2015 Macbook Pro fans working hard?

[robodelfy]

Hi

I just got a used 2015 top spec MBP, 2.8ghz cpu, 1tb ssd, Radeon Gpu. I have come from a 2011 model before.

I was really hoping this would be much better when it comes to the fans and using Adobe programs. But it seems very similar to my old 2011 model, which is not good! The fans come on very often and seem t be pretty much at full speed. Its incredibly hard to work with it.

Is there anything I can do, or find out if its normal? I've read lots of threads, but it's hard to tell as so many people seem to have actual defective laptops.

I was wondering about formatting and starting again, but when I first turned it on it was at the setup screen, so I guess it had been formatted before that unless I'm wrong?

Any hel appreciated
Thanks

 

[Schranke]

Personally I would always format a used machine, but thats more of a personal trust thing and knowing it have been done right.

I guess you have reset SMC and PRAM?

Do you have a system monitor which shows activity % and temperatures?

In that case it might be helpfull to share it

 

[jerryk]

What adobe programs and what where you doing? I know if general the Adobe programs on the Mac do not run as well as they do on Windows. After Effects and premiere Pro especially drags, look jerky with a preview over 1/3 size, and spin the fans up.

And is there a simple test I can try on my 2015 15" MBP with dGPU and see if I can replicate the situation?

 

[robodelfy]

Personally I would always format a used machine, but thats more of a personal trust thing and knowing it have been done right.

I guess you have reset SMC and PRAM?

Do you have a system monitor which shows activity % and temperatures?

In that case it might be helpfull to share it

Hi mate, when you say do it right, how can you do it wrong? I'm just wondering because it arrived to me at the setup screen which I believe you can only get to after formatting and starting over? But I'm happy to do it again to make sure, just wondering what is considered correct?

I reset the PRAM, but when I did the SMC, I didn't see a change in colour on the MagSafe, I tried multiple times.

 

[Schranke]

when you say do it right, how can you do it wrong?

I am not sure you can do it wrong per say, but I have a tendency with things like that, especially if it is from an unknown person, that I would rather do it myself and make sure it is done with the formating I want and so on.

With the SMC I have had some trouble see the colour change too, did you do it with a full charged laptop? for me it has been better with it being a little discharged so the shift in colour is more noticeable.

And could you give us the specific programs, their usage in activity monitor, temperature and fan speed?

If you need something to see temperature and fan speed, "istats" or "SMC fan control" will do

 

[robodelfy]

Hi guys

Thanks, yeah I used it a bit more today and its performing better. Not sure if it was resetting the smc and pram. I still didnt get a change of colour on the magsafe although I read elsewhere its not necessary.

The fans still kick up a bit of a fuss at times, but i havent done anything super heavy duty. The worst actually seemed to be Lightroom, just editing one RAW photo, that seemed to be quite CPU intensive.

Im going to format the whole thing and reinstall as you said, just to be sure before I set everything up.

Is there a free program that just shows you the CPU use and the Temp in the menu bar?

Thanks for your help

 

[Schranke]

Is there a free program that just shows you the CPU use and the Temp in the menu bar?

Intel power gadget is free and shows you power consumption, frequency, temperature and utilisation of the CPU. it is not in the menu bar but a great program for monitoring your CPU.
SMCFanControl lets you see temperature in menu bar (not sure which sensor it uses) and allow for setting a higher fan speed.
Then there is istat menus (paid) which have a wide range of functions when it comes to monitor your system.

Personally I use a mixture of intel power gadget, smcfancontrol, and activity monitor. it is not often I use them all at once, only when I see unexpected temperature and behaviour.
smcfancontrol is most often used as I tender to manually put a higher fan speed at the start of intensive task to keep temperatures down

There are other stats monitoring solutions, but these are what came to mind

 

[robodelfy]

Thanks I'll check them out

 

[robvas]

MenuMeters is free too