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2014 13" MBPr Impressions

E

EShef

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Hello,

This is my first post, as well as my first MacBook. I must say I'm very impressed. I considered returning the macbook due to some thermal issues - some applications would cause CPU/Integrated GPU temps to skyrocket to 98C within 5 minutes. I know that this shouldn't happen, as I'm fairly literate with PCs. After scouring the internet for answers, I was almost positive that I had a defective unit (thermal paste not applied correctly, faulty fan, etc.). However, I've come to the conclusion that it is simply a thermal management problem. I'm controlling the fan speed with iStat and that seems to help greatly. Some things still bring the temps to the upper 80's (which is still than any sub $500 laptop I've owned under full load). I can game older titles such as Counter Strike Source and hang around 80C. This still worries me a little but I guess I should just come to accept these temps. I think that the problem originally was that the fans just weren't increasing in RPM's before, which caused them to touch near 100C temps. Is anyone else experiencing this? Idle temps are a little strange too. At times, they are as low as 34C; others, 60C.

I'm still only a few days with this MacBook and have the option of a return, but I'd like to keep it. What do you think?

btw, this is the 2014 base model.
 
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EShef said:
Hello,

This is my first post, as well as my first MacBook. I must say I'm very impressed. I considered returning the macbook due to some thermal issues - some applications would cause CPU/Integrated GPU temps to skyrocket to 98C within 5 minutes. I know that this shouldn't happen, as I'm fairly literate with PCs. After scouring the internet for answers, I was almost positive that I had a defective unit (thermal paste not applied correctly, faulty fan, etc.). However, I've come to the conclusion that it is simply a thermal management problem. I'm controlling the fan speed with iStat and that seems to help greatly. Some things still bring the temps to the upper 80's (which is still than any sub $500 laptop I've owned under full load). I can game older titles such as Counter Strike Source and hang around 80C. This still worries me a little but I guess I should just come to accept these temps. I think that the problem originally was that the fans just weren't increasing in RPM's before, which caused them to touch near 100C temps. Is anyone else experiencing this? Idle temps are a little strange too. At times, they are as low as 34C; others, 60C.

I'm still only a few days with this MacBook and have the option of a return, but I'd like to keep it. What do you think?
Click to expand...


Don't worry about it.
 
Such temperatures are normal. Don't forget, you have an aluminium unibody. The perfect material for thermoconductivity. My MBPr is from late 2013. When I use flash or switch on my virtual machines, I have the same temperatures.

So don't worry about 🙂
 
Thanks for the replies. It's tough for me not to worry! Seeing as it's the general consensus to do so, I'll try and not think about it. 😕

This is the first fully aluminum laptop I've had - didn't consider that!

Loving it so far! :apple:
 
I dont know what the temp is on mine but it gets blazing hot too. So hot that I just plane refrain from playing games. When its winter and I gotta save on heating I'll start again.
 
Playing games on a MacBook is like trying to carve a turkey with a spork.

I certainly wouldn't assume that I know what RPM the fans are supposed to run at better than OS X.

Good luck with that!
 
Basically the CPU max temp is 105C, and the system will allow it to approach 100C before taking aggressive cooling measures. This means you may indeed see something like 98C before the fans really start to spin up. I believe the intent is to avoid loud fans and wasted power by letting the CPU sit near the top end of the safe range. As you've seen you can get lower peak CPU temps by manually increasing the fan speed.

If you couldn't bring the temps down with max fans then I'd say something was wrong with your cooling, but as long as the system isn't reaching max fans and throttling under load it sounds like normal operation.

Is it possible operating at these temps frequently could reduce the lifespan of the CPU? My experience building (and sometimes overclocking) desktops says it could, but at the same time I can't remember ever hearing about an MBP dying due to CPU failure. My impression is that the CPU will outlast the usefulness of the machine in most cases.
 
Why is this normal behaviour on a MBP? 😕

The MBAs don't get nearly that hot, and the internal components are similar.
 
EShef said:
Hello,

This is my first post, as well as my first MacBook. I must say I'm very impressed. I considered returning the macbook due to some thermal issues - some applications would cause CPU/Integrated GPU temps to skyrocket to 98C within 5 minutes. I know that this shouldn't happen, as I'm fairly literate with PCs. After scouring the internet for answers, I was almost positive that I had a defective unit (thermal paste not applied correctly, faulty fan, etc.). However, I've come to the conclusion that it is simply a thermal management problem. I'm controlling the fan speed with iStat and that seems to help greatly. Some things still bring the temps to the upper 80's (which is still than any sub $500 laptop I've owned under full load). I can game older titles such as Counter Strike Source and hang around 80C. This still worries me a little but I guess I should just come to accept these temps. I think that the problem originally was that the fans just weren't increasing in RPM's before, which caused them to touch near 100C temps. Is anyone else experiencing this? Idle temps are a little strange too. At times, they are as low as 34C; others, 60C.

I'm still only a few days with this MacBook and have the option of a return, but I'd like to keep it. What do you think?

btw, this is the 2014 base model.
Click to expand...

Some apps that use lots of graphical power will run hotter on the Iris Pro-only variant, because both GPU and CPU tasks are done on a single chip.

On the 750M model, such apps run cooler, because tasks are spread over two chips, so heat is spread more evenly.

In Macoh stress tests, it was discovered that Iris-only variants hit higher temperatures and experienced throttling, while 750M variants recorded lower temperatures and never throttled at all.
 
Maybe I'm the only one confused...

Are you talking about the 13" or the 15"? I think it would help clarify what GPU it is and all the other stuff..
 
I have the standard Iris 13".

When I manually control fan speed, I get much better temps. I am less worried now.

Playing games on a MacBook is like trying to carve a turkey with a spork
Click to expand...

No sir. We're talking a 2005/6 era games here. Games that Intel HD2000 graphics shouldn't have a problem with. In fact, I'm sorry to sound like an ass, but having browsed this forum, I'm finding many similar comments.

I think Apple knows best:

The 13‑inch MacBook Pro with Retina display features Intel Iris Graphics to handle both everyday tasks and graphics-intensive creative apps. Scroll through large photo albums with ease. Play games with amazing detail. Even connect an external display or two. It’s just another way this 13‑inch MacBook Pro is small on size and big on performance.
Click to expand...

In fact, even this standard Iris is capable of handling modern games. Given, not at the highest settings. CPU/RAM horsepower is definitely there as well.


I certainly wouldn't assume that I know what RPM the fans are supposed to run at better than OS X.
Click to expand...

I think I do - especially if I'm plugged in, when battery life isn't an issue. When my CPU is around 5C from its max operating temp, I want the fans to actually budge from the RPM level it was at when idle at 35C... as it should.

Good luck with that!
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
Its quite normal, the rMBP packs some rather hot (pun intended) hardware in a very compact package. Cooling is a problem here, and it is possible that it could have been done more efficiently — but all of my MacBooks ran warm and I have yet to experience a single problem because of that. These new Intel CPUs actually seem to be quite comfortable with running for longer periods of time at a temperature that approaches 100 C.
 
EShef said:
I have the standard Iris 13".

When I manually control fan speed, I get much better temps. I am less worried now.



No sir. We're talking a 2005/6 era games here. Games that Intel HD2000 graphics shouldn't have a problem with. In fact, I'm sorry to sound like an ass, but having browsed this forum, I'm finding many similar comments.

I think Apple knows best:



In fact, even this standard Iris is capable of handling modern games. Given, not at the highest settings. CPU/RAM horsepower is definitely there as well.




I think I do - especially if I'm plugged in, when battery life isn't an issue. When my CPU is around 5C from its max operating temp, I want the fans to actually budge from the RPM level it was at when idle at 35C... as it should.



Thanks!
Click to expand...
Ignore the folk that say Mac's can't game. They absolutely CAN! Believe me the temp on my rMBP is no where near as high as yours, even when gaming.
 
EShef said:
No sir. We're talking a 2005/6 era games here. Games that Intel HD2000 graphics shouldn't have a problem with. In fact, I'm sorry to sound like an ass, but having browsed this forum, I'm finding many similar comments.
Click to expand...
Unless you put some sort of framerate cap it will stress the machine by drawing as many frames a second as it can. 60 FPS isn't much to ask, but when when you're drawing as many frames as you can, that does tax the machine no matter how fast it is.

In other words, if you haven't already turned on VSYNC (which synchronizes screen updates with your monitor's refresh rate so you don't draw any extra frames), then do it.
 
Temperature

I have a mid-end 13" Late 2013 model and getting about 45 Celsius during normal Safari web browsing in clamshell mode (1080p monitor hooked up) and about 50-55C with VM running and doing some work.Also i have the machine on a laptop stand so the temperatures are lower 🙂
 
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Try resetting the SMC and PRAM

I did this on my Macbook Air and the temps went down from around 55 - 70 degrees to around 40 - 50 doing the same sort of general browsing.
 
High temperatures are normal for macbook pro, which doesn't mean it is a good thing. Some components cannot take the heat, and on a machine where everything is soldered onto the logic board, this means your machine will fail beyond repair within 3 years or so, after your applecare has expired.
 
Don't play games on your MBP. Don't run simulations unless you have a laptop cooler and the lid is open. Heat will shorten the life of your battery and other components. Use desktops for those things.

I bought my rMBP13 (Haswell) last November, and the hottest place is the memory which is 38C, other sensors show 26-34C, and fan running at 1300rpm. Cool to the touch, can't hear the fan running. I'm currently using Latex for publication and a Windows 7 virtual machine to edit pictures in Visio, so I guess this is almost no load on the CPU.

I had a Toshiba that gets up to 95C, and that was pretty uncomfortable experience, being afraid when the laptop might die. I had the CPU limited to 90% performance, then finally sold that after couple months.
 
TechGod said:
Ignore the folk that say Mac's can't game. They absolutely CAN! Believe me the temp on my rMBP is no where near as high as yours, even when gaming.
Click to expand...

I agree. If you don't mind me asking, which rMBP do you have? Size? Dedicated graphics or integrated only?

Thanks!
 
Manually controlling the fans up is unnecessary.

If/when your mac gets too hot, it will spin the fans up itself. This isn't like a temperamental OC'd PC - you don't need to worry about CPU temps. If the case gets too hot to touch - THEN worry.
 
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