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Battery Drain: Late 2008 MacBook Pro
- Thread starter Tyndale13
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I had a screen issue where every five or so minutes the screen would blink. Since they couldn't ever fix that issue and since they had it for over two weeks I kept bitching until they authorizing a new one. The funny thing is that my old one arrived back the same day that they authorized a new one. I'll post my overnight drain tomorrow.
The HD won't make a difference with drain while asleep, and unless you are constantly hitting the drive it won't make a significant difference while you are using it.
Got it FIXED!!!
Sorry for getting back so late to the board and thanks for all the comments. I didn't see if this was already posted but this fixed my problem.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/smartsleep.html
Kind of a pain to get installed but it worked for me!
Sorry for getting back so late to the board and thanks for all the comments. I didn't see if this was already posted but this fixed my problem.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/smartsleep.html
Kind of a pain to get installed but it worked for me!
Killerbob
macrumors 68000
Does anyone know of a small utility which will track the time your battery is actually up-and-running in a single charge?
I know, I could download a time-tracker widget, and then start/stop it every time I use my MBP, but there has to be something smarter out there???
KB
I know, I could download a time-tracker widget, and then start/stop it every time I use my MBP, but there has to be something smarter out there???
KB
PLEASE HELP ME: I Neeeeed Advice:: My Dec 07 macBook Pro only last 30 minutes
First off, I 'm so glad someone posted this because I am suddenly having the same issue.
I bought my mac December 2007-- so yanno, its been a year and some change.
And all of sudden (starting around January 09)-- my Mac DRAAIINS SOOOOOO quickly. For example at 90%- I'll only have about 30 minutes!!! (I just realized that like 5 minutes ago)
After writing this, I'm going to go and make an appointment with the Apple Store (over at Lenox Mall- in Ga)... and hopefully they'll help and possible replace it.
I just hate how this conveniently happened like one month after my year was over because I heard that they often don't replace certain things after a year even if you have Apple Care. But I CANNOT TAKE THIS.😱
Does anyone have advice for me?
More background on my and my macbook pro:
- When I first got it, I wanted to do things that would really keep it alive and going and in perfect shape- so I read alot of things about it...one thing that I read was that b/c its a lithium battery, you should always let it drain to 70% then refill it back... which I do religiously-- though many many times I've forgotten and its drained completely (maybe about 15 times).
- I do let it "sleep" every night and when I wake up its drained some, like if it was 100 then it'll be like 87%. Or even with the charger plugged in it'll go from 100% to 99% or even as low as 96% and that's with it plugged in.
- I take good care of it- it has a hard case, key cover-- I don't have a bunch of crap on it-- I keep most things on my hardrive.
SO please someone help me.
Give me advice on what to do.
What could I possible say to the ppl at the apple store that would make them go ahead and give me a new battery?
Please help!!!
Thanks
First off, I 'm so glad someone posted this because I am suddenly having the same issue.
I bought my mac December 2007-- so yanno, its been a year and some change.
And all of sudden (starting around January 09)-- my Mac DRAAIINS SOOOOOO quickly. For example at 90%- I'll only have about 30 minutes!!! (I just realized that like 5 minutes ago)
After writing this, I'm going to go and make an appointment with the Apple Store (over at Lenox Mall- in Ga)... and hopefully they'll help and possible replace it.
I just hate how this conveniently happened like one month after my year was over because I heard that they often don't replace certain things after a year even if you have Apple Care. But I CANNOT TAKE THIS.😱
Does anyone have advice for me?
More background on my and my macbook pro:
- When I first got it, I wanted to do things that would really keep it alive and going and in perfect shape- so I read alot of things about it...one thing that I read was that b/c its a lithium battery, you should always let it drain to 70% then refill it back... which I do religiously-- though many many times I've forgotten and its drained completely (maybe about 15 times).
- I do let it "sleep" every night and when I wake up its drained some, like if it was 100 then it'll be like 87%. Or even with the charger plugged in it'll go from 100% to 99% or even as low as 96% and that's with it plugged in.
- I take good care of it- it has a hard case, key cover-- I don't have a bunch of crap on it-- I keep most things on my hardrive.
SO please someone help me.
Give me advice on what to do.
What could I possible say to the ppl at the apple store that would make them go ahead and give me a new battery?
Please help!!!
Thanks
Killerbob
macrumors 68000
atlmaclover,
Also, please remember that a MBP battery is not the biggest expense in the world. I can pick up an original here in Switzerland for about CHF159, and they cannot be more expensive in the US. Even with AppleCare the may not accept replacing the battery after one year+.
But before that, try and follow the steps for conditioning the battery a few times.
Also, please remember that a MBP battery is not the biggest expense in the world. I can pick up an original here in Switzerland for about CHF159, and they cannot be more expensive in the US. Even with AppleCare the may not accept replacing the battery after one year+.
But before that, try and follow the steps for conditioning the battery a few times.
My Unibody drains really quickly in sleep too. I've just come from a G4 17" PB and I could run that off one charge in sleep mode for over a week easily.
This thing drains in one day of sleep.
WTF mate?!
This thing drains in one day of sleep.
WTF mate?!
OverSpun
macrumors 65816
mines done the same thing. Overnight it drained a 100% battery to 0. I plugged it in and it had to do the 'restore' procedure thing it does after it completely dies. Its only happened once... But I think I'm within the 1% per hour discharge rate while sleeping. I wish that was less, but its not a huge deal..
Again: This fixed it.
I see a few posts after I posted this saying they have the drain problem in sleep. The link above for smart-sleep fixed mine immediately. Try it.
I see a few posts after I posted this saying they have the drain problem in sleep. The link above for smart-sleep fixed mine immediately. Try it.
I've gotten 5 hours, but that was with the brightness set to one bar or so, light usage, and wireless on.
Usually I get about 4 hours in regular use (a step up from the above scenario). I can get 2 hours on more intensive use with the CPU up high.
Killerbob
macrumors 68000
I just find it a bit embarrassing with the "technical wonder" the MBP is, that the battery life/energy settings are so rudimentary.
At work I use an old (18 months) IBM laptop, which as much more sophisticated settings, and a significantly better battery life on a smaller battery. I can easily be using it for at least 3 hours at full blast, and usually around 6 hours with low energy settings in effect.
On the 15" MBP, with the same size screen, similar hard-drive, and WIFI on, I get 2/3 hours at full blast, and 4/5 hours with no illuminated keyboard, and the screen only one notch up from off.
Come on Apple...
P.S. Don't get me wrong, I love my MBP, it is way cooler than anything I have ever owned, perhaps with the MBA being the exception🙂
At work I use an old (18 months) IBM laptop, which as much more sophisticated settings, and a significantly better battery life on a smaller battery. I can easily be using it for at least 3 hours at full blast, and usually around 6 hours with low energy settings in effect.
On the 15" MBP, with the same size screen, similar hard-drive, and WIFI on, I get 2/3 hours at full blast, and 4/5 hours with no illuminated keyboard, and the screen only one notch up from off.
Come on Apple...
P.S. Don't get me wrong, I love my MBP, it is way cooler than anything I have ever owned, perhaps with the MBA being the exception🙂
Battery Advice
Hey everyone, im having battery issues too - the most i can squeeze out is about 2.5 hrs. I bought my 15" unibody MBP in Jan 2009 (so i think its the late 2008 model). 2.4 ghz, intel core 2 duo with 4gb mem. with bluetooth off, brightness on the LOWEST setting, no backlit keyboard and just running web browser (no flash), i can barely get 2.5 hrs. 207 load cycles, battery capacity is at 94% (4363mAH) according to coconut battery. Ive regularly cycled my battery (once a month) and have tried all sorts of resets including PRAM and SMC with no luck or change in battery life. running 10.6.5 OSX. Any advice?
My fiance's older 13" white 2008 macbook 2.4ghz with 2gb mem and MANY more cycles gets MUCH better battery life..wtf!?!?
Hey everyone, im having battery issues too - the most i can squeeze out is about 2.5 hrs. I bought my 15" unibody MBP in Jan 2009 (so i think its the late 2008 model). 2.4 ghz, intel core 2 duo with 4gb mem. with bluetooth off, brightness on the LOWEST setting, no backlit keyboard and just running web browser (no flash), i can barely get 2.5 hrs. 207 load cycles, battery capacity is at 94% (4363mAH) according to coconut battery. Ive regularly cycled my battery (once a month) and have tried all sorts of resets including PRAM and SMC with no luck or change in battery life. running 10.6.5 OSX. Any advice?
My fiance's older 13" white 2008 macbook 2.4ghz with 2gb mem and MANY more cycles gets MUCH better battery life..wtf!?!?
GGJstudios
macrumors Westmere
PRAM has nothing to do with batteries, power or charging, so that won't help.
Have you properly calibrated your battery?
This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions: Apple Notebook Battery FAQ
Hey GGJstudios, thanks for the response! I forgot to mention that...yes, i have properly calibrated my battery. Also, last night, I erased my drive, did a fresh install of Snow Leopard, and restored all my files from Time Machine - but am still having lower than expected performance. Furthermore, I have checked for any "runaway" applications that might be consuming too much CPU, but nothing looks unusual there. Has anyone else faced similar problems and found a solution that worked for them? Thanks again!
marshallbedsaul
macrumors 6502a
I have a late 2008 15 inch alum 2.4
yesterday I went to apple because I was at 200 cycles only getting 45 minute charge. So they gave me a new one for free.
A few tips they gave me was to calibrate, and if I have issues similar to yours. Take out the battery and hold the power button down for 30 seconds than put back in battery and restart the macbook pro.
yesterday I went to apple because I was at 200 cycles only getting 45 minute charge. So they gave me a new one for free.
A few tips they gave me was to calibrate, and if I have issues similar to yours. Take out the battery and hold the power button down for 30 seconds than put back in battery and restart the macbook pro.
GGJstudios
macrumors Westmere
Hey marshallbedsaul, thanks for the response. As ggjstudios points out, I have already tried the holding the power button down trick, but I wanted to ask you if you have AppleCare or did they not care about that...thanks!
marshallbedsaul
macrumors 6502a
hello,
I have applecare, but the gen said that applecare usually dont cover a battery after one year of use and I am way past the one year mark. But since I was playing dumb😉 and asking questions and making him seem like he knew everything and was very nice. He just said I am gonna give you a new battery.