[Fooboy]

Ugh ... this thing rules except for the awful buzzing sound. I know I have seen threads a long time ago about this - what did people ever end up doing?

I hear the intel imacs are Whisper quiet. Well, I suppose I will take it to the apple store and maybe get a refund or something.

[Brad]

Have you allowed it to finish indexing the hard drive(s)? While it's indexing, the drive will continually rapidly click as it's searching through files.

[Fooboy]

I did a fresh install and then just pulled a few folders over from my powerbook ... but it has been on all day. I did some reasearch and I took it apart tonight as per instructions on this apple PDF.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/ima...h_LowerFan.pdf

It is that lower fan for sure. I took the back panel off, grounded everything, and powered the iMac up with the back open laying on its front (on a cloth). There are 3 fans that I can see, and the other 2 are very quiet ... just the slight blowing sound that is normal with air movement. The lower fan has more of a very noticable "buzzzzzzzzzzz" + a little grinding sound to it.

This site and its forum were helpful as well: http://www.scienceman.com/pgs/00_imacG5.html

Maybe I can just get a replacement fan from Apple ... I'd be happy with this if I could elimate the buzzing.

[Brad]

Eep! That may be the sound of bad ball bearings in the fan. That's rather unusual for such a new computer, but I guess anything is possible.

I'd definitely try to find a replacement for that fan ASAP.

[Fooboy]

I called Apple yesterday ... told them my problem, and they are overnighting me a replacement fan which arrives today. Great service by Apple.

I will let you guys know if it fixes the problem.

If it doesn't, I think the lure of a quieter (supposedly), faster, intel iMac with Superdrive and iSight may overtake me ... I mean I love the iMac G5 but if I am going to send it back anyways, why not upgrade? I will have to RMA this gig stick of Crucial DDR 400 to Newegg. Anyone want to buy it from me ?

[World Leader Pretend]

Wow, I have the exact same computer and it had the exact same problem!

I kept hearing this really loud whining and it didn't sound like the ones at the store. I took it in to an Apple repair guy and he said that it was the lower fan that was the problem.

After he replaced it the problem is a lot better, but the fan noise is still kinda there.

[Fooboy]

I put in the replacement fan ... and it still buzzed.

I called apple and after speaking with a very helpful Apple representative, got them to waive the restocking fee and send me shipping labels.

Returning the refubed iMac G5 ... and I think I'm going to get an Intel iMac - I hear they are very quiet.

I <3 Apple.

Edit: Still have that stick of ram now I need to sell