Quick 17" MBP review

[iHeartTheApple]

For those with heat issues, i strongly urge you to 1) do the SMC firmware update (this will make the fans come on sooner, and alter the CPU SpeedStep settings) and 2) use InCrew's SpeedIt kext. (The .5 release will help get you to the 35~37 range)

Bottom Line - no worries. The 17" runs much cooler, and quieter than the 15" out of the box. My 15" (yes, I have both) runs much cooler now after the SMC update. and the BOTH run much cooler while using InCrew's SpeedIt.

Transeau, this is good to hear! But I still have a question regarding the firmware update and the SpeedIt fix...Do these *only* tell the fans to come on earlier or do the actually throttle back the CPU speed? If they *do* throttle back the CPU speed does that mean that we would expect to see a decrease in the overall performance of the computer because it's not operating at its full speed? I don't know much about this stuff, but I seem to remember hearing that somewhere...

Also, congrats on getting Apple to replace your MBP! Here's to hoping it's flawless this time!

 

[Transeau]

Transeau, this is good to hear! But I still have a question regarding the firmware update and the SpeedIt fix...Do these *only* tell the fans to come on earlier or do the actually throttle back the CPU speed? If they *do* throttle back the CPU speed does that mean that we would expect to see a decrease in the overall performance of the computer because it's not operating at its full speed? I don't know much about this stuff, but I seem to remember hearing that somewhere...

Also, congrats on getting Apple to replace your MBP! Here's to hoping it's flawless this time!

The SMC Firmware (15" MBP Only - The MacBook's and The 17" MBP already have it) Changed the fan settings. They now come on much sooner, and appear to be load based. I hear the fans in my 17" come on quite often now. ANd it rally doesn't bother me at all.

SpeedIt is a kernel based version of what the MacBook (pro)'s Firmware already does, but it is more inteligent. The Firmware simply enables the CPU's EIST & C1E functions in fully automatic mode. SpeedIt takes this a several steps more and actively manages the CPU's thermal system. The fans are still controlled by the firmware, but the CPU's EIST, C1E and ACPI throttling are active insted of passive. The new version (0.5) allows the use to set the idle threshold. I know my 17" is always using about 1.5~3% cpu time. By default the CPU thinks this is enough activity to bring the CPU to 2.16GHz. My feeling is that anything less than 5~7% IS IDLE. A torrent does not need 2.16GHz.. 1GHz is just fine for that. Also, SpeedIt makes use of the CPU's VID Throttling too. That is, the CPU is allowed to not only drop down to 1GHz, but also drop the core voltage to .9v insted of 1.4v This will cool it WAY down (about 35~37C) as well as add time to your battery.

 

[eAspenwood]

Transeau - did you get your replacement 17" already? Was the hinge still loose? My replacement just shipped from Shanghai this morning.

 

[eVolcre]

Transeau - did you get your replacement 17" already? Was the hinge still loose? My replacement just shipped from Shanghai this morning.

Me too. Our laptops must be on the same flight.

eV

 

[Wano]

I got my 17" yesterday and have been using it almost the whole time since. The screen brightness is a little uneven but not enough to be annoying, it does get hot above the f keys, but just like my 12" powerbook got hot in other places, the hinge is fine, and no noise! It is super quiet, even less than my old 12" powerbook. This is a great machine and compared to what people are complaining about I have not experienced anything that I should be concerned about.

 

[xPismo]

Safe Sleep is the new thing.... Fun trick now, BTW. Put your 'book to sleep, pull out the battery, and then put it back in. Next time you want to use your 'book, press the Power button. Like hibernation, but different)

Yeah, I guess. But why does this do really for the user? I can't think of a reason for having my battery out for over a min... and I never ran into a problem before. So other than being a cool trick someone thought of, how is this better for the user experience? I don't get it.

 

[DeVizardofOZ]

Apple has to work on quality...

Just talked to a couple of people here in Beijing.
One has a 17" PB and will have the 5th (FIFTH) screen changed! Others have all the issues described in diverse forums here. When NOT ALL have problems it simply means that QUALITY CONTROL on a manufacturer level stinks big time. It is APPLE's responsibility to fix this quick otherwise they lose customer confidence, and that is harder to fix than hardware quality....

To release a product with faulty hardware- parts, heat issues, etc. means screwing the customer. That has actually been the style of Microsoft where millions of paying customers had to do the R&D after paying good money. and spend millions of man hours to get faulty software working... I am an advocate for a class action lawsuit by Windows application users sueing for compensation of at least 10 hours per year per customer. In addtition I vote for sueing Microsoft for spying on customers by transmitting information from personal equipment to MS on a continuous basis

THAT cannot be the style of APPLE CORP. Especially not when challenging WIN based users to switch to OSX and APPLE hardware.