What's the normal temperature? Mine got up to 89C (Genius bar reply: it's normal !!!)

[Ding]

My apologies for this repeated topic.

I have just brought the 1.8GHz + SSD version. It's really fast and quiet, until the fan spinning like crazy.

What is the acceptable CPU temperature on the Air?

Mine got up 89 degree C (192.2 F) MAX for a while, when the heat-sink is at much lower temperature, like 60-ish. Can't remember what tasks it was doing. It's 54 right now just with the Websites running, and the heat-sink is at 43.

Is it normal? Or should I worry about the thermopaste on the machine?

With many thanks.

 

[dibara2003]

mine runs around 120 F with constant use. fans run at the standard 2500.

 

[riyadc2]

That is abnormally hot. The hottest my 1.6/80 gets is around 69c (While playing WoW) with the fan running at 6500 rpm. Under normal use (browing sites, reading email etc) it stays at around 54c with the fan running at 2500 rpm.

 

[maestrokev]

That is abnormally hot. The hottest my 1.6/80 gets is around 69c (While playing WoW) with the fan running at 6500 rpm. Under normal use (browing sites, reading email etc) it stays at around 54c with the fan running at 2500 rpm.

I second that, I have the 1.6/80 as well and 2500RPM at 55-60degC is my average for most tasks. Never seen it run up to 89!

 

[Ding]

I'm posting from the Apple Store Regent street.

Just had a chat at the Genius bar, the reply is: it is normal for 89 degrees C!!!

Qn: And I asked what is the accepted working range?

Reply: I can't tell you, it's for internal use only. You don't need to know. (And the guy was trying to say how hot the PowerBook use to get, bla bla bla ... )

I'm getting confused right now, shouldn't a consumer have the right to know the specs of the product? To me, the working temperature of CPU ish is the basic spec.

 

[jemeinc]

I just had the same frustration yesterday with the Genius Bar (w/ my iMac -not MBA).. The Hard drive is always about 122F which I don't think is all that high, but the the memory control seems to always be at 175F.. Like you, I couldn't get them to tell me anything about optimal temps.. They did do a bunch of diagnostics tests, and everything "passed with flying colors", but those #'s seem high for basically only reading this site with NO OTHER apps even open.. They get there quick, and then they level off.. I don't know, it worries me a little, but what else can you do? Nothing I suppose..

 

[sysiphus]

I'm posting from the Apple Store Regent street.

Just had a chat at the Genius bar, the reply is: it is normal for 89 degrees C!!!

Qn: And I asked what is the accepted working range?

Reply: I can't tell you, it's for internal use only. You don't need to know. (And the guy was trying to say how hot the PowerBook use to get, bla bla bla ... )

I'm getting confused right now, shouldn't a consumer have the right to know the specs of the product? To me, the working temperature of CPU ish is the basic spec.

Believe me, I get your frustration However, my response to the response would have been, "then how am I supposed to know when something is wrong? Surely you can't expect me to come in here every time I guesstimate something is up? I'm sure we both have better uses for our time..."

 

[Ding]

Believe me, I get your frustration However, my response to the response would have been, "then how am I supposed to know when something is wrong? Surely you can't expect me to come in here every time I guesstimate something is up? I'm sure we both have better uses for our time..."

I have tried that too, and the guy at the Genius Bar said I could talk to one of the managers. Well I didn't feel the conversation with them could resolve anything, so just gave up.

I'm lucky I only had it for a few days, so I have the option to return if it is getting too bad.

Don't get me wrong, despite all these concerns, I still think the Air is a fantastic machine, no doubt!

Once you've gone MAC, you can't go back (to Windows)... haha

 

[hansano]

Hi! I can totally understand your concerns. I too find, that some times my Macbook Air is simply getting to hot. At max., it runs up to 86 C, while the heatsink stays somewhat cooler (see screenshot). I would encourage people to measure their system max temperatures and post them as a screenshot, because right now it is extremely difficult to tell, what is the normal temperature range among users.
Follow this guide:
http://www.intelmactemp.com/howto
Take a screenshot of iStat (cmd + shift + 4), post it on this site.

My theory about some MBA high temperature (and high difference between CPU and heatsink) is the bad application of thermal paste (as shown on several pictures on the net). Some users may have notebook with extremely bad heat transfer to the heatsink, while others have acceptable heat transfer.

Regards, Hansano

 

[riyadc2]

Damn my CPU seems to be running at 90c right now. No idea why, i'm not doing anything processor intensive and I just took it out of sleep. The wierd thing is the computer doesnt feel very warm on touch.

Edit: i think charging your MBA while using it may make it run hotter.

 

[Abstract]

Complain to Apple.

It's probably the thermal paste, which has been applied too thick (again). There have already been photos of the CPU and thermal paste posted somewhere in this forum.

 

[wordy]

Damn my CPU seems to be running at 90c right now. No idea why, i'm not doing anything processor intensive and I just took it out of sleep. The wierd thing is the computer doesnt feel very warm on touch.

Edit: i think charging your MBA while using it may make it run hotter.

Your processor usage is quite high if you say it's at idle. LOL @ all those widgets though. Close some of those and you'll see a temperature reduction. Also, charging the battery will always cause a temperature increase.

 

[dahcheet]

Here's my screen cap. I was just watching a bunch of YouTube videos though.

 

[dahcheet]

On a higher note, my original screen shot was taken at 10:46PM and at 10:52PM my temps and fan speed are lower. No videos or strenuous use, just surfing the forums and posting pictures.

 

[anarchron]

Could we all please agree to measure our temperature in Celsius rather than Farenheit?

 

[queshy]

Mine only got that hot when I was doing updates, had like 10 other apps open, including google earth! It was like that for 5 minutes and the fans were at 6500 but other than that always they stay at 2500 and the mba stays cool.