Cooling solution and Warranty

[Dovahkiing]

Given the whole i9 situation the solutions are obvious. Return it or find a way to mitigate it. (Or I guess just deal with it, but if you are in that camp this thread is not for you ). For the latter, replacing thermal paste seems an obvious conclusion and is relatively simple as long as you're a competent person who can follow directions. The obvious downside is, were Apple to find out the machine was tinkered with in this way, they may claim the warranty is void (at least in the USA; right to repair notwithstanding).

My question is; so long as you are competent and put everything back together correctly, how would Apple be able to tell the paste had been replaced short of customer informing them? Is there a tamper proof seal somewhere?

 

[Newtons Apple]

Given the whole i9 situation the solutions are obvious. Return it or find a way to mitigate it. (Or I guess just deal with it, but if you are in that camp this thread is not for you ). For the latter, replacing thermal paste seems an obvious conclusion and is relatively simple as long as you're a competent person who can follow directions. The obvious downside is, were Apple to find out the machine was tinkered with in this way, they would claim the warranty is void (at least in the USA; right to repair notwithstanding).

My question is; so long as you are competent and put everything back together correctly, how would Apple be able to tell the paste had been replaced short of customer informing them? Is there a tamper proof seal somewhere?

I think there is a seal or something that tells them if someone has been inside of the laptop!

 

[Schranke]

Given the whole i9 situation the solutions are obvious. Return it or find a way to mitigate it. (Or I guess just deal with it, but if you are in that camp this thread is not for you ). For the latter, replacing thermal paste seems an obvious conclusion and is relatively simple as long as you're a competent person who can follow directions. The obvious downside is, were Apple to find out the machine was tinkered with in this way, they would claim the warranty is void (at least in the USA; right to repair notwithstanding).

My question is; so long as you are competent and put everything back together correctly, how would Apple be able to tell the paste had been replaced short of customer informing them? Is there a tamper proof seal somewhere?

I have not seen a seal in any previous models, but I do not know what technical details apple might send to their techs. it is however really hard to have an indicator since the technicians would break the seal the moment they open the machine, so any indicator would have to be visible outside of the part being opened.

One indicator would be how the thermal paste is applied as apple generally use way to much, so an application where there are minimal overflows could indicate you had replaced it.

Then there are screws, even with good tools you might do some minor striping damage to the screws as they are small and could be of a better quality. this is however also hard to say is a user mistake as it could have happened during production.

All in all, in most cases I do not think apple would notice, should you need a repair they will most likely diagnostic your reason for repair, if it is the motherboard I guess they will just get a new with the heatsink pre-mounted, otherwise one could actually speculate in sending in for repair in the hopes of getting a better thermal paste application then stock.

 

[maflynn]

I think there is a seal or something that tells them if someone has been inside of the laptop!

You are free to open up the computer and many people re-apply the thermal paste. That will help, but not enough to mitigate the throttling.

Apple seems to have the fan profile set more passively and under the circumstances they ought to be more aggressive. I'm using Macs Fan Control and that's helping.

 

[Newtons Apple]

You are free to open up the computer and many people re-apply the thermal paste. That will help, but not enough to mitigate the throttling.

Apple seems to have the fan profile set more passively and under the circumstances they ought to be more aggressive. I'm using Macs Fan Control and that's helping.

While adjusting the fan might help, even the lowered powered CPU will throttle if run wide open for a period of time. Will be putting Win 10Pro on my 15" SG 2.6/16gb/512 and am betting it will handle what I need on AutoCad with ease. I am sure that Apple will do an update to change the fan programming but some here will not ever be happy.

 

[maflynn]

Will be putting Win 10Pro on my 15" SG 2.6/16gb/512

I'm debating if I want to use VMware or bootcamp, with bootcamp, I should be able to use XTU to undervolt the CPU and/or disable turbo mode and that should help with the thermals. With vmware I'll not have that ability.

I'm not sure how my tools such as gotomypc works in vmware, but it might be better for me in the long run to be able to run windows and macOS at the same time

 

[Dovahkiing]

You are free to open up the computer and many people re-apply the thermal paste. That will help, but not enough to mitigate the throttling.

Apple seems to have the fan profile set more passively and under the circumstances they ought to be more aggressive. I'm using Macs Fan Control and that's helping.

I agree it's definitely still going to throttle. My assumption from historical examples is that it will still throttle but maintain a higher clocks speed as compared to the stock paste. How much will it help? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Newtons Apple]

I'm debating if I want to use VMware or bootcamp, with bootcamp, I should be able to use XTU to undervolt the CPU and/or disable turbo mode and that should help with the thermals. With vmware I'll not have that ability.

I'm not sure how my tools such as gotomypc works in vmware, but it might be better for me in the long run to be able to run windows and macOS at the same time

As I use the Apple OS very little, Boot Camp is good for me.

 

[maflynn]

As I use the Apple OS very little, Boot Camp is good for me.

The major reason why I returned the Razer Blade and opted for the MBP was for macOS and its user experience.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"My question is; so long as you are competent and put everything back together correctly, how would Apple be able to tell the paste had been replaced short of customer informing them? Is there a tamper proof seal somewhere?"

Sumthin' tells me -- if you try this on a brand-new MacBook Pro and then try to return it -- that you're going to end up unhappy...

 

[Dovahkiing]

OP wrote:
"My question is; so long as you are competent and put everything back together correctly, how would Apple be able to tell the paste had been replaced short of customer informing them? Is there a tamper proof seal somewhere?"

Sumthin' tells me -- if you try this on a brand-new MacBook Pro and then try to return it -- that you're going to end up unhappy...

If I do it then I wouldn't be looking to return. The question is; if the computer goes in for service 6 mo down the line how likely is Apple to 1.) Realize paste was re-applied in the first place and 2.) Claim this negates warranty coverage (even if unrelated).

 

[Elwe]

You are free to open up the computer and many people re-apply the thermal paste. That will help, but not enough to mitigate the throttling.

Apple seems to have the fan profile set more passively and under the circumstances they ought to be more aggressive. I'm using Macs Fan Control and that's helping.

I 100% agree people should adjust the fan profile before even thinking of re-applying the paste.

I do not think Apple would do this, but given all this furor, I would love for apple to introduce a new panel in System Preferences where they had a toggle between "Auto" or what they have currently, and "Max Fan Cooling" or some such that is much more aggressive at spinning the fans, even though it is louder. Ideally, this is exactly the kind of thing Apple wants to abstract away from the user, but clearly they missed the mark for a lot of people.

 

[BorderingOn]

If I do it then I wouldn't be looking to return. The question is; if the computer goes in for service 6 mo down the line how likely is Apple to 1.) Realize paste was re-applied in the first place and 2.) Claim this negates warranty coverage (even if unrelated).

First, I don't see this as a solution at all.

Second, not sure about the MBP, but I've had my iMac apart and there is a tamper indicator on the CPU heatsink.

 

[prh8]

If I do it then I wouldn't be looking to return. The question is; if the computer goes in for service 6 mo down the line how likely is Apple to 1.) Realize paste was re-applied in the first place and 2.) Claim this negates warranty coverage (even if unrelated).

1. 100% will know you opened it. Maybe not notice the paste
2. I don't think any of us will know for sure, other than the default "of course they will" answer