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My iMac i7 runs too hot!

M

Moriske

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 19, 2015
112
26
Just now I was converting a Bluray movie to an MKV file with DVDFab.
A minute later the fans of the iMac 27 "full 5K started to blow and I read the following details of the program TG Pro. As a precaution I aborted the operation prematurely.

These temperatures I've never seen before in my Windows PC?

Data from my iMac be next.
Processor: i7 6700K
Memory: 8GB
SSD 512GB
Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 M395 2GB





 
Hmm, that's hot but that's to be expected. You're doing a crazy cpu intensive task so of course it's going to tax the system lol. I'd suggest getting a program like smc fan control to manually increase your fan speed. OSX cares about keeping systems quiet so it's going to delay turning on the fan for as looooooooong as possible. As you can tell from the butthurt people on this forum, there's apparently people that are annoyed by fans lol. Did you try restarting the system and doing it again?
 
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And?? You stressed the CPU and it spun up the fans to keep it cool, thats how it's meant to work if it gets too hot for the CPU it will throttle back and then shut down in extreme circumstances.
 
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It concerns me that the CPU taps the 100 ° C, I think at these temperatures it will not live long.
It is not my intention to ad several programs or abs to increase te fan speed.
I already restarted the program, but he did it again.

When I using "CPU Setter" turn off hyperthreading, the CPU will be cooler and the fans start spinning quieter.
 
Coldmode said:
Intel CPUs can run at 100C comfortably. How do you know running at 100 degrees will damage anything? Are you an electrical engineer?
Click to expand...
No, but I have these disturbing high temperatures earlier in my Windows PC never seen before ;)

The monitor program volunteer that they are not healthy temperatures and colors this temperatuur line also completely in red.
 
One would think those extreme CPU (and GPU) temps would leak into the rest of the highly compact closed system (mainboard, cables, chips etc.). I refuse to believe that those temps are good in the long run for the iMac. Also remember large temperature differences (cool to very hot to cool etc.) do put an additional stress on the materials.
Bottom line, enjoy your iMac, but I would recommend an all SSD solution. HDs are among the most temperature vulnerable components, and also gives off quite a bit of heat.
 
"The processor runs well within the safety requirements set by the US Safety Authority. The CPU temperature runs within the settings from Intel."
Apple

[Specifications for the Core i7-620M provide operating temperatures of 0-105C(min-max)).]
 
Mac32 said:
One would think those extreme CPU (and GPU) temps would leak into the rest of the highly compact closed system (mainboard, cables, chips etc.). I refuse to believe that those temps are good in the long run for the iMac. Also remember large temperature differences (cool to very hot to cool etc.) do put an additional stress on the materials.
Bottom line, enjoy your iMac, but I would recommend an all SSD solution. HDs are among the most temperature vulnerable components, and also gives off quite a bit of heat.
Click to expand...
It not even summer :)

I could hardly believe that this high CPU temperatures can not hurt.
Suppose I run a batch one night at this temperature! I wonder if my iMac in the morning still a live?

Can I assume that an i5 processor at the same task will never reach these temperatures and the fans run quieter?
MrNomNoms said:
What is the temperature of the room that you're in?
Click to expand...
At the moment 21C



Here are just a peak moment :(




Moments later, the fans go all out and keep the temperature stable!
 
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It's interesting, from what I've seen the M395X users are all quite happy with their heat output but the M395 users seem to see higher temperatures. Can someone with M395X do something similar with what OP did and compare their heat output?

Mac32 said:
Bottom line, enjoy your iMac, but I would recommend an all SSD solution. HDs are among the most temperature vulnerable components, and also gives off quite a bit of heat
Click to expand...

I don't understand, how is this an HD problem? The OP's system is a 512 SSD.
 
Moriske said:
Can I assume that an i5 processor at the same task will never reach these temperatures and the fans run quieter?
Click to expand...
Sooooo you're thinking that if you send in a less powerful chip and as it to do that same super demanding task that it's going to perform BETTER? One of two things will happen. It'll A, run hotter and take longer and therefore stay hotter for longer or B, run just as hot and take far longer and therfore keep your system at a high temp for much longer. Either way using an inferior chip is in no way a solution haha.

Look, this is operating the way it's supposed to. This is a carefully constructed imac, not a thrown together modular pc. It can handle those temps. If it becomes a problem it has a magical ability to crank up the fan automatically and stay at a safe temp. If that isn't enough then it can slow itself down a few htz to ensure safety. You're not going to be able to melt your computer, people tried it with last years rimac (which DID run much hotter), this system will be fine.

Again, if you're that worried about it then download smcfancontrol and manually raise your fan speed. You're complaining, then we offer solutions and you turn them down. We then tell you it's really not a problem and you're not happy with that either. I don't know what else to tell you bro?
 
iemcj said:
Sooooo you're thinking that if you send in a less powerful chip and as it to do that same super demanding task that it's going to perform BETTER? One of two things will happen. It'll A, run hotter and take longer and therefore stay hotter for longer or B, run just as hot and take far longer and therfore keep your system at a high temp for much longer. Either way using an inferior chip is in no way a solution haha.

Look, this is operating the way it's supposed to. This is a carefully constructed imac, not a thrown together modular pc. It can handle those temps. If it becomes a problem it has a magical ability to crank up the fan automatically and stay at a safe temp. If that isn't enough then it can slow itself down a few htz to ensure safety. You're not going to be able to melt your computer, people tried it with last years rimac (which DID run much hotter), this system will be fine.

Again, if you're that worried about it then download smcfancontrol and manually raise your fan speed. You're complaining, then we offer solutions and you turn them down. We then tell you it's really not a problem and you're not happy with that either. I don't know what else to tell you bro?
Click to expand...

Besides the fact that I think much too high temperatures!
Do I have worried whether this iMac beyond the warranty without problems will work or I get the bill?

For a frequent operation like this, I think the fans are pretty loud. At least I have this in my windows or laptop PCs are not used to :(

When I turn off Hyperthreading, the CPU will be cooler for a while and the fans have to work less hard.


Unfortunately, after a while it gets this picture



The temperature bars will be one of three colours:

Green - The temperature is between 0 to 89C (32 to 192F) and is generally nothing to worry about.
Orange- The temperature is between 90 to 99C (194 to 210F) and is getting closer to the thermal limit of the hardware.
Red- The temperature is at or above 100C (212F) and it very close to the thermal limit. It's a good rule to not let components run this hot for an extended period of time.
 
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Moriske said:
The temperature bars will be one of three colours:

Green - The temperature is between 0 to 89C (32 to 192F) and is generally nothing to worry about.
Orange- The temperature is between 90 to 99C (194 to 210F) and is getting closer to the thermal limit of the hardware.
Red- The temperature is at or above 100C (212F) and it very close to the thermal limit. It's a good rule to not let components run this hot for an extended period of time.
Click to expand...

I think you are right to be concerned. I found an Intel spec for a 3.3GHz i7 (from 2010 though):

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/ww...-desktop-processor-series-datasheet-vol-1.pdf

There's a chart on Page 73, "Processor Thermal Profile" and it maxes out at 68 degrees C. In other forum discussions I've seen estimates ranging from 65 to 77 degrees C, but not close to 100.

At least check with AppleCare.
 
sakumar said:
I think you are right to be concerned. I found an Intel spec for a 3.3GHz i7 (from 2010 though):

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/ww...-desktop-processor-series-datasheet-vol-1.pdf

There's a chart on Page 73, "Processor Thermal Profile" and it maxes out at 68 degrees C. In other forum discussions I've seen estimates ranging from 65 to 77 degrees C, but not close to 100.

At least check with AppleCare.
Click to expand...
At these temperatures and loud fans I do not choose these i7 iMac.
Obviously loud the question, what is the alternative?

I choose this account rather for some lesser specs and a quieter and cooler iMac, then a major concern across the lifespan :(
 
My Retina 5k iMac 27" (late 2014) with a 4.0GHz i7 runs at near 100° C *ONLY* when I'm running Handbrake to convert videos, because it's maxing out ALL CORES. Normally, my CPU runs at 40° C.
 
If you have to use DVDFab etc, then you have to ACCEPT that the CPU is going to get HOT. It's not rocket science. As I already said, it's NORMAL to get that HOT when you max out the CORES.
 
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It's kind of like when you run for any distance, you sweat. Unless you live in a colder climes.
 
matreya said:
If you have to use DVDFab etc, then you have to ACCEPT that the CPU is going to get HOT. It's not rocket science. As I already said, it's NORMAL to get that HOT when you max out the CORES.
Click to expand...
Even with audio conversion "dBpoweramp" the CPU is hot and the fans are at their maximum!!






update:
When I use the "CPU Setter" hyperthreading off, get the CPU cooler and the fans are going to run a lot quieter?
If this is the solution ..... may I compare this change with the i5 Processor: 3.3 GHz?

 
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xmichaelp said:
Sigh...

If it's "too hot" it will turn off itself. There's a difference between what you think is hot and what is too hot for the computer.
Click to expand...
If we forget the high CPU temperature for a while.
My problem is still the noise of the fans, that concerns me and remind me always that the temperature will be to high!
This is not really within my expectations :(

For the hardware experts!
When I use the "CPU Setter" hyperthreading off, get the CPU cooler and the fans are going to run a lot quieter?
If this is the solution ..... may I compare this change with the i5 Processor: 3.3 GHz?
 
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iemcj said:
Sooooo you're thinking that if you send in a less powerful chip and as it to do that same super demanding task that it's going to perform BETTER? One of two things will happen. It'll A, run hotter and take longer and therefore stay hotter for longer or B, run just as hot and take far longer and therfore keep your system at a high temp for much longer. Either way using an inferior chip is in no way a solution haha.

Look, this is operating the way it's supposed to. This is a carefully constructed imac, not a thrown together modular pc. It can handle those temps. If it becomes a problem it has a magical ability to crank up the fan automatically and stay at a safe temp. If that isn't enough then it can slow itself down a few htz to ensure safety. You're not going to be able to melt your computer, people tried it with last years rimac (which DID run much hotter), this system will be fine.

Again, if you're that worried about it then download smcfancontrol and manually raise your fan speed. You're complaining, then we offer solutions and you turn them down. We then tell you it's really not a problem and you're not happy with that either. I don't know what else to tell you bro?
Click to expand...

Comparing the same architecture the i5 runs cooler...and obviously slower.

This seems to be a topic on every refresh when people are surprised there i7 runs hotter vs the i5. To put it in perspective my Haswell i5 doing the same task as the OP runs around 80-85c at 1200 rpm fan and I'm sure significantly slower.
 
I wonder what thermal paste Apple uses? There are quite a few that push the limited at those temps for extended use. Not a problem for the premium stuff. Anyone know this info?
 
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