I realize this is besides the point of this thread but WoW is the only real game I play on OSX . I'd really resist installing it on Windows.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
MBP temperature while playing WOW
- Thread starter sinser
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I realize this is besides the point of this thread but WoW is the only real game I play on OSX . I'd really resist installing it on Windows.
I realize this is besides the point of this thread but WoW is the only real game I play on OSX . I'd really resist installing it on Windows.
understandable, I tried to resist installing bootcamp but Left 4 Dead got to me
I'm not too sure how to keep temps low on Mac OS X, but i did use SMC fan control and set my fans to about 4250rpm and the temp kept going between 68C and 71C. 68C when nothing was going on or if I was running around, it got to 71C only during a BG arena, raids, and instances. I jsut recently started using a cooling pad and temps dropped by 2C and not its 66C to 69C.
Couple of MBP cooling tips in general:
1) Get the program smcFanControl and set it @ 6200 rpm
2) Keep the lid open when connected to an external display; the primary exhaust port is covered when the lid is closed. Huge cooling boost. (if you want to have only the external display active, wake up the MBP in sleep mode, then open the lid and it'll be off)
3) Elevate the MBP with a wire shelf. Get an external keyboard and mouse to use with it.
4) Use the 9400M if the game you're playing isn't intensive.
5) /console maxfps 30 in WoW helps
1) Get the program smcFanControl and set it @ 6200 rpm
2) Keep the lid open when connected to an external display; the primary exhaust port is covered when the lid is closed. Huge cooling boost. (if you want to have only the external display active, wake up the MBP in sleep mode, then open the lid and it'll be off)
3) Elevate the MBP with a wire shelf. Get an external keyboard and mouse to use with it.
4) Use the 9400M if the game you're playing isn't intensive.
5) /console maxfps 30 in WoW helps
When in game, hit enter for the chat text input to come up.
Type the following:
/console maxfps x
Where x represents the maximum frame rate you want the game to run at.
Thanks! By chance do you know the name of the file where this setting is recorded? For the people who have done this, any adverse effects?
There's no adverse effect. It's likely that you won't even notice the fps cap and you can always switch back to maximum fps.
You don't have to type the command every time you log in.
Not trying to beat a dead horse here, but has anyone with Fan Control experimented to see if the top end temp really changes with it versus without it? My guess is that Fan Control might slow the rate at which you laptop heats up, but eventually it will be the same temp as without it. I say that because when I'm playing WoW my fan runs continuously without the fan control program.
understandable, I tried to resist installing bootcamp but Left 4 Dead got to me
Worth installing Windows on your computer for. Playing it on my 360 and looking forward to L4D2 this Christmas (I think).
My laptop runs a lot cooler with SMC fan control since it allows me to turn the fans up above the default maximum. Without it, the fans top out at 6000rpm. With SMC fan control, I can set the fans to their maximum, just under 8000rpm. I almost always have them set to 7000rpm, which keeps the CPU in the range of 80-90°C.
Well, I guess I need to install it and see for myself. Thanks for the info!
Update. I installed it and have been playing with SMCFC prefs. When I first launched it, I got two fan reading (in the menu bar), now I'm only getting one. Don't see a setting that controls the fan display in the menu bar. Any ideas on how to get both readings back?
I'm gonna experiment with playing WoW with SMCFC off, check temps, and then compare with it running. Will report back.
80/90 C with fans running at 7000 rpm ???? Sounds terrible...
I think I wrote it before but after turning the fps to 30, I get 68 - 73 C, fans at 3500 rpm.
In your World of Warcraft folder, go inside the WTF folder. Inside you should see a file called "config.wtf".
Open this file with TextEdit and you will see a bunch of instructions listed from top to bottom.
So for maxfps, you would write the following into the file:
SET maxfps "x"
where x is again the maximum frame rate you want while in game.
Remember that World of Warcraft checks this file at launch for settings. This file is often cleared on patches. This file doesn't exist unless your game has run at least once after a new install.
Good luck.
I didn't think the old alu-macbook pros could do more than 6000 rpm.
Running WoW @ 85-90C with fans blazing @ 6000 rpm does not hurt the MBPs with 8600GT gfx,
since I have played over 3000 hrs!!! (
) on mine.