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Why are my fans running so high?

O

oilersrock99

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 25, 2010
19
0
Both of my fans are running at the max 6200 RPM and have been for well over an hour.
My CPU is over 65% idle, and none of my processes are over 20%. My HD Temp is 38 degrees, and my CPU temp is 72 degrees.

I don't think my fans should be running this high considering the computer is doing so little work.

Any suggestions?
 
I"m using Istat. The processes that are showing up in Istat are:

Firefox - 14%
VLC - 9%

and then a few others ranging from 0.1 - 5%

The only things I have open are:

Firefox
Ical
Excel
VLC - I'm watching Mythbusters

However, the fan is almost always running on high regardless of what I'm doing - even if I'm only using firefox and excel
 
What are you doing in FF? If you are using ANY Flash at all, that will explain it.
 
r.j.s said:
What are you doing in FF? If you are using ANY Flash at all, that will explain it.
Click to expand...

I have hotmail, facebook, and kijiji open - along with this forum.

I quit Firefox and started nothing else - just had the same apps open while VLC was still playing. I waited 5 minutes and there was no change in temp or fan speed.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
r.j.s said:
What is the file type VLC is playing? That is probably the culprit.
Click to expand...

Just an AVI. Even when I don't have VLC playing and it's just firefox running, the fans will still run on high. Also, the temp is only 71 - why are the fans on full if the temp is only 71?

Matthew Yohe said:
Instead of iStat, what does Activity Monitor say? (Be sure to select All Processes)
Click to expand...

Essentially the same. 75% idle - no individual processes over 15%
 
Last edited by a moderator:
oilersrock99 said:
Just an AVI. Even when I don't have VLC playing and it's just firefox running, the fans will still run on high. Also, the temp is only 71 - why are the fans on full if the temp is only 71?
Click to expand...

AVI doesn't mean much, as it is only a container format. The actually format might be flash - which would explain it.

Do you have some kind of fan control installed?
 
r.j.s said:
AVI doesn't mean much, as it is only a container format. The actually format might be flash - which would explain it.

Do you have some kind of fan control installed?
Click to expand...

But wouldn't the process for VLC be more than just 10-15%?

Also, if I turn VLC off, the fan will still run on high. No fan control installed. I tried SMC, but that's useless, because you can't make the fan run slower.

Also, the temp is still only around 66-72
 
oilersrock99 said:
But wouldn't the process for VLC be more than just 10-15%?

Also, if I turn VLC off, the fan will still run on high. No fan control installed. I tried SMC, but that's useless, because you can't make the fan run slower.

Also, the temp is still only around 66-72
Click to expand...

Then is it still leftovers from SMC Fan Control? You've rebooted since uninstalling that App right?
 
I've reset the SMC in the past - how often would I need to do this?

Also, yes, I've rebooted since I uninstalled SMC.
 
r.j.s said:
Not very, but it seems like it is stuck after SMCFC.
Click to expand...

lol. It was doing this before I installed SMCFC - that's why I installed it, so it clearly has nothing to do with SMCFC. It also nothing to do with Firefox, VLC, or Excel, as I've closed all of them and left the computer on to see what would happen. The fan stays on full.

The only way they turn down is if I close everything and leave it idle for 5-7 minutes.
 
oilersrock99 said:
The only way they turn down is if I close everything and leave it idle for 5-7 minutes.
Click to expand...

Then your computer is doing something when those apps are running, and whether you think so or not, it is raising the temp and therefore the fan speed.

I'm fairly certain VLC or FF is the problem, and closing them and letting it sit for 5 min may not cool it down enough.
 
r.j.s said:
Then your computer is doing something when those apps are running, and whether you think so or not, it is raising the temp and therefore the fan speed.

I'm fairly certain VLC or FF is the problem, and closing them and letting it sit for 5 min may not cool it down enough.
Click to expand...


So a CPU temp between 66-74 is too high? Should I try investing in a cooling mat or something? From everything I've read, 66-74 is perfectly normal and no reason for the fans to be blasting at full.
 
oilersrock99 said:
So a CPU temp between 66-74 is too high? Should I try investing in a cooling mat or something? From everything I've read, 66-74 is perfectly normal and no reason for the fans to be blasting at full.
Click to expand...

No, it is a normal temp, but the machine is trying to keep the temp in that area.

BTW, did you reset the SMC?
 
r.j.s said:
No, it is a normal temp, but the machine is trying to keep the temp in that area.

BTW, did you reset the SMC?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just reset the SMC, restarted the computer, and the only thing I have open right now is Firefox. I have Hotmail, Facebook, Kijiji and MacRumors forums open.

It's been on for about 5 minutes.

CPU temp is 71 - fans started at 2000 and are now up to 3000
 
r.j.s said:
Normal.

3000 is not full blast. Around 6000 is.
Click to expand...

I know. But read the rest of post - the whole time I had it on before it was at 6000rpm - for about 2 hours straight.

Actually it was even longer than that, 'cause we watched Inception - it was more like 4.5 hours running at 6000rpm.

Now the computer is 90% idle according to Activity Monitor with Firefox being about 9% and a bunch of random processes eating up the remaining 1%

Fans are currently at 4000rpm - temp is steady at 70
 
Are you using VLC again, or just FF?

I'm still betting that Flash is raising the temp, and therefore the fan.

Watching Inception just means the CPU was working, and the temp was high, so that explains that.

The fans come on when they are needed.
 
r.j.s said:
Are you using VLC again, or just FF?

I'm still betting that Flash is raising the temp, and therefore the fan.

Watching Inception just means the CPU was working, and the temp was high, so that explains that.

The fans come on when they are needed.
Click to expand...


Just FF. The only tab I have open is for this thread. The only application I have open is FF. Here's a screenshot


Right now - 94% idle
Fans running at 4400


http://www.flickr.com/photos/23081892@N02/5291877162/
 
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