Is it okay to run with lid closed all the time?

[belvdr]

I have found that my wireless and bluetooth performance is less when in clamshell mode...I have not noticed any significant spike through iStat with the lid closed. My WiFi is significantly faster with the lid open.

It's a polarity thing. The antennas are in the display, so when you close it they are horizontally polarized. However, if you notice most AP antennas are vertical, so you get better performance when your display is open and thus closer to the polarization of the AP antenna.

 

[belvdr]

Except it's a fact that the macbooks run hotter when closed, because they get the air that goes through the vent from the keyboard.

See Dr.Devious' post above. If it's a fact, then why isn't his/her machine getting hotter?

I still haven't heard/seen of any Apple doc that says clamshell is bad for your machine. Again, until Apple says "don't do this" (which I doubt since they tell you how to do it), all of this is just opinion and nothing more.

 

[leodavinci0]

I've been doing it for years

Using my Powerbook for 3 years or so actually, as a media center, lid closed constantly. I use it for a couple hours a day like this. When I do detach it and take it on trips I've noticed no differences, and the screen is just the same (still one pixel stuck red). Can't say for the Macbook, but I would assume it isn't to dissimilar.

 

[Nocturnal22]

yea it can run closed but the macbook does breath throught the keyboard so it could heat up more when its closed all the time

 

[Knolly]

I never said it wasn't possible, I said the Macbook isn't meant to run while closed. If it weren't possible this thread would have been a lot shorter.

You said...

You have to use a hack to do it. This is an idiotic question, simply because of that fact.

He just linked to an Apple support document instructing you how to do it. How exactly is that a "hack"?

I am currently running my Macbook with the lid closed and connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Wow. I have some hacking skills.

Anyhow...

@The OP
Yes, it is perfectly fine to run your Macbook with the lid closed. I run mine almost exclusively in closed lid mode, with the computer IN A DRAWER. It doesn't increase the temperature or anything, and even if it did, thinking that is a bad thing is a misconception. The reason why we can check the temperature of the innards of our computer is because it has temperature sensors inside to automatically shut itself off if it reaches 100 degrees C to protect itself.

Point being: The computer is made to run in closed lid mode. It is certainly fine to run it that way all of the time.

As mentioned, the WiFi signal is weaker when the lid is closed because the antenna runs along the frame of the monitor. If you got a vertical stand for the notebook this problem would be negated though.

 

[dr.devious]

I am going to do an experiment...

My MacBook Alum 2.0GHz w/ 4GB RAM sitting on Mstand...I am going to rip Twilight for my wife, twice. Once with the lid closed and another open.

 

[dr.devious]

Had to change films since Twilight would not rip....ripping Training Day.

With lid open
Before starting handbrake
CPU 128F
Heatsink A 123F
Heatsink B 117F

Range through ripping
CPU 172-178F
Heatsink A 163-167F
Heatsink B 138-142F

With lid closed
Before starting handbrake
CPU 128F
Heatsink A 123F
Heatsink B 117F

Range Through Ripping
CPU 164-169F
Heatsink A 149-153F
Heatsink B 137-139F

It appears that lid closed has cooler temps.

 

[Davy.Shalom]

Lid open for better cooling.

 

[dr.devious]

Updated results.

 

[theDUB]

if you watch nascar...

No thanks.

...INCREASE performance and aerodynamics.

I am definitely very concerned with the aerodynamics of my computer.

 

[268144]

Question : why would you want to use it with the lid closed on an external? losing 1280x800 pixels of work space is a bit unproductive don't you think?

 

[zotes24]

i run with mine closed AND with incase hardshell and i notice that the fans sometimes speed up to 4000 rpm for no reason, but then they go back down

 

[Chase R]

i run with mine closed AND with incase hardshell and i notice that the fans sometimes speed up to 4000 rpm for no reason, but then they go back down

Could be when browsing the web and then you come across a site that relies heavily on Flash... Flash on a Mac SUCKS... it really runs the processor.

My buddies Black MacBook starts whizzing like crazy when on a Flash-heavy site.

 

[elfxmilhouse]

Lid open for better cooling.

not according to the post right before yours:

Had to change films since Twilight would not rip....ripping Training Day.

With lid open
Before starting handbrake
CPU 128F
Heatsink A 123F
Heatsink B 117F

Range through ripping
CPU 172-178F
Heatsink A 163-167F
Heatsink B 138-142F

With lid closed
Before starting handbrake
CPU 128F
Heatsink A 123F
Heatsink B 117F

Range Through Ripping
CPU 164-169F
Heatsink A 149-153F
Heatsink B 137-139F

It appears that lid closed has cooler temps.

im gonna do this test as well.


The argument that the laptop MAY run hotter with the lid closed is understandable and/or possible. however the fact that it SHOULDN'T be done is not yet proved.

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Had to change films since Twilight would not rip....ripping Training Day.

With lid open
Before starting handbrake
CPU 128F
Heatsink A 123F
Heatsink B 117F

Range through ripping
CPU 172-178F
Heatsink A 163-167F
Heatsink B 138-142F

With lid closed
Before starting handbrake
CPU 128F
Heatsink A 123F
Heatsink B 117F

Range Through Ripping
CPU 164-169F
Heatsink A 149-153F
Heatsink B 137-139F

It appears that lid closed has cooler temps.

dr.devious

Those are very informative results. I think that running in clamshell mode for short term should be okay. I wonder what the A/B test results would be during three continuious Handbrake rips, nonstop.

There are no vents under the laptop so raising it up off the table is pointless.

 

[tubbymac]

It appears that lid closed has cooler temps.

Nifty results. Thanks for the testing. I always suspected this was the case as the screen is off and the exhaust is unobstructed out the back when closed, but nice to see some confirmation.

 

[zotes24]

i run with mine closed AND with incase hardshell and i notice that the fans sometimes speed up to 4000 rpm for no reason, but then they go back down

i figured out the problem. i have an external display and the stand curves back so i can push the macbook under the display. But i pushed it back too far and it was blocking the rear vent. so i pulled it out a little more and now its fine.

 

[crazyxzer0]

Looking at the design of the macbook vents, it seems that it has enough ventilation when the lid is closed. I do notice differences in temperature if I am using an external monitor though. I presume it is mainly because the monitor is 1920x1080 vs the 1280x800 on the laptop screen. Usually its CPU during normal use is around 128F where on the external HDTV running 1920x1080 resolution its around 140F.

Note, I do have a keyboard cover but it doesn't seem to hurt normal daily use of my macbook.

 

[Knolly]

Updated results.

THANK YOU. It's great to have actual numbers for once. Many thanks for that.

Question : why would you want to use it with the lid closed on an external? losing 1280x800 pixels of work space is a bit unproductive don't you think?

Desk space.

Well, that and OCD-like needs for everything to be neat and orderly.

This is my computer setup:

While I could theoretically have a stand or just have the laptop sitting there to the right, this setup gives me a giant screen and when I need to use the desk for something non-computer related (I'm a college student, I only have one desk...), I can tuck away the keyboard and move the mousepad (which I'm considering putting away 24/7 anyways, haha) and I have a very generous amount of desk space. If I REALLY needed more I can scoot back my monitor, speakers, etc.

As for the OCDness, compared to this, having the notebook on my desk as well would have a number of wires sprawling everywhere, etc.

 

[jedijoe]

!!!!! keep the lid open!
Macbooks are not meant to run closed (period)

Utter crap. I only run my 2.4Ghz unibody macbook in "clamshell" mode, except when I am traveling.

I run it closed connected to a 24" Apple LED Cinema Display @ work, and closed connected to a 30" Apple Cinema Display @ home.

Clamshell mode is even referenced in Apple support docs: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3131

 

[IrishSniper87]

I would rather put the external next to my macbook and rock both screens at once. However, in college, it took up my whole desk, so I had to do most work at the kitchen table or library.

BUT 2 displays makes writing papers CRAZY easy since you can have an entire screen devoted to word processing and the external with 2 webpages at once.

1280x800 is a lot of real estate to lose, is the MacBook screen really that bad? Haha

 

[tubbymac]

1280x800 is a lot of real estate to lose, is the MacBook screen really that bad? Haha

In my case, yes it really is. Whenever I hook my Macbook up to my external S-IPS monitor, the difference in quality is so glaringly obvious I have to close my machine to clamshell mode so that it doesn't bug me

 

[Skika]

Im running my UMBP in clamshell most of the day and the temps are regulary at 50 C, when doing some proc heavy apps it gets to maximum 70C.

Is that ok as far as the screen goes? I dont want to mess my screen up but i really like using it the way i use it.

 

[Theirishjoey]

You should be fine but like someone else said keep it on a stand or something so that the heat can escape.

I mean apple give you a way of doing it out of the box and they wouldn't do that unless they had tested it.

 

[leodavinci0]

Update, it does hurt the screen, but takes a couple years

Thought I'd update on my previous post.

I've had my 12" PB for 6 years now, and have run it closed everyday for the last 3 years straight. Since I use it as a media center now, it basically gets hot every day for a couple hours. Yesterday while starting it up I noticed the central lower part of the screen, distributed from the center down in the rough shape of a triangle was darker than the rest of the screen. This is the area that would feel most the heat from the fans and base. It took long enough, but it seems clamshell mode can affect the screen over a long time. Mind you, it is not very noticeable unless there is only one color on the screen.