I'm in a dorm room without airconditioning so we have about 4 fans running and I have had my MBP fans on 6000RPM for a while since I can't hear them because of the other fans. Is that a problem? Or will it damage the fans in anyway?
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Is it bad to run the fans at 6000RPM all of the time?
- Thread starter orangeillini14
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My sources point to yes. That would be putting a LOT of stress on your fans and they are mechanical. The more you use of something mechanical like a fan its bound to get weaker.
You have checked your temp, right? to be sure that you need to have your fans running so much? I've heard that changing fans isn't difficult. I would rather keep my computer cool and have to replace my fans than to have something much more serious occur. But, yeah, you should probably consider a cooling pad.
That's not an adequate analogy. That would mean that the processor speed was directly related to the fan speed, and it's not.
No I was saying would running the engine at 6000RPM in terms of wear rather than in power.
Ok, it actually took me that long to figure out what you were saying! Yes, it may wear out the fan, but ultimately the health of the hard drive is the most important concern.No I was saying would running the engine at 6000RPM in terms of wear rather than in power.
(How am I doin' here captain?)
No I was saying would running the engine at 6000RPM in terms of wear rather than in power.
A gasoline engine and a brushless electric motor are two VERY different things. Those fan motors will run until their motor bearings fail, which will probably take at least 50,000 hours, possibly more. Assuming you run your fans all the time, they will probably fail after about 5-6 years. Since you would turn off or sleep the machine while you go to sleep, it will be more like 6-8 years. And that's assuming you never sleep/shut off the machine while you are awake, and only sleep 6 hours every night. Both are unreasonable, so your fans will probably last get 7 years. Actually, the cooler will fail long before than due to dust clogging it, unless you clean it. Personally, I wouldn't want the machine after 7 years anyway.
Remember, you are not really speeding your fans up. PWM fans do not speed up, they slow down. Computer fans are meant to run at full power all the time. PWM fans are designed to slow down when not needed, to extend their life beyond the normal MTBF, and reduce noise.
fans fail like anything else. Dust, heat, and moisture take it's toll.
I've seen plenty of electric motors burn out.
50,000 hrs? a bit optimistic I would think.
No, not at all. That's the rated lifespan of most computer fans, aside from the cheap ones with sleeve bearings.
You do know the difference between a brushed and brushless electric motor, right?
Yes. added stress to the fans itself, the power draw, and whatever else. I bought an antec chillpad and my MBP's been running at around 2500 rpm on average.
http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/4_Wire_PWM_Spec.pdf
There you go. Not only is a 50,000+ hour lifespan at full power possible, it's required.
There you go. Not only is a 50,000+ hour lifespan at full power possible, it's required.
I was thinking this.
I like in the UK normally. It's cold. It rains. My fans are never on.
I'm in Italy for the summer and my fans are constantly on, my MacBook is burning hot. These are things it's never experienced before.
Then I thought, but SF is quite hot, surely Apple can hear the fans running. Then I remembered the US has Air Conditioning everywhere.
Well.. He's a little message to the guys at Apple R&D. I love your sleek hardware - but please test the things in a room with open windows and no aircon.
I like in the UK normally. It's cold. It rains. My fans are never on.
I'm in Italy for the summer and my fans are constantly on, my MacBook is burning hot. These are things it's never experienced before.
Then I thought, but SF is quite hot, surely Apple can hear the fans running. Then I remembered the US has Air Conditioning everywhere.
Well.. He's a little message to the guys at Apple R&D. I love your sleek hardware - but please test the things in a room with open windows and no aircon.
Honestly guys, I don't know where this discussion/argument is going. Speaking from experience my MBP has been on constantly for about 12 months, both fans are constantly whirling around averaging 3000-4000rpm, recently closer to 4500-5500rpm (Japan is damn hot!) and they're still working fine! I have them set to a highish speed to avoid over heating when rendering work, I use SMCfanControl to override Apple's default thermal settings.
Anyway, the average Joe will have his or her MB/MBP replaced long before the fans wear out!! And if they ware out during your service time, Apple will replace them at a minimal charge assuming you have AppleCare - if not it doesn't take much searching to find spare parts online.
FYI: There are loads of ageing old PowerBooks (non alu) out there and many of them are still running smoothly, their fans still work even thought they're filled with dust and grime. And you bozo's are moaning about your Mac that's barely a year old?
Anyway, the average Joe will have his or her MB/MBP replaced long before the fans wear out!! And if they ware out during your service time, Apple will replace them at a minimal charge assuming you have AppleCare - if not it doesn't take much searching to find spare parts online.
FYI: There are loads of ageing old PowerBooks (non alu) out there and many of them are still running smoothly, their fans still work even thought they're filled with dust and grime. And you bozo's are moaning about your Mac that's barely a year old?
I can attest to this. The fans in my old TiBook are still going strong. Recently cleaned them out since I had to change a hinge, and they sound like new again after almost 5 years and 3 continents.
