Noise issue on G4 MDDs

[hacksaw]

First of all I would like to congratulate everyone specially the administrators and modulators of this board for a job well done!

I would like to know what my options (the cheapest possible please!) are in the issue of fan replacement for my G4 MDD. I guess I did not do my homework well and I just plunge into getting a G4 dual 1.25 MDD. Don't get me wrong now, I love the speed and coming from a G4 450 single, who wouldn't? This monster sounds like a leaf blower! My wife tried using it for only half an hour when she decided to quit cause of the noise and she had a migrane . I have read that Apple already stopped their fan replacement program and I will have to shoulder the expenses if I want it replaced. I have also read so much about Verax fan kit from Germany but its quite expensive at over $300. Do I have any other options available locally?

~hacksaw

[Edited on 4-16-2004 by hacksaw]

[Edited on 4-16-2004 by hacksaw]

[Dinkydoo]

Hi Hacksaw!

I have had the same problems with our dual 867s and this is what i did.

Since the machines were all under the warranty period at that time, I wrote Apple Hong Kong a letter explaining about the unusual noise levels. Then of course they replied back saying they had the fan replacement programme which unfortunately expired on us. After discussing with Apple Hong Kong, they sent an Apple engineer to assess the noise issues and warranted a replacement for free for all our MD Dual 867s. I was so glad.

If your machine is still under warranty or even under the apple care programme, i will recommend investigating on the possibility of having the noise issues assessed by Apple and probably would warrant a replacement from them. It's worth a try.

Dingkydoo

[Henjie]

Originally posted by hacksaw
I would like to know what my options (the cheapest possible please!) are in the issue of fan replacement for my G4 MDD. I guess I did not do my homework well and I just plunge into getting a G4 dual 1.25 MDD. Don't get me wrong now, I love the speed and coming from a G4 450 single, who wouldn't? This monster sounds like a leaf blower!

Hi there!

I guess you have one of the earlier dual-1.25 MDDs with the ubernoisy power supply fans and a higher-rated power supply unit (400W). The more recent MDDs are equipped with quieter fans and a neutered PSU (360W). My dual-1.25 (last version, no FW800) is one of those and it's actually more quiet than my previous Mac (Quicksilver 733).

I have read that Apple already stopped their fan replacement program and I will have to shoulder the expenses if I want it replaced. I have also read so much about Verax fan kit from Germany but its quite expensive at over $300. Do I have any other options available locally?

Maybe you can try what Dingkydoo did. If the reseller won't budge, then I guess you have to do it yourself.

There's a nice article about the procedure over at Accelerate Your Mac!. The article can be found here. Lots of references regarding suitable replacement fans, a number of which are available locally (from PC Express, PC Corner, and many Virra Mall PC shops). Just be sure not to sacrifice airflow for decibel rating 'coz your MDD's PSU will need all the ventilation it can have. ;-)

Good luck! :-)


~Henjie

[Edited on 4-16-2004 by Henjie]

[ai2magz]

just wanted to ask mine is a g4 quicksilver 867MHZ even if i shut it down the fan does not stop? when I had a problem with the hard drive the technician in power mac said the problem might be in the motherboard. so i have to contend with shutting the power. My question is, i have read some threads that it is more advisable to put your mac to sleep, since I am shutting down my mac most of the time won't this afffect my mac in the long run?

[Henjie]

Originally posted by ai2magz
just wanted to ask mine is a g4 quicksilver 867MHZ even if i shut it down the fan does not stop?

That's weird. Shutting down your Mac will turn off the power supply unit. With the PSU off, everything inside your Mac (hard drives, PCI cards, video card) will also be in the off state, including the fans.

when I had a problem with the hard drive the technician in power mac said the problem might be in the motherboard. so i have to contend with shutting the power. My question is, i have read some threads that it is more advisable to put your mac to sleep, since I am shutting down my mac most of the time won't this afffect my mac in the long run?

Nope, shutting down your Mac most of the time (instead of letting it "sleep" ) won't have negative effects on your Mac. Some online pundits are claiming that shutting down a computer will shorten the life of the hard drive since hard drive's can only take so much on/off cycles. I say that's BS. Most modern hard drives can take a minimum of 50,000 on/off cycles. That will take 7 years to achieve if you turn on/shut down your Mac 20 times a day. ;-)

I've never put my MDD Power Mac to sleep, not even once. I always shut it down when I'm done using it. :-)


~Henjie

[Edited on 4-16-2004 by Henjie]

[hacksaw]

Originally posted by Henjie


I guess you have one of the earlier dual-1.25 MDDs with the ubernoisy power supply fans and a higher-rated power supply unit (400W). The more recent MDDs are equipped with quieter fans and a neutered PSU (360W). My dual-1.25 (last version, no FW800) is one of those and it's actually more quiet than my previous Mac (Quicksilver 733).

Hi Henjie!

How will I know if what I have is the earlier model? I got it practically brand new but I know that that does not guarantee me of the latest model. Its also a non FW800 model just like yours but man its noisy! I will visit the link you posted and give it a try and if does not work or wouldn't seem practical, I guess I will have to invest on good ear-plugs instead.
Thanks guys for the reply.

~hacksaw

update:

my re-seller is keeping in-touch with Apple Singapore. Maybe they can pull this one out. I was told I have to pay 1,200 pesos though since the replacement programme is over. Bummer!

[Edited on 4-16-2004 by hacksaw]

[Dinkydoo]

Hi Hacksaw,

If your machine is practically new, then you can fight for a replacement for free. If the dealer is telling you you need to pay 1,200 pesos, most probably this is the cost for the shipment and not the replacement part itself.

For your reference, if I opted for the replacement programme, I would have paid HK$120 (P850) per machine. Not sure therefore why it's P1,200? getting the fan replacement yourself as you have referenced is more than what the dealer was saying.

Write them a letter expressing your discontentment! But of course praise them too because that's the reason why we are using Macs.

Dingkydoo

[Edited on 16-4-04 by Dingkydoo]

[extremyks]

How will I know if what I have is the earlier model?

Just follow the instructions here on opening up your computer. Read the Power supply rating and look if its the 400w variant that Henjie mentioned... be carefull.

[Henjie]

Originally posted by extremyks

How will I know if what I have is the earlier model?

Just follow the instructions here on opening up your computer. Read the Power supply rating and look if its the 400w variant that Henjie mentioned... be carefull.

The power supply rating can also be seen on the PSU label (sticker) itself. Look for the total wattage.

Since hacksaw's dual-1.25 MDD's got a SuperDrive, I'm wondering if it's one of the leftover stocks of earlier dual-1.25 MDDs. As far as I know, the last dual-1.25 MDDs (OS 9-bootable, introduced after the Power Mac G5s came out) only came with combo drives. I'm not too sure though.


~Henjie

[hacksaw]

Originally posted by extremyks
How will I know if what I have is the earlier model?

Just follow the instructions here on opening up your computer. Read the Power supply rating and look if its the 400w variant that Henjie mentioned... be carefull. [/quote]

Originally posted by Henjie
The power supply rating can also be seen on the PSU label (sticker) itself. Look for the total wattage.

Hi again Henjie/extremyks. I just checked on the power supply and the sticker indicates that it is 360 watts. What does that tell me now? Is it the old one or a current G4 MDD? It was supposed to be a floor sample but I guess it never really was used thats why I said its "practically new".

Dingkydoo, I will ask my reseller if they can talk to Apple and reconsider (at least for my unit) extending the fan replacement programme. Not really sure why they are asking for 1,200 pesos but if it will silence the G4 then I don't really mind. Thanks for all the help guys!

~hacksaw