Running a Macbook with screen down

dr4g0nf1y

dr4g0nf1y

dr4g0nf1y

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very quick and probably simple to answer but need to know before I waste £15.

If I purchased a micro-dvi to dvi adaptor and used a usb mouse/keyboard on my mac, can I close the book or will it put itself to sleep?
 
dr4g0nf1y said:
very quick and probably simple to answer but need to know before I waste £15.

If I purchased a micro-dvi to dvi adaptor and used a usb mouse/keyboard on my mac, can I close the book or will it put itself to sleep?
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yes and no

if you close the lid the laptop will sleep

but there are programs i think one called insomniac that will stop you mac sleeping when the lid is closed

this is not recommended as the laptop is designed to cool its self with the lid open if you run it closed you could and prob will cook it

so yes you can do it with some programs would i recommend it no.

why do you want to do this anyway?
 
My Macbook runs fine in clamshell mode.

The difference is whether you want to use a program like InsomniaX or have the power cord plugged in. If you dont run the program and you don't have the power cord plugged then you will find that when you wake up the Macbook, it will wake but only to go to sleep within a few seconds.

At least thats what I found with mine. ;)

EDIT: heres another thread discussing the same thing. :)

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18073663
 
I find my Unibody spools up the fans when it's in clamshell mode which is a shame. I have to open it up whenever i do anything remotely taxing.
 
Logsi said:
I find my Unibody spools up the fans when it's in clamshell mode which is a shame. I have to open it up whenever i do anything remotely taxing.
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turn it upside down


i use caffeine (a program) as i dont use an external screen but want it to be shut and running.

but apparently if youve got the dvi adapter in it should stay running anyway when shut
 
u can just close lid then use wireless keybord/mac to wake up and it work through the dvi out!

no need for extra program
 
I haven't found the cooling to be any less efficient in clamshell position than normal screen open position. However, make sure airflow in not restricted to the back of the unit. (don't jam the thing hard up against a wall or shelf, etc)

To operate in clamshell mode;
1) close screen
2) plug DVI adapter or any USB device into port
3) Mac will wake up and operate normally
 
It will only work in clamshell (ie, external screen is the main display, macbook screen off) if it is plugged into the power outlet.

So plug in AC, plug in second monitor. Close lid on Macbook (which will cause it to sleep). Then click the mouse to wake from sleep and the external monitor will now be the main display, with the macbook screen turned off.

A bit of a mess about but works well.
 
wush said:
Pish. You just made that up.
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Quite.

If you run it screen up it vents up past the screen, if you run it screen down it vents out the back. Look where the vents are, there's access either way. It's no problem at all and they are intended to be able to run both ways.

My macbook ran about 50/50 both ways for over a year and now lives downstairs and is still in excellent health after about 2 years.
 
Tried this yesterday on my macbook and it worked flawlessly, looked amazing @ 1080p on my 32" HDTV. As for heat, well I had the dashboard iSTAT widget up and the mac was running as cool as it does when the lid is up - as it should.
 
So will the picture look as good no matter whether you use a mini display port --> HDMI adapter? My adapter arrived today, which is fine to project stuff on my 720p telly, but it's nowhere near as good as a proper monitor.

Going to order an ASUS 24" VW246H LCD TFT Monitor 2ms HDMI 20000:1 (which does accept HDMI), but only if it'll look as good as my old proper monitor unit over DVI.

I'm desperate to get some Snow Leopard over 1920×1080!
 
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