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Just got MacBook Pro, overheating like crazy

Z

zoomvroom89

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 29, 2008
21
0
Hi,

I just got back from the apple store with a new macbook pro. I turn it on, and after 5 minutes, its overheating like crazy. smcfanControl says its running at around 52 degrees Celsius. Is this normal? I can barely put it on my lap.

Thanks.
 
iSpoody 1243 said:
well it is a notebook not a laptop, thus meaning it is not meant to ever be used on your lap.
Click to expand...

My MBP lives on my lap

What apps are you running?

Gaming will cause it to run hot... so does running Windows virtual
Watching movies, downloading torrents, etc will too

Woof, Woof - Dawg
pawprint.gif
 
depends on what you're doing. it is kind of high for average use, but if you're doing some video compression or something it may get that hot. how hot is it when idle?
 
I believe the term used is a "portable." As for the temp, 52C is absolutely normal for a MBP. When I had mine it almost got up to 100C sitting on the bed, so it's much better to put it on a flat surface where air can circulate.
 
zoomvroom89 said:
Hi,

I just got back from the apple store with a new macbook pro. I turn it on, and after 5 minutes, its overheating like crazy. smcfanControl says its running at around 52 degrees Celsius. Is this normal? I can barely put it on my lap.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Yes, 52C is not bad. Yes it is a little on the higher side as compared to other laptops, but it is normal for an MBP. I don't think you need to worry.
 
Under normal/light load, 50C is an average temperature that I get. Nothing to worry about. Overheating is when the CPU reaches 110C or 100C, but you don't even need to worry about damage from that, since the MBP shuts itself off to prevent damage when it reaches that point.
 
With "light" usage (web browsing, IM, and iTunes) my CPU runs at around 55°C so you have nothing to worry about.
 
Sigh. I seem to be the only one who measures computer temperatures in F. :rolleyes:

Mine is usually 140F (~60C) and goes up to 150F. It's really hot.
 
zoomvroom89 said:
Hi,

I just got back from the apple store with a new macbook pro. I turn it on, and after 5 minutes, its overheating like crazy. smcfanControl says its running at around 52 degrees Celsius. Is this normal? I can barely put it on my lap.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


52°C is nothing to worry about. For a MBP this is perfectly normal unlike a PC user seems to worry about every single freakin degree, the Mac systems will work flawlessly right up to 100°C, and then some!! I know, cause mine runs constantly in the 80~90°C with a average room temp of 30°C+ (i'm in Japan, summers been warm)... Looking at your location, you've nothing to worry about.

Use it on your lap if you really want to, just don't complain when you get some sores, or you've become infertile could be just a rumour (what if it's true?)... People on those forums have warned you already. Enjoy the desktop replacement
 
Notebook, not laptop

I use a MacBook Pro, and had a PowerBook G4 before that. They run hot.
Really hot. If you use Vista via Boot Camp, the MBP may run even hotter.
I use an iLap from Rain Design and the heat transfer is adequate and the platform is comfortable.

If you're concerned, a small desk fan alongside the computer is probably all you need to keep it cool enough to prevent overtemp failures.
 
New one for me

I just got a MBP 15" 2.4 from my new job. super happy with it and i love my new company for giving me a MBP. now what am i going to do with my 13" MacBook
 
Add me to the chorus of "not overheating". 52C is fine. My iMac is at that right now. My wife's MacBook regularly reaches 65C.

Get worried when the temperature gets in the 90C range.
 
zoomvroom89 said:
Hi,

I just got back from the apple store with a new macbook pro. I turn it on, and after 5 minutes, its overheating like crazy. smcfanControl says its running at around 52 degrees Celsius. Is this normal? I can barely put it on my lap.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

lol I love how people say something insane like "It overheats like crazy!!!11!1" when the computer is actually at its notmal idle temp. The term "overheat" means the computer gets so hot it shuts down - then and only then you need to worry about temp. Its an Apple, after all - not some home-built computer where you need to monitor temps every second to make sure it works right.
 
I'm web surfing right now, running iTunes, Firefox 3.01, and Mail, got the MBP 2.2 SR sitting on my lap running comfortably at 41-43C, smcFanControl idling both fans with a "real light cooling" speed of 2500 rpm. I'm running on battery at the moment, but when I'm charging the battery, the bottom of the MBP gets warmer to the touch, which is to be expected.
 
I keep my fans around 4000 RPM and I get around 35-40C with normal use. When I'm doing some video editing or other hardware intensive stuff it will raise to 50's.
 
eXan said:
lol I love how people say something insane like "It overheats like crazy!!!11!1" when the computer is actually at its notmal idle temp. The term "overheat" means the computer gets so hot it shuts down - then and only then you need to worry about temp. Its an Apple, after all - not some home-built computer where you need to monitor temps every second to make sure it works right.
Click to expand...

Thats what happens when PC users "switch."
Old habits are hard to break.
 
52ºC is a normal considering the ambient temperature in many rooms is hotter. Unless you live in the basement or a freezer, that's normal.
 
alphaod said:
52ºC is a normal considering the ambient temperature in many rooms is hotter. Unless you live in the basement or a freezer, that's normal.
Click to expand...

Wow, I've never been in a normal room with a temp of 52C/128F. That's HOT!

I generally run at around 53C/129F except when I tax it pretty hard. I've gotten it up to 82C/180F before, but that was pretty busy processing.
 
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