I was told by the Apple store "the first batch of MBA had heating issues"

[Terwal]

It's a misbehaving Dashboard widget. Have you added any new ones?

On my side, have added:
- iStat
- Google
- Wifi locator (can't remember exact name)
- Fidelity stock tracker
- Digital clock

 

[mcvaughan]

On my side, have added:
- iStat
- Google
- Wifi locator (can't remember exact name)
- Fidelity stock tracker
- Digital clock

If it happens again, kill the offending process and make a note of which widget is shutdown when you go back in Dashboard. Remove the unresponsive widget and see how your MBA performs.

 

[TNM]

I don't think it's CPU temperature that is causing the problem. Using the steps from this post a few pages back. I'm able to drive my CPU up to 87C and it happily ran there for over 10 minutes without ever once dropping off a core. I'm going to keep trying, but I'd be interested to know if anyone else is seeing this.

I have been wondering about this one as well. I cannot ever remember hearing about cores being shut down on c2d based CPUs. Thermal throttling, yes, and 87C is probably getting very close to that area.

Thermal throttling can definately make video playback stuttering as well.

How does people see that one core is shut down? On windows, there are some tools that can show you when a CPU throttles, are there similar tools on OSX?

 

[ayeying]

try running the system in clamshell mode w/ both cores at 100%. You'll disable one core.

 

[ExcelonGT]

The Solution to all MBA Thermal Problems!!

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/embarco/...rings-refrigeration-to-your-laptop-301601.php

 

[bjdraw]

The really big culprit does seem to be any multimedia codec that isn't Apple. So flash, avi, etc always really stretch the processor. I never have any problems with Quicktime codecs.

I'm seeing the same thing. In fact I can run a process from the terminal that uses 100% cpu utilization and drive the temp to over 80C and a core never shuts down. But trying to play a mkv file at 65C causes a core to shut down.

I don't believe it has anything to do with the CPU temperature.

 

[bjdraw]

How does people see that one core is shut down? On windows, there are some tools that can show you when a CPU throttles, are there similar tools on OSX?

I'm just using activity monitor and when the video freezes the second core utilization goes to zero for a second and then back to about 50%. The other thing I noticed is the WindowsServer jumps up in utilization at the same time. I'm convinced it's a core video problem or something of the sorts.

 

[mhaas]

2009 question

Do these issues still occur? I mean does the Air still have problems or have they been resolved? I want to buy an Air in the middle of June and just thought it would be good to know what the present issues are besides the SSD discrepancy of what you pay and what you can use...

Thanks for the feedback!

Mathis

 

[GeekGirl*]

I just purchased a Rev A and all is good, refurb was 999.00

 

[NewGenAdam]

Do these issues still occur? I mean does the Air still have problems or have they been resolved? I want to buy an Air in the middle of June and just thought it would be good to know what the present issues are besides the SSD discrepancy of what you pay and what you can use...

Thanks for the feedback!

Mathis

I have a REV A, and it has issues.
However, REV B has almost none, since it has a faster processor and better GPU, so no worries.
However, if it's a refurb, there's a high chance it'll be REV A and hence have more heating issues.

By the way, the Air is wonderful. It's fabulous. Buy it!

 

[dudeitsjay]

Do these issues still occur? I mean does the Air still have problems or have they been resolved? I want to buy an Air in the middle of June and just thought it would be good to know what the present issues are besides the SSD discrepancy of what you pay and what you can use...

Thanks for the feedback!

Mathis

-___- the SSD discrepancy is not an issue. It occurs on ALL hdds both SSD and HDD and its just the formating of the hd to the necessary format. Average discrepencies go around 7%, it can be more or less, but with good reason, not because of some screwup (aka issue).

To fully protect/exercise your mba, you'll definitely want to invest in coolbooks, thermalpaste, and keeping smcfancontrol and iStats on your mba. Otherwise, expect to want to keeping returning your mba like these guys. It gets blistering hot. Its just how it was designed.

 

[Mactagonist]

-___- the SSD discrepancy is not an issue. It occurs on ALL hdds both SSD and HDD and its just the formating of the hd to the necessary format. Average discrepencies go around 7%, it can be more or less, but with good reason, not because of some screwup (aka issue).

To fully protect/exercise your mba, you'll definitely want to invest in coolbooks, thermalpaste, and keeping smcfancontrol and iStats on your mba. Otherwise, expect to want to keeping returning your mba like these guys. It gets blistering hot. Its just how it was designed.

You do not understand the SSD issue on the Rev A Air. It was (and is) missing space over and above that lost due to normal formatting. Most likely it is space reserved at a firmware level to preserve the SSD's speed and reliability as it ages. The issue is that Apple did not make their customers aware of that discrepancy.

 

[Scottsdale]

You do not understand the SSD issue on the Rev A Air. It was (and is) missing space over and above that lost due to normal formatting. Most likely it is space reserved at a firmware level to preserve the SSD's speed and reliability as it ages. The issue is that Apple did not make their customers aware of that discrepancy.

I think most rev A MBA owners have more to worry about than the SSD using space to keep it performing properly. Some people just have to complain about anything and everything. I would focus on the more serious problems with the original MBA... will leave it at that.

Go Rev B MacBook Air!

 

[mhaas]

I have a REV A, and it has issues.
However, REV B has almost none, since it has a faster processor and better GPU, so no worries.
However, if it's a refurb, there's a high chance it'll be REV A and hence have more heating issues.

By the way, the Air is wonderful. It's fabulous. Buy it!

Thanks, so as long as I buy a new model MBA it will be a Rev B and should have less potential for trouble. I went to a store yesterday and saw no lines on the MBA they had on display...

The thing is that exchanging will be difficult as I want to buy a MBA in Russia when I am there in mid June - I need to have keyboard and operating system in russian and I can only get that there. So, the plan is to buy it at the beginning of my trip and if I should have issues I could probably still exchange it at the end before leaving the country...

Pure technical problems can be resolved as well when I am not in Russia anymore.