MBA performance issues

[cefey]

I bought my Macbook Air in mid 2009. First 6 months it was AMAZING machine.
It is thin and light (ultra portable), I did run everything I wanted to (very light gaming, internet and video/music). I did run cold, unless I did something heavy.
Then Apple released some kind of update and my MBA begun to run hot and started lagging.
I was at apple total 7 times, during 2.5 years I had this problem. They say they did a lot of stuff, but problem never went away.

Problems I do have now is:
1st - its running hot. Even if I dont do anything big. Like I have skype open (no calls, just chat) and chrome with 2-3 fans (like facebook and a forum).
It runs at about 55*C with this kind of use.
Imo - its too hot. Or am I wrong?
Afterall, its a LAP-TOP? And when I do very, very, very little on it - I can not have it on my laps. Its uncomfortable if I have too keep it there for more then 15-30min.
And most important, it was NOT like that before. Before it did run cold with this kind of use!

2nd problem - if I watch video - it runs very hot. 65-70*c for a video from youtube or simular. Sometiemes, after a while of filmwatching, it can start going out of sync with sound.

3rd problem - HD video from harddrive. Starts to lag. Its skips some frames.

4th problem - I cant run any games. Kind off what so ever. I dont play games a lot. But I do like good, old Dota.
Its a 10 year old game.
Recommended System Requirements:
Pentium 2!!!!! 600 MHz processor or better
256 MB of RAM
32 MB 3D Video card

If I set everything at lowest settings (video, audio, turn off all effects ect), I still get a ping of 150-400. Game from a PC on same network rundt with ping of 25-70 (depends on server).
If I try to play some easy games online - after 10min it is extremely hot, slow and laggy.

It does not happens allways. Sometimes it may work for 1-2 days with no problems at all (except for high ping for a game). But then suddenly it does not work for a 1-7 days.... Then its good again for a few days...
Same usage, same sites. Nothng new and no changes.


So, do you guys think its me expecting way too much from a 1300$ laptop, or should I be able to use my LAPtop on my LAPS, when doing very little or watching a video while traveling?
Should I be able to play a game, with everything on lowest settings, that is 10yo? Afterall, my MBA is 8 times better then RECOMENDED rec.?
Should I be able to watch a HD movie, without my MBA skipping frames/scenes?

And most important, I know that I DID that before! I could play that game. I could have it on my laps and watch video. Then, after an update - I can do nothing of it.
Why is my old HP-laptop able to do all that? And not my MBA, thats im UPGRADED up to? It seems like I paid 1300$ for downgrade, not an upgrade.

To compare, my brother have all same problems on his laptop (compaq), that he bought about same time. Difference is - he paid around 300$ for it. Not 1300$.
My friend bought SonyVaio about same time. He have non of this problems. Why does SonyVaio hold quality for 3 years, but not a MBA? Why did it work only for 6 months and then apple cant fix a problem for 2.5 years?


After my last "reporation" they said: "Our stuff could not recreate a failure, so next time you will be charged 100$ for failure search". It seems like they trying to get rid of me. Like if I come back - they gonna BS me about "unable to recreate fail", charge me for 100$, cause they can not fix that problem. How should I approach it?

 

[GGJstudios]

1st - its running hot. Even if I dont do anything big. Like I have skype open (no calls, just chat) and chrome with 2-3 fans (like facebook and a forum).
It runs at about 55*C with this kind of use.
Imo - its too hot. Or am I wrong?

It's normal. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat. CPU Tjmax = 105C (221F), GPU Tjmax = 100C (212F) on i3, i5, i7 processors. (Source: Intel)

If you're not already using it, iStat Pro (free) or iStat Menus )$16) will give you accurate readings of your temps and fan speeds, among other things.

Unless there is a rare defect in a Mac, most temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload being put on it. Websites with Flash content, games and other multimedia apps will put higher demand on the CPU/GPU, generating more heat. This is normal. If you're constantly putting high demands on your system, such as gaming or other multimedia tasks, expect temps to rise and fans to spin up accordingly. It's just your Mac doing its job to maintain temps within the normal range.

It is also quite normal for your Mac to become extremely hot to the touch during intensive operations. The aluminum body transfers heat more effectively than other materials used in computer casings, so you will feel the heat more. This doesn't indicate that it's overheating and will not harm the computer to be hot to the touch.

Your fans are always on when your Mac is on, spinning at a minimum of 2000 rpm (for MBPs) or 1800 rpm (for MBAs, MBs and minis). iMacs have 3 fans with minimum speeds in the 800-1200 range. They will spin faster as needed to keep temps at a safe level.

If your fans are spinning up without increased heat, try resetting the SMC.
(PRAM/NVRAM has nothing to do with these issues, so resetting it will not help.)

The intake and exhaust vents are in the back of the computer near the hinge on all Mac notebooks (except the new MBP with retina display, which has intake vents along the sides at the bottom). The iMac vent is a slot on the back near the top of the computer. Make sure the vents remain unblocked to allow your computer to perform at its best.

Learn about the fans in your Mac
Apple Portables: Operating temperature

For Flash-related issues:

• Find your Flash version and make sure it's the latest version available.
• Install ClickToFlash (Safari), Flashblock (Firefox) or FlashBlock (Chrome) to control which Flash content plays on websites.
• Use the YouTube HTML5 Video Player to watch YouTube videos, when available. (May impact fullscreen viewing. See link for details.)

2nd problem - if I watch video - it runs very hot. 65-70*c for a video from youtube or simular.

Also normal. For Flash-related issues:

• Find your Flash version and make sure it's the latest version available. Never install or update Flash from a pop-up on a website. Always go to Adobe's site to get Flash or updates.
• Install ClickToFlash (Safari), Flashblock (Firefox) or FlashBlock (Chrome) to control which Flash content plays on websites.
• Try using the YouTube HTML5 Video Player to watch YouTube videos, when available. (May impact fullscreen viewing. See link for details.) Some have reported better performance with HTML5, while some have reported worse. Try it and find out what works best for you.

3rd problem - HD video from harddrive. Starts to lag. Its skips some frames.

When that's happening,

1. Launch Activity Monitor
2. Change "My Processes" at the top to "All Processes"
3. Click on the CPU column heading once or twice, so the arrow points downward (highest values on top).
4. Click on the System Memory tab at the bottom.
5. Take a screen shot of the entire Activity Monitor window, then scroll down to see the rest of the list, take another screen shot
6. Post your screenshots.

If you're having performance issues, this may help:

Performance Tips For Mac OS X​

 

[cefey]

It's normal. The Intel processors used in Macs are designed to automatically shut down to prevent damage if they truly overheat. CPU Tjmax = 105C (221F), GPU Tjmax = 100C (212F) on i3, i5, i7 processors. (Source: Intel)

Well, my issue is not wheather it will harm my Mac or not, but weather I will be able to use my laptop.
Its hard to have it on my laps for anything longer then 10-15min, with fan blowing out 60-70*C hot air right on me knees.
When I went to buy a laptop, I asked for "small, light laptop, that does not get hot under lighter loads". They recomended me MBA and it was just that. For first 6 months. Then it got ****.

Unless there is a rare defect in a Mac, most temps are well within the normal operating range, considering the workload being put on it. Websites with Flash content, games and other multimedia apps will put higher demand on the CPU/GPU, generating more heat. This is normal. If you're constantly putting high demands on your system, such as gaming or other multimedia tasks, expect temps to rise and fans to spin up accordingly. It's just your Mac doing its job to maintain temps within the normal range.

Well, I compare it with other laptops bought about same time.
So you saying its NORMAL for 1300$ MBA to give same performance as 300$ compaq laptop, rather then same performance as 1400$ SonyVaio?!

It is also quite normal for your Mac to become extremely hot to the touch during intensive operations. The aluminum body transfers heat more effectively than other materials used in computer casings, so you will feel the heat more. This doesn't indicate that it's overheating and will not harm the computer to be hot to the touch.

Well, as I said earlier, problem is that Im not able to use it, if it gets that hot. It just useless.
When I pay 1300$ for a laptop, which is a lot of money for a laptop, I want to be able to use it. I dont want it to get that hot, thats Im not able to use it.

For Flash-related issues:

You see, its not to be difficult, but when I pay 1300$ I want to be able to play all contest I want. I dont have to need to block flash or anything.
Again I would like to compare it with SonyVaio. Why can Sony laptop perform, but apples MBA cant?! Wtf?
Same price, bought at same time. 1 do perform good. Other cant.
Why can my friends have open 2 windows with 6-8 fans in each, without his SonyVaio getting hot, while my MBA gets hot even with 1 window and 3 fans?!

And worst thing - 2.5 years of services and bad performance and apple want help me... last time I got kind of threatend that Ill be billed 100$ if I get back with same problem...
First 6 months I thought it was best 1300$ that I have ever spend. Now I feel exact oposite. Worst buy. If I could go back in time, I would not even buy MBA for 130$... Not only my MBA not working, Apple does nothing:/

----------

I tryied iStats.
CPU 90% idle.
Memory - 450 free.
CPU temp is 50*....
It runs at 50* with only 10% of usage....

 

[TheRealDamager]

50C is 122F. That seems about right for idling. My Air (which BTW doesn't feel hot at all) is showing 151F while I'm surfing with Chrome.

50C is not abnormal. Apple is probably trying to tell you that (like GG did) and you just seem insistent that it is not normal. But it is.

 

[GGJstudios]

Its hard to have it on my laps for anything longer then 10-15min, with fan blowing out 60-70*C hot air right on me knees.

From the link included in my first post: Apple Portables: Operating temperature

The bottom surface and some areas between the keyboard and LCD hinge of your Apple portable computer can become warm after extended periods of use. This is normal operating behavior.

The bottom of your Apple portable may become warm during normal use. If the computer is on your lap and gets uncomfortably warm, remove it from your lap and place it on a stable surface.

 

[cefey]

Well, big question is, why it was not like that when I just bought my MBA?
Why was is perfect for first 6 month and then suddenly it begun to run hot?

Other issue is Warcraft 3 dota, that is impossible to play.
And what about sometimes video/audio getting out of sync and HDvideo from hardrive is not working as it should?

 

[GGJstudios]

Well, big question is, why it was not like that when I just bought my MBA?
Why was is perfect for first 6 month and then suddenly it begun to run hot?

Other issue is Warcraft 3 dota, that is impossible to play.
And what about sometimes video/audio getting out of sync and HDvideo from hardrive is not working as it should?

Apparently, you haven't read all of my first post, as I addressed that. Since you appear to resist the information offered, I'll leave it up to you to figure things out. Obviously you know better than anyone here.

 

[cefey]

Apparently, you haven't read all of my first post, as I addressed that. Since you appear to resist the information offered, I'll leave it up to you to figure things out. Obviously you know better than anyone here.

I did follow those steps (most of them) even before asking here.
I do have latest version of flash. I have 90% free on my HD. I deleted and disabled most of the programs from start-up etc.
I have tried reinstalling my system and not installing almost noghint. Still same problems.

 

[astoxos]

Try a format - clean install OSX.
You can thank me later.
Cheers.

 

[cefey]

Try a format - clean install OSX.
You can thank me later.
Cheers.

That was an option, however on one of my 7-repairs, they even did change the whole HD, without that resolving the problem. So if changing HD did not help, I doubt that format will?

 

[Weaselboy]

That was an option, however on one of my 7-repairs, they even did change the whole HD, without that resolving the problem. So if changing HD did not help, I doubt that format will?

It might. When they changed the drive, did they just clone everything back over? That would just transfer a software problem back onto the new drive.

If I were you at this point I would do a fresh install and make a new user account then use the machine like that for a few days with nothing imported off the old machine. That would narrow it down.