2.8 imac heat issues

[ppolios]

Hi all, I'm new here and was hoping for some feedback. I got a new 2.8 Imac and had it replaced after the Power Supply Position was idling at 82 degrees Celsius, and the top of the case felt very hot to the touch. The fans never "kicked in" even though it was that hot.

Anyways, I got a replacement machine and the Power Supply Position now idles at about 68-70 degrees Celsius (much cooler), but the external portion of the machine still feels extremely hot.

So my question is, how hot is too hot?? Is my machine normal and am I worried about nothing?? Should I be using SMC Fan Control?? Is the heat because of the 2.8 processor??

Thanks in advance,

-Paul

 

[Gibson88]

I use the iStat pro widget, it gives you readings of there.

As long as the CPU isn't idling anymore than 50 and the GPU at 60 you should be fine.

 

[kilo67]

Dumb question!

Just got an iMac after many years in the PC world.
Where do I go to view my operating temps?

iMac 2.8

 

[ppolios]

download the istat widget or hardware monitor
Let me know where your Power Supply Position is at after being on for an hour.


-Paul

 

[ArtTechFreak]

Greetings,

If I'm not mistaken the Aluminum iMacs are made from a single piece of stamped aluminum. Thus, the back of the iMac feels really hot because aluminum is a very good conductor of heat. Aluminum is a very common material in heatsinks for electronics as well as in cookware because it transfers heat so well. So don't fret too much if the back of your iMac feels hot;the aluminum is just doing its job!

As long as the internal temps in the iMac are within the proper range there is nothing to worry about.

R

 

[davekarn]

I experienced a lot of heat when I first got my 2.8, but ever since Leopard and the various updates, it's been significantly cooler.

~Dave

 

[Leon Kowalski]

As long as the CPU isn't idling anymore than 50 and the GPU at 60 you should be fine.

I believe the hard drive is the component most at risk from excessively
high temperatures. Almost all iMac factory-installed HDs are spec'd for
a maximum ambient operating temperature of 55C or 60C.

If iStat or Temperature Monitor show over 45C as the normal "idle state"
temperature in "Drive Bay #1", it's reason for concern. There's no reason
for the HD's idle temperature to be above 35C or 40C.

LK

 

[AlexisV]

We get a new thread like this every other day.

The iMac feels hot at the back, on the left. The aluminium case acts as a giant heatsink. If the heat is on the outside, there's less on the inside.

We know of no incidents where an iMac has failed from heat issues.

I believe the hard drive is the component most at risk from excessively
high temperatures. Almost all iMac factory-installed HDs are spec'd for
a maximum ambient operating temperature of 55C or 60C.

If iStat or Temperature Monitor show over 45C as the normal "idle state"
temperature in "Drive Bay #1", it's reason for concern. There's no reason
for the HD's idle temperature to be above 35C or 40C.

True, in theory. But I don't think we've seen anyone with idle HD temps in the 50's.

All this worry is conjencture, and a lot of it seems to be due to the impression that Apple have somehow designed the iMac 'wrongly'.

 

[Tonerl]

My 24", 2.8 iMac's temperatures are reported by iStat as:
CPU 38, GPU 49, HDD 51 (all in Celsius). It feels warm along the top and at the back but is working OK.

 

[Gibson88]

I believe the hard drive is the component most at risk from excessively
high temperatures. Almost all iMac factory-installed HDs are spec'd for
a maximum ambient operating temperature of 55C or 60C.

If iStat or Temperature Monitor show over 45C as the normal "idle state"
temperature in "Drive Bay #1", it's reason for concern. There's no reason
for the HD's idle temperature to be above 35C or 40C.

LK

That can't be true, i have had 3 iMac's over the past week due to dead pixels and in each one the HDD has been low to high 40's. That's in the middle of winter and my Mac has nothing around it blocking airflow.

Readings from iStat pro.

 

[eRondeau]

I've never worried about my 2.8 iMac because it's never felt anything more than a little warm. Definitely never been "hot". I never hear the fan start either. Are you sure you removed all the packing plastic from around the air vents? Do you run at max brightness all the time? (I keep mine at minimum.)

Here's my temp stats -- been running continuously for weeks, woke from sleep about an hour ago...

 

[bluedoggiant]

wow, some cool imacs on here, my temps are in farenheit, and no, those arent my highest, ive had the GPU diode up at 152, while i was playing doom 3, nothing intensive, and the airport card up at 149

I've practically burned my hands on this machine, its insanely hot, from what i can feel, the upper left side is VERY HOT, also on top of the HD, the power board is also hot, and something else in the upper right corner, and no, it isnt the optical drive, what do you think of these temps?

 

[ppolios]

Everything else seems to be running ok but my hard drive does idle at 50 degrees Celsius. I have the Hitachi 750 gb drive. I heard those run hotter but should I be concerned??

Thanks,

-Paul

 

[Dimwhit]

My hard drive is at about 57 degrees. CUP is at 49 degrees. Power supply at 69 degrees. For the most part, I seem to be on the high end of things.

But, the computer is quiet and works just fine. My hard drive is backed up to an external drive. If something happens, I have AppleCare. But I'm not really worried. I would think that if things got excessively hot, I'd be hearing fans revving up quite a bit. But the CPU fans is at 1200rpm, the hard drive fan at 1300rpm, and the optical fan at 700rpm.

 

[bluedoggiant]

My hard drive is at about 57 degrees. CUP is at 49 degrees. Power supply at 69 degrees. For the most part, I seem to be on the high end of things.

But, the computer is quiet and works just fine. My hard drive is backed up to an external drive. If something happens, I have AppleCare. But I'm not really worried. I would think that if things got excessively hot, I'd be hearing fans revving up quite a bit. But the CPU fans is at 1200rpm, the hard drive fan at 1300rpm, and the optical fan at 700rpm.

Your cup is 49 degrees?? celcious? wow, that must be a a reasonable temperature for drinking coffee lol

i think you mean cpu

 

[Dimwhit]

Your cup is 49 degrees?? celcious? wow, that must be a a reasonable temperature for drinking coffee lol

i think you mean cpu

Heh. I'm the master of typos...

Though maybe it's just the cup I wear when playing football. No more kids for me...

 

[AlexisV]

wow, some cool imacs on here, my temps are in farenheit, and no, those arent my highest, ive had the GPU diode up at 152, while i was playing doom 3, nothing intensive, and the airport card up at 149

I've practically burned my hands on this machine, its insanely hot, from what i can feel, the upper left side is VERY HOT, also on top of the HD, the power board is also hot, and something else in the upper right corner, and no, it isnt the optical drive, what do you think of these temps?

FINE.

Everything else seems to be running ok but my hard drive does idle at 50 degrees Celsius. I have the Hitachi 750 gb drive. I heard those run hotter but should I be concerned??

Thanks,

-Paul

NO.

 

[Leon Kowalski]

True, in theory. But I don't think we've seen anyone with idle HD temps in the 50's.

My 24", 2.8 iMac's temperatures are reported by iStat as:
CPU 38, GPU 49, HDD 51 (all in Celsius).

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=97388&d=1200115968

LK Note: 137 F = 58.3 C

Everything else seems to be running ok but my hard drive does idle at 50 degrees Celsius.

My hard drive is at about 57 degrees.

Seagate, WD, and Hitachi all specify 55C or 60C maximum (depending on
model). An anonymous voice on The Internets says "don't worry" ...

...believe what you like, it's your drive,

LK

 

[Leon Kowalski]

I've practically burned my hands on this machine, its insanely hot ...
... what do you think of these temps?

If it's "insanely hot" on the outside, it's even hotter on the inside, as
your iStat Pro readout clearly indicates. I'd suggest smcFanControl
to try to get that HD temperature down into the "sane" range.

LK

Heat won't pass from a cooler to a hotter
You can try it if you like, but you'd far better not-a
'Cos the cold in the cooler will get hotter as a rule-a
'Cos the hotter body's heat will pass to the cooler
-- Flanders & Swann (The First and Second Law)

.

 

[bluedoggiant]

If it's "insanely hot" on the outside, it's even hotter on the inside, as
your iStat Pro display clearly indicates. I'd suggest smcFanControl
to try to get that HD temperature down.

LK

Heat won't pass from a cooler to a hotter
You can try it if you like, but you'd far better not-a
'Cos the cold in the cooler will get hotter as a rule-a
'Cos the hotter body's heat will pass to the cooler
-- Flanders & Swann (The First and Second Law)

.

uhhm, did you bother seeing the attachment?

 

[bbarnhart]

The iStat widget... the fan speed panel... I'm pretty sure none of my fans are spinning. I took another moment to listen very carefully. I can hear some fanish noise, but I think it's the HD. Is that fan speed accurate?

 

[ppolios]

Unfortunately even using SMC Fan Control at 2500 on the HD, it is still idling at 47 degrees Celsius. Should I have the computer replaced?? Or is this acceptable??

Thanks,

-Paul

 

[nickf]

Heat won't pass from a cooler to a hotter
You can try it if you like, but you'd far better not-a
'Cos the cold in the cooler will get hotter as a rule-a
'Cos the hotter body's heat will pass to the cooler
-- Flanders & Swann (The First and Second Law)

.

Actually, that's only a description of the First Law of Thermodynamics

Regarding the temperatures posted here - don't worry about them. I think Apple's engineers know more than we do about such things.

 

[Leon Kowalski]

Actually, that's only a description of the First Law of Thermodynamics

Actually, that was only part of he lyrics.

Regarding the temperatures posted here - don't worry about them.

I ain't worried -- my drive's running at 38C,

LK

 

[AlexisV]

Seagate, WD, and Hitachi all specify 55C or 60C maximum (depending on
model). An anonymous voice on The Internets says "don't worry" ...

...believe what you like, it's your drive,

Better go tell Apple that every iMac is likely to burst into flames at any moment then. Can't believe the fools went ahead and built such a silly design without consulting Seagate or WD.

I don't know. What are they like eh?