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i5 - i7 noticable heat and fan noise thread. The concensous is >

I think its luck of the draw. When I got my i7 1.8 it idled at 60c. Then it came down to 50c now it idles at 39c. I think the thermal paste needs time to set then its smooth sailing. Glad I kept the 1.8 i7, its a screamer and seems to be running very cool.
 
Apple Expert said:
They matched apples 100 gift card offer. But they didn't know how to apply it to purchase so they just took 100 off the price. I didn't get on the triple reward zone event, but I think most would rather pay less than have a gift card.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Well darn, I wish I'd seen that. I would have just bitten on the higher end 13" config if it came with a gift card or a bigger price drop.
 
magbarn said:
I seriously doubt it as Intel took that ability away starting with the clarkdale i5/i7's. No one on either the OSX/Win7 side has been able to alter voltages on i5/i7 without BIOS support and I doubt Apple will be giving us that any time soon.
Click to expand...

That really, really sucks. :( But, not surprised, as it would be yet another stupid move from Intel. Being able to undervolt the CPU is a H.U.G.E.(!!) thing when working on ultraportables like the MacBook Air, because you'll get a very cool and quiet machine *as well as* lots of CPU power.
 
BJonson said:
I think its luck of the draw. When I got my i7 1.8 it idled at 60c. Then it came down to 50c now it idles at 39c. I think the thermal paste needs time to set then its smooth sailing. Glad I kept the 1.8 i7, its a screamer and seems to be running very cool.
Click to expand...

39c sounds normal...glad it came down because 60c sounds WAY too hot...I'd have assumed the design coudln't really handle the CPU if it continued that!
 
Day 3 with a 13" Macbook Air i7...

I've only used it in environments with some amount of ambient noise (at home with air filter running, and on the train), so I haven't heard the fan running at all unless I put my ear close to the fan. Unless you work in a silent environment you will probably rarely notice the fan noise. During normal usage (i.e. web browsing with Click2Flash) iStat reports my CPU temp is around 52C, fan around 2-3k RPM.

CPU got fairly hot while playing Team Fortress 2 (~83C, 5-6K RPM), but it was not really noticeable to the touch. However when I was compiling some code (using Homebrew to install some packages) it was practically too hot to touch around the upper-left region of the keyboard. It was around 90C and 6500RPM, but quickly dropped back to ~50C within a couple of minutes after the compiling completed.
 
In same boat.

I also purchased an ultimate 13" i7 Air. I've been using it almost two weeks. I've been debating this issue every since the first day. When installing my apps (XCode and MPlayerX) and Win 7 via boot camp, I noticed the fans did ramp up and the machine definitely became audible. My office is relatively quiet but not silent. On a day to day basis, I mostly use this machine for XCode development. Doing development and web browsing, it is absolutely quiet and cool. I'm also running a U2711 via a mini-display port to displayport adapter and a mouse connected via bluetooth.

Yesterday, I decide to test the machine more and play a 1080p HD mkv will developing. After about 10 minutes or so, the machine became audible. With the caveat that I'm not particularly sensitive to a warm keyboard coming from years and years of PC laptop development, the keyboard was a little warm but not uncomfortable.

Long story short, I went and bought an additional 13" i5 Air today for comparison. I've set it up exactly the same. It also got a bit noisy during setup. Now that it is setup, I'm running my same video and development scenario. Low and behold the result is...the i5 is also running the fan and a bit noisy. Using iStat the fan is at about 4800rpm and CPU at 74c. For me this test is pretty conclusive. The fan noise is about the same for both machines for me. Also, the heat seems about the same too.

To sum it up, both machines have been noisy while installing a lot of software. Both machines have been noisy while running an external high-resolution monitor and playing a 1080p movie while developing. Both machines are very quiet and cool while coding, browsing, and such even if there are driving an external monitor, as long as a movie is not playing also.

I know this "test" will upset some so I'll go ahead and apologize now for running this test at the expense of wasting a new machine. Hopefully, this post will help others make their decision without such waste.

At the end of the day, it's likely I'll be returning the i5. Regardless, both machines in my opinion are excellent. Except for the rare occasion that I'm working the machine hard by installing a bunch of software, watching an HD movie on it via an external monitor while simultaneously doing a bunch of other work, they are very quiet and cool. Also the battery life has been excellent.

P.S. The test is still running now as I write this post, the i5 is at 73c and fan at 5100rpm.
 
Last edited:
Swerrrvin said:
I also purchased an ultimate 13" i7 Air. I've been using it almost two weeks. I've been debating this issue every since the first day. When installing my apps (XCode and MPlayerX) and Win 7 via boot camp, I noticed the fans did ramp up and the machine definitely became audible. My office is relatively quiet but not silent. On a day to day basis, I mostly use this machine for XCode development. Doing development and web browsing, it is absolutely quiet and cool. I'm also running a U2711 via a mini-display port to displayport adapter and a mouse connected via bluetooth.

Yesterday, I decide to test the machine more and play a 1080p HD mkv will developing. After about 10 minutes or so, the machine became audible. With the caveat that I'm not particularly sensitive to a warm keyboard coming from years and years of PC laptop development, the keyboard was a little warm but not uncomfortable.

Long story short, I went and bought an additional 13" i5 Air today for comparison. I've set it up exactly the same. It also got a bit noisy during setup. Now that it is setup, I'm running my same video and development scenario. Low and behold the result is...the i5 is also running the fan and a bit noisy. Using iStat the fan is at about 4800rpm and CPU at 74c. For me this test is pretty conclusive. The fan noise is about the same for both machines for me. Also, the heat seems about the same too.

To sum it up, both machines have been noisy while installing a lot of software. Both machines have been noisy while running an external high-resolution monitor and playing a 1080p movie while developing. Both machines are very quiet and cool while coding, browsing, and such even if there are driving an external monitor, as long as a movie is not playing also.

I know this "test" will upset some so I'll go ahead and apologize now for running this test at the expense of wasting a new machine. Hopefully, this post will help others make their decision without such waste.

At the end of the day, it's likely I'll be returning the i5. Regardless, both machines in my opinion are excellent. Except for the rare occasion that I'm working the machine hard by installing a bunch of software, watching an HD movie on it via an external monitor while simultaneously doing a bunch of other work, they are very quiet and cool. Also the battery life has been excellent.

P.S. The test is still running now as I write this post, the i5 is at 73c and fan at 5100rpm.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. Seems like people are getting mixed results here. Have you decided which one your going to keep?
 
dtjm said:
Day 3 with a 13" Macbook Air i7...

I've only used it in environments with some amount of ambient noise (at home with air filter running, and on the train), so I haven't heard the fan running at all unless I put my ear close to the fan. Unless you work in a silent environment you will probably rarely notice the fan noise. During normal usage (i.e. web browsing with Click2Flash) iStat reports my CPU temp is around 52C, fan around 2-3k RPM.

CPU got fairly hot while playing Team Fortress 2 (~83C, 5-6K RPM), but it was not really noticeable to the touch. However when I was compiling some code (using Homebrew to install some packages) it was practically too hot to touch around the upper-left region of the keyboard. It was around 90C and 6500RPM, but quickly dropped back to ~50C within a couple of minutes after the compiling completed.
Click to expand...

same readings here. ~49-54c when casual surfing (5 tabs, click to flash on, safari).

Goes up to 70-80c when doing more proc heavy stuff..

Side note:
Using apps like itunes / songbird to play music in background takes up abt 5% CPU power, and temperatures immediately rise about 4c or so.
 
This was one of my main complaint for 2011 mbp 15.
Honestly, people like me should not buy these laptops. Technology to completely dissipate heat while keeping up w/ today's current processing power is just not available at this point -- not to mention while keeping great apple laptop's sleek aluminum look.
 
I had the i5 1.6 128GB ll.6 and exchanged it this afternoon for the i7 1.8 256GB 11.6. I needed the bigger drive it turned out. Since the Apple store only sells the 11.6 with the 256 and the Core i7 CPU, that's what I got. Anyway, it honestly doesn't seem to be running that much hotter than the i5. Currently, my temps are like 46C (iStat) but all I am really doing is web right now. Admittedly, I don't usually run that many "hardcore" apps - mostly, email, web, office and a writing program, although I will be Bootcamping it with Windows 7 Pro over the next couple days so maybe I'll notice it then. But, for now, I haven't noticed a huge heat difference. I have noticed that it is faster/snappier. Installing programs and such moved a bit faster as well.

So far I am happy but I will admit that its only been like 10 hours since I got it so I may regret it.... but probably not.
 
My i7 arrived yesterday, feels maybe a little warmer than my i5 was, CPU is currently sat at about 48degC, mail safari and twitter open
 
Personally I decided to exchange the 13" i7 for the 13" i5. I don't have a real need for the extra processing power, and it's only 8% anyway. The slightly lower heat and hopefully better battery times made the return make sense in my case.
 
i7 went back today.

i7 went back today. After one day with the i5, I don't think I perceive a processor performance difference. It does seem cooler and quieter though...
 
I've been using an 11-inch i5 and i7 side by side for a few days now. The i7 definitely averages around 5 degrees C hotter when idling or for simple tasks (mail, iTunes, Safari), but that's the CPU temp reading; the bottom and most of the others are only a degree different and sometimes cooler than the i5. When the processor is taxed, they seem the same and the i7 gets cooler faster.
 
I'm using Skype and safari only. CPU is 90% idle. i donno what the temp is but the top aluminum above the esc key to F10 is boiling!:eek: it feels uncomfortable putting my finger there for more than 10 sec
*I'm not sure if it's because i have a keyboard cover on top causing heat to stuck inside
 
I notice a difference when they are side by side; I have an i5 and i7 11. The i7 is faster opening apps and other tasks. Since I'm experiencing no increase in heat and often slightly less temperature compared to the i5 I think it's the luck of the draw with these.
 
My i7 just feels a bit more 'instant' doing everything than my i5 was.

Also, keyboard is one of the main places it vents other than the back.
 
Naturally I learn all this AFTER already ordering the 1.8.

Though...the price difference for me was only $90, for as much as 11% better performance. If I ever actually use this as a primary system, every bit will help!

It's still not as fast as a 13" Pro though with the 1.8, even though on paper it can clock as fast.
 
Hi All,

I've been reading this thread with interest as I am debating an i5 vs i7 13" MBA. I feel like an idiot even asking anything after all these pages, but all the anecdotal evidence confuses me.

So, if I get an i7 and watch a movie on iTunes, will the fan ramp up and be loud? How about for YouTube videos and web surfing, while word processing? People have written lots of tests but I'm trying to imaging daily vs more intensive use. I would mind a fan running constantly for low power tasks, but would expect it for high powered ones.

I will also occasionally run Ableton Live (a music program) off it, and I understand there would be fan noise at that point, but since I'd be running through speakers, I don't really care if I can get a few extra plugins going thanks to the i7.

I'm pretty clear on the heat (i7 is hotter; don't care), and battery (not much difference), and power (i7 is only a little better on processor intensive tasks, but that might matter to me).

Thanks for any insight.
 
JES said:
Hi All,

I've been reading this thread with interest as I am debating an i5 vs i7 13" MBA. I feel like an idiot even asking anything after all these pages, but all the anecdotal evidence confuses me.

So, if I get an i7 and watch a movie on iTunes, will the fan ramp up and be loud? How about for YouTube videos and web surfing, while word processing? People have written lots of tests but I'm trying to imaging daily vs more intensive use. I would mind a fan running constantly for low power tasks, but would expect it for high powered ones.

I will also occasionally run Ableton Live (a music program) off it, and I understand there would be fan noise at that point, but since I'd be running through speakers, I don't really care if I can get a few extra plugins going thanks to the i7.

I'm pretty clear on the heat (i7 is hotter; don't care), and battery (not much difference), and power (i7 is only a little better on processor intensive tasks, but that might matter to me).

Thanks for any insight.
Click to expand...

Which model? If you're looking at an 11", I think the 1.8GHz upgrade is basically a must have no brainer. It's cheap, it gives you a third better performance.

The 13" base CPU isn't such a big difference (although it's also a cheap upgrade), so there maybe it's worth thinking about.
 
Sorry if I wasn't clear. The 13" -- which isn't quite a no-brainer, which is why I'm asking. I'm mostly concerned about fan noise with everyday tasks (not audio or video rendering).
 
Mine's going back, probably.

I bought my 13" i5 MBA 2 days ago, hoping to replace my 13" Macbook Pro from late 2009. I love how the thing looks, and its INCREDIBLY fast, but at a price.

The thing gets hot way too easy for my tastes. I have set the MBA and the MBP side-to-side running the EXACT same flash video on the exact same browsers, with nothing running in the background, and compared the results.

The MBA flies to 80+ Temperatures right away, and then proceeds to crank up the fans at 5500+ RPM, causing it to sound like a vacuum cleaner, and being too damn hot to handle comfortably. Meanwhile, playing the same video, the MBP is also reaching 70+ degrees, but it manages to keep the fans at around 2000 RPM, not making a single sound unless I press my ear onto the chassis.

I know it's the ultra slim form factor preventing proper heat dissipation on the MBA, but I personally can't stand wielding a immensely hot or noisy laptop.
If that's the price I have to pay for ultra slim-ness, I prefer the slightly fatter Macbook Pro.

Just my 2 cents, i'm 99% sure i'm returning it.
 
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