13" getting rather toasty...

[jackgbanks]

Hi all,

I've just got my new MacBook Air 13" and I can't help but think that it's getting rather toasty, especially the CPU.

I've installed both iStat and smcFanControl and even just using iTunes, importing some music, and internet browsing and the temperature is hitting around 80 degrees centigrade...

Is this normal, as the top left hand side is pretty warm... well, very hot actually!

Any advice would be great! Is it something that goes away, a proper problem or no problem?

Thanks

 

[kilonet]

crack couple of eggs on it, toast and enjoy a nice meal?

Air can do anything

 

[GGJstudios]

Hi all,

I've just got my new MacBook Air 13" and I can't help but think that it's getting rather toasty, especially the CPU.

I've installed both iStat and smcFanControl and even just using iTunes, importing some music, and internet browsing and the temperature is hitting around 80 degrees centigrade...

Is this normal, as the top left hand side is pretty warm... well, very hot actually!

Any advice would be great! Is it something that goes away, a proper problem or no problem?

Thanks

It's perfectly normal. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat (around 100C/212F - 105C/221F, depending on your processor). iStat Pro will give you accurate readings of your temps, among other things.

Unless there is a rare defect in your Mac, your temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload you're putting 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.

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). 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. Also, make sure you don't block the vents, which are located at the rear, near the hinge.

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

 

[entatlrg]

what's the spec's, i5/i7?

 

[jackgbanks]

It's perfectly normal. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat (around 100C/212F - 105C/221F, depending on your processor). iStat Pro will give you accurate readings of your temps, among other things.

Unless there is a rare defect in your Mac, your temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload you're putting 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.

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). 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. Also, make sure you don't block the vents, which are located at the rear, near the hinge.

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

Thanks very much!

Was just getting paranoid that it might be getting too hot.

Also, it's the i5.

 

[jackyyeow]

Shall we make a sticky that owners should use the machine for at least 2 days before forming a conclusion that it's too hot to use? It seems that it's common for every new i5/i7 MBA running extra hot during the first 2 days which is completely normal.

My friend's i7 13" never get toasty unless gaming or handbrake. In fact it'll stay below 60C most of the time, even watching basic 360p youtube. 1080p might shoot up to 60C~70C but that's about it.

 

[supersalo]

I've installed both iStat and smcFanControl and even just using iTunes, importing some music, and internet browsing and the temperature is hitting around 80 degrees centigrade...

Importing music into iTunes will increase the CPU utilization. I bet if you opened up 'Activity Monitor', you'd see iTunes taking a good chunk of CPU.

It's perfectly normal for it to heat up in the top left (by the Escape key)

 

[Macintox]

no its nor normal

there are numerous report from everywhere that it is mainly Lion responsible for the general heat problem. Imac are burnings , macbook air toasting, macbook pro roasting. Lion is loading the CPU and video subsystem (HD300 part of the problem) much more than SL and separate Nvidia
We may see a quickfix soon but do not expect a real fix until Intel get its act together with the low power succesor of Sandy Bridge and Apple something like 10.7.6 to get rid of this "burning" problem. In the meantime either stay with SL and core duo or get use to the heat, hopng it does not shorten the life of your dear MBair too quickly.