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MacBook 'Moo' Fix?

MacRumors user "netdog" reports that he has successfully been able to get rid of his MacBook's "moo" issue by resetting his Power Management Unit (PMU). The steps he took were:

1. Shutdown and disconnect power.
2. Remove battery.
3. Hold down power button for more than 5 seconds.
4. Reinsert battery and reconnect power.
5. Boot.

Detailed information on resetting the PMU on MacBook and MacBook Pros is available via Apple's Support site. Resetting the PMU should only be considered in last-case scenarios, and should not be done more than once every 48 hours.

Disclaimer: Users should proceed at their own risk, as MacRumors cannot be held liable for damages that may be caused by following the instructions listed above. MacRumors has not independently tested the above procedure as such resources are unavailable, but the tip is rather offered as a courtesy. Users are strongly encouraged to contact their AppleCare support representative and consult Apple's documentation for guidance if following the aforementioned steps.

Top Rated Comments

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73 months ago
Well, I'm glad someone found a fix, but shouldn't Apple's quality control unit be all over this? It seems like they have taken a very light approach to the new machines since they came out in January and May...makes me think about getting a PBG4 instead of a MBP revB...we'll see what becomes of this.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
73 months ago
I thought it was already fixed...hope to see some positive responses!
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73 months ago
This information came from Apple online support, just so everyone knows. I am confident that it won't harm anyone's system, and is obviously an Apple feature that they don't document for us. After 3.5 hours, I have heard two Moos. When I called them, it was mooing incessantly, much like in the recent video...on/off/on/off. It was just awful.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
73 months ago
Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone.
It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu.
The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life.

hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
73 months ago

Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone.
It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu.
The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life.

hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.


Now that I have experienced this for myself, I am sure that it was the fan going on and off, and not the chip. My guess is a firmware update will really nail this problem, and I wouldn't be surprised to see one soon.

What was really curious for me is that I had a silent MB bought in the first week of its release. It was only with 10.4.7 that it started to moo, and was doing so like mad. Like I said, I have been pushing the processor quite hard, and have only heard the fan whir twice, which while not as good as it once was, is a HUGE improvement over how it was before I did what Apple suggested.

I am really curious to see if this helps people who had the moo prior to 10.4.7

All that I can say for sure is that it has really helped me.
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73 months ago


...hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.


its not intel's fault your computer is noisy, its apples
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73 months ago
"Mooooo?"

I haven't heard the "moo" (no Intel Mac for me yet), but that sounds kind of cool :)

How can I enable the Moo feature if I get a Mac that doesn't have it by default?
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73 months ago
I just got my Macbook on Monday and I have no Moo. Actually, I've noticed thta the fan doesn't even come on when it gets really hot. Maybe Apple has fixed the problem with the Macbooks shipping now?
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
73 months ago

I just got my Macbook on Monday and I have no Moo. Actually, I've noticed thta the fan doesn't even come on when it gets really hot. Maybe Apple has fixed the problem with the Macbooks shipping now?


Mine was bought two days after the MB was first released, and it was dead-silent until 10.4.7
Rating: 0 Positives / 0 Negatives
73 months ago

Yes, this is also what apple instructed me to do over the phone.
It seems to lessen but not completly remove the noise from the cpu.
The software quiet mbp completly removes the noise, at the cost of heat and battery life.

hope the next generation of intel chip will be more quiet.


If Quiet MBP removes the noise, then you're talking about the "whine," not the "moo." This is a proposed fix for the "moo." Both are problematic for some (i.e. me). :)
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