MacBook fan noise. Need help

[iRnna]

Hi,

I got a MacBook late 2008 model.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo, 2,4 GHz
Memory: 2 GB
Graphic card: GMA X3100

My fan speed is constantly running high. 3000-4000 rpm when just writing this post and surfing some other ordinary websites.

Firefox is using about 12% cpu in the activity monitor, not much else is using CPU.

When I use iphoto, photoshop, word, surf websites with flash. The macbook sounds like a jet engine

http://i51.tinypic.com/n3sq6b.png

When I am not surfing other websites and just writing this, the fan speed is 2700 rpm.

I am a student and I don't got any money for a new macbook. But I can't live with this noise anymore.

1. Is there a possibility to fix this?

2. If I upgrade to SSD and more memory will the fan noise get better?

My last resort is to sell the macbook cheap and buy a pc, but I really don't want to do that. Been a mac user for years.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

1. Is there a possibility to fix this?

2. If I upgrade to SSD and more memory will the fan noise get better?

My last resort is to sell the macbook cheap and buy a pc, but I really don't want to do that. Been a mac user for years.

1. SMC Reset: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
2. Unlikely.
Open Activity Monitor and select SHOW ALL PROCESSES and sort by CPU to see more detailed information about what process might hog up your CPU. Also use iStat Pro (Widget) to take a look at the CPU temperature and report back (Celsius or Fahrenheit or Kelvin).

Do you have any third party software installed to adjust the fan speed?

 

[iRnna]

1. SMC Reset: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964
2. Unlikely.
Open Activity Monitor and select SHOW ALL PROCESSES and sort by CPU to see more detailed information about what process might hog up your CPU. Also use iStat Pro (Widget) to take a look at the CPU temperature and report back (Celsius or Fahrenheit or Kelvin).

Do you have any third party software installed to adjust the fan speed?

Thanks for the reply.

Activity Monitor
Firefox 3-15%
WindowsServer 0-7%
kernel_task 0-2%
all other processes 0,0-0,5

CPU temp 65 celsius at the moment when I am just writing this.

I will try the smc reset.

 

[iRnna]

SMC Reset done.

Just after restart the fan was running on 5600 rpm and CPU 70 Celsius.

Fan speed down to 1800 rpm when just writing this. But when doing other stuff or surfin other websites, the fan speed is up to 4000+ rpm again.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

SMC Reset done.

Just after restart the fan was running on 5600 rpm and CPU 70 Celsius.

Fan speed down to 1800 rpm when just writing this. But when doing other stuff or surfin other websites, the fan speed is up to 4000+ rpm again.

What was the temperature when the fan spun at 4000 RPM? Know, that websites with Flash are very CPU hungry, the more Flash, the more heat.
Have you tried the newest Flash version yet? Or you could try ClickToFlash to disable Flash and enable the elements you want to have enabled.

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/
http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoflash/

 

[iRnna]

What was the temperature when the fan spun at 4000 RPM? Know, that websites with Flash are very CPU hungry, the more Flash, the more heat.
Have you tried the newest Flash version yet? Or you could try ClickToFlash to disable Flash and enable the elements you want to have enabled.

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/
http://hoyois.github.com/safariextensions/clicktoflash/

After my last post I have opened up my MacBook to have a look at the fan. To my surprise there were not much dust at all in the fan or MacBook, everything looked fine.

After turning my MacBook back on it actually seems better. The fan is more quiet.
The fan started at 1800 rpm. Now while writing this it is at 2800-3000 rpm.
But the CPU is from 60 to 80 celsius. When surfing multiple websites it gets hotter and the fan speed increase, but not so bad as before. But now the cpu is hotter than before.

I also installed a flashkiller tool called flashblock for firefox.

Now the fan is running at 3500 rpm, cpu 68 celsius and doing nothing else than surfing. The only programs running is mail and firefox. The system is only using 10-20% of the cpu.

Update:
Back to 4000+ RPM and 60-70 celsius on the cpu. Doing nothing else than surfing.

 

[iRnna]

I use a 22" external screen with my MacBook, cant belive I havent tought about this before, but maybe this is the reason for the fan noise? The graphic card in the macbook is pretty lousy, maybe it is to much to handle?

 

[JRoDDz]

I use a 22" external screen with my MacBook, cant belive I havent tought about this before, but maybe this is the reason for the fan noise? The graphic card in the macbook is pretty lousy, maybe it is to much to handle?

Run it without the external monitor and see if it's any better.

Also, your CPU may need some fresh heatsink compound.

 

[iRnna]

Solved!

The fix was opening the MacBook and removing and cleaning behind the fan. When I removed the fan I saw that it was dusty like h...

Be careful not to rip the black felt tape.
Guide: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-MacBook-Core-Duo-Fan/290/1