'08 MB Fan Concern. Dying? Time For New?

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psychbiker

macrumors newbie
This is my first macbook I got December 2008.

Fast forward 5 years and it's still kicking HOWEVER the fans come on heavy during video playback or if I have a lot of Chrome tabs open. Sometimes they come on when it's just a ESPN clip or a bunch of GIFs.

I've maxed the ram to 8gb. Added a SSD which has the OS Lion 10.8.1 and programs on it. Pulled the CD drive and put the old HDD there. This cut down the fan problem for probably 6 months but now they come on again. Oh and some times I'll be typing and the screen blanks out and it goes into sleep it seems.

Any thoughts? Easy fix? Gonna last? I wanted to install Parralells and Windows because I need some PC software but I worry it cant handle that. I use this for work (education) and home and cant have it take a dump mid day.

ALSO...being this old I was thinking about getting an Macbook Air instead. I can also get a lightly used 2012 Macbook Pro 13" - Core i7 2.8Ghz w 8GB DDR3 for $750 but I'd have to act pretty fast. I dont like it not having an SSD though. Mine boots so fast now.
 
psychbiker said:
This is my first macbook I got December 2008.

Fast forward 5 years and it's still kicking HOWEVER the fans come on heavy during video playback or if I have a lot of Chrome tabs open. Sometimes they come on when it's just a ESPN clip or a bunch of GIFs.
Click to expand...
If you're not already doing so, use iStat Pro (free) or iStat Menus ($16) to get accurate readings of your temps, fan speeds, etc., rather than relying on your sense of touch or sound. A forum member has posted a copy of iStat Pro that has been "tweaked" to enhance compatibility with Mountain Lion. You can download it here.
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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)
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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.
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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.
The bottom of your Mac notebook may become very warm during normal use. If your notebook is on your lap and gets uncomfortably warm, move it to a stable work surface that allows for good ventilation.
Click to expand...
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), or 1200 for the newest MBAs. Older iMacs have 3 fans with minimum speeds in the 800-1200 range, while the newest iMacs have a single fan, spinning at a minimum of about 1400 rpm. They will spin faster as needed to keep temps at a safe level. If your fans are spinning up without increased heat, try resetting the SMC. (PRAM/NVRAM has nothing to do with these issues, so resetting it will not help.)
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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. For Flash-related issues:
 
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