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Macbook Fan(s) always on?

O

oli3107

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 29, 2010
14
0
South East
Hey guys, I am new here with a problem?
I Bought a macbook 5,2 mid 2009 model from a guy last night, and since powering up, the fans have been running all the time. I've searched on here for problems, most saying printer jobs not complete, but I have looked and found nothing, I have printed nothing off... I have also done an SMC reset and a PRAM reset... I've looked on here and other sites and they all say it's down to a not completed print job, I have looked in my print & fax section and there is nothing?
Just wondering if anyone could help or has had the same problem??
Many thanks in advance
Oli
 
Are you hearing the fans, or just seeing the RPM in a status app? Normally, they run at 2000 RPM minimum (at least on MBPs, but I believe MBs are the same).
 
Yes I am hearing the fans, a whirring noise coming out, and after searching I did download smc fan control and found it runs 6200 rpm all the time... Macbook is not hot in the slightest though...
 
Use Activity Monitor to see if there are any processes taking up CPU resources. Make sure to select "All Processes" in the pop-up menu.
 
Have done mate, and found the 3 main ones taking up most CPU space are:
Safari
Activity monitor itself, and
Flash Player 10.1?
 
Flash is poorly coded for OS X. Are the website you frequent Flash intensive?
 
I generally facebook, online car club, youtubing sometimes? And will be using here a bit now... So not really other than Youtube... But it never caused problems on my lower spec mac mini when using flash websites?
 
I'm more familiar with the MBP, but I would guess the fans shouldn't be that high unless you are running > 70% (just a guess off the top of my head). Try killing the Flash process (I assume it's taking the most), and see if the fans slow.

If there aren't any processes taking a high percentage of CPU resources (and the fact the MB seems to be cool), I would try another SMC reset.
 
Mate, funnily enough Safari is taking average of 3% max?
Activity monitor is average of again 3% max?
Flash player is average of 13% max when in use?
Ok will try another SMC reset and get back to you.
Killing the flash process doesnt do anything...
 
Screenshots of the usage:
When flash player is not being used:
Screenshot2010-12-29at105648.png


When flash player is being used:
Screenshot2010-12-29at105301.png
 
Thanks. The screen shot helps.

Change the pop-up Manu from "My Processes" to "All Processes", then select "CPU" tab (this will show different stats and a bar graph for CPU use.

Switching to All Processes could show other hidden system processes taking up resources.
 
Is "Fan Control Daemon" part of SMCFanControl? If so, have you tried lowering the minimum fans speed? (or, better yet IMO, uninstall it).

Select the System Memory tab and check fornboth Page Ins and Page Outs.

We could be following two different issues here: 1- What's causing Kernel task to work overtime, and 2- What's keeping the fan speed up.
 
Yes mate part of the fan control...
And I have set the lowest speed to 1200rpm? Which is as low as it goes?
I just don't want to have bought a faulty MB...
I shall try uninstalling it also...
 
Fixed!

Thanks for your help mate, I took it back, did a swap for a new one with my bits in it (HDD, RAM etc...)
And the problem between the cpu and fan was that my old faulty mac did not have a thermostat/temperature sensor by the fan to show the temperature so as a default was on high in case it was hot or whatever. The new one has got a thermostat/temperature sensor and now at the moment is running at 2300rpm at 48C. So all is fixed now as she is running quietly and as smooth as ever!
 
oli3107 said:
Yes I am hearing the fans, a whirring noise coming out, and after searching I did download smc fan control and found it runs 6200 rpm all the time... Macbook is not hot in the slightest though...
Click to expand...

I have the same problem with my 15 MBP pre unibody.the fan runs(and yes,it has a whirring noise also) at 6005rpm but it has 38C temperature. My MBP is not that hot also.:(
 
zildjansg said:
I have the same problem with my 15 MBP pre unibody.the fan runs(and yes,it has a whirring noise also) at 6005rpm but it has 38C temperature. My MBP is not that hot also.:(
Click to expand...

I would definitely check for the same issues then. If there is anything running with that much processor power, it'll definitely turn your fan speeds way up there. Post back your findings
 
well that definitely brings along an interesting predicament. Have you tried resetting the SMC as suggested before? The SMC deals with all system issues, which definitely includes fans. Give that a go and see what happens. Instructions on doing so can be found directly on apple's website. Post back the results and let us know if it's still spinning rapidly or not.
 
Blondie :) said:
well that definitely brings along an interesting predicament. Have you tried resetting the SMC as suggested before? The SMC deals with all system issues, which definitely includes fans. Give that a go and see what happens. Instructions on doing so can be found directly on apple's website. Post back the results and let us know if it's still spinning rapidly or not.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response.I have tried already resetting the SMC and some other troubleshoots that ive researched.
 
Well then I suppose we could try to do it the old fashioned way. Try installing smc fan control on your computer, and force it to spin at the minimum speed of 2000. Unless of course you've already tried that as well?
 
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