Due to its larger size I expect that the 17 will run cooler, however is it significantly cooler? Just wondering as I want to get on of them, and to keep it for 4-6 years so the hotter it runs the less chance it has lasting that long right? 
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2011 17 vs 15 in terms of heat!
- Thread starter TheGingerNinja
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From experience of owning the 2010 MBP, I don't think the heat problems are all that they are made out to be. Yes, I admit that while gaming in Windows the temps got to around 90c, and gaming in Mac, around the same, but for every day stuff it sat at between 30-45c. That is the CPU temp of course, not the casing temp so unless you are using really CPU or GPU intensive stuff all the time, I don't think the heat difference will be all that different.