This imac seems to have a fan.
February 12, 2009 3:47 AM Subscribe
Does anyone currently own or have knowledge of the original iMac?
We keep an iMac in pretty much every room of our flat so Mrs Mutant and I can track the markets.
The logic board of one of the iMacs in our lounge recently died so I stripped all the usuable parts before grabbing a cheap replacement off eBay. Trouble is, I was rushed for time and ended up with a slot load original iMac.
Not that it isn't usable as is, I've got another iMac next to it that can proxy 'Net access to it via ethernet, but the problem is this is one noisy iMac.
Seems to have a fan in it. Or at least something that's roaring away, curiously enough, even when its sleeping.
So, is this normal? Very un-iMac like, as per the six others currently in our flat. But theys all slot load, very next gen iMacs built up to and including the year 2001. This is a vintage 1998 class original iMac, a model I've never worked with until now.
Is this software controlled? I was sorta hoping the fan was designed to be intermittent, and perhaps some setting somewhere has gotten corrupted - I got this thing for £20 and it had been sitting for long time unused. If not, I'm not averse to opening it up and disabling the fan. Has anyone ever done something like this?
If we're gonna use this thing pretty much anyplace in our flat, its gotta be SILENT. Hard drive knocking about is fine, but the not-so-gentle roaring don't cut it.
Many thanks!
We keep an iMac in pretty much every room of our flat so Mrs Mutant and I can track the markets.
The logic board of one of the iMacs in our lounge recently died so I stripped all the usuable parts before grabbing a cheap replacement off eBay. Trouble is, I was rushed for time and ended up with a slot load original iMac.
Not that it isn't usable as is, I've got another iMac next to it that can proxy 'Net access to it via ethernet, but the problem is this is one noisy iMac.
Seems to have a fan in it. Or at least something that's roaring away, curiously enough, even when its sleeping.
So, is this normal? Very un-iMac like, as per the six others currently in our flat. But theys all slot load, very next gen iMacs built up to and including the year 2001. This is a vintage 1998 class original iMac, a model I've never worked with until now.
Is this software controlled? I was sorta hoping the fan was designed to be intermittent, and perhaps some setting somewhere has gotten corrupted - I got this thing for £20 and it had been sitting for long time unused. If not, I'm not averse to opening it up and disabling the fan. Has anyone ever done something like this?
If we're gonna use this thing pretty much anyplace in our flat, its gotta be SILENT. Hard drive knocking about is fine, but the not-so-gentle roaring don't cut it.
Many thanks!
Best answer: I have one here in the corner of my office. I just fired it up for the first time in about 3 years. It sure sounds like there is a fan in it. As far as I remember the G4 Cube (from 2000?) is the first modern mac without a fan, but I could be wrong.
Well it is up, running and idling and it is kinda noisy. Definitely more noisy across the room than the G5 at my feet here. I can distinctly make out the fan, hard drive and high pitched whine of the monitor.
Hope that helps.
posted by chillmost at 4:15 AM on February 12, 2009
Well it is up, running and idling and it is kinda noisy. Definitely more noisy across the room than the G5 at my feet here. I can distinctly make out the fan, hard drive and high pitched whine of the monitor.
Hope that helps.
posted by chillmost at 4:15 AM on February 12, 2009
Not that it's the key to your problem, but original iMacs were not slot load, they had little drawers, so you have a slightly newer version there. If you're shopping for parts, be sure to get exactly the model first.
(Entire iMacs of the big colorful bubble era are $50 items these days, though, so why bother with parts?)
posted by rokusan at 4:51 AM on February 12, 2009
(Entire iMacs of the big colorful bubble era are $50 items these days, though, so why bother with parts?)
posted by rokusan at 4:51 AM on February 12, 2009
Response by poster: "but original iMacs were not slot load, they had little drawers,"
Your are absolutely correct rokusan, typo on my part. This is a stock tray load, NOT a slot load like the other iMac in our flat.
It is an amazingly vocal iMac. I'm gonna to have to donate it to a local computer club here in The East End if I can't silence it.
I wonder what changes Apple introduced in terms of components when the fanless iMacs were introduced? This one seems identical to a late 2001 iMac in terms of baffles and holes in the case to vent heat. I still might try to manually disable the fan, unless anyone can think of a good reason why this would be inadvisable?
posted by Mutant at 5:11 AM on February 12, 2009
Your are absolutely correct rokusan, typo on my part. This is a stock tray load, NOT a slot load like the other iMac in our flat.
It is an amazingly vocal iMac. I'm gonna to have to donate it to a local computer club here in The East End if I can't silence it.
I wonder what changes Apple introduced in terms of components when the fanless iMacs were introduced? This one seems identical to a late 2001 iMac in terms of baffles and holes in the case to vent heat. I still might try to manually disable the fan, unless anyone can think of a good reason why this would be inadvisable?
posted by Mutant at 5:11 AM on February 12, 2009
Later G3 iMacs didn't have fans, but that doesn't mean that you can disable the fans on earlier iMacs without Serious Consequences. Different stuff under that candy shell.
posted by mcwetboy at 6:07 AM on February 12, 2009
posted by mcwetboy at 6:07 AM on February 12, 2009
Best answer: I would disable it fearlessly, but as above, that's because it's a $50 commodity.
Since you have them in many rooms (sexy idea), put this one in the coldest room, and get rid of that fan.
posted by rokusan at 7:02 AM on February 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
Since you have them in many rooms (sexy idea), put this one in the coldest room, and get rid of that fan.
posted by rokusan at 7:02 AM on February 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I had one of the original iMacs (when they only came in Blue!) and yeah, it had a definite whine at all times. My memory is from later in its life though, so it might be worth opening it up and air-dusting the heck out of it. I've quieted down many a fan by clearing out the crud.
posted by vytae at 7:35 AM on February 12, 2009
posted by vytae at 7:35 AM on February 12, 2009
Best answer: I have an original (tray loading) iMac sitting in the basement, and while it only fully boots every other day for some reason, I don't remember it being relatively loud at all.
Actually, if you want a machine to scavenge fans or other parts off of, I've been meaning to get rid of this for a while. I'm not sure if it'd be cost effective to ship it from the States to the UK, but I'd be happy to send it to you for the cost of shipping. Like I said, it works, but doesn't always boot. Shoot me a MeMail if you're interested.
posted by niles at 10:51 AM on February 12, 2009
Actually, if you want a machine to scavenge fans or other parts off of, I've been meaning to get rid of this for a while. I'm not sure if it'd be cost effective to ship it from the States to the UK, but I'd be happy to send it to you for the cost of shipping. Like I said, it works, but doesn't always boot. Shoot me a MeMail if you're interested.
posted by niles at 10:51 AM on February 12, 2009
Best answer: Rev a iMacs have fans which spin whenever the computer is powered up, including during "sleep." The fan just has an "on" setting, no fancy differing speed depending on load & temp. Yes, they can get gunky in there, so blowing out the crud isn't a bad idea, but it's unlikely to make any difference to the sound level.
I know this because I have one of these ancient beasts whirring away at home.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 11:00 AM on February 12, 2009
I know this because I have one of these ancient beasts whirring away at home.
posted by Quinbus Flestrin at 11:00 AM on February 12, 2009
Best answer: There's definitely a fan in there. I have an orange tray-loading g3 disassembled in front of me right now (by coincidence). I don't know how it's controlled, but it's a fairly easy task. Unscre and remove the metal unit at the bottom. With all the screws out, it will slide out. Disconnect the cables and you are staring at the fan. I'd volunteer to send you mine, but it would probably be cost prohibative. But if you want it, it's yours.
posted by horsemuth at 12:13 PM on February 12, 2009
posted by horsemuth at 12:13 PM on February 12, 2009
Best answer: Replacing a fan is usually about the easiest thing you can do on a computer. Identify the noisy fan, figure out the size and switch it out for new, quieter one. Obviously being in the UK complicates things since your online shipping selection is narrowed and I have no idea what the local computer shops are. Just look for the lowest db you can find in the size that fits. It might cool the system less, but what's at risk here anyways? Computer number eight in the house?
posted by pwnguin at 10:29 PM on February 12, 2009
posted by pwnguin at 10:29 PM on February 12, 2009
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posted by Happy Dave at 4:14 AM on February 12, 2009