Transmission pausing download on lid close

[James83448]

I used to use uTorrent along with Amphetamine to download torrents while my rMBP lid is closed, although whenever I use Amphetamine and Transmission, all active torrents pause when I close the lid.

I did a test, downloading the same torrent in both uTorrent and Transmission. I let them download for a while, turned on Amphetamine, and then closed the lid. As you can see from the two screenshots below, the uTorrent continued downloading the torrent (increased 3% while lid closed), while Transmission paused the download, and then resumed once I opened the lid.

Can anyone suggest why this is?

 

[Max(IT)]

Never tried but .... if you close the lid the MacBook will stop, how the download could goes on ?

 

[KALLT]

Have you enabled the option in Transmission's settings?

 

[James83448]

Never tried but .... if you close the lid the MacBook will stop, how the download could goes on ?

Amphetamine keeps the MBP awake when the lid is closed.

Have you enabled the option in Transmission's settings?

What option in Transmission? If you mean "Prevent computer from sleeping with active transfers", then yes.

 

[KALLT]

Well, I suppose Transmission will not continue to run when the system wants to enter into sleep mode. Strictly speaking, Amphetamine is meant to keep your Mac awake as if you were sitting in front of it continuously. It's not supposed to prevent your Mac from sleeping when the lid is closed, even though it might do this.

 

[James83448]

Well, I suppose Transmission will not continue to run when the system wants to enter into sleep mode.

That's the point of this thread. Why won't transmission continue downloads, whereas uTorrent will continue them?

 

[KALLT]

That's the point of this thread. Why won't transmission continue downloads, whereas uTorrent will continue them?

For the reason I gave: it's not normal behaviour. When you close the lid, the computer goes to sleep. It makes little sense for a developer to ignore that and force the computer into an awakened state. Even Amphetamine does not do that. If you want to prevent your computer from sleeping, Transmission has a separate function for it that works a little different. Just keep the lid open at a slight angle and turn down the backlighting of the display.

 

[kazibole]

As stated, Amphetamine does not prevent sleep when the lid is closed. It is possible uTorrent provided this option, but Transmission does not. Instead of Amphetamine, you should use a different program. I use InsomniaX and it can override the lid sleep. I have heard others using Caffiene or NoSleep, although I cannot comment on the lid sleep behaviour.

 

[Max(IT)]

Amphetamine keeps the MBP awake when the lid is closed.

Not sure if this is a good thing, since the lid closed obstruct the air flow of the MBP....

 

[simon lefisch]

NoSleep keep can keep your MBP awake while the lid is closed. I have used it while my MBP was in clamshell mode and connected to an external display without the power plug being attached.

 

[simon lefisch]

Deleted

 

[KALLT]

Not sure if this is a good thing, since the lid closed obstruct the air flow of the MBP....

MacBooks can be used with external displays while the lid is closed.

 

[James83448]

The only problem with NoSleep is there are no keyboard shortcuts available. Even trying to create my own keyboard shortcut didn't work! Amphetamine can be activated with a keyboard shortcut.

I will still encounter the same problem with Transmission using NoSleep also...

 

[Max(IT)]

MacBooks can be used with external displays while the lid is closed.

This always have been a matter of concern for me.
Is this a configuration somewhat "officially supported" by Apple ?

 

[Phil A.]

This always have been a matter of concern for me.
Is this a configuration somewhat "officially supported" by Apple ?

Yes - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201834

 

[Max(IT)]

Yes - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201834

thank you. I'm still concerned about temperature issue, but it is officially supported

 

[Weaselboy]

thank you. I'm still concerned about temperature issue, but it is officially supported

I've used all my Mac portables (now a 2014 13" rMBP) for years in clamshell mode attached to an external monitor and never had any heat issues. I get what you are saying that logically it would cool better open, and it may a little, but running them closed does not seem to hurt anything. At least not on mine.

 

[Max(IT)]

I've used all my Mac portables (now a 2014 13" rMBP) for years in clamshell mode attached to an external monitor and never had any heat issues. I get what you are saying that logically it would cool better open, and it may a little, but running them closed does not seem to hurt anything. At least not on mine.

Did you make some comparison regarding temperatures in the two mode ? Just out of curiosity ....

 

[Weaselboy]

Did you make some comparison regarding temperatures in the two mode ? Just out of curiosity ....

Nah... I've never checked. I'm just going by fans ramping up and it does not seem to ramp up when pushing the CPU any more in clamshell than otherwise. From looking at the iFixit breakdowns before it looks like the heat is pushed out of openings in the back and anything getting out by having the lid open would just be some incidental transfer via conduction through the keyboard surface.

 

[simon lefisch]

Did you make some comparison regarding temperatures in the two mode ? Just out of curiosity ....

I've also ran my MBP in clamshell mode while attached to external monitors and had no probs. If temp is a concern, you could place a chill pad underneath your laptop to help reduce heat.

 

[mrmekul]

Insomnia X is one good app that disables sleep with the lid open AND with the lid closed. It also has a CPU safety feature where if the CPU gets too hot, the sleep will enable. Check it out.