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

safe temp levels in mid 2010 Mini

N

nrajack

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 22, 2009
77
0
Trenton, NJ
What are safe temperature levels in a mid 2010 Mac Mini?

We don't have air conditioning in the space where the computer resides but do have a small (about 8 inch diameter) fan blowing air across the top of the case. Last night before I shut down before going to bed I checked temps with iStat Pro and the cpu was at 160 F and cpu heatsink was at 178 F. The power supply was in the 140-150 F range (but then again it's usually around 130 F anyways). Fan speed as reported by iStat last night was about 2500 RPM. Ambient air temperature by a thermometer 2 feet from the Mini's case was 90F.

A couple of questions: how accurate are the numbers reported by iStat and from what I wrote are these numbers that should cause concern? The Mini is stock except for 8 gig of ram from Crucial. I usually start the computer up in the AM when I get up and shut it down before bedtime with intermittent use during the day. In between I have it in Sleep mode.Last night when I checked the temps I had used it to do a final check of email and also check the weather from a site which has some Flash animation. I know Flash can run the temps up but still - should I worry about the temp numbers?
 
The Minis seem to be quite good at maintaining a safe operating temperature on their own. I use mine as a near-constant video encoding station and I've never seen it peek above 170F. With SMBFanControl set in encoding mode at 2600RPM, it stays in the 160-165 range. :)
 
nrajack said:
What are safe temperature levels in a mid 2010 Mac Mini?

We don't have air conditioning in the space where the computer resides but do have a small (about 8 inch diameter) fan blowing air across the top of the case. Last night before I shut down before going to bed I checked temps with iStat Pro and the cpu was at 160 F and cpu heatsink was at 178 F. The power supply was in the 140-150 F range (but then again it's usually around 130 F anyways). Fan speed as reported by iStat last night was about 2500 RPM. Ambient air temperature by a thermometer 2 feet from the Mini's case was 90F.

A couple of questions: how accurate are the numbers reported by iStat and from what I wrote are these numbers that should cause concern? The Mini is stock except for 8 gig of ram from Crucial. I usually start the computer up in the AM when I get up and shut it down before bedtime with intermittent use during the day. In between I have it in Sleep mode.Last night when I checked the temps I had used it to do a final check of email and also check the weather from a site which has some Flash animation. I know Flash can run the temps up but still - should I worry about the temp numbers?
Click to expand...

your numbers are high not killer but high. I don't have a 2010 anymore. I am not sure if iStats gives you the hdd temp. If it does get back with that number 140F for a hdd is max.

I use iMenus it cost 16 bucks but has much more then istat. it allows 6 speed settings for the fan, you may consider buying it.

Also a 90f room is near max operating temp. I think max external temp should be 95f. I will look for that.

Found specs for you;

⇓↓
⇓↓
Electrical and operating requirements

Line voltage: 100-240V AC
Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
Maximum continuous power: 85W

Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)←← You have it in a very warm room.

Storage temperature: -40° to 116° F (-40° to 47° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Maximum altitude: 10,000 feet
Typical acoustical performance
Sound pressure level (operator position): 14 dBA at idle7

The cpus are 2.4 = intel p8600 105c rating
2.66 = intel p8800 105c rating

I would worry about the hdd ;

western digital scorpio blues are rated for 60 c
western digital scorpio blacks are rated for 60 c
hitachi travelstars are rated for 60 c
samsung m7 rated for 131f or 55 c
toshiba = 131 f or 55 c
fujitsu = 131 f or 55 c


See if you can get a hdd reading.



AC is your friend I live near your and the air quality was bad yesterday ozone was high and ac does get rid of ozone.
 
Last edited:
philipma1957 said:
your numbers are high not killer but high. I don't have a 2010 anymore. I am not sure if iStats gives you the hdd temp. If it does get back with that number 140F for a hdd is max.

I use iMenus it cost 16 bucks but has much more then istat. it allows 6 speed settings for the fan, you may consider buying it.

Also a 90f room is near max operating temp. I think max external temp should be 95f. I will look for that.

Found specs for you;

⇓↓
⇓↓
Electrical and operating requirements

Line voltage: 100-240V AC
Frequency: 50Hz to 60Hz, single phase
Maximum continuous power: 85W

Operating temperature: 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C)←← You have it in a very warm room.

Storage temperature: -40° to 116° F (-40° to 47° C)
Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
Maximum altitude: 10,000 feet
Typical acoustical performance
Sound pressure level (operator position): 14 dBA at idle7

The cpus are 2.4 = intel p8600 105c rating
2.66 = intel p8800 105c rating

I would worry about the hdd ;

western digital scorpio blues are rated for 60 c
western digital scorpio blacks are rated for 60 c
hitachi travelstars are rated for 60 c
samsung m7 rated for 131f or 55 c
toshiba = 131 f or 55 c
fujitsu = 131 f or 55 c


See if you can get a hdd reading.



AC is your friend I live near your and the air quality was bad yesterday ozone was high and ac does get rid of ozone.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the numbers - this is what I was looking for. iStat gives two HD temp readings - one for HD Macintosh and another for HD bay and I don't recall either of those being over 130 F. Do you by any chance know which brands Apple is putting in stock in Minis? This is one with the 320 gig HD.

I would dearly love to have AC in the living room/dining room where the computer is but we don't have the incoming AC power (amperage) capacity to do it. Only have A/C in the bedroom and kitchen. And air quality is going to be bad again here in NJ - orange air quality alert for today.
 
Those seem a bit high. You want to insure the mini has room to breathe for good air flow but also install smcfancontrol. Bump up the fans a bit.
 
nrajack said:
not a helpful answer
Click to expand...
Well - it will shut itself off before melting.

Your temps are pretty high.

Could the inside be dusty? The 2010 mini is good at collecting dust inside. Might help to take the bottom off and check for dust buildup in the fan. A can of compressed air would help remove any dust in the fan and heat sink tunnel.

I've cleaned my mini out a few times.
 
miles01110 said:
How is that not helpful? It answers your question exactly. Even if it shuts itself off, it's still quite a ways from melting.
Click to expand...

It does not exactly answer my question. I asked what are the safe temperature levels in a Mac Mini and that juvenile answer didn't even come close. If you can't answer the question being asked then stay the hell out of the thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back