Temperature Concerns for New Retina MPB

It's normal, and the heat will not harm your computer.

VitruviusMan said:

When I game in Boot Camp, the machine gets really hot (almost uncomfortable to touch) near the bottom of the screen, above the function keys. Is this normal?

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Yes, it's normal. No, it won't damage anything. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat. CPU Tjmax = 105C (221F), GPU Tjmax = 100C (212F) on i3, i5, i7 processors. (Source: Intel) If you're not already using it, iStat Pro will give you accurate readings of your temps and fan speeds, among other things.

Unless there is a rare defect in a Mac, most temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload being put on it. Websites with Flash content, games and other multimedia apps will put higher demand on the CPU/GPU, generating more heat. This is normal. If you're constantly putting high demands on your system, such as gaming or other multimedia tasks, expect temps to rise and fans to spin up accordingly. It's just your Mac doing its job to maintain temps within the normal range.

It is also quite normal for your Mac to become extremely hot to the touch during intensive operations. The aluminum body transfers heat more effectively than other materials used in computer casings, so you will feel the heat more. This doesn't indicate that it's overheating and will not harm the computer to be hot to the touch.

Your fans are always on when your Mac is on, spinning at a minimum of 2000 rpm (for MBPs) or 1800 rpm (for MBAs, MBs and minis). iMacs have 3 fans with minimum speeds in the 800-1200 range. They will spin faster as needed to keep temps at a safe level. If they're spinning up without increased heat, try resetting the SMC. (PRAM/NVRAM has nothing to do with these issues, so resetting it will not help.)

The intake and exhaust vents are in the back of the computer near the hinge on all Mac notebooks (except the new MBP with retina display, which has intake vents along the sides at the bottom). The iMac vent is a slot on the back near the top of the computer. Make sure the vents remain unblocked to allow your computer to perform at its best.

Learn about the fans in your Mac
Apple Portables: Operating temperature

For Flash-related issues:

• Find your Flash version and make sure it's the latest version available.
• Install ClickToFlash (Safari), Flashblock (Firefox) or FlashBlock (Chrome) to control which Flash content plays on websites.
• Use the YouTube HTML5 Video Player to watch YouTube videos, when available. (May impact fullscreen viewing. See link for details.)

miles01110 said:

It's normal, and the heat will not harm your computer.

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heating electronics WILL do harm which is obviously why most modern mobile gpus have throttling when its overheated. the problem with windows bootcamp is that your machine will always be using the discrete card and has ****** power management which in turn will just produce more heat.

if your actual keys are getting too hot to touch, that can't ever be a 'normal' thing.

stevelam said:

heating electronics WILL do harm which is obviously why most modern mobile gpus have throttling when its overheated. the problem with windows bootcamp is that your machine will always be using the discrete card and has ****** power management which in turn will just produce more heat.

if your actual keys are getting too hot to touch, that can't ever be a 'normal' thing.

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This argument is a) irrelevant and b) tired. Go back through any number of the "Is my MBP too hot?" threads for previous responses. In short, exposing components to heat will have no noticeable effect over the typical lifespan of a personal computer ( < 10 years ).

miles01110 said:

This argument is a) irrelevant and b) tired. Go back through any number of the "Is my MBP too hot?" threads for previous responses. In short, exposing components to heat will have no noticeable effect over the typical lifespan of a personal computer ( < 10 years ).

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yah lets also ignore the major overheating issues of past macbooks as well while we're at it. i guess thats just 'normal'. if it has no 'noticeable effect' then why bother putting the failsafe of completely shutting down a machine when it reaches certain temperatures?

stevelam said:

if your actual keys are getting too hot to touch, that can't ever be a 'normal' thing.

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It is certainly normal under high demand, such as when gaming. And the heat will not damage the system. While long-term exposure to high temps will shorten the life of any electronics, such reduction in lifespan will not be noticed by most users, as most will upgrade to a new computer long before any heat-related issues arise, provided no defect is involved.

stevelam said:

yah lets also ignore the major overheating issues of past macbooks as well while we're at it. i guess thats just 'normal'. if it has no 'noticeable effect' then why bother putting the failsafe of completely shutting down a machine when it reaches certain temperatures?

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The OP doesn't mention anything about his machine shutting down, indicating it is functioning as it was designed to. Not really sure what past machines' behavior has to do with anything - the failsafe shutdown is supposed to prevent damage from overheating. Overheating != heat within operational limits.