Computer Audio Asylum

Posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 07:35:49

Hello!

After lurking on here for some time, I finally took the plunge and bought a new mac mini yesterday. I have ripped a few CDs in apple lossless as I was intending to use Coverflow with a touchscreen monitor (which I already bought).

Trouble is, the mac is quiet when running iTunes but as soon as i use coverflow, the fan ramps up and is very noisy.

Its really annoying! My question to seasoned users is-

1. Is there anything I can do to turn the fan down? the mac won't be running any other apps so it shouldn't be having heat problems. (I have already tried FanControl to raise the base speed, but it still ramps up immediately)

or if not, is there another program that i could use to rip/play media with a feature similar to coverflow?

Just want to get this figured out before i rip all my CDs in the wrong format!!

Thanks!

• RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - dspringham 17:50:21 02/22/08 (1)
  In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 07:35:49

  Check to see if Airport is turned on with the Mini.
  
  I had never heard the fan run on my Macbook laptop until I tried streaming itunes with Airport from an Airport Extreme base station (sharing itunes library on a Mini). When I turned off Airport the fan stopped and never comes on. I have gone back to running itunes from a dedicated external drive.
  
  I also run a Mini as a dedicated music server with itunes and have never heard the fan run.
  
  Just a shot in the dark.
  
  David
  
  

  ---

  • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Andy Mack 05:10:54 02/23/08 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by dspringham on February 22, 2008 at 17:50:21

    thanks, gave it a go, no luck with turning airport off. is there anything else that might be worth trying?
    
    

    ---
• RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Recorder 11:06:09 02/22/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 07:35:49

  I suggest that you open activity monitor and see what processes are taking up a lot of CPU cycles. You can find it in applications/ utilities.
  
  You may want to check what widgets are running, too.
  
  
  Cheers,
  Bill
  
  

  ---
• Are you running any special s/w for the monitor? - Flatmap 11:03:02 02/22/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 07:35:49

  Did the touchscreen monitor require you to install a driver or any other software? Which monitor are you using? Do you have another (non-touchscreen) monitor in the house that you could experiment with? If a regular monitor eliminates this problem, then that should help isolate the problem.
  
  
  
  
  

  ---
• RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - creativepart 07:45:58 02/22/08 (15)
  In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 07:35:49

  Is this a new Mini and the latest iTunes?
  
  I have my Intel Mini running nothing but iTues and I use nothing but the built in interface that used to be a separate program called Coverflow and the fan on my Mini never comes on. Never.
  
  Maybe it's the resolution of your monitor and it's taxing the video of the mini?
  
  

  ---

  • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Zozo 04:46:02 02/23/08 (2)
    In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by creativepart on February 22, 2008 at 07:45:58

    The Mac Mini's fan is ON from the start. It's about 1500 RPM and almost inaudible. What you mean by "never" is probably this state.
    
    

    ---

    • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - ajm364@bham.ac.uk 04:50:33 02/23/08 (1)
      In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Zozo on February 23, 2008 at 04:46:02

      indeed. 1500 is fine, i can even set it to 2300 or so and it would be fine if it didnt immediately speed up with coverflow (lets not even talk about visualiser...!)
      
      i realise some people really dont care about coverflow, but i think its great, and is awesome on a small touchscreen
      
      

      ---

      • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Zozo 06:47:00 02/23/08 (0)
        In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by ajm364@bham.ac.uk on February 23, 2008 at 04:50:33

        One thing is for sure, it's not the Mini. I've used one for over 6 months with cover flow, front row, etc. Never heard the fan speeding up.
        
        

        ---
  • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Andy Mack 07:56:04 02/22/08 (11)
    In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by creativepart on February 22, 2008 at 07:45:58

    Yep, it's a Core 2 duo 1.83, latest iTunes and all updates downloaded last night.
    
    I've tried loads of different settings for the monitor, including dropping the res right down, and the refresh rate, even the colours to the lowest possible but the fan still kicks in with full-screen coverflow.
    
    I'm sure this shouldnt happen, it shouldnt be a processor-intensive task surely? Oh, and its even worse with FrontRow- it would seriously get in the way of watching a film, which makes me think something is wrong.
    
    Cheers
    
    
    

    ---

    • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - creativepart 10:23:40 02/22/08 (10)
      In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 07:56:04

      I don't use full screen coverflow... just the top half of the screen. But I just tried mine in Full-Screen and in Front Row and the fan did not come on in either instance.
      
      My Mini's fan has rarely come on or if it has it hasn't made any noticeable noise.
      
      

      ---

      • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Andy Mack 12:57:37 02/22/08 (9)
        In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by creativepart on February 22, 2008 at 10:23:40

        Thanks
        
        I had it running on my standard 17" monitor first, before I installed the touchscreen drivers, and it was doing the same thing.
        
        No significant processes are running from what i can see, CPU usage very low.
        
        If i load iTunes with half screen coverflow, it's pretty much fine, unless I use the coverflowsection to scroll back and forth. It is as if it is anticipating a cooling need from increased graphics processing, rather than responding to heat being generated. Maybe...
        
        I really want to fix this, never had a mac before and was looking forward to the possibilities but at this rate i'm just not going to be able to use it how i'd liked.
        
        Thanks
        
        

        ---

        • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - creativepart 13:13:08 02/22/08 (8)
          In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 12:57:37

          Mine is the Intel Mini, but it's the "slower" one I think 1.66 mhz core duo. Do you think that could be it?
          
          The faster processor might need more cooling.
          
          

          ---

          • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Andy Mack 13:22:34 02/22/08 (7)
            In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by creativepart on February 22, 2008 at 13:13:08

            Thats my best guess so far. Although it seems to be activity that triggers it, rather than the actual presence of heat.
            
            
            does anyone know of a way to manually slow the fan, or maybe the processor, down? (obviously i would carefully monitor)
            
            Would disabling one of the processor cores do it, or is this just not a good idea? (i know its possible, but wouldnt really know where to start anyway!!)
            
            knew i should have built myself a fanless mini-itx and saved myself the hassle! :D ;)
            
            

            ---

            • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - creativepart 15:29:13 02/22/08 (6)
              In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 22, 2008 at 13:22:34

              The Mini's a great little music server. Head to the Apple store and talk to one of their "geniuses" there. Maybe they can help you. Maybe, you can test out other Mini's there and see if they do the same thing as yours.

              Who knows... maybe your's is defective?

              I'm a PC guy and my Mini is my first Mac. I'm very happy with it. Mind you it does NOTHING but play my music files.

              I ripped 800 CDs in Apple lossless to a 320 gig external drive and it works great in my system -- it feeds a Benchmark Dac 1 USB dac and I've actually boxed up all of my CDs in alphabetical order and put them in the attic.

              I use my Turntable or my Mini to play music while I work. They both sound great (I like my vinyl better though truth be told).
              
              

              ---

              Edits: 02/22/08
              • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - modena 19:03:19 02/22/08 (5)
                In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by creativepart on February 22, 2008 at 15:29:13

                Have you installed extra RAM in the mini?
                
                

                ---

                • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - creativepart 20:53:19 02/22/08 (4)
                  In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by modena on February 22, 2008 at 19:03:19

                  I have a gig in mine. It came with 512 megs and I had it upgraded before it was shipped to me.
                  
                  

                  ---

                  • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - modena 03:16:09 02/23/08 (3)
                    In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by creativepart on February 22, 2008 at 20:53:19

                    Don't know if that's the case... BUT
                    after installing 2GBs of RAM in my Intel Mini, the fans remained always on, because a wire was not connected back, after opening the case. It was the thermal sensor connector.
                    
                    
                    
                    

                    ---

                    • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Andy Mack 04:20:44 02/23/08 (2)
                      In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by modena on February 23, 2008 at 03:16:09

                      Thanks,
                      
                      I haven't opened the case- was going to have a look, but it would seem that any loose connections cause the fan to be always on. It already has 1gb RAM,- as the graphics shares the min memory does anyone think this might solve the problem?
                      
                      i'm considering buying an early mac mini off eBay to try some things- if it works for what i want to do without the noise then i could sell this one.
                      
                      

                      ---

                      • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Joeinid 07:49:39 02/23/08 (0)
                        In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 23, 2008 at 04:20:44

                        Hi,
                        
                        I have a mini with 2 gig ram and 2 GHz core 2 duo. I did not notice it until you mentioned it, but my fan does ramp up a little when I open itunes. It also increases a little more using full screen coverflow. The mini is a little away from my listening position so it's not an issue while listening to the music but right next to it, it seems a little loud. I have to say that the mini or any mac for that matter, for me, works the best. I've tried 4 various pc's from powerful desktops to laptops and would invariably get ticks or pops with all the pc's using xp or vista (I've tried to reduce all non-essential processes). Not even one hiccup with any mac I've used. No issues whatsoever. I do have to admit that audio from a vista machine did sound pretty good. One thing that I bought that seems to help the mini keep cooler is a Mac Mini Filter Stand from power support USA. It raises it up and keeps the dust out.
                        
                        http://www.powersupportusa.com/products/macmini/mm22.php
                        
                        
                        Joe
                        
                        

                        ---
                      • RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini - Joeinid 07:47:02 02/23/08 (0)
                        In Reply to: RE: iTunes and noisy mac mini posted by Andy Mack on February 23, 2008 at 04:20:44

                        Hi,
                        
                        I have a mini with 2 gig ram and 2 GHz core 2 duo. I did not notice it until you mentioned it, but my fan does ramp up a little when I open itunes. It also increases a little more using full screen coverflow. The mini is a little away from my listening position so it's not an issue while listening to the music but right next to it, it seems a little loud. I have to say that the mini or any mac for that matter, for me, works the best. I've tried 4 various pc's from powerful desktops to laptops and would invariably get ticks or pops with all the pc's using xp or vista (I've tried to reduce all non-essential processes). Not even one hiccup with any mac I've used. No issues whatsoever. I do have to admit that audio from a vista machine did sound pretty good. One thing that I bought that seems to help the mini keep cooler is a Mac Mini Filter Stand from power support USA. It raises it up and keeps the dust out.
                        
                        http://www.powersupportusa.com/products/macmini/mm22.php
                        
                        
                        Joe
                        
                        

                        ---

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  Email  Next ] [ Computer Audio Asylum ]
[ Comment ] [ Copyright Warning! Click for Details ]

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2008, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---