My iMac 27" (2010) with an i7 870, on windows 10, keeps exceeding safe operating temperature (72 degrees) and sometimes going up to 90 degrees. The CPU is operating at 70 degrees, which is already almost past safe operating temperature. I've replaced the thermal paste already, but it didn't do much. Is this fixable? If it is, how?
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iM 4,1-14,4 iMac (2010) thermal problems
- Thread starter coolc
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Although on the macOS side there’s Macs Fan Control, it’s possible the Fan Control project might be what you need when booted into Win 10.
The fan control really didn't help that much. I think it's because of the iMac being on for a long time. Is there any way that I can make the iMac shut down at 72 degrees?
I don’t know. That would probably require specific software designed to do just that. I am not aware of one.
For what it’s worth 72°C, for a C2D CPU, is far from the limit of its thermal tolerances.
To wit, my 2.6GHz Penryn C2D CPU, in my early 2008 MacBook Pro, is in a case notorious for getting very hot (but still functional) — so hot that many users of that era of MacBook Pros reported thigh burns on their lap. A couple of years ago, I applied additional passive cooling measures to bring down idle CPU and GPU temperatures — mostly to prevent burning my own thighs! Before I did the modification, the system’s CPU die sat at 64°C; the GPU at idle was 70°C (this was during the winter, as well).
A system will only self-shut down if CPU operating temperatures exceed 100°. Reaching that temperature is easier to do when a computer is clogged with years of dust and blocked exhaust grilles, but even if a thermal shutdown happens once, the CPU is designed to shutdown as a self-protective measure.
I have a question to ask you.
Before you applied new thermal paste to your iMac, had you done thermal pasting on prior computers?
Whether or not you have, a couple of considerations to re-examine:
- Verify the fasteners holding the heat sink to the CPU/GPU assembly are firmly seated and all screws are properly snug;
- On the thermal paste itself — what was the method and quantity you used for application, as well as which thermal paste you used.
I put the fasteners and screws correctly, and I put a pea-sized dot of Arctic MX-4.
Also for MacOS, I downgraded to 10.13 and it seems to do the trick. Now with fan control and 10.13, it idles at 55-60 degrees. I think the temps are good enough now. Thanks.
Also for MacOS, I downgraded to 10.13 and it seems to do the trick. Now with fan control and 10.13, it idles at 55-60 degrees. I think the temps are good enough now. Thanks.