So, just how excessive does heat output on the MacBook Pro really get?

[omgwut]

I'm sorry if this is a repeat thread at all, but I just wanted to voice my primary concern with getting a new MacBook Pro, and I'm hoping that some of you might share your experiences with me before I make a purchase.

I'm looking at getting a 15" MacBook Pro, specifically this one:

2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (Santa Rosa)
1440 x 900 resolution
2GB memory
120GB hard drive
8x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 128MB SDRAM

I used to hear about the horror stories of logic board whining noises and display issues, and for the most part I'm comfortable assuming that those bugs have been ironed out; My only real worry is that the heat problems are still persistent in the product line. I read things about the thermal paste being applied incorrectly and people having to go out of their way to use freeware apps to run their fans at higher speeds... This is a little worrisome!

Aside from using OS X, I plan on making a Windows partition on the HDD and dualbooting it to play some of my PC games like Half-Life 2 and Doom 3 under Windows Vista. I'm not going to be playing these games on my lap, so the MBP will be situated on a desk... But how bad does the heat output really get while running games on the MacBook Pro?

-Do the fans go insane and become unbearably loud during intense graphic performance?
-Does the keypad get steaming hot to play on? Will I need to use a USB keyboard, or is it tolerable, or even cool?
-Is gaming on the MBP ultimately an unpleasant thing? Am I paranoid or are there some legitimate concerns to be aware of?

Thanks!

 

[ccartguy]

I had the first Core Duo MBP, it got hot but I could deal with it on my lap.

I had no issues with whining or screen discoloration. I may have gotten lucky.

 

[gphoto]

My 2.4GHz SR has achieved 99f˙ for the enclosure bottom, which was too hot to touch, but that was when I was uploading images to Lightroom and converting them to DNGs at the same time. Inside, it gets up to about 177f Right now, while surfing the internet and listening to music, it is at 88f, and could easily sit in my lap. The only thing is that this is when it is on a stand, so it would get hotter when sitting in someone's lap. And the fans are not actually that loud.

--Gphoto

 

[miniConvert]

-Do the fans go insane and become unbearably loud during intense graphic performance?
-Does the keypad get steaming hot to play on? Will I need to use a USB keyboard, or is it tolerable, or even cool?
-Is gaming on the MBP ultimately an unpleasant thing? Am I paranoid or are there some legitimate concerns to be aware of?

Thanks!

No. They get loud, yes, 6000rpm sounds loud, but not so loud that they fade into insignificance behind the noise of the TV or WoW music.
No. The keyboard keys and trackpad get warm at most. The area around the keyboard, particularly the top, well, you wont want to touch that - but the keyboard is fine
No. I love playing WoW on this, it's awesome!