Ok, this maybe the opposite of some people, but how can I tell my fan is on? I dont really hear it, and the air from the back of the unit doesn't seem like its moving much. I do know you dont want to tuch the mac anywhere above the function keys after the units been on for at least 10-15mins.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
macbook fans-are they on?
- Thread starter starstreak
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I don't believe temperature or fan monitoring are possible on the macbook pros yet, someone needs to figure them out still. Ministat2 doesn't show temperature or fan information for mine. That aside, the fans on the macbook are quite quiet unless they're blowing at full blast, and even then there doesn't seem to be much airflow coming from the back of the machine. I wouldn't worry about it.
--Andrzej
--Andrzej
i have only heard my MBPs fans spin up a couple of times, only when i have it on a very poorly ventilated surface (fuzzy blanket, etc.). dont do that just to test out if they work 
They wind up slowly and smoothly, hands down the quietest machine i have ever used (aside for the bloody CPU whine that can be shut of w/ the mirror widget)
it does get quite hot either way. dont sweat it unless you start seeing issues (kernel panics or melted parts )
They wind up slowly and smoothly, hands down the quietest machine i have ever used (aside for the bloody CPU whine that can be shut of w/ the mirror widget)it does get quite hot either way. dont sweat it unless you start seeing issues (kernel panics or melted parts
)ok so HOT is normal? As in you can burn my finger off if you touch teh wrong spot?
Oh I dloaded the widget mentioned above. yeah 0 fan speed.
Oh I dloaded the widget mentioned above. yeah 0 fan speed.
Yeah, above the f keys, mine's hot. As in, put fingers there for about 5 seconds and i wanna take them away. Its hot underneath too, similar, 5 seconds on bare fingers right at the back, and i wanna move my hand.
But note, both these places are right next to the vent (i.e. by the hinge) so it should be hotest here, as this is right next to where the air is being expelled.
Note, it is also noticably hotter when on charge than on mains, than on battery.
But note, both these places are right next to the vent (i.e. by the hinge) so it should be hotest here, as this is right next to where the air is being expelled.
Note, it is also noticably hotter when on charge than on mains, than on battery.
Here is the question I have. The processors put out a fixed amount of heat, q. If the thermal paste job is really bad it seems like your lap will feel less of q than if it is phenominal and the heat transfer is really good. Why is it the opposite? Is it that the thermal pipes disperse the heat across the whole underside? Why is it that it isn't until you fix the machine that the fans start working? (it seems to me like the fans probably do a better job getting rid of heat.)
PS- Has anyone tried doing this? I've built a desktop computer from scratch before and it wasn't too bad. Would this be significantly harder? I'd really like to be able to rest the mbp on my lap but specifically the part of attaching the logic board to the cooling ducts kind of scares me. Is there a clamp like there is on desktops which clamp the cpu to the heatsink? (Sorry I found this out later, screws attach the heat pipe to the motherboard.)
PS- Has anyone tried doing this? I've built a desktop computer from scratch before and it wasn't too bad. Would this be significantly harder? I'd really like to be able to rest the mbp on my lap but specifically the part of attaching the logic board to the cooling ducts kind of scares me. Is there a clamp like there is on desktops which clamp the cpu to the heatsink? (Sorry I found this out later, screws attach the heat pipe to the motherboard.)
ok I build computers. Having this much paste is bad. Thermal paste should just be thick enough to fill the gap between chip and the heat pipe. Too much, and there is no contact. And I think part of the issue was the heat sensor wasnt picking up anything becuase of too much paste. It should be put on paper thin.
I woould try this, but I wouldnt be able to open the macbook. I would rather return the unit under teh 14day return policy.
I woould try this, but I wouldnt be able to open the macbook. I would rather return the unit under teh 14day return policy.
starstreak said:
Why can't you open the macbook? It says that your warranty isn't void unless you wreck something.
I would wreck it. I don't have the tools to pop open the case without putting on scratches on the casing. I did that when I did my 12in powerbook when I added in the 7200rpm drive. so now I dont open macs.
I don't have the tools to pop open the case without putting on scratches on the casing. I did that when I did my 12in powerbook when I added in the 7200rpm drive. so now I dont open macs. excalibur313 said:
So a thought just occurred to me. The problem here isn't so much the excess thermal grease but the fact that the thermal grease is preventing the temperature sensors from feeling this heat increase so the heat instead is dumped into the aluminum case instead of being blown out with air. What about having a temperature monitor program that turned on sooner than they currently do? The whole reason why they don't turn on sooner is just because they don't feel the temp increase. Making them more sensitive should fix this and although it isn't as good of a solution because the processor isn't dumping heat as fast as it could, it doesn't require someone to rip open their macbook.
That I dont know, but applying too much thermal paste will also raise the temp because of no heat transfer.
It will raise the temperature of the processor but it will actually be slightly lower for your legs because less of the heat is getting to them.
excalibur313 said:
No.
The processor temp will rise. Then the heat will soak the mainboard, which, in turn, soaks the case. All because the heat is not getting vented out the enclosure. The heat has to go somewhere.
The cooling system is quite efficient as long as the fans are allowed to operate when necessary. You've got, at least, a 1.83 GHz Core Duo, an X1600, and the northbridge sharing the same heatpipe. All that is shoehorned into an enclosure less than 3/4" thick! The fans must run to keep the thing cool.
BB
Bunsen Burner said:
The point I'm trying to say is that it is the fan that is keeping this thing cool, not so much the thermal paste. Even with a piss poor thermal paste application it won't affect the temperature as much as a fan not turning on.
excalibur313 said:
Absolutely. Unfortunately, for Apple, the too much thermal paste is also keeping the fans from running!
BB
P.S. I was up your way last summer, on Chebeague Island. Beautiful. Got to go back...
My fans rarely come on...only when on a blanket or something...and they are very very quiet...you have to listen really hard to hear them....it's almost like a moaning wind sound (like when there's a storm outside)...it's kind of funny.
EDIT: The only time it really feels hot is when the fans actually come on, and that's rarely. Even then, it's not like you'd actually burn yourself or anything.
EDIT: The only time it really feels hot is when the fans actually come on, and that's rarely. Even then, it's not like you'd actually burn yourself or anything.
So could a program be written that could customize the fans to come on at a lower temperature? (they aren't bios controlled right?) It seems like all the programs made for the g4s fans don't work so hopefully a new program is released soon.
Bunsen- Yeah, maine truly is a wonderful place...it can be a bit cold in the winter sometimes.
Bunsen- Yeah, maine truly is a wonderful place...it can be a bit cold in the winter sometimes.