tbdesigns

Q: Safe Imac operating temperatures.

Hi,

 

I've searched google and looked at some older posts but haven't really been able to find what im looking for.

 

i was wondering if there is a list of what the min to max safe operating temps are for intel imacs (aluminum).

 

i have a 3-4 yr old intel 24" alu imac that's recently been shutting down and i think it's due to overheating.

 

i downloaded temperature monitor and these are my readings after turning on my computer (after it has been shut down all night).

 

ambient air - 24C/75F

cpu A heatsink 35C/95F

CPU Core 1 - 33C/91F

CPU Core 2 - 33C/91F

Graphics Processor Chip 1 - 43C/109F

Graphics Processor Heatsink 1 - 43C/109F

Graphics Processing Temperature Diode - 45C/113F

Hard Drive Bay 1 - 36C/97F

Main Logic Board - 38C/100F

Power Supply Position 1 - 53C/127F

SMART DISK WDC WD5000AAKS-40TM0 - 34C/93F

Wireless Module - 58C/136F

 

It's pretty cold atm but lst ngiht the upper left corner on the back was quite hot and the rest of the back was also warm. i put a a little fan behind and turned it on and it brought the temps down a little.

 

Tara

Apple iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.1),  Aluminum iMac 24" 2.8 Ghz 4GB RAM 500GB HDD Leopard 

Posted on Nov 21, 2011 2:40 PM

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Q: Safe Imac operating temperatures.

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Nov 21, 2011 2:42 PM in response to tbdesigns
    Level 10 (271,133 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 21, 2011 2:42 PM in response to tbdesigns

    They all look perfectly normal.

  • by tbdesigns,

    tbdesigns tbdesigns Nov 22, 2011 1:09 AM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 22, 2011 1:09 AM in response to Kappy

    hi

     

    thanks for repling, im just wondering though how you know they are normal? is there a list or guide somewhere that tells us what the min to max safe operating temps are and what we should do when they go above that?

     

    cause while they might be normal now i dont want to have to keep posting temp stats each time they go up to find out when they're to high.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Nov 22, 2011 1:20 AM in response to tbdesigns
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 22, 2011 1:20 AM in response to tbdesigns

    tb, they are "normal", like Kappy said.

    The CPU and the GPU are the hottest normally and they shut down the system when too hot.

    When the CPU is above 90C you should be "worried" because it means it has probably a "runaway" process eating it completely, the fan will speed up and be audible, the system slows down perceptably.

    You can start Activity Monitor, set <all processes> and click the %CPU column to see what processes use the CPU, any above 50% is a maneater and when consistently above 50% you better quit it in Activity Monitor and restart the iMac.

  • by tbdesigns,

    tbdesigns tbdesigns Nov 22, 2011 5:15 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 22, 2011 5:15 AM in response to Lexiepex

    hi,

     

    thanks for replying.

     

    when you say i should be worried when the cpu goes over 90 degrees do you mean the cpu heatsink cpu,  core 1 or cpu core 2?

     

    also at what temp should i be worried for the other settings? like power supply, hard drive bays, graphic cards?

     

    this mac only gets used by mum so a bit of email checking and web usage. my new 27" alu imac that i got this year is usually 10 degress cooler than it and it's used a lot more and with alot heavier programs.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Nov 22, 2011 1:43 PM in response to tbdesigns
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 22, 2011 1:43 PM in response to tbdesigns

    I said "worried", not worried. Do not worry, the Mac takes care of itself, CPU 1 or 2 or heatsink most of the time practically the same temp.

    If you have for longer periods , say longer than half an hour, a very high CPU temp, then check what it is, like I said above. For now: you have a beautiful machine with very healthy temps!!

    Lex

  • by neverfunctional,

    neverfunctional neverfunctional Jan 25, 2012 7:12 AM in response to tbdesigns
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2012 7:12 AM in response to tbdesigns

    I have two machines from the same era as yours. In my view it's a design fault by Apple. I have been plagues with random crashes from my two 24" iMacs for a good 2-3 years now. I too thought it might be due to temperature issues. Despite having Applecare, I received no support on this issue from Apple.

     

    A second model, I took to a reseller who performed all sorts of 'private' Apple diagnoistics on the machine and concluded it was a graphics chip issue and was beyond economic repair. Do you have a

    NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics subsystem? If so, then you're in the same boat.

     

    Bad design. Bad performance.

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jan 25, 2012 9:08 AM in response to neverfunctional
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2012 9:08 AM in response to neverfunctional

    This thread is almost dead already, perhaps you start a new thread.

    A few years ago there was an issue with a certain Nvidia card, I do not remember exactly which one, I think it was in a certain MacBookPro model; they were exchanged in a recall as far as I remember.

    If you have Apple Care they should exchange a faulty piece of hardware, or even replace the iMac completely, period.

    You have to call Apple Genius and make it happen. Here in the forum are only users trying to help solve issues and answer questions.

  • by mantissa,

    mantissa mantissa Jan 25, 2012 9:29 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2012 9:29 AM in response to Lexiepex

    Sure - I understand the point you're making.

     

    The machine I took to the reseller was out of AppleCare.

     

    Maybe I wasn't insistent enough with Applecare on the 'phone, after all, a crash can be caused by all sort of things and hardware is often way down the list. They suggested I created a new account and see if that crashed. Frankly, I didn't have time to stop using my iMac productively to muck about trying things.

     

    When both machines went the same way, I was suspicious. To hear of someone else in the same boat makes me think I was on to something and not going mad. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple have stats on these failures which could well point to a design failure.

     

    I'm bitter as I lost a lot of time on the whole issue - faithfully filling in crash reports etc and when I called up for support I was fobbed off. Next time I will just unplug the lot and take it to the Genius bar!

     

    I'm not looking for support now though, I'm just *******'

  • by mantissa,

    mantissa mantissa Jan 25, 2012 9:30 AM in response to mantissa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2012 9:30 AM in response to mantissa

    Oh, OK, looks like I got censored - my last word should be "complaining"

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jan 25, 2012 9:50 AM in response to mantissa
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2012 9:50 AM in response to mantissa

    I understand

    Have you changed your name? Are you neverfunctional?

    Click Apple Icon, then "About this Mac", then "More Info", there you can see the Graphics Card, click "System Report" and you can see more info under "Graphics/Displays".

  • by mantissa,

    mantissa mantissa Jan 25, 2012 9:53 AM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2012 9:53 AM in response to Lexiepex

    Sorry, yes I am. I got caught out with the MobilMe/iCloud/iTunes multiple personality thang...

     

    Yes, I have one of "NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS" these in my system(s)

  • by Lexiepex,

    Lexiepex Lexiepex Jan 25, 2012 11:36 AM in response to mantissa
    Level 6 (10,477 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2012 11:36 AM in response to mantissa

    As far as I know there is/was never anything wrong generally with the Nvidia gforce 8800gs in general.

    And there was nothing wrong to see in the iMac of tbdesign when the "temperatures" question was asked.

    Is there any specific issue that you want to discuss?

  • by WZZZ,

    WZZZ WZZZ Jan 25, 2012 12:16 PM in response to Lexiepex
    Level 6 (13,112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 25, 2012 12:16 PM in response to Lexiepex

    LexSchellings wrote:

     

    As far as I know there is/was never anything wrong generally with the Nvidia gforce 8800gs in general.

    And there was nothing wrong to see in the iMac of tbdesign when the "temperatures" question was asked.

    Is there any specific issue that you want to discuss?

    Ths is well known. Lots of hits. Here's one in particular,

     

    http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1085213

  • by hlozo,

    hlozo hlozo Jul 2, 2012 8:45 AM in response to tbdesigns
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 2, 2012 8:45 AM in response to tbdesigns

    Hello guys.

     

    It got quite hot these days and my readings show more than 60 (Celsius) for both GPU and Power supply while just watching a movie.

     

    When I leave the system alone graphics readings go "down" to 52-55 but PS still on 62. Ambient is 27-28.

    Should I be worried? How do I know it's time to rather shut down. Where can I see when the system would do so?

     

    The case is very hot when touching it. Got an iMac 2011 27" i5.

     

    Thanks!

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