Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

ITguy2016

Suspended
Original poster
May 25, 2016
736
581
Just picked up a mid-2010 (21.5", 3.06 Core i3 processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB HD, Radeon HD 4670 256MB, seems to be a standard configuration). It's been running for a couple of hours and, for the most part, pretty much idle. Only tasks I've performed on it thus far is browsing the web. The upper back portion of the unit is pretty warm. Is this normal? It's not super hot but hotter than I would have expected given the almost idle state of the system.
 
Temps, in general, rise inside (literally :D )
Could you tell us actual temps, which can be more informative than trying to decide if the relative temps that you feel on the outside of the case are normal?
Have you tried one of the monitor utilities that will show you the reported temps (and the speed of the fans - which might be important here)
 
Here is what iStat Menus reports.
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2016-11-12 at 8.33.11 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2016-11-12 at 8.33.11 PM.png
    51.5 KB · Views: 254
Here is what iStat Menus reports.
My mid-2010 21.5" iMac is hotter than the late-2013 iMac during operation. I think it is because of its internal structure. At one point, my 21.5" iMac's fan ran crazy loud and realised it must be that a lot of dust has accumulated inside. I opened and cleaned the internals and it now runs fine though not as hot as yours. I installed a fan controller and put it at 2000 rpm. The temperature hovers at around 44 deg C for graphics card.
 
They do run hot, especially when they didn't have the dust blown out yet or playing a game for several hours.
This is also due to the screen, lower the brightness and make a hotcorner for your mouse to turn the screen off when not behind it. Changing the HD to a SSD also helps quite a lot.

All heatgenerating components are directed to the top, the gpu has heatpipes that go to the top, the HD is located at the top, etc
 
I have that exact configuration. It does get hot at times. And I think that's the main reason why it's dying on me.
BTW, how much did you pay for yours? I want to sell mine and I have idea how much to ask for it.
 
I have that exact configuration. It does get hot at times. And I think that's the main reason why it's dying on me.
BTW, how much did you pay for yours? I want to sell mine and I have idea how much to ask for it.
I paid $250 for it including the full sized Apple keyboard and wireless Apple mouse.
[doublepost=1479047959][/doublepost]Thanks for everyone's feedback. I didn't think there was anything wrong with the system but I was surprised at how hot the top of the unit becomes. It's working fine and this morning I did blow it out to ensure proper air flow (I didn't observe any dust coming out of it when I did so). It does appear to be running a little cooler with the top no longer hot (or even warm). New temperatures readings (though it hasn't been on as long as it was when I took the readings last night):
 

Attachments

  • Screen Shot 2016-11-13 at 7.38.49 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2016-11-13 at 7.38.49 AM.png
    51 KB · Views: 170
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.