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Macbook Pro Always Hot from Thunderbolt Displays?

M

MBPJohn

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 9, 2013
10
0
Recently I've been trying to figure out why my Mid 2012 fully maxed out Retina Macbook Pro keeps running hot for no reason. The activity monitor is barely showing any signs of stress yet the computer runs at 150 degrees with the fans on full blast.

A few days ago I took the laptop with me on a business trip and noticed in the hotel room the laptop did not touch more than 120 degrees no matter what I was doing. The moment I get home and I plugged in my dual thunderbolt displays and continue to do the same work, the laptop goes to 150 degrees.

Can the displays be stressing my Macbook pro out? Is there a fix to this? I am running a

Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Retina
Latest Version of El Capitan
2.7 GHz Intel Core i7
16GB of Ram
750GB Solid State Drive
Dual Thunderbolt Displays
 
MBPJohn said:
Recently I've been trying to figure out why my Mid 2012 fully maxed out Retina Macbook Pro keeps running hot for no reason. The activity monitor is barely showing any signs of stress yet the computer runs at 150 degrees with the fans on full blast.

A few days ago I took the laptop with me on a business trip and noticed in the hotel room the laptop did not touch more than 120 degrees no matter what I was doing. The moment I get home and I plugged in my dual thunderbolt displays and continue to do the same work, the laptop goes to 150 degrees.

Can the displays be stressing my Macbook pro out? Is there a fix to this? I am running a

Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Retina
Latest Version of El Capitan
2.7 GHz Intel Core i7
16GB of Ram
750GB Solid State Drive
Dual Thunderbolt Displays
Click to expand...

When connected to the external monitor, the dGPU always run.

It still shouldn't get that hot. Maybe you need to clean the fans and apply new thermal compound.
 
MBPJohn said:
Recently I've been trying to figure out why my Mid 2012 fully maxed out Retina Macbook Pro keeps running hot for no reason. The activity monitor is barely showing any signs of stress yet the computer runs at 150 degrees with the fans on full blast.

A few days ago I took the laptop with me on a business trip and noticed in the hotel room the laptop did not touch more than 120 degrees no matter what I was doing. The moment I get home and I plugged in my dual thunderbolt displays and continue to do the same work, the laptop goes to 150 degrees.

Can the displays be stressing my Macbook pro out? Is there a fix to this? I am running a

Mid 2012 Macbook Pro Retina
Latest Version of El Capitan
2.7 GHz Intel Core i7
16GB of Ram
750GB Solid State Drive
Dual Thunderbolt Displays
Click to expand...

When you plug in the display, it will run from the dGPU. Your model of rMBP has a documented issue with graphics.

It has a repair program, so Apple can likely sort it free-of-charge if you visit a store: https://www.apple.com/uk/support/macbookpro-videoissues/
 
As mentioned, you are pushing the system harder because you're now driving another monitor and the dGPU has to work harder, and hard work = heat.

Are those temps Celsius or Fahrenheit?

If Fahrenheit, the temps are not that bad, if Celsius, then the system should have shut down when you reached the 100c threshold.

Also you may want to think about cleaning out the innards, after 4 years dust may have worked inside of your computer and limiting the usefulness of the fans.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. Sorry I didn't make it clear but its Farenheit haha. If it was celsius it would have probably melted.

How do I clean the fans? is there a guide you guys can link me to? Thanks

John
 
Thanks for the link tubrexperience.

I disconnected one of the Thunderbolt displays and the computer is running a lot smoother. Hmm I really need the 2 thunderbolt displays for work though. I guess my only solution is to get a Mac Pro?
 
MBPJohn said:
Thanks for the link tubrexperience.

I disconnected one of the Thunderbolt displays and the computer is running a lot smoother. Hmm I really need the 2 thunderbolt displays for work though. I guess my only solution is to get a Mac Pro?
Click to expand...

MacBook Pro are intended to be portable. Having it output to 2 thunderbolt display is pushing it hard.

Mac Pro is outdated and seriously overpriced.

I guess you can look at getting an iMac and using it with a second display.
 
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