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Does the MBP C2D run cooler than the MBP C2D SR?

P

pasquazzo

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 22, 2007
14
0
Hi everyone,
I will buy a MBP, just don't know whether the new 2.2 or the old 2.33.

I wanted to ask to those of you who own both, whether the "old" MBP C2D runs cooler and (more importantly) quieter than the new SR. My biggest concern is the fan noise, which I hate. Not planning to run demanding applications, but seems these things heat up anyway quite easily..

Can you please give me advice, thank you so much.

[edited title, thanks Furious for flagging ;) ]
 
Maybe it's just me but my SR MBP is running hotter than my C2D MBP. Maybe the thermal paste hasn't been applied correctly to the CPU or something but my current computer gets so hot sometimes that it's very close to being unbearable on my lap while using it. I never had a problem like that with my 2nd gen version.
 
Oh goody.. Apple revisiting the CD (Rev A) days again with the heat? :mad:
 
Habusho said:
Maybe it's just me but my SR MBP is running hotter than my C2D MBP. Maybe the thermal paste hasn't been applied correctly to the CPU or something but my current computer gets so hot sometimes that it's very close to being unbearable on my lap while using it. I never had a problem like that with my 2nd gen version.
Click to expand...

I went to the apple store last night for the exact same problem. The genius bar response was:

"This is not a laptop - this is a "portable" - You are supposed to use it on a desk or somewhere stationary. These things will get hot, they are not supposed to be used on your lap".

I was like - is this idiot kidding me.
 
supremus said:
I went to the apple store last night for the exact same problem. The genius bar response was:

"This is not a laptop - this is a "portable" - You are supposed to use it on a desk or somewhere stationary. These things will get hot, they are not supposed to be used on your lap".

I was like - is this idiot kidding me.
Click to expand...

I can believe that! everytime I've been to the apple store, whether it be a sales person or a techie, they are all morons.. Thats why I do my research first then go purchase later.

How hot are talking about here? what idle and full load temp?
 
djinn said:
I can believe that! everytime I've been to the apple store, whether it be a sales person or a techie, they are all morons.. Thats why I do my research first then go purchase later.

How hot are talking about here? what idle and full load temp?
Click to expand...

I have no idea how to measure it or what to use to measure it - I am still learning my way around MAC world :) - though whether at Idle or full load doesnt really matter. I use the PC just for surfing the web. And within half an hour, I start feeling uncomfortable with the heat - its not just the bottom part that seems to heat up, but the left side of the keyboard too - making my left palm much more uncomfy than right one.

All in all, a week old machine, and I am not pleased that this is supposed to be a 2.5K stuff :D.
 
supremus said:
I have no idea how to measure it or what to use to measure it - I am still learning my way around MAC world :) - though whether at Idle or full load doesnt really matter. I use the PC just for surfing the web. And within half an hour, I start feeling uncomfortable with the heat - its not just the bottom part that seems to heat up, but the left side of the keyboard too - making my left palm much more uncomfy than right one.

All in all, a week old machine, and I am not pleased that this is supposed to be a 2.5K stuff :D.
Click to expand...

You should get a program called smcFancontrol:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049

There have been speculation that the fans with the SR aren't kicking on when the temps get high. Atleast with this program you can set your Default and Load fan speeds. It also tells you the heat of your machine.

You can also get a widget called iStatpro that gives you more then enough information about your laptop.

I would check out smcfancontrol first before contacting Apple.
 
djinn said:
You should get a program called smcFancontrol:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049

There have been speculation that the fans with the SR aren't kicking on when the temps get high. Atleast with this program you can set your Default and Load fan speeds. It also tells you the heat of your machine.

You can also get a widget called iStatpro that gives you more then enough information about your laptop.

I would check out smcfancontrol first before contacting Apple.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I did try this thing - and it gave me an error saying "This platform is not supported" :) - I will try the iStatpro widget though.
 
supremus said:
Thanks for the info. I did try this thing - and it gave me an error saying "This platform is not supported" :) - I will try the iStatpro widget though.
Click to expand...

You might have downloaded a copy for PPC. Try downloading from the link I provided cause it has a Requirement: Intel. See if you get that same error.
 
I tried out the smcfancontrol tool. I was installing CS3 and the tems were 62 celsius. Idle was about 54 celsius. This thing is HOT at the top of the keyboard and directly below it. You'll definately feel it in your fingers if you put your fingers above the middle F keys.
 
At least it's better than my CoreDuo machine (in for service at the moment). The temperature it produces is so intense, it's causing anything which touches a metal surface to be slowly charred, and this includes the battery slowly burning the inside of the battery compartment and itself (trackpad ribbon cables included).
 
Yeah, the Rev. A. CD were hot. I bought one and ended up taking it back because it brought back memories of the 12" Powerbook Rev A.

My C2D 2.33ghz will idle around 48 - 51c at 2500 RPM Fan Speed. So the temps aren't that bad. It does it hot on the lap but I rarely use it on my laptop. Another thing to take in consideration is apple using the metal case as a heatsink. Since metal dissipates heat better then plastic.
 
djinn said:
Yeah, the Rev. A. CD were hot. I bought one and ended up taking it back because it brought back memories of the 12" Powerbook Rev A.

My C2D 2.33ghz will idle around 48 - 51c at 2500 RPM Fan Speed. So the temps aren't that bad.
Click to expand...
Same experience here.

I returned three Rev A Core Duos because they were significantly hotter than the PowerBook I was upgrading from.

I use a Core 2 Duo (2.16ghz) one now and it feels about the same "hot" as my PowerBook did.

supremus said:
And within half an hour, I start feeling uncomfortable with the heat - its not just the bottom part that seems to heat up, but the left side of the keyboard too - making my left palm much more uncomfy than right one.
Click to expand...
Is your battery charging when the left side of the keyboard gets hot? That's the only time the left side of my C2D gets hot. Have you thought about an iLap? I use it mostly for the ergonomics of couch surfing, but I'm sure it helps out some with the cooling.
 
My Mac is running on 122-126F - is this normal? And the keyboard seems warm all over it when its running at this temp.

Any thoughts if this is the normal operating temp of this machine?
 
I'd wager that the new SR MBPs run hotter...
Mine idles at around 55-60 degrees Celcius, and under a full load will go as high as 95 degrees before the fans will turn on and take it back down to 85.
 
milky23 said:
... before the fans will turn on and take it back down to 85.
Click to expand...

I think the fans are always running. Download istat pro to see your fan speed. Here are my approximate fan speed:
below 60 Celsius - 2000RPM
between 60 and 85 - 4500 RPM

I so far, have not been able to go above 85 yet (knock on wood).

Regardless, the fan is always spinning for me.
 
it takes several hundred hours of usage for the thermal paste to properly settle in. Unless your CPU temperatures are approaching 90C, i wouldn't be worried.
 
Wow, it seems like the heat may once again be the achilles heel of the MBP. I thought they'd solved that problem with the first C2Ds. Mine has never had a heat issue.

Usually runs in the 130s, and has never had any kind of mooing noise issue. Easy to use on my lap.
 
I can't answer the OP's question, however, I would like to point out that how the computer feels on your lap is not a good gauge of whether the computer runs hot and is properly functioning. From the photo's I've seen recently regarding thermal paste application, it appears the MBP design is intended to transfer heat from the CPU and GPU to a bracket on the bottom of the computer which then transfers it along its length and though the bottom of the case (conductive heat transfer.) The fans help push the heat outside the unit through the back vents (convective heat transfer.)

You really need to look at the CPU temperature as well as the case temperature. The closer these temperatures are, the better the heat transfer system is based upon the design. If the CPU is hot, but the case is not, then there is probably an insulator (air gap or lack of termal paste) which inhibits the CPU from transfering heat directly to the bracket and case. Although it might feel more comfortable, it may be worse for the components since convective heat transfer would be the primary method of cooling the CPU.

The computer no matter how its designed, is going to generate the same amount of heat based on the components inside. Based on the photos posted regarding thermal phase application, it appears the bottom of the case is intended to be hot an not cool. If the botton is too hot, then most likely the fan is not operating properly and conductive heat transfer is the primary method of disapating heat.
 
MY ambient temperature has been running 25-30ºC and my merom is idling at 48-53ºC. When it's in full use it can get up to 75ºC. Haven't had it past that, because at that moment I start feeling heat on my fingers and I can't rest my hands on the bottom left part of the casing. It burns. So I normally quit everything, and let it sleep some.

BTW mine sits on a hardwood desktop, never on my "lap"top. You gotta love the :) Macbar geniuses.
 
Also take into consideration that this is the start or mid summer in most places, in winters, my CD revA mbp was just warm under load on my lap, but in the summers I cant even use it on my lap for even a few minutes after booting up from a cold system. The temperature inside the mbp will also be higher due to higher temperatures outside, which causes less heat transfer to the outside air through the body of the mbp.
 
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