Clamshell Mode - technical question

[57004]

You can run a Mac notebook in clamshell mode for many years without any issues whatsoever. You'll be ready for a new computer LONG before a Mac would fail due to heat from operating in clamshell mode, barring any manufacturing defects. Does heat shorten the lifespan? Possibly, but you're not likely to keep your computer long enough to notice, unless you typically keep a computer for 12-15+ years.

Under normal circumstances yes. But if you have a computer that is already prone to solder joint cracking, running it at a higher temp will speed up that process. Because it's the number of heating/cooling cycles, and the intensity of them that directly cause it.

These issues generally show up after several years, when the warranty has expired but too early to tell if the redesigned MacBook Air models are prone to it. Luckily Apple does usually own up to it eventually and issue free repairs out of warranty (like with the nVidia problem for the MacBook Pro) but it does take a while before they do. All those MacBook Pro's and iBook G4's that broke were not 12-15 years old.

See here for an example of a cracked solder joint:

Because these issues are caused by heat and clamshell mode does increase heat on the logic board, I really don't see how this would not affect it, if the computer is already prone to this problem. Which is hard to tell when a particular model is so new. I wouldn't bet on the new MacBook Air not being prone to such issues because its heat generation is so centralized now that the CPU and GPU are one chip.

Because I generally keep my computers for a long time I like to look after them in that way if it's not too inconvenient. And also the fan annoys me otherwise.

 

[convergent]

Placing magnets on electronics with memory doesn't sound like a good plan to me.

I don't think you really have to worry about this unless you are killing the machine so the fans are on night and day, but in my case I just lay my MBA on a Zyertec notebook cooler. Its aluminum and matches the MBA nicely. And I can adjust the fan to keep it as cool as I want. Its the ZM-NC1000.


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[GGJstudios]

All those MacBook Pro's and iBook G4's that broke were not 12-15 years old.

Which ones are you referring to?

 

[Bob Coxner]

Placing magnets on electronics with memory doesn't sound like a good plan to me.

I don't think you really have to worry about this unless you are killing the machine so the fans are on night and day, but in my case I just lay my MBA on a Zyertec notebook cooler. Its aluminum and matches the MBA nicely. And I can adjust the fan to keep it as cool as I want. Its the ZM-NC1000.


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Have you done any testing to compare temps with and without the cooler? Maybe watch some video with the cooler running and then unplug it.

BTW, on Amazon that model number comes back to a Zalman (not Zyertec) and it's black plastic. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JSFT0Y/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

The ZM-NC2000 is aluminum and costs quite a bit more. http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-ZM-NC2...6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324056284&sr=1-6

It looks like you have the aluminum one.

Edit: I did find another version, NC1000-S that's aluminum. http://www.amazon.com/Zalman-NC1000...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324056284&sr=1-15

 

[doktordoris]

I don't really understand the point of clamshell mode. why close the notebook and loose out on some potential desktop space?

 

[JacksTLOS]

I'm looking at buying a new macbook air and running it connected up to a LCD and in clamshell mode.

I also use my Macbook Pro in clamshell mode. To keep things cool, I keep a small magnet sitting over the lid sensor (this is located just below the right speaker). This fools the macbook Pro into thinking the lid is closed, when it is really wide open. Thus, I can wake and sleep my laptop normally with it connected to a monitor, but with the lid wide open (excellent air cirulation and heat disipation). I'm surprised very few people know of this trick - I've been doing it for years.

So, my question: Is there is a magnetic lid sensor on the Air like on the Macbook Pro?

OP to answer you question (if you're running Lion)... just run this terminal command:

sudo nvram boot-args="iog=0x0"

Then reboot. From now on the computer will behave like it did on snow leopard (opening the lid won't automatically detect displays). You won't need the magnet on either the macbook pro or macbook air.

 

[glen e]

I don't really understand the point of clamshell mode. why close the notebook and loose out on some potential desktop space?

becasue many of us put the MBA behind/under the desk in a stand and use a monitor/keyboard to make it a desktop unit when we're not on the road...

 

[linuxcooldude]

Under normal circumstances yes. But if you have a computer that is already prone to solder joint cracking, running it at a higher temp will speed up that process. Because it's the number of heating/cooling cycles, and the intensity of them that directly cause it.

These issues generally show up after several years, when the warranty has expired but too early to tell if the redesigned MacBook Air models are prone to it. Luckily Apple does usually own up to it eventually and issue free repairs out of warranty (like with the nVidia problem for the MacBook Pro) but it does take a while before they do. All those MacBook Pro's and iBook G4's that broke were not 12-15 years old.

See here for an example of a cracked solder joint:

Image

Because these issues are caused by heat and clamshell mode does increase heat on the logic board, I really don't see how this would not affect it, if the computer is already prone to this problem. Which is hard to tell when a particular model is so new. I wouldn't bet on the new MacBook Air not being prone to such issues because its heat generation is so centralized now that the CPU and GPU are one chip.

Because I generally keep my computers for a long time I like to look after them in that way if it's not too inconvenient. And also the fan annoys me otherwise.

That would make it a bad solder joint problem, not a heat problem.

 

[interrobang]

But if you have a computer that is already prone to solder joint cracking, running it at a higher temp will speed up that process.

Either your computer has adequate cooling, or it doesn't. If I thought--for a second--that today's Macbook Air or Pro systems were prone to heat-related failure, I would not waste my time trying to prolong the inevitable.

I'd dump it on eBay and recover what I could for it before it went belly-up on me.

Fortunately, there is zero evidence that this is the case.

 

[GGJstudios]

I don't really understand the point of clamshell mode. why close the notebook and loose out on some potential desktop space?

Many people don't need 2 screens. They simply want a larger screen when working at the desk. I've used my 15" MBP with and without an external display, but if I had a MBA, I'd use the external display every chance I got.