Does the 2013/2014 rMBP get too hot as a Laptop?

[marc55]

We like to sit in the living room with our Laptop, and our last Dell got so hot, you needed a cooling pad to actually use it as a laptop, especially when watching Youtube; we do not game on it.

Our current Dell had a Carbon Fiber bottom, and while it does get warm from time to time, it does not get uncomfortably warm.

So the main concern I have with getting a rMBP is the heat issues I have read about. However, most of them appear to be the result of using Chrome, which we don't care for anyway.

Again, we do not game, and I guess the most resource intensive program would be Youtube.

So, does the 2013/2014 rMBP actually get too hot to use as a Laptop, especially with the 750 Graphics Card?

Thank you

 

[Samuelsan2001]

Mostly right

Flash can also use a lot of resources and heat up your laptop. However my 13 inch rMBP is cool and silent unless I push it with a few games so you should be fine.

Do remember that the aluminium body doubles as a heat dispersal unit and so does get warm in general use but not uncomfortably so for me.

 

[snaky69]

We like to sit in the living room with our Laptop, and our last Dell got so hot, you needed a cooling pad to actually use it as a laptop, especially when watching Youtube; we do not game on it.

Our current Dell had a Carbon Fiber bottom, and while it does get warm from time to time, it does not get uncomfortably warm.

So the main concern I have with getting a rMBP is the heat issues I have read about. However, most of them appear to be the result of using Chrome, which we don't care for anyway.

Again, we do not game, and I guess the most resource intensive program would be Youtube.

So, does the 2013/2014 rMBP actually get too hot to use as a Laptop, especially with the 750 Graphics Card?

Thank you

Define "too hot".

 

[ogremoustro]

We like to sit in the living room with our Laptop, and our last Dell got so hot, you needed a cooling pad to actually use it as a laptop, especially when watching Youtube; we do not game on it.

Our current Dell had a Carbon Fiber bottom, and while it does get warm from time to time, it does not get uncomfortably warm.

So the main concern I have with getting a rMBP is the heat issues I have read about. However, most of them appear to be the result of using Chrome, which we don't care for anyway.

Again, we do not game, and I guess the most resource intensive program would be Youtube.

So, does the 2013/2014 rMBP actually get too hot to use as a Laptop, especially with the 750 Graphics Card?

Thank you

750M GPU for youtube? Or are you using it for other things outside of the living room like work?

 

[cjmillsnun]

I have found my 2014 rMBP runs cooler than my old 2012 rMBP

 

[marc55]

1. Define "too hot".: To uncomfortable to sit in a chair with it on your lap

2. Home use only

 

[snaky69]

1. Define "too hot".: To uncomfortable to sit in a chair with it on your lap

2. Home use only

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if the most intensive thing you do with that laptop is watch youtube, you are buying a grossly overpowered machine for your needs(especially with the 750m).

With that said, you should be able to use it on your lap with no issues (unless you're directly on your skin) even while watching 1080p video.

 

[sjinsjca]

Agree with cjmillsun, my late-2014 rMBP runs cooler than my 2012 rMBP did.

Neither was uncomfortable except maybe on hot days when any extra heat is undesirable. But the later machine is cooler.

I'm using my rMBP on my lap right now and note no temperature from it at all. My usage at the moment is somewhat strenuous, with one virtual machine, Mail, multiple Safari tabs, Skype, Calendar and Preview all working.

 

[deathdruid]

Agree with the post above. You don't need a discrete GPU if watching Youtube is the most strenuous thing you do. I have had my rMBP (no discrete GPU) for a month or so, and the only time the fan has come on is when I played Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare the other day. Use the money for storage instead.

 

[Macmark93]

My mid 2014 retina, feels about 5 times cooler than my old regular model. Now in then when the fans kick in it gets fairly warm but not enough for it to be unsafe. Also you definitely do not need additional GPU, i have just the intel and it is more than pleasing for me, and i do tasks 20x more demanding than youtube stuff.

 

[AttilaTheHun]

Agree with cjmillsun, my late-2014 rMBP runs cooler than my 2012 rMBP did.

Neither was uncomfortable except maybe on hot days when any extra heat is undesirable. But the later machine is cooler.

I'm using my rMBP on my lap right now and note no temperature from it at all. My usage at the moment is somewhat strenuous, with one virtual machine, Mail, multiple Safari tabs, Skype, Calendar and Preview all working.

my late-2014 rMBP ??

never know that Apple made one as I know the last one is MID 2014

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We like to sit in the living room with our Laptop, and our last Dell got so hot, you needed a cooling pad to actually use it as a laptop, especially when watching Youtube; we do not game on it.

Our current Dell had a Carbon Fiber bottom, and while it does get warm from time to time, it does not get uncomfortably warm.

So the main concern I have with getting a rMBP is the heat issues I have read about. However, most of them appear to be the result of using Chrome, which we don't care for anyway.

Again, we do not game, and I guess the most resource intensive program would be Youtube.

So, does the 2013/2014 rMBP actually get too hot to use as a Laptop, especially with the 750 Graphics Card?

Thank you

You can't compare the two laptops, My new 2 week old Mid 2014 Rmbp 15"
is not hot at all

 

[iKrivetko]

If you can sit without touching the far bottom part — you can even do some intensive tasks. If you aren't planning on using it for anything too heavy, it's completely comfortable regardless of how you use it. To put it in perspective, mine is seated on my naked lap as I'm writing this.

All of that is true for the Iris Pro only model. The 750 will likely be hotter, but I'm not a reliable source of information on that.

 

[iamMacPerson]

I'm constantly in bed with my MBP on my chest with no heat issues (late-2013 750m Retina). Of course, if you go to a lot of websites with Flash, it can get warm since Flash is a resource hog and (IMHO) is a horrible plug-in I wish we could get away from but it seems to be taking a while for the Internet to convert to HTML5. You can use the YouTube5 plug-in which will covert YouTube videos to HTML5 in-line. Also, ClicktoFlash works for those times when you really don't want to use Flash at all, but sometimes you do need it. (note, the 750m only kicks in when needed, otherwise, the Iris Pro GPU handles the day to day tasks)

According to iStats, my processor is idling at 100 F right now typing this. Of course, you would never feel the heat coming off the machine at this point because for a CPU, 100 is nothing. Once it hits 150 or 160 then you can feel the heat on the bottom and top. It usually only gets that warm when using a professional application (like Final Cut Pro) or running a Windows Virtual Machine, two things I doubt you will be doing.

In fact, my recommendation if its going to be for browsing is to get this model, here directly from Apple.

Even that machine will probably be overkill for you. It doesn't have the 750m GPU because you will not need it, I can almost guarantee you won't. It only kicks in for me when running GPU-intensive apps like Final Cut (pro video editor).

In fact, unless you really, really want the 15" display, I would get this 13" Retina MacBook Pro. If you need more internal storage, this would also be an option.

Buying refurbished from Apple has its perks. It gets a new casing, new battery and new display. The only refurbished part in the logic board, which is tested and tested well by Apple. They also stand behind the product and offer it with a 1-year warranty. You can even add AppleCare which will extend your warranty an additional 2 years to a total of 2 years.

 

[sjinsjca]

my late-2014 rMBP ??

never know that Apple made one as I know the last one is MID 2014

Sorry. It's only weeks old, and I looked out the window and saw foliage, so thought it was late 2014. Shrug.

 

[userjohn]

Buying refurbished from Apple has its perks. It gets a new casing, new battery and new display. The only refurbished part in the logic board, which is tested and tested well by Apple.

Do you remember the source(s) for the above information? I've seen comments from people who've bought refurbished systems for which the batteries or cases weren't replaced, but perhaps Apple's policy has changed.

Also, does anyone know whether Apple replaces the flash storage/SSD on refurbished rMBPs (in the absence of specific problems)?

 

[iamMacPerson]

Do you remember the source(s) for the above information? I've seen comments from people who've bought refurbished systems for which the batteries or cases weren't replaced, but perhaps Apple's policy has changed.

Also, does anyone know whether Apple replaces the flash storage/SSD on refurbished rMBPs (in the absence of specific problems)?

From various Apple employees. It also states it at the top of the iPad's refurbishment page, but not on Mac page for whatever reason. All the Macs and iDevices I have ordered from Apple's refurbished section have all come in brand new condition with new batteries.

 

[Hieveryone]

No unless you watch flash videos on Chrome.

Otherwise pretty much never

 

[userjohn]

From various Apple employees. It also states it at the top of the iPad's refurbishment page, but not on Mac page for whatever reason. All the Macs and iDevices I have ordered from Apple's refurbished section have all come in brand new condition with new batteries.

I've heard of people getting batteries that came with low cycle counts, so perhaps the battery is replaced if its cycle count is above a certain limit (or it's above a certain age).

I wonder whether Apple can check how much usage there has been of the flash storage so they can replace it beyond a certain limit (assuming it's not always replaced).

Apple's FAQ (http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/refurbfaq_popup) implies that generally only "defective" (which apparently doesn't even include some cosmetic issues) parts are replaced. Some excerpts from that FAQ:

"As these refurbished products have been unpacked and manipulated, they might however exhibit some minor cosmetic imperfection, such as scratches, marks or discolorations."

"is refurbished with replacement parts for any defective modules identified in testing."

Perhaps Apple explicitly points out they always replace the outer shell and battery for refurbished iPads (without mentioning the display or anything else) because those two items are exceptions from the usual procedure of replacing only defective parts.

However, it would be nice if Apple now always replaces some other parts as well (including for Macs) but they simply haven't updated the applicable pages yet.

 

[tresmith]

my rmbp 2013 does get warm but that's nothing compared to how hot my old 2010 HP envy got.

and even when the rmbp gets warm it's only for a short period of time and then it cools down again.