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Waiting for quad core: Any concern about temp buildup?

53x12

53x12

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 16, 2009
1,544
4
Those waiting for the quad core to roll out next month, any concern about the temperature buildup? I recently had some good fortune roll my way and will be getting the quad core iMac. After seeing some pictures of the inside, I am a little concerned about the heat buildup from the CPU, GPU, and the display. I know Apple does its homework, but is there too much in such a confined space without great circulation? Is this even worth worrying about?
 
This is my worry. I'm getting a quad, but don't know if i5 or i7. I have fear of hearing the fan. Wondering if i5 might be better for that. I'll go nuts if it makes noise. My White iMac is dead silent.
 
In my experience with custom-built desktop PC's, the i5's and i7's within the Lynnfield series run much cooler than their X58 (Bloomfield) ancestors. I'm hoping that this will be the case with the new quad-core iMacs that will use the Lynnfield CPU's. If Apple provides adequate cooling mechanisms, this shouldn't be an issue.
 
Yeah I had a friend cancel his pre-order and Im waiting until Jan, keeping my fingers cross but this is Apples first real i7 AND they are putting it in such a small space, plus I hear the C2D already gets hot in the first place so, we will see...something tells me switching to all aluminum had a lot to do with this, since likely the back of the old one would have melted off.
 
I placed my order and I am not worried at the least. I will throw all I can at it for the first couple of days and see what happens. If it overheats and does not work the way it should then I will return it based on this. I would probably "downgrade" (I use that word lightly because the C2D is a VERY capable machine!) to the 3.06 C2D or maybe wait until the problems are worked out.
 
meagain said:
So would the aluminum back act as a heat sink also?
Click to expand...

Honestly I have no idea I'm just taking a guess. Aluminum is def more conductive to heat than plastic though, and who knows maybe you could flip the thing around and make some grilled chesses. :)
 
mac88 said:
I placed my order and I am not worried at the least. I will throw all I can at it for the first couple of days and see what happens.
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Please do and let us know what happens! A lot of us are standing by and really appreciate the info you provide...

Bryan
 
Come on.. don't you think Apple's designers and engineers took all of this into account? The iMac will be fine.
 
cocky jeremy said:
Come on.. don't you think Apple's designers and engineers took all of this into account? The iMac will be fine.
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure now. There are many reports of heat buildup on just the C2D. Like the one below from another thread:

ElPinko said:
Had a play on the iMac 27" for about 15 minutes (was stealing charge for my iPhone at the same time) and during that time the screen flickered once, to best describe it a white bar shot horizontally across the middle of the screen. I also decided since these macs are on all day I'd give it a feel up, ice cold at the bottom (on the chin) roasting along the top with the top left corner being to hot too touch - I'll be looking for a teardown pic to see what lives at the top left. It was also noticably hot just to the right of the isight camera.
Click to expand...

If it is that bad with the C2D, what will it be like with the quad core?
 
No but I'm slightly worried about screen flickers. Hopefully it wont happen with the new cards.
 
A few concerns at the moment, but still in the hope that the issues found are rarely a problem with the majority of the iMacs and I will hopefully get one that works...
 
I am concerned about heat, and all of the issues mentioned. Especially since I'm waiting until FRIGGIN NOVEMBER, and if I get it and it's not working right, I'm going to have to go through the hassle of shipping it back, etc etc. With this delay for the quads, you would think Apple would get it right.

On the bright side of things, I have AppleCare. It's good for 3 years. 2 years down the line if the heat finally messes up the screen or it starts flickering, guess what? Apple fixes it, or I get a new computer, that's probably updated like a mofo.

Really though, there's no telling what's gonna happen until we start receiving the quads and testin 'em out.
 
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