iMac 'Ambient Temperature'

TW95 · Dec 25, 2012, 06:25 AM

Hey,

I have a new iMac 2012 which was delivered about a week ago, everything is working fine but one thing seems to intrigue me...

The ambient temperature sensor. I am using iStat as a dashboard widget and the ambient temperature reading is hovering around the 5-7 degrees Celsius mark. Obviously this isn't the temperature of the room I am in which is what the ambient temperature is.

Does anyone have any ideas on why the reading is so low?

Something else interesting is that the air temperature outside corresponds almost exactly to the ambient temperature reading on the iMac.

Thanks for reading, look forward to hearing your replies.

joe-h2o · Dec 25, 2012, 08:37 AM

Is that a 27" iMac 2012?

I know my old 2006 iMac had an ambient temp sensor, and it always read a couple of degrees above the temp of the room since I figured inside the case was always a bit warmer.

My new 27" 2012 iMac doesn't have an ambient sensor. It has:

CPU Proximity (assume it's on the logic board next to the socket)
GPU Die (Nvidia's on-die temp sensor for the 680MX)
LCD Proximity (attached to backside of LCD panel)
MLB Proximity (I assume this might be the ambient temp sensor - just measuring the local temp near the logic board)
PCH Die (on-die sensor in Intel's platform controller hub chip)

TW95 · Dec 25, 2012, 12:46 PM

Sorry, it is the 21.5" model. On iStat my temps are: Apple SSD, Apple HDD, Ambient, GPU Diode, Mem bank A1, Mem controller. They are the ones that are listed. Current reading is 7 Celsius.

12dylan34 · Dec 25, 2012, 01:01 PM

These are the temps on my 27 inch (in F) I've got the ambient temp. I just started using it from a period of sleep, but it's pretty low, lower than the room temp.

TW95 · Dec 25, 2012, 05:13 PM

That ambient temperature is similar to my reading. It's at 7 (C) at the moment, yours translates to be about 8.8 (C).

I guess then no one has any idea why the reading is so low?

Intell · Dec 25, 2012, 05:22 PM

Maybe iStat needs to be updated to work correctly with the new machines.

baxlobs · Dec 25, 2012, 05:26 PM

Mine says 1deg C

No way is my study anywhere near that temp, it seems pretty meaningless, at that least that is what I have assumed, unless there is built in Air-Con?

Paulywauly · Dec 25, 2012, 05:31 PM

The ambient sensor in my brand new Mini isn't correct either. Although iStat shows it correctly before i migrated from my last Mac (an iMac) it must be an issue with the newer 2012 models not working with iStat correctly, this kind of thing has happened before and an iStat update usually fixes it

ThirteenXIII · Dec 25, 2012, 06:58 PM

the main reading for the ambient temp sensor is not the room, its an estimate mix of the temperature around the components internally.

gazzazh · Dec 25, 2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirteenXIII

the main reading for the ambient temp sensor is not the room, its an estimate mix of the temperature around the components internally.

HI guys, I am using Istat version 4.03, and i cant find ambient temp.Where is it located,, My CPU Proximity averages between 41-50 Degrees

Justin Stuart · Mar 12, 2013, 06:36 PM

My new late-2012 iMac "Ambient Air" temperature sensor reads 48F/9C all of the time too.

virginblue4 · Mar 12, 2013, 07:42 PM

My 27" late 2012 iMac is showing 13 degrees C for ambient temperature.

Leonavice · Mar 12, 2013, 08:36 PM

iStat is currently not working for the 2012 iMac. Mine shows an ambient temperature of 1 degree Celsius, and I am living in the tropics...

whiskymac · Mar 13, 2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leonavice

iStat is currently not working for the 2012 iMac. Mine shows an ambient temperature of 1 degree Celsius, and I am living in the tropics...

I think iStat needs updating - I have an ambient temperature reading of 1 degree C - freezing

- or 255 degrees C melt down

- nothing in between - and I live nearer the North Pole than the tropics

Mac

Dec 25, 2012, 06:25 AM	#1
TW95 macrumors member Join Date: May 2010 Location: London	iMac 'Ambient Temperature' Hey, I have a new iMac 2012 which was delivered about a week ago, everything is working fine but one thing seems to intrigue me... The ambient temperature sensor. I am using iStat as a dashboard widget and the ambient temperature reading is hovering around the 5-7 degrees Celsius mark. Obviously this isn't the temperature of the room I am in which is what the ambient temperature is. Does anyone have any ideas on why the reading is so low? Something else interesting is that the air temperature outside corresponds almost exactly to the ambient temperature reading on the iMac. Thanks for reading, look forward to hearing your replies. __________________  21.5" iMac 2012, 3.1GHz i7, 16 GB RAM, 1TB Fusion  13" MacBook Pro, 2.53GHz, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB HD  iPhone 5 16GB  iPad 3 WiFi + 3G 32GB
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 01:01 PM	#4
12dylan34 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2009	These are the temps on my 27 inch (in F) I've got the ambient temp. I just started using it from a period of sleep, but it's pretty low, lower than the room temp. Attached Thumbnails
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 05:13 PM	#5
TW95 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: May 2010 Location: London	That ambient temperature is similar to my reading. It's at 7 (C) at the moment, yours translates to be about 8.8 (C). I guess then no one has any idea why the reading is so low? __________________  21.5" iMac 2012, 3.1GHz i7, 16 GB RAM, 1TB Fusion  13" MacBook Pro, 2.53GHz, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB HD  iPhone 5 16GB  iPad 3 WiFi + 3G 32GB
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 05:22 PM	#6
Intell macrumors G4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Inside	Maybe iStat needs to be updated to work correctly with the new machines. __________________ Last edited by Intell; Yesterday at 11:50 AM.
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 05:31 PM	#8
Paulywauly macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Durham, UK	The ambient sensor in my brand new Mini isn't correct either. Although iStat shows it correctly before i migrated from my last Mac (an iMac) it must be an issue with the newer 2012 models not working with iStat correctly, this kind of thing has happened before and an iStat update usually fixes it __________________ I admit it, i spend too much on products
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 08:37 AM	#2
joe-h2o macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2012	Is that a 27" iMac 2012? I know my old 2006 iMac had an ambient temp sensor, and it always read a couple of degrees above the temp of the room since I figured inside the case was always a bit warmer. My new 27" 2012 iMac doesn't have an ambient sensor. It has: CPU Proximity (assume it's on the logic board next to the socket) GPU Die (Nvidia's on-die temp sensor for the 680MX) LCD Proximity (attached to backside of LCD panel) MLB Proximity (I assume this might be the ambient temp sensor - just measuring the local temp near the logic board) PCH Die (on-die sensor in Intel's platform controller hub chip)
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 12:46 PM	#3
TW95 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: May 2010 Location: London	Sorry, it is the 21.5" model. On iStat my temps are: Apple SSD, Apple HDD, Ambient, GPU Diode, Mem bank A1, Mem controller. They are the ones that are listed. Current reading is 7 Celsius.
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 05:26 PM	#7
baxlobs macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Suffolk UK	Mine says 1deg C No way is my study anywhere near that temp, it seems pretty meaningless, at that least that is what I have assumed, unless there is built in Air-Con?
	0

Dec 25, 2012, 06:58 PM	#9
ThirteenXIII macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2008	the main reading for the ambient temp sensor is not the room, its an estimate mix of the temperature around the components internally.
	2

Mar 12, 2013, 06:36 PM	#11
Justin Stuart macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2013	My new late-2012 iMac "Ambient Air" temperature sensor reads 48F/9C all of the time too.
	0

Mar 12, 2013, 07:42 PM	#12
virginblue4 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: United Kingdom	My 27" late 2012 iMac is showing 13 degrees C for ambient temperature. __________________ Late 2012 27" iMac - 3.4GHz i7, 1TB Fusion Drive, 24GB RAM, GTX 680MX 2GB (Assembled in Ireland) iPhone 5, white and silver iPad mini, white and silver
	0

Mar 12, 2013, 08:36 PM	#13
Leonavice macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2013	iStat is currently not working for the 2012 iMac. Mine shows an ambient temperature of 1 degree Celsius, and I am living in the tropics...
	0

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