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Handbrake = really hot computer.

V

vbman213

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 13, 2010
353
0
Should I be concerned about my temps.

With light use (browsing, Pages, iTunes, etc), my computer hovers around 35 to 45 deg

but with very very intensive work (Handbrake for example) which runs the CPU at near 100%, I hit temps upwards to 95*

Normally hovers around 88 to 95*

I did see it hit 99*, but the fans brought it down.

All the above temps are "Pre-SMCFanControl"

But with SMC...

With the "Higher RPM" setting, I can hold 85* while running Handbrake.

Are these temps normal?
 
I really don't know if they are normal or not. My computer runs around 50C when doing light work like you described, but only goes to 70C (at most) when using handbrake and nothing else. It seems my computer is hotter than yours for lighter work, and cooler for heavier work. Weird. I guess that's why I don't know what's normal.
 
Are you elevating the macbook off a surface? Since the macbooks have aluminum enclosures, a lot of that heat is probably being drawn downwards as well, but there's not enough airflow under the macbook to fully take the heat away.
 
Handbrake will max out all CPU cores you give it access to. So, your running your MB balls out for over an hour or two in some cases when encoding video.

If your temps get too high, the MacBook will shut down and or throttle the CPUs to bring the temps down.

Any computer will get hot if you run it at 100% CPU for an extended period of time.
 
The i7 MBP's are known to get amazingly hot. But don't fret, leave it in a good place and it'll be fine. The hardware will shut itself down if it gets too hot.
 
Absolutely normal, I think all Macs do this. My C2D does exactly this, so do numerous others I've seen in person and on the forums.
Here's a nice analysis done by someone with graphs etc
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/962504/
and here are a few more examples
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/873738/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/860994/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/853567/
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...=838986&page=2
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/906563/

Mac laptops run hot, up to 105 C for a few minutes, at 90-95C as a long term average. Always within Intel specifications, but hot. They seem to be designed to do this.

Personally I have stopped worrying about it. My old Macbook is 4 years old and running fine. If you are worried about it, the only thing you can really do is download SMCfancontrol and use that.
 
Its normal. Handbrake makes my computer run hot as hell when ripping a DVD. It is so annoying how hot the MacBook Pro gets.
 
olletsocmit said:
Its normal. Handbrake makes my computer run hot as hell when ripping a DVD. It is so annoying how hot the MacBook Pro gets.
Click to expand...

It gets just as hot as the next Windows laptop.
Except the Windows one is made out of plastic, so instead of moving the heat out of the case like in the Macbook (and hence you feeling like it is going to explode), it stays inside and slowly roasts the core components. But to the touch it is nice and cool. Yummy.
 
Patrick J said:
It gets just as hot as the next Windows laptop.
Except the Windows one is made out of plastic, so instead of moving the heat out of the case like in the Macbook (and hence you feeling like it is going to explode), it stays inside and slowly roasts the core components. But to the touch it is nice and cool. Yummy.
Click to expand...

Finally, someone that understands thermodynamics.
 
Your temps sound normal when running handbrake. I have a 13" MBP and handbrake runs at 170F. I use smcfancontrol to put jack the fan speed up to 5000 rpm and I raise the MBP up on 1 inch blocks to help deliver more airflow to the bottom of the machine.
 
I have the same machine as you. Mine also goes to about 85 when using handbrake.

You only need to worry when it goes into triple figures. Or when it burns through your desk. Either way, its a bad sign.
 
Patrick J said:
It gets just as hot as the next Windows laptop.
Except the Windows one is made out of plastic, so instead of moving the heat out of the case like in the Macbook (and hence you feeling like it is going to explode), it stays inside and slowly roasts the core components. But to the touch it is nice and cool. Yummy.
Click to expand...

The Window notebooks i've used seem to do a good job at cooling. My brothers early 2008 2.4GHz MBP ides at 150F, and at full load reaches 218F. Thats 103C! Now my windows computers reach 198F/92C under full load. Both the MBP and windows laptop stay very quiet with their fans, but the MBP gets hot enough to BURN you. The new Apple notebooks (unibody MBs and MBPs) Do stay cool and quiet though.
 
BobbyCarbn said:
f your temps get too high, the MacBook will shut down and or throttle the CPUs to bring the temps down.
Click to expand...

I was wondering about this, When does the CPU's start to throttle and/or shut off turboboost? I even read the i7 620M specifications but i couldn't find any specific figures other then the max temperature being 105º C
 
I wouldn't worry, mine does the same thing. Not as hot as yours, but it jumps from 35 during normal use to about 75-80 using Handbrake.
 
No need to worry, This program just uses your computer for what its designed for.

Here is my mac pro 2.66 quad core x 2 with 16gb of ram.
IMG_0340.jpg
 
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