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Average MBA 2012 Temps

V

vdinc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 12, 2012
25
0
I was just wondering what peoples average temps are. For me watching a stream on twitch.tv I go up to about 95 then the fan kicks in and drops it down to 70. If I'm not streaming it stays around 60 without the fan.
 
Mine is 59c right now.

It's usually 50 - 60c on when browsing web. 45 - 48c when idle. 70 - 105c when gaming (depends on the fan).
 
My numbers are similar to those of RocketRed. About 48 when idle. 50-60 under light routine use. So far my heavier use only boosts into the 80's but I haven't tried very heavy stuff like gaming or encoding video yet.
 
Good information here. Could you also list which processor you have i5 or i7 and if you have the 11' or 13''?
 
vdinc said:
I was just wondering what peoples average temps are. For me watching a stream on twitch.tv I go up to about 95 then the fan kicks in and drops it down to 70. If I'm not streaming it stays around 60 without the fan.
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That's normal. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat. CPU Tjmax = 105C (221F), GPU Tjmax = 100C (212F) on i3, i5, i7 processors. (Source: Intel) If you're not already using it, iStat Pro will give you accurate readings of your temps and fan speeds, among other things.

Unless there is a rare defect in a Mac, most temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload being put 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.

It is also quite normal for your Mac to become extremely hot to the touch during intensive operations. The aluminum body transfers heat more effectively than other materials used in computer casings, so you will feel the heat more. This doesn't indicate that it's overheating and will not harm the computer to be hot to the touch.

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). iMacs have 3 fans with minimum speeds in the 800-1200 range. 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. (PRAM/NVRAM has nothing to do with these issues, so resetting it will not help.)

The intake and exhaust vents are in the back of the computer near the hinge on all Mac notebooks (except the new MBP with retina display, which has intake vents along the sides at the bottom). The iMac vent is a slot on the back near the top of the computer. Make sure the vents remain unblocked to allow your computer to perform at its best.

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

For Flash-related issues:
 
I have a 2012 13" MBA (1.8 GHz i5, 4 GB) and it hit 103 C just minutes ago. Here's a recording of the temp over time: http://i.imgur.com/tG80y.png. I was encoding video and it was around 100 C for 20-30 seconds I think. I really can't tell for sure because I started to flip out. From what you've all said, I'm feeling a little better but this just happened so I need a drink lol.


Thanks,
Freaking Out
 
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I usually do pretty easy-on-the-CPU stuff line email, surfing and Office. But I do get up to 95C-100C during Modern Warfare 3.
 
spriter said:
I usually do pretty easy-on-the-CPU stuff line email, surfing and Office. But I do get up to 95C-100C during Modern Warfare 3.
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What kind of MB do you have, and how long have you had it? And just to be sure, when you play, you play for more than say 10 minutes at a time right?
 
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