Specifications

iMac G5 (17-inch iSight) Troubleshooting — Symptom Charts 131
Audible buzzing, whining, or ticking noise
The iMac G5 (iSight) contains several mechanical devices such as motors and fans that may make
audible buzzing, ticking, or whining noises when they are operating in a normal manner. The
sounds will vary depending on how the system is used.
When troubleshooting abnormal noises try the following:
Verify that the computer is running a supported version of the Mac OS X operating system.
If an earlier version of the operating system has been installed then the fans may run at
excessive speeds.
Determine that this noise is related to the computer by removing and shutting down all
other devices in the vicinity of the computer that could be causing a sound.
Eject any media inserted into the optical drive. The optical drive will make a variety of normal
sounds when accessing the optical media.
Quit all applications and test the computer again. Processor-intensive applications may cause
the fans to run at a higher RPM and therefore be more audible.
Boot to Apple Service Diagnostic v 2.6.3 (or later) Open Firmware partition and run the test
suite. The diagnostic tests fan speeds and thermal sensor functionality. Should tests fail,
eplace any parts indicated by the diagnostic.
Reboot the computer and check the computer again. If the noise persists and is unusually
loud, contact Apple Technical Support.
Verbose Startup Mode
Installing an iMac G5 logic board from service inventory may cause the computer to start up
in verbose mode. In subsequent startups, the Mac OS will start in it’s usual manner. When the
computer starts in verbose mode, it does not indicate an issue with the logic board.
Prevent this behavior by resetting the PRAM when you rst start the computer after installing the
new logic board.
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