Right fan noisy and capped at 2.3-2.6k rpm

Hi,
Recently, the right fan has been incredibly noisy, and it is stuck running at about 2.3k or 2.6k rpm, even if I try to run the fans higher. Only the left fan seems to run properly. The last time this happened, an SMC reset fixed it, but an SMC reset won't fix it now, no matter how many times I've tried.
http://youtu.be/d2aHEUupnmY Here's what the fan sounds like, recorded with Photo Booth.
Here's an image of trying to put the two fans at max to force the Right fan to change speeds.
This is a 2009 Macbook Pro, still running 10.6.8.

Replace the fan. it is easy to do and the costs for a replacement is not prohibitive. Look at the iFixit.com and Powerbookmedic.com web sites.
Ciao.

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"Moo" = Right fan repeatedly spinning up and down under certain conditions

I am pretty certain I have figured out what is causing the "moo". Here is my theory based on a couple of weeks of experimentation...
It is the right fan starting up and stopping. Again..and again...and again. It does this in response to temperature changes. But the threshold is too sensitive so what happens is an increase in temperature triggers the fan, the fan winds up and in so doing after a couple of seconds this immediately drops the temperature below the threshold and so the fan winds down. The temperature now builds and after a couple of seconds the fan spins up again. It will keep doing this until either activity falls so that the temperature stays below threshold or continuos activity ensures the temperature stays high enough to keep the fan on at low speed (when it is generally quiet unless there is a heavy load).
I will guess the cause is probably a faulty sensor, faulty fan or most likely faulty fan control logic since this is clearly happening with a lot of MBPs. If it is the latter then presumably they need only change the firmware controlling the fan to make it start slower and stay on longer.
Why doesn't everyone hear it?
a. Like most fan type noises they are only apparent in a quiet room - as most people work in rooms full of white noise they simply will not hear it even if it happens.
b. Some people have better hearing and are more sensitive to noise.
c. It needs the right set of hardware and sofware activities to trigger the problem...............
In my particular case I typically have my 2.0ghz MBP connected to an external monitor, ethernet and external USB mouse on the right side of the MBP. When I am using the MBP standalone (ie without more heat being generated) the noise does not occur as often, presumably because when idling less heat is generated.
As you change what you are doing with the machine (not sure if its CPU or Video related changes that matter most) the noise will start or stop happening. Doing absolutely nothing typically means the noise does not happen so often, but then again it can be sitting doing nothing and it will start happening. Doing a bit means (say 10-30% CPU) means it will make a noise , doing a moderate amount (say above 40% CPU) means it does not happen because the temperature stays high and the fan stays on - generally being quiet at low speed. If you push the machine (say 80% CPU) then a louder fan noise is noticeable. I have also found that opening/closing the lid (when using an external monitor) makes a difference, the surface it is on makes a difference and the room temperature probably does as well.
A good way to experience this is to start Garageband recording the noise when it happens since the additional load stops the noise. The spin up/down cycle will continue for 4 or 5 cycles as you record the noise but then the fan remains on very low speed as a new higher thermal equilibrium is achieved.
For reference I am on my 2nd MBP (the first also had this problem but it was less noticeable) and have experienced most the other noises:
a. Left Fan always runs on both machines
b. Screen buzz when not on full brightness on 1st MBP not in on 2nd.
c. CPU whine was not on 1st MPB but it is on the 2nd - but only at low level and only if running on battery power.
I have a couple of other irritating problems:
d. Screen dims after 2 minutes regardless of power setting etc.
e. Fit of 1st MBP was great, 2nd not so good.
Personally I find the fan spinup/down noise very very annoying, far more so than the left fan always being on. I really do need Apple to fix it, but I dont see the point of sending the machine in unless they recognize the problem and have a systemic solution since clearly this is common problem. Otherwise the chances are a tech will plug it in standalone in a noisy repair shop, hear nothing and either do nothing or never know if its fixed or not. So far no intelligent response from Applecare......If I can figure this Apple ought to be able to and get a fix.
And no I would not recommend buying a MBP until this problem is fixed if you are at all sensitive to noise and work somewhere quiet - because it appears to be a gamble as to whether you will get a quiet MBP or not. That's a shame since otherwise its a very slick machine.

I agree with u; however:
-The left fan that's always on is the Hard Drive - listen to the hard drive to the left of the trackpad and you'll realize that it is coming from there.
-My "moo" sound comes from my LEFT fan. So if it's a firmware issue, why would the side of the fan affected by the problem varry? this leads me to the worrying assumption that it is a hardware issue...If this is the case, who knows if apple will even cover it under warranty if it doesn't affect the performance of the system...

Satellite R630-155 - Fan is too noisy and SSD upgrade

I am the owner of a Toshiba Satellite R630-155 (Core i5-480). My problems are:
1. The fan is too noisy and never stops. In normal operation (browsing and general office work) there is a constant high pitch noise that is audible three to four meters away in an office environment - in high load you just can't stand it!!! The fan never stops... even when you are doing nothing...
2. Heat is a big problem. The bottom of the laptop is constantly overheating and i have to place it on my desk in a way that the bottom left corner is outside of the table so it can breath fresh air from below - if not, the temperature rises and the (loud) fan is unable to keep up. When i work with the laptop while sitting on a sofa, i have to place a thick book between the laptop and my legs. The book must be thick (more than an inch) with hard covers, otherwise the heat passes through the book!!!!
3. Last (but not least, i just mention the biggest problems here) it's the problem with SSD installation. I bought a used Corsair F80 (80Gb SSD) from a friend, but i was unable to use it with the Toshiba - the BIOS was not detecting the disk. I tried installing all latest firmware updates for both laptop and SSD but i had no success. Then i gave the disk back and i bought a brand new Zalman 128Gb SSD (SSD0128N1 Sandforce) but i had exactly the same problem. I contacted my local Toshiba support and after a lot of conversation the only answer i got is that the laptop is not compatible with those SSD's and this is acceptable by Toshiba and not their problem. They told me that if i need an SSD upgrade i can only go for the Toshiba SSD that is installed on the portege series, which is sold by Toshiba for a ridiculously expensive price - about $500 for 128Gb. I contacted the European support center and i got the exact same reply. I searched on the Internet and i found someone else with the exact same problem with a Corsair 128Gb SSD - he found that the laptop detects the SSD after ten to twenty reboots. I tried that and it was true - after a lot of reboots the laptop detected the Zalman disk and i was able to install Windows 7 successfully, but the process is unacceptable. Also the disk is benchmarked by official sites at the speed of an OCZ Vertex 2 128Gb (and slightly better), but when i ran a benchmark in the Toshiba, the results I got were below half of the advertised speed. Same benchmark in another machine for the same disk, resulted in the advertised speeds.
Shame for Toshiba... nice design and portability but everything else is a big flaw. Their support in non existent and they do not value their customers. I feel they stole my money and I'll never buy a Toshiba laptop again.
Sorry for the big message, but I need I have to warn potential customers. Can someone help me with any of the above problems? Do you have the same problems too?
To be continued...

Hi buddy,
Regarding the fan and heat issue: Did you make BIOS update? Friend of me has Satellite R630 too and he told me that fan activity with new BIOS version 2.10 is reduced. Furthermore the notebook is cooler than before so I would recommend installing this update. You can download the BIOS update here:
http://eu.computers.toshiba-europe.com > Support & Downloads > Download Drivers
But before you start the BIOS update you should consider the following tips:
-Run update as Administrator only
-Unzip all files from zip archive before you start the update file
-Close all running programs and also the antivirus and firewall
-Make sure that battery is fully charged
Regarding the SSDs its always a little bit complicated installing 3rd party products and nobody can guarantee that such parts would work. You are always on safely side with original Toshiba spare parts.
Everything what you can do is installing the newest firmware for SSD and hope that it works but who knows maybe the BIOS update will also help you in this case ;)

Why is my fan working so noisy and speedly?

I bought a new macbook air two months ago. My model has 13¨ display, 128 GB SSD, 2 GB RAM, etc.
Sometimes, specifically while playing flash videos, fan is working so noisy and speedly and macbook air is running so slow as you can feel easily.
I searched; there are some programs like Coolbook that promise to solve this problem.
But I'm looking an officially solution from Apple. Is there?
Thanks,

Hi muhendisce,
If you're looking for an official solution you're not going to find it here, this a user-to-user discussion group. You'll need to get on the phone with AppleCare or bring the machine into an Authorized Service Provider / Genius Bar (Retail Store).
If you're watching flash heavy content expect the CPU & GPU to be taxed and as such the fan to come on. But it shouldn't be noisy (grinding noise).

Why is the fan noisy on iMac? And how do I stop the noise?

Why is the fan noisy on iMac monitor and how do I rectify the problem?

Please do 2-3 SMC resets. If you don't know how please click Intel iMac SMC and PRAM resets for instructions.

Coming 10.6.8 my right fan is down and left fan is overworked

Coming OS 10.6.8 my right fan is down but my left fan is overworked; it works all time more than 4800 RPM.
may I go back to 10.6.7 ?

Hi Ray,
Try a SMC reset...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964
Failing that you could download and install the Combo Update:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399
Hope this helps,
Cheers,

My brand new Envy 4-1030us model's fan is running most of the time. it is noisy and annoying.

Just bought HP Envy 4-1030us 2 days ago and i have configured my needful software. The fan seems to be running most of the time (battery or powered) and it is very noisy and annoying. I turned off the coolsense too but still noisy. Pls let me know what to do? Is it problem with the laptop. Should I return?

You can enter the BIOS and disable the "Fan Always On" setting.
I suggest leaving the coolsense on.
****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. It helps others facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

Left and right fans running at different very different speeds on a 15" i5 Macbook Pro

I have a MacBook Pro i5 and it seems to be heating up a bit more than the first couple of months I had it. I also have istat which shows my left fan at around ~250 rpm's. The right fan is running at around ~2500 to 3500 rpm's. Is this normal or is this something I should take in to a genius bar to take a look at?
The temps of the CPU run from about 50 to 80. Any help or gudance is appreciated.

250 seems to me to indicate an issue - not sure if I have seen ANY computer fan purposely running at that speed - could be the fan or the sensor that monitors the fan is faulty. If high temps are being seen then faulty fan could lead to more serious issues.

Right fan not working and temperature rising

Hi guys (and ladies...)!
I've installed SMC Fan Control on my MBP because it was running hot. Last summer (no, no, I didn't give you my heart...), I sent my MBP in for a logic board replacement, because one day the screen stayed obstinately dark, though I could hear the hard drive spinning... and the fans too!
Recently, I noticed that the right fan was making a real racket, like a ball bearing going sour. I'm planning on bringing my MBP back in for repair (I've got a three-year warranty plan from the French retailer where I bought my machine), but I'd like to know if someone has already experienced a total and sudden fan breakdown such as this.
In System Preferences under PrefPanes, I can access my Fan Control preferences, and it shows one fan (the left one) running at almost 5000 rpm, and the other (guess what? yeah, the right one!) at 0, repeat, zero.
Something's wrong, right?

Just what I thought... OK, thanks, I'll bring it back in. I just hope they won't keep as long as they did last year (5 weeks to change a lousy logic board, can you believe it?)...
Thanks, mate!

17 inch powerbook right fan somehow always on!

I purchased my 17 inch Aluminum powerbook the moment it came out. Its a hardware first revision. Over the past couple of years, I've noticed that the right side fan kicks in and stays on for the whole time I'm using my computer. It is extremely noisy and this has been quite irritating.
I checked my activity monitor and even installed Temperature monitor, only to find that my processor usage is below 10% and the hardware temperatures well below the 100degC and 71degC limits they have been set to, around 45degC for the graphics processor and processor, and 60 degC for the powersupply side, and 39degC for the harddisk. I have Norton Antivirus installed but it doesn't seem to be taking up any processor time. On the whole, my computer is warm but definitely not hot. Why does my right fan still come on if the temperatures are well below the limits?
I've been trawling this discussion forum and found no satisfactory answer for the problem I've been facing. Is there something abnormal with my computer fan? Is there a way to turn it off? It has been annoying me for the longest time and I only recently discovered this forum.
Please help!!

Unfortunately I don't have applecare any longer...seeing as mine was a first revision laptop. I've had this problem for years though.
The left fan does engage immediately, when the powerbook comes on cold, but its really just a silent purr which isn't very audible at all. The right fan definitely comes on at 56.0 deg C.
I just brought my laptop to some mac techs and they couldn't figure out why that was the case too. They had similar problems with the 12 inch, but not the 17 inch, which has a bigger surface area for heat dissipation. I compared my laptop to the 17" ones they had in the showroom, but the right fans on those didn't come on at all, even when I was putting it through some processor-crunching.
Since I don't have applecare...is there any other way to get this fixed? I'd love to have it fixed but I don't know if it could be or if there's anything wrong. It seems like the problem is more with the software config, at which temperature the fan is programmed to come on. Mine appears to be configured to come on at a lower temperature. I wonder if there's any way to change it without destablizing the system or destroying it.
Thanks anonymouse for your help!

Right fan...

i got my macbook pro a few days ago and am starting to realise the right fan is making i very slight buzzing noise. the left fan sounds perfectly quiet, if i listen ii can hear the air being pushed round.
is this normal? some sort of noise coming from the right hand side of the keyboard. i called apple and they said they would send me a replacement. but the macbook pro is perfect in every way apart from it. im just worried when im in a quite classroom everyone can hear it.
would love your opinions
thank you

Actually I've yet to come across a noisy fan that did anything but be noisy and annoying. I guess everyone's experience is different. I have to say, my PowerBook Titanium 500MHz fan buzzed pretty much from the day I got it, some 6 years ago, and it buzzes today, albeit a little louder.

Scratchy noise coming from top end of keyboard. Not effecting performance but very noisy and worrying! What is it? Is my computer seriously damaged? Is it easily fixed? Thanks for any help

Scratchy noise coming from top end of keyboard. Not effecting performance but very noisy and worrying! What is it? Is my computer seriously damaged? Is it easily fixed? Thanks for any help

It would be helpful if you were to identify the model of MBP you have.
The noise makers on a MBP are the fan(s), the HDD and the optical drive. Can you locate the exact position where the noise is coming from?
Ciao.

My shift-r, right shift-f, and right shift-v is not working.

I've seen questions in the forum about shift-r not working, I've looked into my system preferences and it appears there are no short cuts associated with shift-r. My right shift-f and right shift-v are not working either. I'm using a new iMac (10.7.2) with the bluetooth keyboard that came with it. If I use caps lock I can get capital R, F and V. It's very strange. I'm assuming it's a setting that's messed up versus a bum keyboard? Thanks for any help you can give!

Good deal, glad it's taken care of. I had a wireless keyboard on which the caps lock key stayed lit all the time, even though it did turn the lock on and off. And sometimes it wouldn't light at all. I took it (just the keyboard) to a local AASP and they checked it out and called to say my new keyboard was ready to be picked up.

Right fan never runs (but works)???

Hey mac gurus.
SO I have a used (new to me ) PB alum 15" hi-res and the right fan never turns on. I ran the apple hardware test from the original cd/dvd (thanks for that everyone, didn't know it existed until I searched here!) and when the logic board test is run, I can hear and feel the fan spin up.
So I know that power goes to it, but according to iStat and my ear (can hear and feel when the fan is at speed) The Left fan works fine, and I can hear/feel that too.
is it a heat sensor issue?!?
Thanks!
-Doug

Try installing G4FanControl:
http://www.andreafabrizi.it/?g4fancontrol
This utility allows you to control the temperature thresholds at which the fans kick in, so you could experiment by drastically lowering the threshold to force it into action.
The version I've got was free and works well, but the current version costs 15USD. Not sure if there is a free trial period.

My macbook pro right fan might be broken?

My computer is having problems with overheating and when it does it freezes. I installed fan control and increased the the RPM. It helped a bit. But it still crashes sometimes.
I think it is because my right fan is broken because when i check fan control it says that my right fan is -1RPM. Solutions?

Insert the install disc that came with the computer, press D key in boot and run the extended test

Right fan noisy and capped at 2.3-2.6k rpm

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