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Late 2007 MB fan constantly high
- Thread starter gngan
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Have you had a look in activity monitor to make sure there are no rogue processes? Make sure Show All Processes is selected from the drop down.
Whats rogue processes? I usually have 200-500 free MB.Have you had a look in activity monitor to make sure there are no rogue processes? Make sure Show All Processes is selected from the drop down.
I had a similar problem on my macbook. When watching youtube or doing anything remotely cpu intensive the fan revved up. I opened it up about 6 months ago to get rid of some surface dust but no improvement, so I thought it might be the thermal paste on the cpu. A few days ago I pulled it apart again and the heatsink was clogged with dust. Put some arctic silver 5 thermal paste on and now the fan has yet to rev like it used to.
- but check out what others have been saying first and leave the opening as a last resort (although it only took me about 35mins total).
- but check out what others have been saying first and leave the opening as a last resort (although it only took me about 35mins total).
try and download smcfancontrol and adjust fan speed.
but is problably dust in the fan.
they easy to open but make sure you keep track of the screws and location cause they all different.
here is a good guide to replace the fan but you only cleaning it.
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-MacBook-Core-2-Duo-Fan/522/1
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If theres no activity showing up as unusually high in the "% CPU" tab in activity monitor, then it could very well be dust. I had a similar problem, opened up my macbook, and found the air vents underneath the fan were clogged with dust (after 3 yrs of use im not surprised!).
But as someone said above, leave that as a last resort as it isnt the easiest thing in the world to do - lots of tiny fiddly screws!
But as someone said above, leave that as a last resort as it isnt the easiest thing in the world to do - lots of tiny fiddly screws!
You should try opening it up again to see if you can disassemble the fan. Your older MacBook should have the type of fan that you can take apart. The blades separate from the axle and you can spray some wd40 on it and get it working smoothly again.
edit:
http://nofilmschool.com/2009/02/how-to-fix-a-noisy-macbook-pro-fan/
edit:
http://nofilmschool.com/2009/02/how-to-fix-a-noisy-macbook-pro-fan/
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A rogue process is a process that is crashed or stuck in a loop. This can cause heavy CPU usage, in turn making your fans rev high.
Bu usually in cases like this it's dust casuing high temperatures and fan speeds. If you do manage to get into your MacBook you should also regrease your CPU with a quality compound like AS5.
Bu usually in cases like this it's dust casuing high temperatures and fan speeds. If you do manage to get into your MacBook you should also regrease your CPU with a quality compound like AS5.
start at the top of the keyboard and make your way down,if that does not work you have more screws on,try and do the steps again.
Assuming you removed all the screws properly - its actually harder than it looks - as long as you dont break the ribbon attaching the keyboard to the logic board, it 'should' sort of snap off with a tiny bit of force - use a flat item to help wedge it out of the sides - i was scared of breaking it too - but thankfully it went ok!
There is more play in the top left corner near the power adapter start there and work round. I've found that the only area you need to add a little force is the front left but with a little play it will come up.
But as was said by anotherarunan be careful with the ribbon that connects the top casing to the logic board.
But as was said by anotherarunan be careful with the ribbon that connects the top casing to the logic board.
So i did a little surgery on my MB. I manage to pull the keyboard cover out. I used hair dryer to blow out some surface dust. I wouldn't consider a lot of dust in there after 3 and a half years of primary computer. I put it back together and open a youtube page and the fan is on immediately (6xxxrpm). I guess it didn't work.
Youtube = Flash = CPU working hard = fan running. That would be normal. Did you actually ever follow people's advice and open Activity Monitor and check what your CPUs are doing - while Youtube is running? You realize that your fans are supposed to be running when your computer is working hard?
Yes, i have Activity monitor open to check. i only have MSN and 2 tabs (FB + youtube) open; is this consider CPU working hard? Here's a picture. The fan went up to 5xxx rpm with this and it comes down to 4xxxrpm without opening any other app or tabs. The tabs are FB, MR x 2, ifixit. Which number should I be looking at for CPU usage?
I don't have necessary tools to grease the CPU or thermal compound.
I don't have necessary tools to grease the CPU or thermal compound.
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