Until people start roaming in with melted logic boards as a result of this, I wouldn't label it as a big problem. These are too new to make any claims about a possible sacrifice in longevity due to Apple's focus on quiet fans over cooler-running laptops.
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Fans don't kick in when playing WoW, Temps 100° C+
- Thread starter mousouchop
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Until people start roaming in with melted logic boards as a result of this, I wouldn't label it as a big problem. These are too new to make any claims about a possible sacrifice in longevity due to Apple's focus on quiet fans over cooler-running laptops.
I suppose I can just seeing how long it takes the fans to turn on-- and worst case scenario, if they don't-- I take it in and get it fixed. I am after all under warranty and the damage would be by no fault of my own.
As for other documented cases, I read a case of another user exactly in my situation on the WoW forums. I forget if there were a lot of responses to his post or not.
As for other documented cases, I read a case of another user exactly in my situation on the WoW forums. I forget if there were a lot of responses to his post or not.
UPDATE:
I left the defaulf fan minimum at 2000RPM and started up WoW... and the fans actually kicked on at around 100*C... and have been keeping the system running between 75 and 90* with varying fan speeds usually topping out at 4500RPM. From what I understand this is quite normal/acceptable for the MBP running WoW on 10.6 and the 9600M.
I think I will use SMCFanControl in the future to keep the system slightly cooler. But it is nice to see that they are coming on themselves-- if but a bit late.
I know that this is a concern for many, so I guess I can join a crowd of many and hope things are fixed with a firmware patch or 10.6.2.
This is only my first attempt at not controlling the fans myself. I will run WoW a few more times this week and see if they kick on themselves every time.
I left the defaulf fan minimum at 2000RPM and started up WoW... and the fans actually kicked on at around 100*C... and have been keeping the system running between 75 and 90* with varying fan speeds usually topping out at 4500RPM. From what I understand this is quite normal/acceptable for the MBP running WoW on 10.6 and the 9600M.
I think I will use SMCFanControl in the future to keep the system slightly cooler. But it is nice to see that they are coming on themselves-- if but a bit late.
I know that this is a concern for many, so I guess I can join a crowd of many and hope things are fixed with a firmware patch or 10.6.2.
This is only my first attempt at not controlling the fans myself. I will run WoW a few more times this week and see if they kick on themselves every time.
Apple has a really crappy way of applying thermal paste or well the 6 year old china boy does.... it may not be your fans fault.
Hmm, well in anycase, people run systems for years with the stock thermal paste application, and seeing as I am less trained in the art of thermal paste application that those 6 year old chinese boys... I will leave it be.
Plus-- when the fans actually run, the system runs cool. I think it all boils down to software and the ever true statement that Apple designs/programs their systems to run quiet, not cool.
I have a 1 month old 13" MBP and my fan kicks in way before 100°c. at the moment im at 49°c and the fan is reading 2004rpm. It would seem there is a problem. go and talk to apple, thats what i'd do.
2000 is the default idle speed for the fan (it will always run at least at that speed), so your fan hasn't really "kicked in." Try doing something CPU-intensive and see if the fan speed increases.
My fans run at ~2000RPM when idle and under light load. That is the issue--
Under a heavy load, they do not increase! Or so I thought they didn't. Last night they ramped up at 100* C. Imma run WoW again tonight and see when/if they decide to pop on again.
In any case, I am coming to believe that I do not actually have an issue-- rather that Apple's fan speed management is a little delayed/slow in efforts to keep noise to a minimum. i.e. The fans wait to see if the elevated temps are a temporary state, and kick in only once the temp has been sustained for a few moments.
macbook pro running hot
I have been having the usual MBP run hot issue, wouldn't want it sitting on my lap! Installed SMC Fan Control and pushed up the fan RPM's in the settings to 4000 and a min temp to kick in. It runs noticeably cooler now. I recommend exploring SMC fan control and adjusting the settings. Also remember every time you shut down your computer you have to turn on SMC again. It runs automatically if you only put your computer to sleep. If still running hot add a laptop cooler pad. Thank you.
MacBook Pro 15" - 2.5ghz, 4gb ram, 320gb, leopard
I have been having the usual MBP run hot issue, wouldn't want it sitting on my lap! Installed SMC Fan Control and pushed up the fan RPM's in the settings to 4000 and a min temp to kick in. It runs noticeably cooler now. I recommend exploring SMC fan control and adjusting the settings. Also remember every time you shut down your computer you have to turn on SMC again. It runs automatically if you only put your computer to sleep. If still running hot add a laptop cooler pad. Thank you.
MacBook Pro 15" - 2.5ghz, 4gb ram, 320gb, leopard
FYI, World of Warcraft or WoW is a very CPU-intensive application. Most people's CPU's bog down in the major cities, where you have hundreds of other players graphically represented and running and jumping.
You might want to try Coolbook. I have a mid-2009 MBP 2.8Ghz. My computer was getting really hot when playing games like Diablo 2 (Power PC app). My laptop is literally cold to the touch a lot of the time.
I have been letting the computer control it's own fans the past couple of times, it manages to keep itself in the low-to-mid 80s. I will probably resort to boosting the minimum fan speed during sessions to 4000RPM. Did that last week and it kept the computer between 65 and 80.
I would rather fool with the fans using SMCFanControl, than fool with the voltage of the CPU with Coolbook. At the end of the day, fans are a much less costly part to replace. ;D
I prefer to use smcFanControl, as I feel the unibodies kick in the fans far too late. After installing it and fiddling a bit, it hasn't gone above 80 degrees celsius under heavy load since. Without, it would hit close to 100 before kicking in the fans.
Very clever and original... Thanks for the smart reply.
I am a full time student, work two jobs and still make time for WoW AND friends. As for the girlfriend bit, being gay has sorta always put a damper on my skirt-chasing abilities.
Good advice though.
Yeah, this seems to be the easiest thing to do, and gives a good peace-of-mind. I wish there was something that would adjust the curve for the effect temps have on the fans. Used to use Fan Control on my old Blackbook 3 years ago. It ran Tiger... seeing as that app hasn't been updated since then-- I wouldn't even dream of installing it. haha. Manual setting of the minimum fan speed seems to work well enough, and as I have learned from SMCFanControl's site, it is the least invasive method which is why they chose it.
Download Fan Control 1.2http://www.lobotomo.com/products/FanControl/.
Then go into System Preferences --> Fan Control. And set it up like this:
Fan Control automatically adjusts the fan speeds in relation to the graph. I have no problems with heat at all now. At around 65'C, fans will be going around 3000rpm, then at 75'C fans will be going 4800rpm and so on. You can customise it to your liking, but I have the same MacBook Pro as you and I find these settings pretty adequate.
Oh, and this works fine in Snow Leopard too.
Then go into System Preferences --> Fan Control. And set it up like this:
Fan Control automatically adjusts the fan speeds in relation to the graph. I have no problems with heat at all now. At around 65'C, fans will be going around 3000rpm, then at 75'C fans will be going 4800rpm and so on. You can customise it to your liking, but I have the same MacBook Pro as you and I find these settings pretty adequate.
Oh, and this works fine in Snow Leopard too.
FUNNY! I just mentioned my previous use of this application in the post just before yours. I choose not to use this due to the fact that it hasn't been updated in years-- pre-Leopard. Also, I read some horror stories of unsuccessful uninstallations... I am sure I would be capable of uninstalling it properly-- but I'm just going to leave well enough alone.
Because of your use of this application, I can only assume that you too had late/delayed heat intervention from the fans?
FUNNY! I just mentioned my previous use of this application in the post just before yours. I choose not to use the due to the fact that it hasn't been updated in years-- pre-Leopard. Also, I read some horror stories of unsuccessful uninstallations... I am sure I would be capable of uninstalling it properly-- but I'm just going to leave well enough alone.
I've been using it for 3 years now, from the 2nd gen MBP to my current 2.8GHz uMBP running Snow Leopard. Never once had an issue with it.
Even if it hasn't been updated in years (I can't find release dates), it works perfectly fine under Snow Leopard.
Seriously, this is the answer to your problem.
Darn, edited my post just as you posted your reply... I will ask my question again:
Because of your use of this application, I can only assume that you too had late/delayed heat intervention from the fans?
Yeah, it's always been an issue. On previous gens of MBP, used to get to 90'C and the fans would still be idling. Then when I got my uMBP, I thought maybe Apple would have put more effort into fan speeds etc, but no. Same old..
Least now when I encode video etc my fans will be going around 4000-5000rpm and keeping the temperature well below 80'C, rather than peaking close to 100'C and still idling.
It is definitely worth using.
I second the use of FanControl. I didn't have a problem with fans coming on (came on at 70 C) but I didn't like the feel of the heat while gaming so the thresholds I used were 60C and 70C, lower and upper threshold.
Your fans used to come on at 70 without the help of Fan Control? Are you running Leopard or Snow Leopard? My Unibody Macbook used to have the fans come on MUCH earlier. I am thinking my issue is SL... but I am not really wanting to install Leopard just to test my theory. I want to run SL. haha.
Snow Leopard. I think MacBookPlz's fans come on around the same time as well. If you have Windows through Boot Camp, I would see if the problem is in there too. If it is, could be the computer itself and not the OS or software.