MBP heat issues since Snow Leopard

[MyDesktopBroke]

Under Leopard my late 2008, 15" 2.53ghz 9600/9400 MacBook Pro would run around 90ºF when browsing the internet, watching Youtube, writing, listening to iTunes, etc, when using the 9400. Fan speed was set to 2500 rpm via SMC Fan Control.

Under Snow Leopard, with the 9400 active, the same tasks run around 140ºf to 160ºf, and this is with SMC set to 4500 rpm (computer isn't on a pillow or blanket or something covering the fan vent). Is this something I should be concerned about? I know 140ºf (around 60+ºc) isn't going to melt my computer, but its literally jumping to 140ºf from a cold boot with no extra programs running (except SMC and background processes), so I'm afraid there's something wrong.

It's a refurbished computer that's already had the hard drive replaced due to a bad sector and the 9600 replaced due to freezing, so I might have just gotten a bad apple, but these problems only started after Snow Leopard, so I don't think it's hardware related.

 

[Pax]

90 F = 32 C is amazingly cool for a MBP, most seem to run at 45 - 60 C at idle.
But then again 140 F = 60 C with the fans at 4500 seems quite warm. If you turn off SMCfancontrol and let the fans do what they like, what is your idle temperature?

Have you checked Activity Monitor to see if there is a rogue process? At idle with no programs running your CPU should be around 90% idle.

 

[Bill Gates]

On my previous MBP which came with Leopard, I also noticed decreased battery life and higher temperatures after I upgraded to Snow Leopard. There is probably nothing wrong with your machine, and your temperatures are well within spec.

 

[brentsg]

Personally I bet something was causing it to report errant temps before. 30C is too cool.

 

[Steve Jobs.]

Mine gets kind of hot but nothing to be concerned about