Forum Members - Help! Am I doing something wrong?

[AppleSticker54]

Greetings experts (and wannabes too),

I just got my new 13" MBA (i7/8gb/256) and I am converting a lot of music and movies from other formats into my iTunes.

While doing this using Vuze, it causes my temp to run up to 200+ degrees and my fans run constantly. Trying to do this with 3-4 movies, the fans are running for hours at a time. I am raising the MBA up off the desk to allow for greater airflow, but I'm wondering - is this normal?

Am I doing anything wrong, or do I have something wrong with my MBA that causes these fans to run nonstop like this?

Many thanks for your help and insight!

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm wondering - is this normal?

Yes, it's normal. Your Mac is not overheating. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat. CPU Tjmax = 105C (221F), GPU Tjmax = 100C (212F) on i3, i5, i7 processors. (Source: Intel) If you're not already using it, iStat Pro will give you accurate readings of your temps and fan speeds, among other things.

Unless there is a rare defect in a Mac, most temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload being put on it. Websites with Flash content, games and other multimedia apps will put higher demand on the CPU/GPU, generating more heat. This is normal. If you're constantly putting high demands on your system, such as gaming or other multimedia tasks, expect temps to rise and fans to spin up accordingly. It's just your Mac doing its job to maintain temps within the normal range.

It is also quite normal for your Mac to become extremely hot to the touch during intensive operations. The aluminum body transfers heat more effectively than other materials used in computer casings, so you will feel the heat more. This doesn't indicate that it's overheating and will not harm the computer to be hot to the touch.

Your fans are always on when your Mac is on, spinning at a minimum of 2000 rpm (for MBPs) or 1800 rpm (for MBAs, MBs and minis). iMacs have 3 fans with minimum speeds in the 800-1200 range. They will spin faster as needed to keep temps at a safe level. If they're spinning up without increased heat, try resetting the SMC. (PRAM/NVRAM has nothing to do with these issues, so resetting it will not help.)

The intake and exhaust vents are in the back of the computer near the hinge on all Mac notebooks (except the new MBP with retina display, which has intake vents along the sides at the bottom). The iMac vent is a slot on the back near the top of the computer. Make sure the vents remain unblocked to allow your computer to perform at its best.

Learn about the fans in your Mac
Apple Portables: Operating temperature

For Flash-related issues:

• Find your Flash version and make sure it's the latest version available.
• Install ClickToFlash (Safari), Flashblock (Firefox) or FlashBlock (Chrome) to control which Flash content plays on websites.
• Use the YouTube HTML5 Video Player to watch YouTube videos, when available. (May impact fullscreen viewing. See link for details.)

 

[AppleSticker54]

Yes, it's normal. Your Mac is not overheating. [/LIST]

GGJStudios - thank you SO MUCH! I will read up in the references you provided and rest a whole lot easier now. Again, thank you so much!