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Getting to the bottom of the rMBP issue - let's discuss heat.

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Rolfmaomachizli

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2011
62
0
Born: Paris, Lived: New York ( 6 Years), Currently
Hello all,

I have been lurking here for some time now, but didn't find opportunities to contribute in a significant way, until to day that is.

I just bought myself a rMBP 15" (2 weeks ago), and while I think I may have gotten my money's worth, there still is a noticeable heat issue. There's simply no denying it, the rMBP 15" has heat issues. Now, I believe to a certaine extent that the gravity of the heat generated is user caused (software running) but not the fault of the user.

So, what are your temperatures on intensive tasks, medium usage, and general browsing/ document editing? Also, do you find the heat created by the rMBP, in general, acceptable and comfortable?

My temperatures (from smfancontrol) under automatic fan control are as follows:

Chrome standard browsing (5/6 tabs) with evernote + iTunes open = 50-85c

Chrome with youtube or other videos alone = 75 - 85c (this can't be normal)

watching movie on vlc or playing basic game = 90c+ (wtf man, my hand is melting)
 
C

cosmicjoke

macrumors 6502
Oct 3, 2011
484
1
Portland, OR
try encoding video and watch it peak at like 102c (at least it does on my 2.7ghz rMBP, seems maybe 17c or so cooler on the 2.3/2.4ghz cpus)... anyways, i've given up caring..... i just get applecare and use my macbook pro as much as i want, and if it dies then they better fix it.

i do relate with the hot keyboard bit, the heat is so centered around the primary gaming keys too, WASD heh... wish they'd put the cpu/gpu somewhere further to the right side of the keyboard.
 
S

shane5578

macrumors newbie
May 2, 2013
4
0
it does get hot, but for me it is acceptable.

i have owned other laptops which are significantly hotter.

try using safari instead of chrome, as it is more optimised
 
MacReloaded

MacReloaded

macrumors 6502
Oct 31, 2007
407
0
Canada
Screen Shot 2013-05-13 at 8.36.42 AM 2.png

This is when playing two 4K videos on YouTube on two displays with 15 tabs open in Safari. The retina display running the 1920x1200 scaled mode and the external display running 1080p. Discrete graphics always on.
 
chambone

chambone

macrumors 6502a
Dec 24, 2011
969
25
Netherlands
The times that a laptop got hot and noisy from playing a flash or HD movie are long gone. Years in fact. If yours does there's something wrong with the die to heatsink connection (ie. the nice and thick layer of thermal paste between them)
 
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Rolfmaomachizli

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 5, 2011
62
0
Born: Paris, Lived: New York ( 6 Years), Currently
MacReloaded said:
View attachment 412008

This is when playing two 4K videos on YouTube on two displays with 15 tabs open in Safari. The retina display running the 1920x1200 scaled mode and the external display running 1080p. Discrete graphics always on.
Click to expand...

Okay I see it now. Wow, well that is such ********, mine would already be carbonizing eggs at this point...
 
fatlardo

fatlardo

macrumors 6502
Mar 15, 2011
331
35
I get the same temps. I know a lot of people gets these same temps. I dont like it either. :mad: I think people would like us to think its normal.
 
S

SMDBill

macrumors 6502
Apr 12, 2013
255
1
JronMasteR said:
That's why I replaced the stock thermal paste on my rMBP. I also have the 2.7Ghz CPU.
Click to expand...
Which is also indicative of a horrible quality control issue on Apple's (Foxconn's) part for one of the most expensive parts of the computer. Although some of us can take these steps and make such an improvement possible, the fact that so many of these machines are sold with poorly applied thermal paste is a huge issue. The days of heat problems are not long gone and any lengthy flash video will exploit the problem quickly.

@Rolfmaomachizli, that would be impressive if those were flash videos, but I am suspicious that perhaps they were HTML5 on Youtube? Those normally do run much cooler on any machine. Not calling you out for it at all because I could very well be mistaken, but if you were running such resolution on flash videos I'd think you may have one very efficient machine for handling heat.
 
JronMasteR

JronMasteR

macrumors 6502
May 4, 2011
327
126
Switzerland
SMDBill said:
Which is also indicative of a horrible quality control issue on Apple's (Foxconn's) part for one of the most expensive parts of the computer. Although some of us can take these steps and make such an improvement possible, the fact that so many of these machines are sold with poorly applied thermal paste is a huge issue. The days of heat problems are not long gone and any lengthy flash video will exploit the problem quickly.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Apple really should do something about that. I mean, I could see the excess of the thermal paste without removing the heatsink. Took me about 20min to clean up the mess.
This is unacceptable for a computer at this price range.
 
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yvonnars

macrumors newbie
Nov 30, 2012
12
0
for me webbrowsing with safari everything average 30 with GPU up to 50
when i run intense 3d games like LOL and Sims 3 average high 60 and GPU get to 80
and i was scared for my laptop but looking at your tempts i think mine is fine
 
I

i4Collin

macrumors regular
Apr 4, 2011
210
5
Maryland
I never had a heat problem until one night I left my computer on my thick carpet. I woke up in the morning and opened it to find it never went to sleep and the black cover for the hinge where the vents exhaust was covered in dust. Ever since I have felt that it has run a bit warmer, but it could just be me being paranoid.
 
Z

zachevans

macrumors newbie
May 6, 2013
7
0
I'm at around 98-102 degrees celsius average when doing intensive tasks, fans maxed out before I started the intensive tasks. Ridiculous. I didn't mean to spend 2700+ on a new George Foreman.
 
M

maxosx

macrumors 68020
Dec 13, 2012
2,385
1
Southern California
JronMasteR said:
That's why I replaced the stock thermal paste on my rMBP. I also have the 2.7Ghz CPU.
Click to expand...

As a long time Mac user I've done lots of tear downs to remove large excesses of thermal paste my Macs have come with. Cleaning them up, & applying a proper
thin coat of high grade paste. The difference makes all the trouble worth it. I've even done some for friends.

That said my MBPr doesn't get as hot, so I haven't touched it.

Is it a big job, since Apple has chosen to glue the computer together? I say that generically as I know the batteries & some other components, but not all of it is glued.
 
D

dkillgo

macrumors member
Jun 8, 2011
37
0
I have a 15inch rMBP 2013 and haven't really had any heat issues yet. The highest I've gone up to is probably around 65-70 C, and thats with safari with multiple tabs open, mail, MS Office, Acrobat, and parallels running.

However, if I do run into heat issues down the road, does reapplying/cleaning up thermal paste myself void my applecare?
 
L

leman

macrumors P6
Oct 14, 2008
17,633
15,780
Dunno, my runs definitively cooler than the old 2009 model. Sure, it will get warm to touch during computationally intensive tasks, but I didn't have any reason to complain yet. Its actually nice on a cold winter evening ^^
 
M

Moshe1010

macrumors 6502a
Jun 27, 2010
866
92
Song Bird + Multiple Chrome tabs = 60-65 degrees (Core Avg.)

3-6 flash videos that are open at the same time, can go up to 75-80.

Since I replaced my logicbard + heatsink due to constant heat issue (same tasks that give me 60-65 degrees right now, gave me around 90-100), I haven't got to the 90 range yet, even with 3D rendering or anything quite intense. Sure, If I run a 100% load stress test for 1-2 minutes, I would probably get to the 100C area, but what's the point?

And yes, my middle-left side of the keyboard is also warm/hot, but nothing like it was before. The bottom is super hot after some time, but the laptop is on the bed/desk/stand/etc' the entire day, so I basically don't care. I think it's way more than the thermal paste. I think that the new design of the rMBP makes some bad air circulation, so the CPU gets hot very quickly. I also guess the position of the hardware plays a major part in heat production. My desktop i7 with much higher power consumption, doesn't go hot so easily as my rMBP.
 
JronMasteR

JronMasteR

macrumors 6502
May 4, 2011
327
126
Switzerland
maxosx said:
Is it a big job, since Apple has chosen to glue the computer together? I say that generically as I know the batteries & some other components, but not all of it is glued.
Click to expand...

It is actually very easy to do, much easier than on the cMBP. Remove the bottom case, Battery connector, rubber lashes on the fans and then the 10 screws of the heatsink.
I wouldn't have done it if it wasn't that easy.
 
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