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heat on MBP 15"

0

01ds650

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 31, 2011
36
1
Just today I've noticed my MBP on my lap getting hot. It has never done that before unless watching Netflix. I'm not watching Netflix today though, I'm just casually surfing the web.

It had a new update the other day. Could that have done this? What is the reason it would now start getting hot? (mostly on bottom near the hinge).

Thanks
 
The fact Netflix makes the laptop hot is a common problem with the MBP I understand. The trouble is that its getting hot all the time for no reason. I also noticed it wont go to sleep sometimes.
 
01ds650 said:
The fact Netflix makes the laptop hot is a common problem with the MBP I understand. The trouble is that its getting hot all the time for no reason. I also noticed it wont go to sleep sometimes.
Click to expand...

do you know if your normal use scenarios turn on the dedicated graphics card?
 
01ds650 said:
The fact Netflix makes the laptop hot is a common problem with the MBP I understand. The trouble is that its getting hot all the time for no reason. I also noticed it wont go to sleep sometimes.
Click to expand...

Then use iStat Pro or iStat Menus do monitor your temperatures and Activity Monitor to monitor your CPU usage. That way you should be able to solve your problem, or at least get an answer, why it does that.
 
never even heard of it. I spoke with Apple. They dont know why it's acting up so I guess I have to take it in to get checked.
 
01ds650 said:
never even heard of it. I spoke with Apple. They dont know why it's acting up so I guess I have to take it in to get checked.
Click to expand...

So even with Activity Monitor, gfxCardStatus and iStat Pro you couldn't find the source of your high temperature due to high CPU usage (if that is the case)?
And what temperatures does iStat Pro report?
 
The easy way to see if your MacBook Pro is using the integrated (cool) or dedicated (hot) graphics is:

Click  > About this Mac > More Info

If by Graphics is says Intel, that's integrated (cool). AMD is dedicated (hot).

If it's the latter, one of your applications has caused it to be fired up. Try quitting your apps one by one and then rechecking in About this Mac to see which one was the culprit.

Or, if you're on Intel all the time, fire up Activity Monitor, select All Processes from the drop down, and sort by the CPU heading to see which process is eating up all your CPU cycles and making your laptop hot. Then come back here :)
 
miniConvert said:
The easy way to see if your MacBook Pro is using the integrated (cool) or dedicated (hot) graphics is:

Click  > About this Mac > More Info

If by Graphics is says Intel, that's integrated (cool). AMD is dedicated (hot).

If it's the latter, one of your applications has caused it to be fired up. Try quitting your apps one by one and then rechecking in About this Mac to see which one was the culprit.

Or, if you're on Intel all the time, fire up Activity Monitor, select All Processes from the drop down, and sort by the CPU heading to see which process is eating up all your CPU cycles and making your laptop hot. Then come back here :)
Click to expand...

simsaladimbamba said:
Have you tried gfxCardStatus?
Click to expand...

If you are on the dedicated all the time, use GFXcardstatus (linked above) to keep it on integrated. you may have to restart the programs using the dedicated card for it to work.
 
Don't forget the browser can still tax your MBP depending on what is running inside the actual browser. My early 2011 MBP 15 starts to heat up on occasions depending on what I'm up to browser wise..

The net result is they run very hot when flat out and sound very much like a hair dryer - probably the biggest downside to the laptop if I'm honest. I don't mind the heat as I live in the UK but the fans are so loud to the point where my wife gets fed up.

Rob.
 
My fan isn't loud like a hair dryer. It's surprisingly quiet with the fan running when it's under heavy load. Unless you are in silence, it's almost hard to hear.
 
I really don't recommend gfxCardStatus unless you absolutely need it. OS X is more than capable of adequately controlling which graphics chip is in use. It's only if there's a specific piece of software that you need that automatically engages the dedicated graphics that you should consider overriding OS X.
 
miniConvert said:
I really don't recommend gfxCardStatus unless you absolutely need it. OS X is more than capable of adequately controlling which graphics chip is in use. It's only if there's a specific piece of software that you need that automatically engages the dedicated graphics that you should consider overriding OS X.
Click to expand...

No actually, its not.

there are a HEAP of apps, including twitter, VMware fusion, and FINDER PREVIEWS ffs, that cause the radeon to become active and chew through power.

for 99% of non-gaming use, the HD3000 is more than enough, and forcing the machine to use that gives me 150-200% battery life.


edit:
OP: id check that flash hasn't crashed as well. my GFs MBA fan was going spastic yesterday due to a crashed flash process.
 
miniConvert said:
I really don't recommend gfxCardStatus unless you absolutely need it. OS X is more than capable of adequately controlling which graphics chip is in use. It's only if there's a specific piece of software that you need that automatically engages the dedicated graphics that you should consider overriding OS X.
Click to expand...

ahahaha. I respectfully disagree. OSX controls it basically all wrong. There is no reason that powerpoint, boom, skype, netnewswire, and etc. should turn on the dedicated card, yet OSX does. if you're looking for battery life or less heat, OSX does a rather subpar job of deciding which to use.
 
I never said it wasn't useful for some people, but for the vast majority it's just not necessary. I really don't think it should be recommended to people as a catch-all for a hot laptop. First and foremost, it's important to find out what the cause is.
 
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