it came back when i used it today and i noticed that this sound is only present when the computer is warm. It only comes for a few seconds and then fades away, is this normal? I'll try to post a recording up here if i can.

I have the same problem with my MacBook Pro Retina . . . took it into my local Genius Bar, where a nice woman identified it as noise from one (or both?) of the fans. She took it apart, removed some debris (couldn't have been much, after a couple of months) and . . . the computer continues to make this annoying noise.
I believe this must be a serious design flaw on Apple's part, and that they don't know what to do about it.
We can hope that the noise is merely annoying, and not a danger sign.

Macbook Pro Retina 15 Fan Full Constant?

Hello all,
I have a Macbook Pro Retina which is just over 1 year old. I dont have apple care so its just out of warrently.
Its the Mid-2012 version.
Last week, i was editing video in Premier CC, and the fan never came on. I edited for about 2 hours and the Macbook became very hot, but the fan was never audiable..
The next day (and ever since), when i boot the macbook up from cold, the instant the OS loads and the login window appears, the fans are audiable and running fastly.
I have tried doing SMC reset aswell as pram resets, but these have had no effect.
The macbook is fully functional, tho its really anoying when i take the macbook into a studio and the fans are realy loud...
I have tried to book a genious bar appointment, but straight out, the site says 'no available appointments'. If you turn up at store, you get turned away.
I installed iStat to find out the fan speeds and they are stuck at around 2k rpm.
Is their anything i can do to try resolve this issue?

Thanks for the reply Kappy, as you can see on the screen shot, theirs no runaway precesses going on. I think its definatley a firmware/software issue. Are their an other resets i can do? Also, is it normal to have soo many processes/threads? - Im coming from a more 'windows' background where 63 process happen with nothing running...
I would take it to the Mac store to have it looked at but aparently the UK macstores arnt offering bookings anymore OR they are not notifying the public of a time to go online to book appointments...

Any problems with heat and fan noise on Guild Wars 2 Macbook Pro retina?

I am thinking to start Guild Wars 2 Mac beta on my Macbook pro retina, but i have been reading in different forums that it heats up the system and that the fan kicks off really loud when playing the game. Anyone has any experience on this? Any guild wars 2 gamers please give me some feedback.

I have been playing GW2 for a while now on Beta. The game runs choppier than windows but I think that's because it's a Beta version. I bet after they finish optimizing it things should change, even heat.
As for the heat, it gets super hot. So hot the keyboard gets hot, and when I push in the keys, I feel heat. It's warm enough to cause concern. I don't know if it's bad or not, but the dude at the Apple Genius/Store said, the MBPR knows when it gets too hot and it'll let you know. He said if it plays and nothing is warning me then it's fine. The MBPR won't allow itself to go to catastrophic failure due to heat.
So I took his advice and have played. Just Monday (October 1st 2012) I played for a good 5 hours non-stop and nothing came up so if the Apple Genius guy is correct then I wouldn't worry about it. I do have AppleCare so if something does fail then I will blame the apple genius guy.
It's a fun game, my first MMO, but it's too hard for me sometimes. I don't like that

Macbook Pro retina 13" fan not spinning

Hi, I have had my macbook pro retina 13" (late 2013 model) since november, it had a fan problem after a month, where it made a horrible whirring noise and according to istat just wasnt spinning. This was independent of tempeartures for example 0rpm at 25 degrees and still 0rpm at 55 degrees, obviously it began to heat up rapidly after even just mld usage.
Took it back to apple and they cleaned the fan and the problem cleared up, however a few months later it has started again, surely this can't just be dirt build up seeing as the fan has been cleaned already and the computer is only 4/5 months old.
I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else, if they solved it, or just whether I should take it back to apple.
Many Thanks

There are no bits you can flip to straighten this out.
Take it back to Apple, remind them they already cleaned it and suggest maybe they should replace it this time.
Apple is unique in the way they run their repairs. They are not trying to squeeze every penny out of you the way the car dealers are. They mostly want you to be a happy customer.

MacBook Pro Retina Fan Fault

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