MacBook Pro getting warm/hot even when idle

[Ancandis]

Hello,

for a few weeks now my MBP (Mid 09, 8GB RAM, OCZ Vertex 2) is getting really warm on the left side. The heat's center is near the caps lock and the TAB key.

I've opened Activity Monitor, showing "all processes" and sorting by "% CPU", but Activity Monitor itself is already the most CPU-consuming process with 1,9%.

I also did a PRAM and a SMC reset, creating a new admin user, but it is still getting really warm. My battery dries up my battery in about 60-70% of the regular time.


How can I fix this issue?
TIA

 

[ECUpirate44]

What are the temps exactly? More info needed.

 

[GGJstudios]

for a few weeks now my MBP (Mid 09, 8GB RAM, OCZ Vertex 2) is getting really warm on the left side. The heat's center is near the caps lock and the TAB key.

I also did a PRAM and a SMC reset, creating a new admin user, but it is still getting really warm. My battery dries up my battery in about 60-70% of the regular time.

How can I fix this issue?

There's nothing to fix. NVRAM/PRAM or SMC resets have no effect on your temps. Install iStat Pro to get accurate readings of your temps, among other things.

High temps are perfectly normal, as searching the forum with Google will reveal:

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Etc., etc., etc.

 

[Ancandis]

What are the temps exactly? More info needed.

Temperature Monitor is telling me:

 

[GGJstudios]

Temperature Monitor is telling me:

Your temps are perfectly normal.

 

[Ancandis]

(...) Install iStat Pro to get accurate readings of your temps, among other things.

High temps are perfectly normal, (...)

Thank you for your reply. Actually I had to REMOVE iStat Pro in order to avoid system freezes with my OCZ SSD.

Of course is a MacBook (and any other laptop) getting warm even when idle. But I know my MacBook almost 1,5 years and how much lower the temperature and the battery life was just a few weeks ago.

 

[chaoticbear]

That 128C reading on the SSD is wrong... right?

 

[Ancandis]

Your temps are perfectly normal.

But my battery life is not:
94% and only 3h44m left (idle, full screen brightness, Activity Monitor, Firefox with four tabs (no flash)).

 

[GGJstudios]

Thank you for your reply. Actually I had to REMOVE iStat Pro in order to avoid system freezes with my OCZ SSD.

Based on the inaccurate reading I see on your SSD, the problem isn't with iStat Pro, but with your SSD.

But my battery life is not:
94% and only 3h44m left (idle, full screen brightness, Activity Monitor, Firefox with four tabs (no flash)).

Your screen brightness is a major factor in battery life. This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:

Apple Notebook Battery FAQ​

 

[Ancandis]

That 128C reading on the SSD is wrong... right?

I think so. It seems as if the SSD had no real temperature sensor.

 

[Ancandis]

Based on the inaccurate reading I see on your SSD, the problem isn't with iStat Pro, but with your SSD.

Your screen brightness is a major factor in battery life. This should answer most, if not all, of your battery questions:

Apple Notebook Battery FAQ​

I installed the SSD three months ago and had not such high temperatures on the left side of the main body.

Yes, I know that screen brightness affects battery life significantly. But screen brightness never affected the case temperature. At home I usually use it at 50% brightness and still get a hot MacBook.

Anyway, the case is getting really warm if not even hot when I use it slightly. Even now (idle) it is much, much warmer than my hand. I estimate about 50-60° C / 122-140° Fahrenheit if not higher.

 

[theSeb]

My 2009 has similar temps and also gets hot in the same place that you described. I don't have a SSD. There is nothing to be worried about.

 

[Ancandis]

My 2009 has similar temps and also gets hot in the same place that you described. I don't have a SSD. There is nothing to be worried about.

Thank you for your feedback from the same MacBook.

I really wasn't worried about the temperature if I didn't knew how much cooler it was just a month ago.


I'm going to boot a fresh copy of Snow Leopard off an external drive this weekend to see if I get different results.

 

[GGJstudios]

Anyway, the case is getting really warm if not even hot when I use it slightly. Even now (idle) it is much, much warmer than my hand. I estimate about 50-60° C / 122-140° Fahrenheit if not higher.

Your temps are completely normal. There is nothing to be concerned about. Those are normal temps for a MacBook Pro, whether you have a hard drive or SSD, whether you have screen brightness up or down. Your screen brightness affects your battery life, not your temps. Your temps are predominately affected by the workload on your CPU and GPU, the two major furnaces. Your MBP radiates heat in all directions, so it's perfectly normal for you to feel it getting warm or even hot to the touch. As long as your temps are in the normal range, you have nothing to be concerned about. Your Mac is designed to automatically shut off if temps are sustained too high for a period of time. That will usually occur with CPU temps around 105C/221F. You're a LONG way from that. Relax and enjoy your Mac.