Likely MBP switcher - are there heat problems?

Mr_Cynical

Mr_Cynical

Mr_Cynical

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I'm planning to get a 13" Macbook Pro in the next week or so (whenever the updated ones are available), but I'm getting slightly spooked by the various threads (on Apple's own forums) describing the CPU getting to 80C running Excel or a Youtube video :eek:.

The build quality/keyboard/loveliness of the MBP mean that I'm pretty set on switching, but I'm paranoid about heat problems. Can Mac owners on here reassure me? :(
 
They get quite hot. So does my iMac but it never crashes or causes issues so Ive forgotten about it, and Iv'e never felt inclined to install temperature monitors and worrying about it, everything is working so there isn't a problem. :)

A MBP isn't going to melt and explode, if it does you take it back and they give you a new one. Get that credit card out :)
 
As the previous poster stated, they do get hot but that's just a by-product of such a machine. They are designed to withstand those temperatures and all things considered, it is better that that heat is being directed out of the machine than not.

In the event of problems, you have the 1 years warranty and the option for an extended warranty, both allowing you to take your machine for repair if necessary.
 
It's a non-issue, just internet hysteria from fanbois IMO.

Apple run the CPU at a warmer temperature than the self-anointed, self-taught PC over clocking expert would be happy with to keep them almost silent. It's well within spec as Intel don't throttle until 105C on most laptop parts. I'm with the manufacturer and component suppliers on this one. On my current quad core MBP I've yet to see over 95C with all four cores crunching video. By that point the fans are running at 6000rpm and you can hear them.

The case is machined out of a solid block of aluminium which conducts heat better than plastic therefore the cases get warmer to the touch than say a ThinkPad. My 2006 MBP, now that would slow cook your knees. The unibody machines are fine.
 
MagicBoy said:
It's a non-issue, just internet hysteria from fanbois IMO.

Apple run the CPU at a warmer temperature than the self-anointed, self-taught PC over clocking expert would be happy with to keep them almost silent. It's well within spec as Intel don't throttle until 105C on most laptop parts. I'm with the manufacturer and component suppliers on this one. On my current quad core MBP I've yet to see over 95C with all four cores crunching video. By that point the fans are running at 6000rpm and you can hear them.

The case is machined out of a solid block of aluminium which conducts heat better than plastic therefore the cases get warmer to the touch than say a ThinkPad. My 2006 MBP, now that would slow cook your knees. The unibody machines are fine.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have summed it up better myself.

Should note that I wouldn't say 80C with Flash content and non-intensive Excel usage is normal at all. That means that the processor is being put under heavy load for whatever reason, which it shouldn't really be doing.
 
They do run hot, whilst it may not do the laptop any harm (a CPU or GPU will shut down when it gets too hot) it does mean that the fans will spin up more than you'd like if you're thrashing it and it can make it more than a little uncomfortable to have on your lap. The current ones are worse than previous models, new Ivy Bridge ones may be better as it's a die shrink although Apple will probably use processors with the same TDP as current ones.
Normally they are fine, you aren't going to scorch yourself checking your email. But if you're doing an encode in the nude...
 
Anything even slightly GPU intensive such as a basic 2d game would spin my fans up to 100% on the 13" i7 2011 which would be quite annoying but I never had any overheating problems or issues with fans at any other time.
 
That's what I wanted to hear, thanks! On a related note, does anyone know of any lapdesks that are designed for 13" laptops? I was thinking of getting one for the odd time I'm doing intensive stuff, but most of them are sized for 15" laptops which obviously won't fit in a 13" laptop bag :p
 
My 13" MBP is idling at 49c. It does easily get to 70c+ under light load. It's really not a problem, though. I think the cooling profile isn't particularly aggressive - the fan is inaudible until the CPU is above 60c.

I much prefer that to my old Sony laptop, which would turn the noisy fan on when the CPU was above 40c - drove me nuts. There's no reason why 70-80c should cause any harm to a CPU.
 
Flash is pretty buggy to be honest and it does eat up CPU cycles, hence making the laptop hot. Really hate the thing (Flash, not the laptop) because of that.
 
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