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Is it true that better to leave MBP open than in clamshell for ventilation?

E

ejosepha

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 12, 2009
283
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I visited the Genius Bar at an Apple Store in Paris today and was told that even though my MBP 17" is attached to a 30" ACD, it is better to leave the computer open than in the closed clamshell position because ventilation intake occurs through and around the keyboard area. I haven't notice that temperatures go up at all in the clamshell position but the Genius recommended leaving the computer open. My desk would be cleaner and neater if leaving the computer closed makes no real difference. But if it really is semi-dangerous or harder on the machine I could leave it open.
Any confirmations or advice concerning this?
thanks
 
It was true on the older models, but the unibodies have a layer of plastic right behind the keyboard. The claim that ventilation occurs through this layer of plastic is more or less a myth.

It does increase the surface area available for convection cooling, but that's about it.
 
miles01110 said:
It was true on the older models, but the unibodies have a layer of plastic right behind the keyboard. The claim that ventilation occurs through this layer of plastic is more or less a myth.

It does increase the surface area available for convection cooling, but that's about it.
Click to expand...

So ventilation is the same whether closed or open?
 
If your not seeing high temps with it closed then continue to do so. It also protects it from mess on your desk, such as drinks and food. That is if you commit those sins while using an apple product lol. The 17" have very good cooling compared to the others due to the size of them.

All the way back to the later G4 aluminum laptops they were fitted with plastic under the keyboards, so ventilation would be lessoned by this.
 
My 17" MBP is usually connected to my monitor in straight clamshell mode and it's fine. Download smcFanControl and set it to the menu bar so you can monitor your temperature.

I've played games like StarCraft II and been perfectly fine.
 
Minimoose 360 said:
My 17" MBP is usually connected to my monitor in straight clamshell mode and it's fine. Download smcFanControl and set it to the menu bar so you can monitor your temperature.

I've played games like StarCraft II and been perfectly fine.
Click to expand...

I use IStat Pro and haven't seen any tremendous difference in temps, though when I have downloaded large files, like films, I do notice that the fans come on after a while and I don't remember that they did this previously. Other than that, I haven't seen any big difference in temperatures. The guy at the Apple Store just recommended this for general ventilation and cooling purposes.
Perhaps for large file downloads and other heavier work it might be better to leave the computer open, and then leave it shut in clamshell for day to day work; but if you are playing video games in clamshell I can't imagine it making a big difference open or shut.
 
I use my MacBook Pro in a BookArc and have not noticed it any hotter than it is when in my lap. As a side-note, apparently running the MacBook in clamshell can boost performance.

Along with a stunning design and improved ergonomics, BookArc can actually boost the performance of your laptop. When your MacBook is running closed in the BookArc, your machine will automatically dedicate 100% of its video memory to the external display - instead of splitting it with the internal display. You’ll enjoy a noticeable speed increase when working in Photoshop, Aperture, iPhoto and other graphics-intensive applications. So can a notebook stand really speed up your MacBook? If it’s a BookArc, the answer is yes.
Click to expand...


(Via TwelveSouth)
 
TheMacFeed said:
I use my MacBook Pro in a BookArc and have not noticed it any hotter than it is when in my lap. As a side-note, apparently running the MacBook in clamshell can boost performance.




(Via TwelveSouth)
Click to expand...
The gentleman at Apple suggested turning the display off by diminishing the light to the last stop and leave the computer open. I am going to test temperatures doing it both ways to see if there is any difference at all performing the same workloads.
 
ejosepha said:
The gentleman at Apple suggested turning the display off by diminishing the light to the last stop and leave the computer open. I am going to test temperatures doing it both ways to see if there is any difference at all performing the same workloads.
Click to expand...

I would not worry about it. It is designed to run in clamshell mode.
 
ejosepha said:
I visited the Genius Bar at an Apple Store in Paris today and was told that even though my MBP 17" is attached to a 30" ACD, it is better to leave the computer open than in the closed clamshell position because ventilation intake occurs through and around the keyboard area. I haven't notice that temperatures go up at all in the clamshell position but the Genius recommended leaving the computer open. My desk would be cleaner and neater if leaving the computer closed makes no real difference. But if it really is semi-dangerous or harder on the machine I could leave it open.
Any confirmations or advice concerning this?
thanks
Click to expand...

I've tried it extensively both ways and looked at temps carefully. If there is a difference, it is very small. If you want to be more aggressive with the fans, use smcfancontrol.
 
ejosepha said:
The gentleman at Apple suggested turning the display off by diminishing the light to the last stop and leave the computer open.
Click to expand...
It's important to remember that Apple refers to its tech support people as "Geniuses". That's only their job title, and not a description of their knowledge or intelligence level. Don't believe everything they tell you. In this case, you were mislead.
 
ejosepha said:
I visited the Genius Bar at an Apple Store in Paris today and was told that even though my MBP 17" is attached to a 30" ACD, it is better to leave the computer open than in the closed clamshell position because ventilation intake occurs through and around the keyboard area. I haven't notice that temperatures go up at all in the clamshell position but the Genius recommended leaving the computer open. My desk would be cleaner and neater if leaving the computer closed makes no real difference. But if it really is semi-dangerous or harder on the machine I could leave it open.
Any confirmations or advice concerning this?
thanks
Click to expand...


He is not a real Genius ... an imposter Genius ... lol

Your Mac was designed to run in Clamshell mode ... there is no venting coming through the keyboard ... it is perfectly safe to continue running in Clamshell :cool:
 
From time to time I use my MBP in clamshell mode and the temp goes up only slightly, nothing to worry about.
What really annoyes me though is that when it's in clamshell and I'm downloading something big, or loading a video from youtube or facebook, the mouse will become all laggy and it won't respond correctly.
This happens only on wifi, not if I'm connected with an ethernet cable.
And only with magic mouse, not usb mouse.
Am I the only one?
 
ejosepha said:
I visited the Genius Bar at an Apple Store in Paris today and was told that even though my MBP 17" is attached to a 30" ACD, it is better to leave the computer open than in the closed clamshell position because ventilation intake occurs through and around the keyboard area. I haven't notice that temperatures go up at all in the clamshell position but the Genius recommended leaving the computer open. My desk would be cleaner and neater if leaving the computer closed makes no real difference. But if it really is semi-dangerous or harder on the machine I could leave it open.
Any confirmations or advice concerning this?
thanks
Click to expand...

Strange! Why do so many people use iSkin-like keyboard covers and not have any sign of a hotter running MacBook? That is, in a sense, covering the keyboard just as much as the screen would in clamshell mode if not more.
 
TheMacFeed said:
Strange! Why do so many people use iSkin-like keyboard covers and not have any sign of a hotter running MacBook? That is, in a sense, covering the keyboard just as much as the screen would in clamshell mode if not more.
Click to expand...
That's because the so-called "Genius" is giving his personal advice, as opposed to "Apple" advice. Clamshell mode is fine, as are keyboard protectors.
 
Apple OC said:
He is not a real Genius ... an imposter Genius ... lol

Your Mac was designed to run in Clamshell mode ... there is no venting coming through the keyboard ... it is perfectly safe to continue running in Clamshell :cool:
Click to expand...

there is No air coming in or out of the Keyboard :cool:
 
Apple OC said:
there is No air coming in or out of the Keyboard :cool:
Click to expand...
If the computer is running only slightly hotter in clamshell as opposed to open, as stated by a few people above, what would account for that if there should be no difference at all? Perhaps, as one poster suggested, it would just be more surface exposed externally.
 
the little bit of difference is because of the Hinge area ... when open it lets a bit more air get to the hinge area ... the keyboard actually has a plastic shield under the keys where air cannot pass through. :cool:
 
If you're worried about it download smcFanControl for when you're really pushing the computer but your MBP can handle it just fine without. For what it's worth, I've used my Santa Rosa MBP in clamshell mode on and off for the last 3 years and it's perfectly fine.
 
Apple OC said:
the little bit of difference is because of the Hinge area ... when open it lets a bit more air get to the hinge area ... the keyboard actually has a plastic shield under the keys where air cannot pass through. :cool:
Click to expand...

Does that mean that liquids spilled on the keyboard won't reach the interior of the MBP? I can see where syrupy liquids could gum up the keys, but turning over the MBP immediately to drain the keyboard, then rinsing well with distilled water, and draining should clear that.
 
get a cool pad. summer here in my region is like 100 - 110 and without the cool pad my 15 inch can cook an egg on it.
 
I have my MBP hooked up to a 24" LCD and when I close it, the display turns off. I just always assumed there was no way to get it external display only, closed.

How do you get it to work?
 
I would not be worried about the internals of your computer. They will take the heat. I can get my CPU temp up to 100˚C if I really try (Using normal software, not by doing stupid stuff like blocking vents, lol) according to iStat Pro.

What I would be worried about is the screen. When I push my computer (see sig) the metal bezel just above the keyboard gets too hot to touch. I don't like the idea of the bottom of my screen being 2mm away from that.
 
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