Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about identifying noise sources on a Mac:
What are some common sources of noise from a Mac?
Common noise sources include fans, hard drives, optical drives, and speakers. Coil whine from components like inductors or transformers can also sometimes cause noise.
How can I tell if the noise is from a fan?
Fan noise will increase/decrease in response to CPU usage. It may have a whirring/clicking quality. Use an app like Macs Fan Control to pinpoint the fan.
Could it be hard drive noise?
Hard drives can make scratching, buzzing, or clicking noises, especially if they are starting to fail. Noise will come directly from the hard drive area.
What about optical drives?
Optical drives like CD/DVD drives can make grinding and spinning noises when in use. The sound will come directly from the optical drive bay.
How do I know if it’s coil whine?
Coil whine is a high-pitched electronic squealing or grinding noise. It will usually fluctuate with system usage and come from a specific component like the power supply.
Identifying the Source of the Noise
Pinpointing the exact source of a noise issue on your Mac will take some detective work. Here are some steps to help track it down:
Step 1: Listen Closely to the Noise
The first step is listening closely to the noise to try to identify any distinctive characteristics:
- Does the noise fluctuate or stay constant?
- Is it high-pitched, low-pitched, clicking, buzzing, grinding, whirring?
- Does the noise come and go or is it continuous?
- Can you tell the general area the noise is coming from?
Making careful mental notes about the noise will help you narrow down the list of potential culprits.
Step 2: Correlate the Noise with System Usage
Pay attention to when the noise occurs and whether it coincides with increased system usage:
- Does the noise get louder/more frequent when you’re doing processor-intensive tasks?
- Is the noise always present or only when accessing the hard drive?
- Does the noise start when you turn the Mac on or open specific apps?
Correlating the noise with system demands can often point to a specific component like the CPU, RAM, or hard drive.
Step 3: Shut Down Background Apps and Processes
Background apps and processes may sometimes be contributing to noise. Try shutting down any non-essential apps and processes to see if the noise goes away.
Some common background culprits include:
- Indexing processes like Spotlight
- Backup software
- Time Machine backups
- Dropbox/cloud syncing
- Antivirus or security software
If the noise stops after quitting a background app, you’ve found the cause.
Step 4: Restart Your Mac
Restarting your Mac will clear out any processes that might be contributing to the noise:
- Shut down all open apps
- Choose Restart from the Apple menu
- Listen if the noise returns once the Mac has booted back up
If the noise is gone after a restart, a previously running app or process was likely the issue.
Step 5: Run a Diagnostic Tool
For hardware-related noises, running Apple Diagnostics can help identify issues with specific components like fans or drives:
- Restart your Mac and hold down the D key
- This will launch Apple Diagnostics
- Follow the on-screen instructions and listen for noises during testing
- Review the test results for any issues detected
Diagnostics tools like AHT or GSX can provide much more detailed testing as well.
Step 6: Try an SMC Reset
Resetting the SMC can sometimes fix hardware-related noise issues:
- Shut down your Mac
- Unplug power cable and wait 15 seconds
- Plug power back in and wait for boot up
- Listen if the noise has been affected
The SMC controls power flow and hardware, so resetting it may help resolve noise problems.
Isolating Noisy Hardware Components
Once you’ve narrowed down the type of noise, you can try isolating specific hardware components that could be causing it:
CPU/GPU
CPU or GPU coil whine often fluctuates with system usage. Try a GPU stress test and listen if the noise gets louder from that area.
Power Supply
Use a tool like AHT to specifically stress test the power supply. PSU coil whine will increase when the PSU is pushed to high loads.
Case Fans
Carefully stop each case fan with your finger while the Mac is on and listen if the noise changes or stops.
You can also control fans with an app like Macs Fan Control to isolate them.
Hard Drive
If the noise seems to be coming from the hard drive area, try removing non-system drives to see if the noise persists.
You can also download a HDD test app to stress the drive and compare noise levels.
Optical Drive
Eject any discs from optical drives and see if noise stops. Try inserting and using different discs to reproduce the noise.
Also try extracting the optical drive and running it externally to isolate it.
Reducing or Fixing Noisy Hardware
Once you’ve identified the specific noisy component, there are steps you can take to potentially reduce or fix the issue:
Clean Out Dust Buildup
Excess dust in fans, heat sinks, and vents can contribute to unwanted noise due to increased friction. Carefully clean out built-up dust to quiet things down.
| Component | How to Clean |
|---|---|
| Fans | Use compressed air, cotton swabs |
| Heat sinks | Compressed air, swabs, isopropyl alcohol |
| Vents | Compressed air, small vacuum |
Replace Thermal Paste
Replacing old, dried-out thermal paste between CPUs/GPUs and heatsinks can help processors run cooler, reducing fan noise.
Adjust Fan Speeds
Using a utility like Macs Fan Control, reduce fan speeds to decrease wind noise. Monitor component temps.
Isolate Components
Isolate noisy components like optical drives or hard drives if possible. For example, remove HDDs and run externally via USB.
Tighten Screws/Connections
Check that all case screws are tight. Reseat components like RAM, PCIe cards, and cable connections.
Replace Faulty Hardware
If a component is definitively malfunctioning, like a loud clicking hard drive, replacement may be necessary if software fixes don’t resolve the noise.
Software Fixes for Hardware Noises
Some software fixes may help reduce hardware-related fan, drive, or coil noise issues:
Reset SMC and PRAM
Reset the SMC and PRAM to potentially resolve underlying software issues causing component noise.
Update System Software
Installing the latest macOS updates can fix compatibility issues that may be contributing to component noise.
Adjust Power Settings
Changing settings like auto-dimming display, sleep timeouts, and power nap can reduce power/thermal demands on your Mac.
Prevent Overheating
Use a CPU/GPU temp monitor to make sure your Mac isn’t overheating, which forces loud fan operation.
Calibrate Fans
Use a fan control utility to change fan speed calibration and reduce unnecessary fan spinning.
Conclusion
Locating unexpected noises in a Mac can take some investigation, but systematic troubleshooting can help zone in on the issue. Isolating specific hardware components through selective testing and monitoring is key. Reducing dust, adjusting fans speeds, replacing thermal paste, isolating interfering components, tightening connections, replacing damaged parts, and applying software fixes can all help resolve pesky noise problems.
With diligence and patience, you can troubleshoot the source of most Mac noise issues and silence them. Your Mac will be back to whisper-quiet operation.