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MBP Runs HOT all the time!

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webdevguy

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 5, 2015
9
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My MBP 8.1: 13 inch, early 2011, OS X El Capitan V 10.11.1

Problem: Runs hot all the time! Today I even replaced the HD with an SSD drive then restored system with latest Time Machine backup. Still always running hot!

Sometimes it's so hot I can't even keep it on my lap.

Is this normal? Am I alone in this? How can I troubleshoot this? I have smcFanControl app and usually run it at 6200 rpm when it starts getting too hot.

Any ideas? I could turn it over and cook eggs on it, but I'd rather use it for the way intended. haha
 
MBPs tend to run very hot, as they are in a very thin enclosure. Under load, the CPU die can reach temperatures of up to 100C, which is normal for a laptop CPU. As long as the system isn't shutting down on you, there shouldn't be a problem.

You can try doing a clean install of OS X and installing your apps one by one. Old backups can carry a lot of gunk with them.
 
webdevguy said:
My MBP 8.1: 13 inch, early 2011, OS X El Capitan V 10.11.1

Problem: Runs hot all the time! Today I even replaced the HD with an SSD drive then restored system with latest Time Machine backup. Still always running hot!

Sometimes it's so hot I can't even keep it on my lap.

Is this normal? Am I alone in this? How can I troubleshoot this? I have smcFanControl app and usually run it at 6200 rpm when it starts getting too hot.

Any ideas? I could turn it over and cook eggs on it, but I'd rather use it for the way intended. haha
Click to expand...

Does SMC Fan Control tell you what temperature the computer is reaching? Also check the Activity Monitor to see how high the load is and what is using up the system's resources.
 
webdevguy said:
Is this normal? Am I alone in this? How can I troubleshoot this? I have smcFanControl app and usually run it at 6200 rpm when it starts getting too hot.
Click to expand...
What's the temperature when you have the fans blasting at 6200? I see under normal usage temps in the mid 40s (Celsius)
 
I recall about 170 to 190 or more degrees then I put the fan on high. It just feels so hot so regularly I'm scared it's going to lower the life of my MPB, and burn my leg haha. What specifically should I check for in Activity Monitor, CPU, disk,etc...? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
webdevguy said:
I recall about 170 to 190 or more degrees then I put the fan on high. It just feels so hot so regularly I'm scared it's going to lower the life of my MPB, and burn my leg haha. What specifically should I check for in Activity Monitor, CPU, disk,etc...? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Seriously, another one of those threads? There are already thousands littering this forum about the very same subject. And all of them have the same answer.

You should be looking at %CPU used, the CPU is the one producing the heat. Since you never bothered telling us what you're doing with the computer when you experience heat, we can only guess.

Your computer's a pretty powerful little machine. Apple decided to cram all that power in a very thin aluminum chassis. Aluminum conducts heat very well, like most metals. It conducts heat much better than plastics. Thus, for any given internal temperature, a MBP will feel warmer to the touch than a plastic bodied laptop.

190F is about 87C (I wish the US would get with the rest of the planet and stop using the retarded imperial system) which is in no way shape or form dangerous for your computer or damaging it.

TL;DR everything is likely working as intended.
 
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ron1004 said:
My 2011 17" ran hot and then started shutting down, and it turned out to be the graphics problem, which is taken care of now by Apple's recall.

On my HP Elitebook I re-applied thermal paste to the heatsink attached to the CPU and it ran real cool after that.
Click to expand...
Interesting@ I'll have to research thermal paste. I wonder if this can be easily applied to my MBP's heatsink and if it'll help.
 
snaky69 said:
You should be looking at %CPU used, the CPU is the one producing the heat. Since you never bothered telling us what you're doing with the computer when you experience heat, we can only guess....190F is about 87C (I wish the US would get with the rest of the planet and stop using the retarded imperial system) which is in no way shape or form dangerous for your computer or damaging it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Mainly word processing, internet, email, occasional Lightroom.

I agree with the imperial system. lol
 
Thanks for all the nice comments and helpful suggestions and videos! I'll check them out!

I will check the activity mon when it's hot and let you know mrsir2009. Thanks!
 
When you were replacing the HDD did you happen to take a look at the fans and airflow paths? These machines can get plugged up with dust over time, dramatically reducing the cooling capability of the fans.
 
The fans weren't too dirty. I dusted them off. The vents weren't clogged either. But great point! I ordered the thermal gel so I'm going to try that out and see if it helps.
 
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