Macbook 2010 - is that kernel_task normal?

[MuaMua]

Hi!

I have macbooks 2010 C2D with 320M, 4GB Ram, SSD, Sierra. I have OS X just for a few days so I'm newbie. I saw that when I use safari, Skype, youtube sometimes temp is going up to 85*C - all time kernel task half to half with user usage (screen below after playing Limbo 85*C). Fan is about 3000RPM.

I have bootcamp also and with full load (prime95 and fur mark) I've got about 95*C max - when I play CSGO - about 85*C. 3000RPM fan.

I have cleaned heatsink from dust and I've applied new thermal past (Arctic Silver 5) - temps on full load I think are ok.

I know that notebook have few years but performance is OK for me. Is that temp in OSX okey? Is that kernel_task ok? When I turn on CPUTest - then I have about 85-95% of usage and rest system (kernel).

Sorry for English but I hope you know what I've sad.

Ive add EtreCheck test:

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)
Report generated 2017-03-13 19:15:02
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 3:19
Performance: Good

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: Other problem

Hardware Information: ⓘ
    MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)
    [Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
    MacBook - model: MacBook7,1
    1 2,4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Duo) CPU: 2-core
    4 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
        BANK 0/DIMM0
            2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
        BANK 1/DIMM0
            2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
    Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
    Wireless:  en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
    Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 208

Video Information: ⓘ
    NVIDIA GeForce 320M - VRAM: 256 MB
        Color LCD 1280 x 800

System Software: ⓘ
    macOS Sierra  10.12.3 (16D32) - Time since boot: about 3 hours

Disk Information: ⓘ
    KINGSTON SV300S37A120G disk0 : (120,03 GB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
    [Show SMART report]
        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
        macOS (disk0s2) /  [Startup]: 85.17 GB (40.88 GB free)
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>  [Recovery]: 650 MB
        BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP : 34.00 GB (1.19 GB free)

    OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5970H   ()

USB Information: ⓘ
    Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
    Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Gatekeeper: ⓘ
    Anywhere

System Launch Agents: ⓘ
    [not loaded]    8 Apple tasks
    [loaded]    184 Apple tasks
    [running]    88 Apple tasks

System Launch Daemons: ⓘ
    [not loaded]    42 Apple tasks
    [loaded]    175 Apple tasks
    [running]    93 Apple tasks

Launch Daemons: ⓘ
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2017-01-30) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (2017-03-04) [Support]
    [loaded]    com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2016-06-11) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ
    [running]    com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2017-03-13) [Support]
    [failed]    com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (2017-03-06) [Support] - ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/steamclean: Executable not found!

User Login Items: ⓘ
    smcFanControl    program 
        (/Applications/smcFanControl.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ
    FlashPlayer-10.6: 24.0.0.221 - SDK 10.9 (2017-03-09) [Support]
    QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2017-01-13)
    Flash Player: 24.0.0.221 - SDK 10.9 (2017-03-09) [Support]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ
    AdBlock - BetaFish, Inc. - https://getadblock.com (2017-03-04)

3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
    Flash Player (2017-01-30) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ
    Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ
        20%       com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)
        19%       WindowServer
        12%       VTDecoderXPCService
        11%       kernel_task
         9%       launchd

Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ
    872 MB        com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(2)
    542 MB        kernel_task
    213 MB        Safari
    123 MB        mdworker(7)
    90 MB         Battle.net Helper(2)

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
    787 MB        Available RAM
    286 MB        Free RAM
    3.23 GB       Used RAM
    501 MB        Cached files
    152 MB        Swap Used

 

[andy9l]

I wouldn't say it's unusual to see kernel_task using that much CPU. It's usually large amounts of RAM that kernel_task appears to use. I wouldn't worry about it, though.

As for your temperatures - they're fine. It's widely accepted that most modern Macs run extremely hot under load due to lack of sufficient cooling for sustained CPU / GPU pressure. But in reality this isn't an issue as it won't impact many people at all.

Macs explicitly not built for gaming, and that's pretty much the only common activity that puts sustained pressure on these components. What would be a concerning temperature in a PC is often very typical in a Mac - my GPU reached 108C in one of my iMacs, and I've seen my '09 MBP CPU reach 107C.

Attached my kernel_task CPU usage at the time of writing for reference...

 

[MuaMua]

OK. So its normal I will try install Yosemite and see what about battery life because I've read that El Captain/Sierra can reduce battery runtime by 50%, maybe it will help! I have only about 200 cycles of battery and on Sierra it lasts for about 4hours of web browsing on 50% dim - for me its good, but maybe at Yosemite it will be better so I will post results here.

OK. So i've installed Yosemite 10.10.5 and i think battery life will be better, but not 50%, becouse it shows me more ,,time left". Temperature also was going sometimes high, but i've installed Web Drivers for Nvidia and it looks better! But i need to test it today. Ive testes Mac with TechTool 9 and everything passed - ive uploaded a screen during Memory test

I think everything is okey - just when nVidia 320M is using heavier - then temps go up - maybe drivers will fix it. Some YT videos can have other decoding and it needs more GPU power - maybe webcam from Skype etc.