Unibody is getting warm with low usage

Hi guys,

Um I have my macbook pro getting pretty hot without much usage.

Eg. I am on integrated graphics right now and my cpu usage is roughly 30 percent (inclusive of system and user) and nothing is very intensive. Just a couple of firefox tabs in a firefox process, colloquy and itunes. I have about a 70 degree CPU temp and a 57 degree GPU temp on the 9400M.

It gets worse when I go on discrete and do the same things. My CPU often hits 80-90 degrees with my GPU being right htere at about 70. I'm pretty sure i need to get this checked out, but does anyone else have the same issue as me?

thanks.
Gagan

 

if you are using the cpu to 30%, then I think it's normal for the temperature to go up to 57 C. Mine usually idle around 44-48 C, although for discrete gpu to run that hot is quite abnormal.

Did you install anything recently before the temperature start increasing?

 

15" or 17"?

 

check if you don't have background apps running by using activity monitor. if it seems normal, you need to clean your vents.

 

Get SMCFanControl, it should solve your heat issues. If that doesn't work, purchase CoolBook as well and read up on Undervolting Guide.

However that said, I truly believe that 70 degrees is normal on the unibody MacBook Pro, it was by design. I find the MacBooks are a quieter than other notebooks, and rely on passive cooling more than active (active only when the heat goes beyond 80). I think it's more of a psychological thing for the user as their just not comfortable seeing those numbers(especially if you've used a PC in the past), 70-90 are still within the thermal operating limits of both the GPU and CPU.

 

You have to remember I was only getting 40ish before though this is definitely a good 20 degrees above previous temps with the same usage. The background was checked and nothing was running htat I didn't want.

 

It depends on what you are running under Firefox, any Java or Flash content would increase CPU usage dramatically(Flash video can use as much as 100%). For my system, even at 70 degrees, the fan still runs around 2000 rpm which is barely audible only in a very silent room, it's not until around 75-85+ where the fan kicks in and it sounds like a plane liftoff...

I wouldn't worry about the temperatures. But if you insist then, like I said earlier just download SMCFanControl(I use it) and set the default fan setting to around 3300rpm instead. That's the setting I use and it's quiet enough for me not to notice much of a audible difference, lower it if you find it too loud.

 

are you torrenting? this greatly increases the temps and also i have noticed that dust accumulates WAY too quickly inside. i suggest you open the casing and try to clean off the fans and vents.

 

I would first remedy the issues first with software before attempting any type of fan cleaning. I do agree that dust would act as an insulator for the heatsink to decrease in effectivity, however, since you only owned the notebook for less than a month (hypothesis judging from your post) the dust accumulation wouldn't be severe enough to cause dramatic temperature increases.

Besides, the temperatures that you are mentioning are look completely normal to me, my system at stock Apple settings without any cooling software idled at 55 degrees and normal operating temps were around 70(66-69).

 

My friends who have macbooks use this (SMCFanControl) but their fans are running like extremely high, sounds like the low power of a hair dryer. Won't this eventually screw up the fans?

 

All fans will eventually be screwed up. Running too slow or too fast will speed up the process. Thankfully, the fan speed you can achieve on your laptop is all within the "safe range" thus fan operating life difference should be minimal.

 

why the hell should I have my fans spinning faster when my usage hasnt' changed my laptop's temperature has vastly differed from when I purchased. I'll buy a can of comporessed air and report back.