What is the best object to place your MBP on to reduce Heat & Allow Airflow

The heat is harmless and will dissipate eventually, keep it on a nice flat surface like a desk and it'll be fine. If you really want to keep it really cool you can get laptop coolers that plug into the USB port. Just go to a good electronics store and they'll have one.

If you're really worried about the heat then download smcfancontrol and set it at a fan speed about 3,100 rpms. The external fans you can buy at an electronics store don't work well b/c these fans don't move much air.

I am not sure that setting it up on anything helps. The case may act as a heat sink, however, while using iStatPro, I've noticed the same temperatures on the case whether flat on a desk or on a raised platform. Therefore, one could assume that not much heat dissipates thru the case. If that is the situation then setting it up on something won't help.

Message was edited by: Russa

Your MacBook Pro was designed by intelligent people. If you notice there are no fan ports on the bottom of your computer. That is because people like you an I put our Laptops on our.... LAP! Buying a laptop cooler will not help cool the laptop. (Well maybe a tad). The trick is to keep the back of the laptop free of anything. See where your screen hinges? That is where the hot air is pushed out. Keep that open and you will be fine.

Mmm,

keeping a little bit of airflow under the MBP is a good idea, really, Justin. The lower surface can get quite warm and allowing an air layer underneath will actually improve cooling quite significantly, even though there are no airways.

One cheap and effective way of providing this is to simply use a cheap plastic chopping board under the Mac. Some people add self adhesive "feet" to the top of the board, which the notebook can rest on to give a slightly bigger "gap" than the computer's own "feet" will provide.

Not only keeps your computer cooler,by allowing airfklow, and allowing the bottom of the MBP to act as a big "heat sink", but provides some insulation for your own "lap", too. You'll find it is just as effective as "purpose made" laptop cooler stands, and, unlike those expensive and complicated devices with fans and the like, uses no power.

Cheers

Rod

"Buying a laptop cooler will not help cool the laptop. (Well maybe a tad)."

Of course! That is what my (Well maybe a tad) thing is there for. The difference is just not significant enough to make a big difference. The MacBook Pro is simply designed to not need that bottom space ventilated.

Justin Brady wrote:
The MacBook Pro is simply designed to not need that bottom space ventilated.

Actually, Justin, Apple recommend that you always allow air circulation under all their notebooks. See http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=30612 where it says:

+Set up your portable on a stable work surface that allows for adequate air circulation under and around the computer.+

Cheers

Rod

Message was edited by: Rod Hagen

Tsubasa no Kami (and anyone else concerned),

There's a big difference between the internal temps, and the apparent temp of your Macbook Pro. Almost regardless of what you do, your Macbook Pro should be pretty good at maintaining specific temperatures, all within designed limit. The fans might have go into "turbo mode" to keep things that way, but it will take care of that all on its own.

That doesn't mean it won't feel like it's going Chernobyl on you.

What I have found makes the biggest difference, beyond placing the Macbook Pro on some insulating, flat surface (large book, heck even a cutting board as has been mentioned), is to have the air around the Macbook Pro circulating. What works best for me is a ceiling fan in the general vicinity, set on no more than its medium speed. Most of the hot air being produced by your MBP will be vented behind the keyboard, and in front of the display. Even though hot air rises, this heat tends to collect around and above the computer case. Having some air movement above the computer will move that heat away, and allow the MBP to draw cooler air in. Since the air is drawn in around the keyboard, this type of air movement is doubly effective!

Again, it need not be much air movement, and it need not be directed right at any particular surface of the MBP. What is important is that the hot air above the MBP be exchanged for cooler air in the surrounding room. The cooler air will be more effective at cooling the inside as it is drawn in, and your fans won't have to work as hard.

Scott

I am no expert and I am a new Mac user myself but I have these things called "Cool Feet". They are like lil rubbery stilts that attach to the bottom of your laptop, raising it up off the desk and keeping the air circulating under it so it doesn't overheat. You even get a handy red pouch to store them in, when not being used... they just pop right on and off.

🙂

Have a look at the following link
http://www.mac-xx.com/NEWS.html
a unpowered heat sink style cooler, I have used this cooler for 18 months both on my desk and my lap without any problems.