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douglh

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2008
31
0
My 13 inch unibody Macbook is currently running at 81C. Isn't that high? What's the maximum temperature? The fan(s) run constantly.

I have a fan utility that lists 2 fans. The "Left" fan is at 6204 rpm's, temp 81.4C The "Right" fan shows 0rpm's, temp -1C. Is this merely because the sensor is capable of recording two fan speeds or do I really have one malfunctioning fan? (which would explain the high cpu temp, if it applies).

A third sensor, a widget, records the same temp, with Heatsink A 70C and Heatsink B 64C. I realize all three sensors are getting their readings from the same spot; which one do I rely on?

EDIT: the only program I'm running (visably) is FireFox.
 

NewMacbookPlz

macrumors 68040
Sep 28, 2008
3,266
0
Do you have any flash running, or any hanging processes?

81C for an idle is a bit high. The 13" MacBook only has one fan, so don't worry about the 0rpm reading on that 2nd one.
 

douglh

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2008
31
0
No Flash, no Java. I use a Bluetooth mouse, I just turned it off to see if there's any difference. I also rebooted so the temp went down during the 2 minutes it was off; the temp right now is 72C and slowly climbing.
 

NewMacbookPlz

macrumors 68040
Sep 28, 2008
3,266
0
Did you check in your activity monitor for any processes that are sucking up CPU cycles?

Be sure to change the drop down to "all processes." Sometimes there may be a print spool or a widget that's gone awry and using a fair bit of CPU cycles.
 

douglh

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2008
31
0
Thank you! GeekTool was using ~40. I Forced Quit and my temp dropped 20+C, now at 49C. Thanks-a-bunch, I wouldn't have thought of looking there.
 

xodus

macrumors newbie
Aug 22, 2006
19
0
Toronto, Canada
In the future, the ultra fast way to do this is:

Open Terminal

Code:
top
(will then list the top 10 highest processes)

Code:
killall <nameofprocess>
OR
Code:
kill <ID#ofprocess>
 

douglh

macrumors member
Original poster
Nov 10, 2008
31
0
Coming from Linux I'm familiar with those commands but had forgotten they work on Mac OS as well. Thanks for reminding me!
 
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