Is this imac supposed to be this hot?

[jlyanks85]

After hours of continuous use, the imac gets pretty warm on the top. Is this normal since all the major parts are inside the monitor? Or is this something I have to worry about?

 

[Intell]

All perfectly normal, if it gets too hot the fans will rev up.

 

[PurrBall]

Yeah, the aluminum is used as a heatsink.

 

[armada120]

Yeah, the aluminum is used as a heatsink.

The aluminum is not used as a heatsink. There are two heatsinks; one for the CPU and one for the GPU. As a side effect of there being two hot pieces of metal inside an aluminum "oven" if you will, the aluminum heats up.

 

[mulo]

The aluminum is not used as a heatsink. There are two heatsinks; one for the CPU and one for the GPU. As a side effect of there being two hot pieces of metal inside an aluminum "oven" if you will, the aluminum heats up.

thus acting as a heatsink.

 

[harcosparky]

The aluminum is not used as a heatsink. There are two heatsinks; one for the CPU and one for the GPU. As a side effect of there being two hot pieces of metal inside an aluminum "oven" if you will, the aluminum heats up.

thus acting as a heatsink.

Yes, though the housing is not directly connected to any high heat generating components the fact that it is aluminum ( a rather fast thermal conductor ) it is helping to dissipate some of the heat generated inside the enclosure.

The top of the enclosure will be hotter then the lower side, after all heat rises!

 

[whoda]

Kind of amazing how much work must have been put into making such a sleek design. Quiet, elegant and logical.

 

[TMRaven]

The aluminum is not used as a heatsink. There are two heatsinks; one for the CPU and one for the GPU. As a side effect of there being two hot pieces of metal inside an aluminum "oven" if you will, the aluminum heats up.

In other words, a heat sink.