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Is your 2011 MBP running cooler since the 9/15/11 Firmware Update?

  • yes

    Votes: 21 42.9%
  • no

    Votes: 28 57.1%

  • Total voters
    49

duffer6

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 13, 2011
273
13
My 2011 17" is running much cooler 10 degrees or so since the updated firmware hit on the 15th. Is anyone experiencing the same "cool down?" Wonder if this is another silent fix like the SATA issue being fixed?
 
Last edited:
I haven't had a chance to update mine yet, but this would be amazing if it's true... Hope more people reply :]
 
My 2011 is running much cooler 10 degrees or so since the updated firmware hit on the 15th. Is anyone experiencing the same "cool down?" Wonder if this is another silent fix like the SATA issue being fixed?

Please state which model you have! I heard this update for 17'?
 
No change here.

However one of the best things I've done to keep temps in a decent range for my MBP is by using a free app called FAN CONTROL. I set the low point to 50 degrees C, the high point to 70 degrees C. I feel it's better than SMCFANCONTROL.
 
I haven't updated yet but has anyone noticed theirs running cooler on snow leopard, or are you all running lion?
 
guys, just download this -> http://codykrieger.com/gfxCardStatus
and turn off the discrete gpu and turn it back on and when you REALly need it
mine's been at 40c ever since i installed the applet

Screen%20Shot%202011-09-18%20at%203.29.16%20AM.png


Screen%20Shot%202011-09-18%20at%203.30.09%20AM.png
 
You guys that are noticing a heat difference also noticing a battery life difference too?

I'm on a 2010 MBP 15" and went back to SL due to a ~10°C difference and a big hit on the batteries on Lion so interested to see other peoples' observations.
 
Actually, I noticed much quieter fans since the firmware update.
When I used to run GPU-intensive applications (OpenCL), the fans used to spin up to 6200rpm, but now with the new firmware update, it seems to throttle down the GPU instead of speeding up fans. o_O

(This can actually be tested with a bitcoin miner; 6750M on the old firmware could go up to 59000 mhash/s, but now it can only peak at 54000 mhash/s. I tried to keep all factors under control, but its roughly like this. Its a big enough difference to be noticeable.)

Or it could just be me. :p
 
Update:

Battery life continues to be between 6.5 to 7.25 hours and the temps have decreased on average 5 to 10 degrees. Once again I believe this is a silent fix just like the SATA 6GB (3) fix reported by OWC.

Glad to see the change!
 
mine didn't experience an improvement in temps (in fact, i think it might be running warmer than it used to) but battery life has improved by as much as an hour in between charges.
 
The cool down is called autumn. I predict another cool down when winter hits. Ambient temperatures, son.
 
Sandy Bridge CPUs support a lot of power management features, but the EFI/BIOS must tell the OS what the hardware supports. Newer Apple EFI versions do tell the OS probably which advanced power management features the SB-CPUs have, so that the OS can use them.

And regarding gfxCardStatus:
Very useful if you do not use your MBP 24/7 for 3D tasks.
 
The cool down is called autumn. I predict another cool down when winter hits. Ambient temperatures, son.

Good point!!! But the temps we have had over the past few days are not that off from a few weeks ago, plus my home office is always at a constant temp either through the windows being open or the AC / Heat on as needed. The change in temp on the MBP is drastic and too great a change to be effected by ambient temp.
 
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