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    Any heat issues with i7, 15" or 17"?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by dave.ladner, Apr 21, 2010.

  1. dave.ladner

    dave.ladner Notebook Evangelist

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    Just wondering if anyone has had any heat issues with the new i7 processors in their MBP's, and whether or not it would be worth NOT opting to get the i7, and just sticking to the i5 because of heat issues?

    I would ask about battery life, but being a mac I imagine it gets at least 5-6 hours whether on an i7 or an i5 anyways correct?


    I am still debating different laptop brands, but leaning towards a MBP upgrade now. I can get a 15" i7 antiglare, for only $5 difference from a 17" i5 antiglare so... just wondering if there is any significant advantage with one over the other.

    I'd be doing graphics/3D work, and a game here and there perhaps.
    I might even bite the bullet and just pay the extra $180 for an i7 17"... if I'm already spending $2k+, whats another $200 hah.
     
    dave.ladner, Apr 21, 2010
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  2. cdnalsi

    cdnalsi Food for the funky people

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    cdnalsi, Apr 21, 2010
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  3. jjahshik32

    jjahshik32 Notebook Deity

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    Had my i7 17" since day of the release and no over heating issues!
     
    jjahshik32, Apr 21, 2010
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  4. BlazingSkies

    BlazingSkies Notebook Consultant

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    thanks for the tests.
     
    BlazingSkies, May 18, 2010
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  5. JohnSavage

    JohnSavage Notebook Guru

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    I personally think battery life is a bigger difference between the i7 and i5 than heat.

    I run some chess analysis programs that tax the CPU at 100% for extended periods of time. I find the processor *will* eventually get hot unless you use something like smcFancontrol to increase the RPMs. Luckily, you can. The real problem isn't the design, it's OS-X's complete unwillingness to up the fan speed. I can get the CPU up into the 95C range and the fans are still running at 2k rpm, just like they are right now when I'm idling at 35C. It really makes no sense to me.

    The good news is that using the fancontrol mod I'm easily able to keep my temps (on my i7) below 80 no matter what I'm doing, and generally all I have to do is kick them occasionally to a midrange rate of 4k rpm which is still quiet. I watched an Amazon movie rental a couple days ago via HDMI on an external TV with the fans at 4k and never got over 60C. So by and large, heat is not a problem at all for me. I honestly don't think the i5 would do any differently on heat and I haven't seen any data that disputes that idea.

    I *do* think you'll probably get an extra half hour out of the i5, although you're right you should get at least 5-6 hours out of either under normal circumstances. It's this area that should make you consider an i5, not heat, IMHO.
     
    JohnSavage, May 18, 2010
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