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wiik

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 21, 2013
2
0
This is not a question but more of a reflection.

I was planning to start running my MBP 15" 2011 in clamshell mode stuffed inside a drawer to get rid of some of the noise since I'm doing audio work. When done, the computer started to run significantly slower after a short while, so I decided to experiment a little.

On my MBP I also have an Incipio Feather cover to protect from scratches etc.

I opened a fairly complex Logic arrangement and looped it around the heavier parts to look at the CPU meters. I tried this 4 times, open or clam shelled mode, and with or without the cover case. Before I started my "measurements", I made sure to loop the project a few times since Logic sometimes need time to "run it in".

1) Without the case and running open, the CPU meters were around 40% on average running stable.
2) Without the case and running clam shelled, they bumped up to around 70% on average, sometimes bouncing on the ceiling on some cores. Some hiccups but generally stable.
3) With the case and running open, I had about the same results as the 2nd test.
4) With the case and running clam shelled, the project failed to run after a while. I.e, the typical error messages of "out of sync" and "system overload". CPU meters maxing out constantly.


Needless to say, I am re-routing my cables back, scrapping the clam-shelled idea, and I am also getting rid of the cover case.

I just thought I would write this for anyone else thinking of going clamshell/getting a case for their MBP.
 
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