Mac mini 2018 i7 fan noise.... remedies?

[PT user]

Hi

I have a single room studio and I just migrated my system from two aged Macs, to two last generation intel 2018 maxed out to 64gb. The i7 runs Pro tools and an i3 serves as my "slave" for sample playback - both speak to each other via Focusrite Dante PCIE cards in chasis etc...

This is an interim measure so I can still make use of these lovely cards that will not have silicon drivers made for them.

Both these Mac minis are mounted in a sonnet Mac rack, which is not actually in the rack enclosure as yet as I'm testing...

The i7 is ramping up fan noise all the time . I can address it with Mac Fan Control which solves the noise, however I am concerned that it naturally runs hotter when cooling is reduced....I dont want to fry it.....Am I over worrying here?......anyone running intel Mac minis got experience with this?

Not easy in one room studios - Ive managed to upgrade all my chassis with noctua fans and got things pretty quiet except for this issue....

[Ben Jenssen]

With my i7 mini a couple of years ago, I found that the only solution that really worked was to turn off the Turboboost function completely. I used Turbo Boost Switch. I could always turn it on manually to to get back the 10 or 20 % extra power if I needed it. The i7 mini gets hot, and the fan gets noisy. No remedies, really.

[PT user]

Hi

Thanks for commenting - I just bought that app - will def try it - Im just not sure if its ok to run hot around 100. I wasn't taxing the machine at all....Its clean inside...

[Ben Jenssen]

Originally Posted by PT user

Hi

Thanks for commenting - I just bought that app - will def try it - Im just not sure if its ok to run hot around 100. I wasn't taxing the machine at all....Its clean inside...

I se it's more feature-packed now than when I used it, it now has auto TB on/off depending on temps and pcu load etc. I used it simply to turnoff TB, which let the processor run cooler, and the fan quiter. I could turn it on if I wanted a big number crunching task to take 16 instead of 20 minutes (appx).

I didn't worry as long as long as the temps stayed below 100, but I don't know.

[smurfyou]

Yes the design is thermally compromised and pushing to the limit. Avid and Intel seemed OK with normal operating temps at 95C... Unfortunately those rackmount chassis don't help. I'd run a CPU temp monitor (Fanny, Macs Fan Control, MenuMeters, something that's established and not shady).

The first thing to do is uncheck Turbo Boost in PT. No extra software needed. Makes a huge difference.

[smurfyou]

Also the case acts as a heatsink which is why the rack chassis isn't great. None of the crazy ideas on the internet like turning it on its side or removing the bottom cover really do any good. It's designed to move a small amount of air through its intake/exhaust and also radiate through the aluminum.

Keeping it clear of anything under or over it and cooling the ambient temperature are the best suggestions I have.

[Sardi]

Originally Posted by Ben Jenssen

With my i7 mini a couple of years ago, I found that the only solution that really worked was to turn off the Turboboost function completely. I used Turbo Boost Switch. I could always turn it on manually to to get back the 10 or 20 % extra power if I needed it. The i7 mini gets hot, and the fan gets noisy. No remedies, really.

This is the way.

I did the same thing and never hear the fans.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[PT user]

thanks for the comments - Ive installed the turbo boost app - I'll also uncheck the tb in tools. I have intel power gadget which monitors temp. I think at this stage my only concern is it doesn't fail due to overheating...

[cmaynes]

I have been running a 2018 i7 6 core for about 3 years now- Turbo Boost Switcher Pro- my usual temp are in the 70 degree range running pretty large post sessions-

Another thing that might be worth checking out is Cpu setter which allows you to turn off hyper threading.

[PT user]

So as I mentioned in a previous post the turbo app is installed so no hyper threading. Ran a tiny test session with DAW and VEP7 with three midi tracks and a few samples in VEP on the master and a few things on the slave Mac.

Three times today the screens went blank and the fan on the master Mac goes ballistic. Whats worrying is this wasn't anything like a normal session. The Mac didn't crash, I had to login after each but the session was still loaded. I have saved system logs but I must admit im concerned.The cpus were up at around 99 degrees at the time.