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How do you check how hot your MBP is?

A

AbhiKap55

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2012
39
0
Hello, AbhiKap here

I just got a brand new 13 inch MacBook Pro mid 2012 model running Mountain Lion (10.8.2) How can I check how hot the CPU is without any third party software? Also, what temperature (in Fahrenheit) is normal?

Thanks, Help is greatly apprecited
 
AbhiKap55 said:
How do you check how hot your MBP is
Click to expand...


When a cute one comes by and say, Wanna watch a video together on your MBP? and it's not you. :D


Seriously, only third party that I know of but they are free. Techspeaks in celcius. I believe once you hit 100c you are in about to shut down territory.
 
AbhiKap55 said:
I just got a brand new 13 inch MacBook Pro mid 2012 model running Mountain Lion (10.8.2) How can I check how hot the CPU is without any third party software? Also, what temperature (in Fahrenheit) is normal?
Click to expand...
Use iStat Pro (free) or iStat Menus ($16) to get accurate readings of your battery, temps, fan speeds and much more.

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)

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 your fans are 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:
 
I'm more old-school... Just place an egg on it and wait for a chicken to pop out a couple of minutes later. No chicken showed up during my test-run, so I just assumed my nuts will also be fine. :cool: I can't provide accurate readings unfortunately, nuts are not configured properly. Tried manually calibrating them, but after a few kernel panics and grey screens, I concluded that it's not really worth the effort / risk...
 
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I took one look at the OP and decided this thread was going to be trouble. I then located an as yet undiscovered tribe in the Amazon and they predicted that the responses would involve eggs and stuff......
 
sensorian said:
I took one look at the OP and decided this thread was going to be trouble. I then located an as yet undiscovered tribe in the Amazon and they predicted that the responses would involve eggs and stuff......
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look, i have no idea what u are talking about im not in a good mood so pls be straightforward
 
AbhiKap55 said:
look, i have no idea what u are talking about im not in a good mood so pls be straightforward
Click to expand...

I don't really care what kind of mood you are in.

I was merely pointing out that your question (legitimate one at that) was bound to invite humorous responses. Although clearly, judging by your mood, you did not find them too funny.
 
sensorian said:
I was merely pointing out that your question (legitimate one at that) was bound to invite humorous responses. Although clearly, judging by your mood, you did not find them too funny.
Click to expand...
I suspect the OP may need to recalibrate their funny bone. :D
 
well, there is some place where the third party software grabs the temperature information, and that's where you can also find it without installing anything.

I know that I can find the battery temperature in the IOregistry, e.g. using IORegistryExplorer (in /Developer/Applications/Utilities if you install dev tools). I don't remember where to look for the CPU temperature, and I'm not even sure if I ever knew it.
 
AbhiKap55 said:
Hello, AbhiKap here

I just got a brand new 13 inch MacBook Pro mid 2012 model running Mountain Lion (10.8.2) How can I check how hot the CPU is without any third party software? Also, what temperature (in Fahrenheit) is normal?

Thanks, Help is greatly apprecited
Click to expand...
That's an easy one. Apple's run hot.

If your's feels warm to hot, you know it's a genuine Apple.

No need for any extra time loading software and such, it will survive just fine.

Just ignore the heat and enjoy it. :)
 
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