MacAir Rev B Heat/Stalling Issues...

[Neuronal]

Hi all -

I have a new Air Rev B 1.86/128 SSD that seems a little funny to me. I have installed the Coolbook controller (just the demo version), and right after startup my CPU temp is in the 55-60 C range. When I try to watch streaming video I get a few minutes of clear video, then lots of stalling and my CPU spikes to 80 C. The stalling is not internet related - Speedtest clocks my download rate at 2.5 MBits/sec, and I can watch Lost in beautiful streaming HD with my Macbook Pro no problem. I have installed all updates, including Flash 10. My questions are:

1> Do other people have Airs that run that hot at baseline? It seems high to me compared to the numbers floating around the Rev A. threads, and I'm wondering if there is something wrong with the hardware.

2> Is this stalling business just me? - it seems like it was an endemic issue on Rev. A, but I haven't heard much about Rev. B having this issue, leading me to think I might have gotten a lemon.

3> Does Coolbook work on Rev. B? Again plenty of posts attesting to its virtues with Rev. A, but almost nothing about the new Airs. What settings do people recommend for Rev. B?

Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated. I love the little machine, but would love it more if I could use it to stream web video.

Thanks!

 

[HLdan]

The new Rev B Air runs very cool, there's no need for Coolbook like in the previous gen. HD Flash might present some stuttering but not standard video streaming. Again, it's overkill to use Coolbook for Rev B.

 

[goshya]

Hi.

My MBA Rev. B 1,6, SSD does NOT run cool.

I'm having the kernel_task heat issue all the time. Stuttering video after a while (with mplayer, which is probably the least CPU using video player out there).

I had the Rev. A and just bought the Rev. B because I thought Apple had solved the heat problem.

I was in Southeast Asia and Taiwan the last three month and it was quite hot. Just wait for summer in Europe and the US and you will have a lot of fun with your MBA...

Look at the kernel_task threads in the apple discussion forum.

Cheers from Taipei

The new Rev B Air runs very cool, there's no need for Coolbook like in the previous gen. HD Flash might present some stuttering but not standard video streaming. Again, it's overkill to use Coolbook for Rev B.

 

[nph]

Ok I have to ask, how about if you compare it to the Penryn MBP or the new glass MBP is MBA running as hot as these?
Reason for asking I live in Texas and I am quite fed up with my first gen MBP that is still running quite hot even though Apple fixed it so that it is not white hot, just really warm... Therefor I had been looking forward to getting a 'cool' Air instead and I am talking about temperature now nothing else!

 

[Neuronal]

Follow up to post - Apple giving me new computer!

So just to follow up, I called Apple, and they are considering the unit DOA, as it registers baseline temps above 100 F, and nomical operating temperatures (just webbrowsing) in the 140s. They were totally cool about it - they said that the range for a Rev. B should be 50-90 F and that something must be wrong with my heatsink or CPU. New computer is on its way, and I'll post its temps. when it arrives.

 

[darwinian]

So just to follow up, I called Apple, and they are considering the unit DOA, as it registers baseline temps above 100 F, and nomical operating temperatures (just webbrowsing) in the 140s. They were totally cool about it - they said that the range for a Rev. B should be 50-90 F and that something must be wrong with my heatsink or CPU. New computer is on its way, and I'll post its temps. when it arrives.

Interesting resolution - surely this problem cannot be that widespread or there'd be a ton more chatter about it, huh?

 

[bossxii]

So just to follow up, I called Apple, and they are considering the unit DOA, as it registers baseline temps above 100 F, and nomical operating temperatures (just webbrowsing) in the 140s. They were totally cool about it - they said that the range for a Rev. B should be 50-90 F and that something must be wrong with my heatsink or CPU. New computer is on its way, and I'll post its temps. when it arrives.

Just to make sure on the Temp range, your saying Apple says over 100F is bad? or 100 C?

When I run video (Hulu 480p) or any HD from Youtube on my Rev B I hit 80 to 86 C after just a few mins when the MBA is sitting on a desk. Video stutters and the fan hit 6200+ RPM. If they consider 80C + an issue I guess I should be calling them.

Just want to make sure the temps your refering to are in C vs F? Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[mhnajjar]

Just to make sure on the Temp range, your saying Apple says over 100F is bad? or 100 C?

When I run video (Hulu 480p) or any HD from Youtube on my Rev B I hit 80 to 86 C after just a few mins when the MBA is sitting on a desk. Video stutters and the fan hit 6200+ RPM. If they consider 80C + an issue I guess I should be calling them.

Just want to make sure the temps your refering to are in C vs F? Please let me know. Thanks.

That is in C for sure

 

[smoked]

Mine always runs nominal around 140F. Right now it is 133F/65C. Runs much cooler than the MBPs in the Apple store, and much, much cooler than the Dells we used to have. No video problems either, either with stutter or it heating up.

 

[manhattanboy]

Mine always runs nominal around 140F. Right now it is 133F/65C. Runs much cooler than the MBPs in the Apple store, and much, much cooler than the Dells we used to have. No video problems either, either with stutter or it heating up.

MY MBA is hot, but not hotter then say a powerbook.
No video problems yet but really don't watch that much video on it as I am always trying to find a decent wifi FREE connection.... an impossible task.

 

[Neuronal]

The mystery deepens...

Got my new Rev B today, used it, and its nominal temps are in the 140 F range, just like the one I sent back. However, there was no stalling at all, and it runs really smoothly. One interesting thing - the difference in temperatures (say when comparing to the various heat sinks) is less in the new unit (i.e. the overall temps are hotter) - maybe the old CPU wasn't coupled to the heat sink properly. Or maybe it was an unrelated issue that got resolved by swapping units. In any case, the new computer appears to work fine, so I'm happy.....