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    Macbook Pro 17 2011 & thermal management while gaming

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by a3r0x, May 19, 2011.

  1. a3r0x

    a3r0x Notebook Evangelist

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    Hello,

    I have a question about the Macbook Pro 17 and how it handles games.

    My question is however not about the perfomance, but about thermal management of the system.

    While gaming (demnading games like CoD: Black Ops let's say), does the Macbook Pro throttle?
    I also heard that under high load the charger may not supply enough power, hence the rest is drawn from the battery. Does this happen in the new 2011 model?
     
    a3r0x, May 19, 2011
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  2. KCETech1

    KCETech1 Notebook Prophet

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    in gaming I am unsure as I have never loaded a game on my 17", I can confirm that a continuous maxload of CPU and mid load on GPU causes it to throttle with a MAYA/Mudbox combination.
     
    KCETech1, May 19, 2011
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  3. cy007

    cy007 Notebook Deity

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    I've never ran a game on my former 2011 15" MBP, but I've got to say, the thing runs UNCOMFORTABLY WARM around the area where the escape key is. This is only web surfing for 3 hours straight mind.
     
    cy007, May 20, 2011
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  4. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    I never have throttling problems in mine... though I do manually spin my fans up sooner than Apple wants, since I know its going to be hot.... but its aluminum, its going to physically feel hotter than a plastic machine. I've played games for several hours straight with no issues at all.
     
    doh123, May 21, 2011
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  5. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

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    it will use some battery power under heavy loads when the power supply can't supply enough power.
     
    GP-SE, May 21, 2011
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  6. a3r0x

    a3r0x Notebook Evangelist

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    It's good to hear that the MBP will not throttle. I was deciding between ENVY 17 and the MBP 17, but reading on the HP forums, the ENVY throttles under regular gaming, which for me is unacceptable.

    However I'm worried about the draining of power from battery. Is it going to degrade the health of the battery if I game regularly, lets say a couple of hours a week?
     
    a3r0x, May 22, 2011
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  7. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

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    nah... they just keep lower watt power supplies, so at max power it might take a bit more than the power supply can handle, so it pulls the extra from the battery. This is actually pretty rare. I've played games well over 5 hours straight before, and a 99% battery was still at 99% when i was done. I have seen in some long gaming sessions that I lost a percent before. Its really nothing to worry about.
     
    doh123, May 22, 2011
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  8. GP-SE

    GP-SE Notebook Consultant

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    yes if it ever does pull from the battery, it's a tiny amount and you wont even notice it. The charge indicator has never changed from fully charged to charging when I have been stressing my Mac, because the extra power draw is very little, and might only last a second or two.

    Also remember it's good to use your battery, keeping it fully charged wont make it last any longer, Li-Ion batteries like to go down to about 60% then fully charge, it's bad to let them die down completely. This is with any Li-Ion battery, not just a mac or pc laptop.
     
    GP-SE, May 23, 2011
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