[m12-rMBP] - High idle temps

[sammy2066]

I'm running macOS Sierra, got a few tabs open in Safari, and downloading WoW Legion - don't think such a light workload warrants 80c? Is heating a known issue with the mid-2012 rMBPs? If yes, any idea on how easy it is to take this apart and reapply thermal paste? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[robvas]

What is an m12?

 

[sammy2066]

What is an m12?

Oh sorry, I meant mid-2012.

 

[Patcell]

Maybe take a look at Activity Monitor and see if anything is using more CPU power than it needs... Occasionally I have websites misbehave and bring up temps and ruin battery life.

 

[jerryk]

It is a beta OS. It likely has unoptimized code that will run better when released.

 

[tubeexperience]

It probably need cleaning and new thermal paste. Follow the instructions on iFixit.

 

[sammy2066]

It probably need cleaning and new thermal paste. Follow the instructions on iFixit.

Good shout - thanks!

 

[Schranke]

Before my midt 2012 15" rMBP died, I would also have high temperatures while downloading.
The workload of a peer to peer network is a little more intensive than one might think.
(I often cleaned my fans and the grill(?), and had changed thermal past in 2014)

 

[sammy2066]

Before my midt 2012 15" rMBP died, I would also have high temperatures while downloading.
The workload of a peer to peer network is a little more intensive than one might think.
(I often cleaned my fans and the grill(?), and had changed thermal past in 2014)

That's useful to know, but how easy was it to take the thing apart? From what I remember reading, beginning with the rMBPs, the case was an absolute nightmare to open.

 

[Schranke]

That's useful to know, but how easy was it to take the thing apart? From what I remember reading, beginning with the rMBPs, the case was an absolute nightmare to open.

The case is easy to open if you have the right tools ie pentalope screwdriver. And changing a past is also easy to change since the GPU/CPU are on the side you open (older macs had it on the backside of the motherboard).

what temperature are you mac at when truly idle? ie just standing, no open apps , no downloading

Edit: link to ifixit guide
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Heat+Sink+Replacement/10293

 

[sammy2066]

The case is easy to open if you have the right tools ie pentalope screwdriver. And changing a past is also easy to change since the GPU/CPU are on the side you open (older macs had it on the backside of the motherboard).

what temperature are you mac at when truly idle? ie just standing, no open apps , no downloading

Edit: link to ifixit guide
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Retina+Display+Mid+2012+Heat+Sink+Replacement/10293

Ah, thanks for the link! Fully idle is still north of 70c, so I think there's definitely a problem here.

 

[Schranke]

Ah, thanks for the link! Fully idle is still north of 70c, so I think there's definitely a problem here.

If you are running at 70 degree Celsius at idle you have some kind of problem. Have you tried to reset pram and SMC?
And if you open consol, is there some kind of process or error which keep happening?

 

[Patcell]

Ah, thanks for the link! Fully idle is still north of 70c, so I think there's definitely a problem here.

Your machine runs at 70C when completely idle? As Schranke mentioned, if that is the case then there is definitely some sort of issue. Perhaps the fans/ air intakes have been obstructed by dust..? Do you have your MacBook in some sort of case that restricts airflow? If not, I'm almost certain there must be some sort of runaway process causing your temps to rise. Have you checked Activity Monitor (specifically the CPU tab)?

 

[sammy2066]

If you are running at 70 degree Celsius at idle you have some kind of problem. Have you tried to reset pram and SMC?
And if you open consol, is there some kind of process or error which keep happening?

Your machine runs at 70C when completely idle? As Schranke mentioned, if that is the case then there is definitely some sort of issue. Perhaps the fans/ air intakes have been obstructed by dust..? Do you have your MacBook in some sort of case that restricts airflow? If not, I'm almost certain there must be some sort of runaway process causing your temps to rise. Have you checked Activity Monitor (specifically the CPU tab)?

Right, so did some more testing:

Idle temps are ~58c CPU and ~38c GPU when absolutely nothing is happening
Load temps are ~90c CPU and ~60c GPU running WoW Legion on recommended settings

I think we may have averted an unnecessary open heart surgery.

 

[Schranke]

Right, so did some more testing:

Idle temps are ~58c CPU and ~38c GPU when absolutely nothing is happening
Load temps are ~90c CPU and ~60c GPU running WoW Legion on recommended settings

I think we may have averted an unnecessary open heart surgery.

Glad to hear that the temp are only 58 instead of 70 when idle
If you never have removed dust from your mac (blow from the exhaust with a can of air, with or without the back plate on) this might help lovering temp even further.

I used to take off the back plate on my mac with 3-6 months intervals and clean out dust from the fans, heat sink and where ever it piled up