iMac Pro and Sleep

[jtara]

So, I recently got an iMac Pro (company machine, really), and had (and still use) using a later 2012 i7 Mac Mini. Before the Mac Mini, I used a late 2008 aluminum Macbook.

I've been following this story:

https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/28/apple-macbook-imac-dust-filter-lawsuit/

And, actually, the first thing I noted upon unboxing was the thin air intakes at the bottom - lacking filters - and the impossibility of user servicing. I immediately thought "this is going to be a problem". It was enough of a concern that I'd done some searches to see if anybody makes some nice filter inserts but all I came up with was "tape swiffers, inside out, to the cabinet".

I usually leave my computers on 24/7. I do hybrid mobile software development (iOS/Android) and back-end development, and it's a complex software development environment with many moving parts. (Not so simple as "just open Xcode"...) It's a considerable hassle to open up all the tools and get them where I want them on the screens.

But now that that story broke, I see there's a widespread issue with iMacs and dust. So, it would seem wise to shut down during the hours I'm not using it. But because of the complex setup, often running a test server, might have a debug session that has me baffled at the end of the day and just want to leave it for morning, etc. etc.

Both the Macbook and Mac Mini have a "computer sleep" slider in System Preferences. the iMac Pro does not!

I currently have the Mini set to never sleep, but that's because it was developing problems waking up the screens. (My setup was slightly over-spec for the Mini video... a 34" Samsung super-wide and a 1080p) and then sometimes needed a reboot to get both screens working again. I suspect the Mini needs cleaning and new heatsink compound - something that I will do once I have gotten the new iMac Pro fully set up for development. (With the Mini, that's pretty easy to do!)

But I know that the iMac Pro will require a trip to Apple for cleaning once it gets gummed-up (we got AppleCare+, thank goodness! Never bought AppleCare before, but the company is paying for it, and I agreed it was a good idea for such a costly machine.) And that will be a serious work disruption, so like to put it off as long as possible.

I do see there is a Sleep option on the Apple menu. So, I tried it and it does work, and it does wake up. (You have to understand I am skeptical of sleep because of the problems with the Mini screens...)

- But is there a way to make it sleep after a time period? Is there some secret incantation to get the computer sleep slider to appear? Or some third-party app?

- What about "suspend" like with notebooks? Is there some way to enable the suspend option that notebooks have, where RAM is written to disk and then restored, and the computer completely shut-down?
(May not be the best option for me if I have running server(s) etc.)

----
For the crafty out there, there is a huge opportunity for custom filters for iMacs and iMac Pros!

 

[SecuritySteve]

Hello Jtara,

Is there a reason you need Sleep specifically? The advantages of Sleep is that it saves power, and saves screen life. I am slightly less concerned about my idle power draw on a workstation than I am about the consequences of suspending various software components and drivers that I run on my iMac Pro. Instead, what I have done is to press Command-Control-Q on the keyboard to lock the iMac's screen. This powers down the screen, but keeps all of your background processes (long builds perhaps, or workspace configurations) intact and running. If that solution appeals to you, I would strongly suggest using that feature instead of Sleep.

 

[Strider64]

I have had my iMac Pro for almost over 6 months and haven't any overheating issues at all. I have a 2014 27" iMac and no problems. My personal opinion you're asking for trouble putting filters on the intake part of the iMac Pro. I can't see you having a dust problem unless you're operating the iMac Pro in the middle of a lumber mill.

Both the Macbook and Mac Mini have a "computer sleep" slider in System Preferences. the iMac Pro does not!

It does too!!!

You can prevent the computer from sleeping and turning off the display in the system preferences.

 

[jtara]

Both the Macbook and Mac Mini have a "computer sleep" slider in System Preferences. the iMac Pro does not!

It does too!!!

Hmmm... OK I did have "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off".

I've turned it off, but the extra slider did not appear.

I guess if I uncheck that, then the computer will sleep when the display does. I guess it's not so important to have separate sliders for each.

Why do I want to sleep? If you feel the back of the computer, over the heatsink, there is considerable heat (but very slow air movement) at idle. While it's slow air movement, that's dusty air movement 24/7.

BTW, I live and work in a historic (1927 - in the U.S. 1927 is "historic", LOL) building on the edge of downtown San Diego, and just off the Lindbergh Field flight path. I try to minimize using the A/C so I open the windows most of the day. (Afternoon, especially in summer, though needs the A/C. The construction is steel beams encased in concrete column, and terra-cotta curtain walls. Once that terra-cotta heats-up.... I have to run the A/C into the evening in the summer, because the walls become radiators!

[doublepost=1543517266][/doublepost]And on the Mac Mini...

 

[jtara]

So, I turned off "prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off". But it seems just as warm, and still with airflow when at idle with the screen off.

It may be that I just have too much stuff running with idle activity. (For example, and iOS simulator an a Genymotion Android emulator...) I guess it's unrealistic to expect the computer to really "sleep" with all that going on.

Ha! Just check Activity Monitor. vboxHeadless 100% CPU (keep in mind, that's one of 8 cores). And a logging deamon 25%. I shut down GenyMotion and that went away. Next time it "sleeps", I'll see if it's any cooler. Now 99.77% idle with everything else still running.

Oh and I didn't have an iPhone simulator running.

So, best to shut down the simulators!

 

[bplein]

Ha! Just check Activity Monitor. vboxHeadless 100% CPU (keep in mind, that's one of 8 cores). And a logging deamon 25%. I shut down GenyMotion and that went away. Next time it "sleeps", I'll see if it's any cooler. Now 99.77% idle with everything else still running.

LOL. I had something similar happen. A version of Docker had a bug where it would eventually start using 1-2 cores, say 125% to 175% of a core. Given I have 8 physical cores, 16 hyperthreaded, I didn't notice at all that there was this runaway process.

 

[jtara]

LOL. I had something similar happen. A version of Docker had a bug where it would eventually start using 1-2 cores, say 125% to 175% of a core. Given I have 8 physical cores, 16 hyperthreaded, I didn't notice at all that there was this runaway process.

Yes, I noticed the same thing for the past few days. But there was just a Docker update today, hopefully that will go away.

I run pgadmin4 (PostgreSQL admin app - you access with a web browser), which runs in a Docker container. So, when I saw this, I'd just close pgadmin4.