MacMini 2014 fan surge for 2 seconds and then 1 sort beep repeating over at boot

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MacMini 2014 fan surge for 2 seconds and then 1 sort beep repeating over at boot

I have a an i7 16-GB 2014 Macmini, which has been a champion little machine and still is, but with increasing frequency when booting I hear the fan surge for a second followed by a short one beep. This repeats over until I restart the machine when it either disappears or starts again.

An SMC reset seems to fix it for a while until the next time. The fan was changed about a year ago. Temperatures are nominal using monitoring software like iStat menus.

Any ideas about the cause or should I be planning to buy the new Macmini Pro when it comes out soon (hopefully)?

Posted on Aug 30, 2021 5:47 PM

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Answer 1

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den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Aug 30, 2021 6:19 PM in response to Robert Hancock3

On some Mac's that might indicate a RAM issue.

see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202768

Problem is, that the 2014 Mac Mini model does not have user upgradable or serviceable RAM.

Test 1

Startup in Safe Mode and test, then restart normally and test.

see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Test 2

Run the Apple Diagnostics Test and see what it turns up.

see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203747

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Sep 4, 2021 7:50 AM in response to Robert Hancock3

Yeah' perhaps the fan connector on the logic board is flaky,

or a temp. sensor is failing.

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Answer 3

Sep 3, 2021 7:56 PM in response to den.thed

I checked the Apple error code and PPM003 means an SMC problem; PPF003 means a fan problem but the fan is new.

No sense in wasting good money on Apple "service" which means a new logic board for this old Mac—it's done well for 8 years. I'll wait until it dies and get the new Macmini Pro Mx series due in October (maybe according to Gurman).

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Answer 4

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Sep 1, 2021 5:18 PM in response to Robert Hancock3

You’re welcome.

What error was detected?

Because it sounds more like a faulty temp. sensor or the SMC that is causing the fan to act weird.

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Answer 5

Aug 30, 2021 5:52 PM in response to Robert Hancock3

I should add that it boots and runs normally even with continuing fan surge and single short beep

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Answer 6

den.thed

Level 10

90,916 points

Sep 3, 2021 7:51 PM in response to Robert Hancock3

PPF003 indicates an SMC (system management controller) problem, which means that it will need to be serviced.

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Answer 7

Sep 1, 2021 5:02 PM in response to den.thed

Thank you for the advice.

The Safe Mode boot went normally as did the next restart (with no fan whooshing and 1 beep).

The Apple Diagnostics Test turned up a Fan Error but the fan was replaced in the last 12 months! I'll get it replaced again. There was no indication of a RAM error and I have also run other third party RAM test software that shows no problems.

The odd thing about this issue is that repeating fan 'whoosh' sound and single beep only occur about 1 in 20 boots.

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Answer 8

Sep 3, 2021 7:45 PM in response to den.thed

Sorry for the delay. Just to sure first, I got a new fan and swapped it in.

Same error message from booting with D key.

"There may be an issue with the fan.

Reference Code PPF003"

Seems like it's getting time for one of those rumored MacMini Pro models with M1x series.

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MacMini 2014 fan surge for 2 seconds and then 1 sort beep repeating over at boot

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