CPU temperature of MBP 13". Max = ?

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kalikali
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
I'm currently running an all new MBP 13" at 2.66 GHz. The tests I made today (large textures handling in 3D environnement, OpenGL, music playing in background...) gave me an internal CPU temperature as high as 83°C. Should I worry about this ?



What is the max temperature a Core 2 Duo at 2.66 GHz should tolerate, in a MBP ?



I need to know because I'll use pretty often the laptop to do some "heavy" 3D demonstrations, in front of a classroom. I don't want the MBP to be prematurely dammaged by heat.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    You're fine. It's a computer; it runs hot.
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  • Reply 2 of 10
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,573moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kali View Post


    What is the max temperature a Core 2 Duo at 2.66 GHz should tolerate, in a MBP ?



    Mobile chips are listed as having maximum temperatures of 95 degrees or something like that. 80+ is what Apple allows them to go to to keep the fan noise down. There are 3rd party fan control programs that you can use to ramp the fans up more quickly and have it max out at a lower temperature but it's not going to damage the machine running at that temperature.
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  • Reply 3 of 10
    futurepastnowfuturepastnow Posts: 1,772member
    A good rule of thumb for CPUs and GPUs is that if it is stable, and not throttling itself, then it is not in danger.
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  • Reply 4 of 10
    kalikali Posts: 634member
    Thanks guys.



    I must add that I'm new to the portable world . I used several large desktop Macs before (Mac IIci, dual G4, eMac, dual G5, Mac mini...), and never bothered about the internal temperature in their case. But then, the portables are looking so fragile (compared to a G5 tower tank, for example), that I feel concerned about the 13" MBP robustness, especially because of the heat generated by the internal parts... O well, I'm already in love with this small puppy !
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  • Reply 5 of 10
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Kali View Post


    Thanks guys.



    I must add that I'm new to the portable world . I used several large desktop Macs before (Mac IIci, dual G4, eMac, dual G5, Mac mini...), and never bothered about the internal temperature in their case. But then, the portables are looking so fragile (compared to a G5 tower tank, for example), that I feel concerned about the 13" MBP robustness, especially because of the heat generated by the internal parts... O well, I'm already in love with this small puppy !



    I think the 13" MBP is pretty robust. If you want to run with lower temps you can use SMCFanControl to run the fan a bit faster... I suggest 2500rpm (1/3 speed) for normal use, 5000rpm (2/3 speed) during more intense use. Of course, if you are maxing out your CPU at 100% then your fan will be at max speed (usually 6200rpm(?)) anyways.



    Will it reduce fan life? Not for two MacBooks I have tried it on for the past year and a half.
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  • Reply 6 of 10
    gerald applegerald apple Posts: 333member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    I think the 13" MBP is pretty robust. If you want to run with lower temps you can use SMCFanControl to run the fan a bit faster... I suggest 2500rpm (1/3 speed) for normal use, 5000rpm (2/3 speed) during more intense use. Of course, if you are maxing out your CPU at 100% then your fan will be at max speed (usually 6200rpm(?)) anyways.



    Will it reduce fan life? Not for two MacBooks I have tried it on for the past year and a half.



    I downloaded this app last night. Please tell me how do I adjust the temp settings for my fan? When I use flash apps the fan noise is loud when you put your ear to it.Will this app help me? thanks
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  • Reply 7 of 10
    tallest skiltallest skil Posts: 43,388member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gerald apple View Post


    I downloaded this app last night. Please tell me how do I adjust the temp settings for my fan? When I use flash apps the fan noise is loud when you put your ear to it.Will this app help me? thanks



    No. Flash does that. You want your fans running rather than your CPU dying. It's Flash, there's really nothing to be done. Download the 10.2 beta and live with it.
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  • Reply 8 of 10
    nvidia2008nvidia2008 Posts: 9,262member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gerald apple View Post


    I downloaded this app last night. Please tell me how do I adjust the temp settings for my fan? When I use flash apps the fan noise is loud when you put your ear to it.Will this app help me? thanks



    SMCFanControl will not help that, unfortunately. It will not make your fans run slower than it is needed to, to prevent you burning out your CPU etc.



    I use it to manually set fan speeds *higher* than the system thinks it should set the fans, so that CPU/etc. temperatures are lower than what the system thinks is acceptable. I get a little more fan noise but under 4000 rpm it is not noticeable and I run with lower temps.



    For Flash apps, all you can do is download the latest version of Flash (and try out the latest Beta versions). If any Flash app is causing 100% CPU unfortunately that will also make your fans spin more or less at maximum speed which is when you get loud noise, when the fans hit 5000rpm-6000rpm on the MacBook/MBP13".
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  • Reply 9 of 10
    gerald applegerald apple Posts: 333member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by nvidia2008 View Post


    SMCFanControl will not help that, unfortunately. It will not make your fans run slower than it is needed to, to prevent you burning out your CPU etc.



    I use it to manually set fan speeds *higher* than the system thinks it should set the fans, so that CPU/etc. temperatures are lower than what the system thinks is acceptable. I get a little more fan noise but under 4000 rpm it is not noticeable and I run with lower temps.



    For Flash apps, all you can do is download the latest version of Flash (and try out the latest Beta versions). If any Flash app is causing 100% CPU unfortunately that will also make your fans spin more or less at maximum speed which is when you get loud noise, when the fans hit 5000rpm-6000rpm on the MacBook/MBP13".



    I deleted this fan control application as it was not really helping.I still hear the fan noise even when I do not use any flash apps. Why? Is it possible there can be dust inside the unit and will this make the noise louder? thanks
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  • Reply 10 of 10
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,573moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gerald apple View Post


    I deleted this fan control application as it was not really helping.I still hear the fan noise even when I do not use any flash apps. Why? Is it possible there can be dust inside the unit and will this make the noise louder? thanks



    If you sit the machine on your lap instead of say a book or hard surface, that will make it hotter. Also, check your Activity Monitor (/Applications/Utilities) to see what apps are running. List All processes at the top and list by % CPU.



    Do you have an app like iStat that tells you what the fan speed is? I generally find that 1000-1500 RPM is the inaudible range but anything from 1000-2500 is normal idle speed.
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