It's official: Macbooks have bad thermal paste applied

odedia · 11:24 AM

After some people posted pictures of a disassembeled Macbook with too much thermal paste, here's a link to pictures from the official Apple service manual, STILL WITH TOO MUCH THERMAL PASTE APPLIED:

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?t=295925

And now for the fun part: Check out the review below. The reviewer tried to heat things up on his macbook to check tempartures. THE COMPUTER FROZE WITH KERNEL PANIC. He could not reboot the computer UNTIL HE PLACED THE MACBOOK FOR 5 MINUTES ABOVE AN AIR CONDITIONER!

http://www.notebookreview.com/defaul...=Apple+MacBook

I just can't believe this. Apple are unbelivable. Are they really that dumb? There's no other way to say it, their engineers are pretty much a bunch of idiots. Don't give me that "It's all made in China" part, the Macbook is made by Asustek in Korea, and Asustek make PERFECT LAPTOPS, I know this first hand! But when Apple demands that their laptops will contain that much thermal paste, the supplier has no choice but to do as he's told. And the most annoying part is that Apple is NOT LISTENING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. JUST HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR OFFICIAL FORUMS AND SEE FOR YOURSELFS HOW ANGRY 85% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE!

Arrrgghhh. Really needed to blow of all this steam.

BTW, on a different note, the Macbook is faster than the Macbook Pro, even in some graphics intensive tasks. My guess, this is because they are FREAKING UNDERCLOCKING THEIR ATI X1600 GPU BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THE COMPUTER IS SO HOT BECAUSE OF THE STUPID THERMAL PASTE!!! Benchmarking proof:

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/macbook.ars/5

Oded S.

mkaake · May 19, 2006, 09:26 AM

you know, rants like this don't bother me too much.

as long as the person making the rant actually has the computer.

well, I'll get flamed for saying that, but that's my take on it. There are people who go digging around the web to find problems with other people's computers, and then complain about it.

iGary · May 19, 2006, 09:26 AM

I'm so tired of hearing about this.

But I can understand your frustration.

odedia · May 19, 2006, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkaake

you know, rants like this don't bother me too much.

as long as the person making the rant actually has the computer.

well, I'll get flamed for saying that, but that's my take on it. There are people who go digging around the web to find problems with other people's computers, and then complain about it.

Well, after taking the heat with the macbook pro i'm never ever gonna by an apple computer before researching on the web. Their new computers are not good, period. I am sorry you feel that way but there's a limit to how much i am willing to go just because I like a company. They should address the problems. Instead, they completly ignore it!

mkaake · May 19, 2006, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odedia

Well, after taking the heat with the macbook pro i'm never ever gonna by an apple computer before researching on the web. Their new computers are not good, period. I am sorry you feel that way but there's a limit to how much i am willing to go just because I like a company. They should address the problems. Instead, they completly ignore it!

Oh, I don't disagree with that at all. I've got a friend who's got a 1.83 macbook pro, which got so hot the aluminum covering the battery peeled off. I've ripped on apple for that many a time. They are not perfect, they ship flaws, and they've got some qc issues they need to resolve.

My point was about ranting online about a machine you don't own. *shrugs shoulders*

iCaffeine · May 19, 2006, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iGary

I'm so tired of hearing about this.

when will this ever end? : )

x86isslow · May 19, 2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iCaffeine

when will this ever end? : )

When the G5 Powerbooks get here.

iGary · May 19, 2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x86isslow

When the G5 Powerbooks get here.

*falls down laughing*

stefan15 · 06:59 PM

Oh my GOD this is just SCARY.. honestly.. horrifying...

(right out of the Apple service manual)
Pic 1
Pic 2

X5-452 · May 19, 2006, 10:02 AM

Forget Supermodel sandwiches, that's a CPU sandwich.

bodeh6 · 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefan15

Oh my GOD this is just SCARY.. honestly.. horrifying...

(right out of the Apple service manual)

That is a lot of thermal paste

atari1356 · May 19, 2006, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odedia

BTW, on a different note, the Macbook is faster than the Macbook Pro, even in some graphics intensive tasks. My guess, this is because they are FREAKING UNDERCLOCKING THEIR ATI X1600 GPU BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THE COMPUTER IS SO HOT BECAUSE OF THE STUPID THERMAL PASTE!!! Benchmarking proof:

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/macbook.ars/5

The reason the MacBook is faster in some tests there is because it's 2GHz, and the MacBook Pro they tested is the 1.83GHz model.

thejadedmonkey · May 19, 2006, 10:11 AM

This is the sort of thing I didn't want to hear about before buying my new MacBook... *sigh* at least I know about it now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by x86isslow

When the G5 Powerbooks get here.

Anyone have an old PPC notebook they want to opperate on and see how much thermal grease is used on those?

MIDI_EVIL · May 19, 2006, 10:16 AM

Apart from replacing it yourself, has anyone heard if Apple are taking these back under Applecare and sorting it out?

Rich.

MIDI_EVIL · May 19, 2006, 10:17 AM

I'd be willing to bet the PowerBook G4 has crap thermal paste application too!

Mine is perfect, not a glitch since day one, but it's bloody hot.

I know aluminium dissipates heat well, but wow.

Rich.

aristobrat · 10:52 AM

Wonder if the MacBook Service Manual (above) isn't in sync with what's coming off the production line?

The amount of goo on the MacBook below (left) looks quite a bit less (although not perfect) than the amount of goo on the Mac Book Pro below (right), and nothing like you'd expect it to look after seeing the Service Manual picture above.

Meaning maybe Apple made last minute changes to the MacBook production line and hasn't updated the service manual yet.

Sharewaredemon · May 19, 2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefan15

Oh my GOD this is just SCARY.. honestly.. horrifying...

mmmmm Thermal Sammich™

aristobrat · May 19, 2006, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odedia

Well, after taking the heat with the macbook pro i'm never ever gonna by an apple computer before researching on the web.

That's wise advice for any new device that costs over $20, no? Research first, buy later.

MIDI_EVIL · May 19, 2006, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aristobrat

Wonder if the MacBook Service Manual (above) isn't in sync with what's coming off the production line?

The amount of goo on the MacBook below (left) looks quite a bit less (although not perfect) than the amount of goo on the Mac Book Pro below (right).

That's actually a very good point. The manual was probably finished before Apple were flamed for the incorrect application, so they stepped up and ignored the manual.

Any more photos of the MacBooks' guts?

Rich.

kainjow · May 19, 2006, 10:50 AM

Is it the MacBooks or MacBook Pros, or both?

Wouldn't replacing it yourself void the warranty?

MIDI_EVIL · May 19, 2006, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kainjow

Is it the MacBooks or MacBook Pros, or both?

Wouldn't replacing it yourself void the warranty?

Both apparently.

But it seems like the MacBooks may have been applied a lot more sparingly than the Pros.

I would not bother doing it yourself.

Just get on the blower to Apple.

Rich.

kainjow · May 19, 2006, 10:58 AM

I was watching a DVD the other night on my MB and it was insanely hot. I put it on my lap and took it off right away because of the heat.

No children for me in the future

LastZion · May 19, 2006, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatsoforgotso

Apart from replacing it yourself, has anyone heard if Apple are taking these back under Applecare and sorting it out?

Rich.

I would like to know this too.
Since the firmware update its been cooler, but that firmware update sure didn't go inside and remove excess paste...

I would like to have an ice cold MBP please. We still calling on the 20th?

odedia · May 19, 2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aristobrat

Wonder if the MacBook Service Manual (above) isn't in sync with what's coming off the production line?

The amount of goo on the MacBook below (left) looks quite a bit less (although not perfect) than the amount of goo on the Mac Book Pro below (right), and nothing like you'd expect it to look after seeing the Service Manual picture above.

Meaning maybe Apple made last minute changes to the MacBook production line and hasn't updated the service manual yet.

The manuals ARE in sync. Here's a photo a user on these forums took:

It's from this thread: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=201987

So yes, that's exactly how they put the thermal paste and that's exactly why the computers are so amazingly hot.

By the way, I recommemnd taking the service manual's pictures off this forum. The reason I only linked to a different website in the first place is because Apple are sending lawsuit threats to every website which is hosting the "properitory" material. What this actually means is that they don't want you to know how much they messed up.

Oded S.

X5-452 · May 19, 2006, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LastZion

We still calling on the 20th?

As far as I know the 20th is still going ahead as planned.

Does anyone know if fixing the thermal paste yourself voids the warrenty?

May 19, 2006, 09:20 AM	#1
odedia macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2005	Macbooks have bad thermal paste applied After some people posted pictures of a disassembeled Macbook with too much thermal paste, here's a link to pictures from the official Apple service manual, STILL WITH TOO MUCH THERMAL PASTE APPLIED: http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?t=295925 And now for the fun part: Check out the review below. The reviewer tried to heat things up on his macbook to check tempartures. THE COMPUTER FROZE WITH KERNEL PANIC. He could not reboot the computer UNTIL HE PLACED THE MACBOOK FOR 5 MINUTES ABOVE AN AIR CONDITIONER! http://www.notebookreview.com/defaul...=Apple+MacBook I just can't believe this. Apple are unbelivable. Are they really that dumb? There's no other way to say it, their engineers are pretty much a bunch of idiots. Don't give me that "It's all made in China" part, the Macbook is made by Asustek in Korea, and Asustek make PERFECT LAPTOPS, I know this first hand! But when Apple demands that their laptops will contain that much thermal paste, the supplier has no choice but to do as he's told. And the most annoying part is that Apple is NOT LISTENING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. JUST HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR OFFICIAL FORUMS AND SEE FOR YOURSELFS HOW ANGRY 85% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE! Arrrgghhh. Really needed to blow of all this steam. BTW, on a different note, the Macbook is faster than the Macbook Pro, even in some graphics intensive tasks. My guess, this is because they are FREAKING UNDERCLOCKING THEIR ATI X1600 GPU BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THE COMPUTER IS SO HOT BECAUSE OF THE STUPID THERMAL PASTE!!! Benchmarking proof: http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/macbook.ars/5 Oded S. Last edited by odedia : May 20, 2006 at 11:24 AM.

May 19, 2006, 09:26 AM	#2
mkaake macrumors 65816 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: mi	you know, rants like this don't bother me too much. as long as the person making the rant actually has the computer. well, I'll get flamed for saying that, but that's my take on it. There are people who go digging around the web to find problems with other people's computers, and then complain about it. __________________ oh, and no, i don't j-walk

May 19, 2006, 09:26 AM	#3
iGary macrumors Demi-God Join Date: May 2004 Location: La Villa Strangiato	I'm so tired of hearing about this. But I can understand your frustration. __________________ Mac Pro Octophallus 2.8 \| 13" UMBP 2.26

May 19, 2006, 09:52 AM	#9
stefan15 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada	Oh my GOD this is just SCARY.. honestly.. horrifying... (right out of the Apple service manual) Pic 1 Pic 2 Last edited by jsw : May 20, 2006 at 06:59 PM. Reason: made less obvious

May 19, 2006, 10:02 AM	#10
X5-452 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Calgary, Canada	Forget Supermodel sandwiches, that's a CPU sandwich. __________________ iPhone \| 32GB 3GS, OS v3.1.2 MacBook \| 2.0Ghz Intel Core Duo Camera \| Canon SD870 IS silver

May 19, 2006, 10:16 AM	#14
MIDI_EVIL macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK	Apart from replacing it yourself, has anyone heard if Apple are taking these back under Applecare and sorting it out? Rich. __________________ G4 Did they mean me when they shouted my name? Or did they mean someone else with the same name as me?

May 19, 2006, 10:17 AM	#15
MIDI_EVIL macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK	I'd be willing to bet the PowerBook G4 has crap thermal paste application too! Mine is perfect, not a glitch since day one, but it's bloody hot. I know aluminium dissipates heat well, but wow. Rich. __________________ G4 Did they mean me when they shouted my name? Or did they mean someone else with the same name as me?

May 19, 2006, 10:46 AM	#16
aristobrat macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2005	Wonder if the MacBook Service Manual (above) isn't in sync with what's coming off the production line? The amount of goo on the MacBook below (left) looks quite a bit less (although not perfect) than the amount of goo on the Mac Book Pro below (right), and nothing like you'd expect it to look after seeing the Service Manual picture above. Meaning maybe Apple made last minute changes to the MacBook production line and hasn't updated the service manual yet. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by aristobrat : May 19, 2006 at 10:52 AM.

May 19, 2006, 10:50 AM	#20
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	Is it the MacBooks or MacBook Pros, or both? Wouldn't replacing it yourself void the warranty?

May 19, 2006, 10:58 AM	#22
kainjow Demi-God (Moderator) Join Date: Jun 2000	I was watching a DVD the other night on my MB and it was insanely hot. I put it on my lap and took it off right away because of the heat. No children for me in the future

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