Another Super-Hot MBP Owner

I know it’s been hashed and rehashed, but I’m the latest to discover the problem of heat in a 1st generation Mac. For Xmas I picked up a refurb MBP, 2.0 GHz Core Duo, put in a 160 GB Hitachi and a gig of RAM (1.5 total), and the 128 X1600. XP is installed and, for the most part, runs very well. My son plays HL2 at full tilt in Windows and the machine keeps up beautifully.

But man, this thing gets so hot it’s scary. I don’t exaggerate: after an hour, you could flip it over and fry an egg on it. Literally too hot to keep your hand on. I know Apple says all of this is within acceptable limits, but I am afraid to run the computer too long. (I’ve put in SMC Fan Control and boosted the fans a bit, but to no avail. Haven’t checked my thermal paste!) If it burns up one day, Apple may replace…but why get to that point?

So question one: how worried should I be? I can’t give you firm temps, but trust me – it’s ridiculous.

Q two: have heat issues gone away with the newer Core 2s? If they have, I’m willing to upgrade at tax-time or whatever. I realize I can’t return this one – Apple would laugh in my face.

Finally, if the heat has decreased in Core 2s, doesn’t that say something about an Intel 1st-generation problem as much as a Mac one?

 

I think it was solved to some degree... but i think its got something to do with the thermal paste on the proccessor not the proccessor it self. try and get temps than call Apple support.

 

Well, first off not all MBP's had the issue - even from the earliest ones. But a lot did, for sure.

Second, reports of overheating were pretty much non-existant toward the end of the Core Duo generation of Macbook Pros, and I haven't heard any real complaints about heat from Core 2 Duo MBPs.

So yeah, I think it's safe to assume that heat from the C2D MBPs is not the issue it was with the model you got. Obviously they still are warm by nature (Apple are adamant about trying to keep fan noise down by using the casing to disperse the heat) but they should not get as hot as what you describe.

 

I just got my C2D a couple days ago and am going to run HL2: Episode One side by side with my old CD, and I will let you know what happens. My initial impressions though are that the C2D is actually quite a bit cooler.

 

Are you sure you have a first gen CD? There are 2 different models of CD and one C2D model.

My MBP is 2nd gen CD and does get hot, but not blazing hot when gaming. Keep in mind that the SMC fan control doesn't work when in windows. The major problem I think right now is that the fans aren't being controlled properly in Bootcamp, just like the battery stuff. This is likely a side effect of it still being in beta.

Check what week MBP you have.

 

My C2D runs very cool for a laptop. The warmness on the bottom actually feels pretty good on my lap.

 

Hmm, I'll check on this when I get home. Also, is there an app in OS X that allows you to monitor temp? (Mac Newbie alert...but I like what I see.)

 

There is no such thing as a free lunch in Engineering. While the curve is not perfectly linear because of leaps in technology, more speed means more power consumption, which in turn - means more heat. More components in smaller spaces with limited ventilation means yet more heat per cubic inch.

Apple likes to build slim, powerful, quiet computers which increases the challenges in dealing with heat. But if you compare PC's with similar size and capability you will find similar challenges. Take a look in the PC forums for machines similar in size and power to a Mac and you'll see similar concerns.

The real key is deciding if Apples choices have any significant consequences to your machines reliability, longevity, or usability. Everyones equation may be a little different.

Firsthand, I am very happy with the choices Apple made in its latest MacBook. From what little I've read in recent choices across the rest of thier lineup there seems to be concern in the user community, but it does not seem to rise to the level of systemic compromise in reliability, longevity, or usability but rather seems driven with concern (because its a different choice than most PC manufactures made) in combination with a normal low failure rate found in many quality products that in isolation lends credence to peoples concerns.

Just my two cents worth. A little Arctic 5 can't hurt though ;-)

 

You can download a temperature widget from apple's website. Just in case you don't know this already.

 

OK, Hollownail, date of manufacture was Oct. 14, 06. This would put it among the last of the Core Duos, it seems. Can you tell me what that means? I originally said "1st generation," but obviously there's more to it. Did Apple make changes in between?

Meanwhile, thanks for the temp widget, GeorgineVJ. I'm learning...fast. I'll install that, and when my son recupes from wisdom teeth surgery, we'll crank the system up and take some readings. I just talked to Apple -- "normal" MBP operating temps range from 50 - 95* F (10 - 35 C). If it goes above that, I should take it into a store.

I'm also just ordering a cooling pad. Cheesy, some say. But I did some research, including finding a good review here on a Vantec model. http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2649
Hey, it cools, it's quiet, it folds, it's a 4-port USB hub, it's 32 bucks at New Egg...can't go wrong.

 

There was no hardware change in the MBP before C2D. They changed the way the it responds to heat, but that was through software. I don't think they run dangerously hot though. After playing around with the Core2Duo for the last few days, I can definitely tell you that they run quite a bit cooler, especially under a load while plugged in. My CoreDuo got pretty hot when gaming on the power adapter. The C2D stays pretty cool. Run the temp monitor and see what it says. Also remember that just because the case is hot does not mean the actual computer is running too hot. Apple uses the case to dissipate heat.

 

They chnaged the logic board in them. At least, thats what I've heard pretty much everywhere. I don't remember if they changed it due to a heat issue or if it was something else. But yeah, I remember a ton of people who had early week production units all had their logic boards replaced. They actually talked to apple and they told them the logic boards were changed.

 

Your right, I forgot about that. They changed it for the processor whine issue.

 

You might need to talk to Apple again about those temperatures. These sound like what Apple would recommend as nice ambient room temperatures. There are various sensors in your MBP and you need to know the sensor you are talking about. For instance, If your are talking degrees Fahrenheit in say a 70 degree room, you might see case temps in the 80's and processor temps in the 125 to 150 range.

Just letting you know this so you don't freak out when you see a 145 degree CPU temp ;-)

 

Yah, thanks for that...'cause I didn't freak when the CPU got to 158 (and I know it's been hotter than that).

If it still matters, I will check temps with the cooling pad. Otherwise, I think it will be C2D time sooner rather than later.

 

I have a C2D MB and using the Temperature Dashboard Widget my CPU hovers in the 130's in a 70 degree office on a flat surface under routine use. Usually in the 140's on the lap. Under heavy use its running in the 150's but I have not seen it break 170 yet.

Were they sure is was defective Sony batteries that made a number of modern laptops burst into flames? ;-)

 

My C2D MBP has been downloading my 3d games from ealink and alienware's games downloader (not sure what it's called). It's 98% finished from downloading 12 GB! I'm downloading at a friend's place and reformatted windows' partion last night and re downloaded. My point is, it has been "on" for almost 48 hours straight without any serious heat issues. No cooling pad or nothing. I'm going to pick it up after work, I hope it doesn't fry until then But I haven't used it for gaming yet or anything that warms up the VGA card.

 

I had another machine that overheated (Acer) - it's very bad. Eventually something will break. If you are lucky you won't lose all your data and it won't be out of warranty. In my case, the HD fried twice, then the mainboard fried. I had told them from the beginning that it was too hot, but they told me it's in spec blah blah. And it wasn't as hot as your MBP sounds...

This is still under warranty, so here is what you should do:
1- Purchase the extended warranty
2- Do back-ups religiously. Every day to an external HD. If you value your data, that is.
3 - Return the machine to Apple, tell them it's too hot, and they need to fix it.
4 - If (3) doesn't work, run the machine at full tilt until it dies, then return it under warranty. Sounds extreme, but that's what I would do. Run HL demo overnight or something. Its better to control the time of failure. Actually.. I would try to overheat it using OS X, Apple may not want to take responsibility for anything that happens under XP. XP is also known to run hotter...