Overheating caused by Firefox 3 and/or Flash?

Question

Level 1

5 points

Overheating caused by Firefox 3 and/or Flash?

I'm using the latest build of Firefox 3 and have the most current Flash plug-in installed. I've noticed that when I have multiple tabs open with Flash videos playing (YouTube would be an example), the fans start going full force on the computer, and I have it elevated so there is room underneath for air to circulate.

I don't have any other programs open, so I can't believe that Flash videos would use up so much power on the computer.

I'm uncertain if this is a problem related to Firefox 3, Flash, or a combination of both. But it's baffling because I could play a DVD with no problems, run Photoshop with no problems. Does anyone know if there is something about Firefox 3 or Flash that ***** up all the energy in a MacBook Pro?

I'm really just trouble shooting here.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 2.16 Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 1GB RAM

Posted on Sep 20, 2008 9:54 PM

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Answer 1

iVmichael

Level 6

13,740 points

Sep 20, 2008 11:45 PM in response to NGrimes

I'm running Firefox 3.0.1 with Flash 9 (in another Spaces Window) and have three tabs playing YouTube video's right now. Saw a bit of a temperature rise at first but now it's settled down and the fans are pretty quiet ...

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Answer 2

Oct 31, 2008 7:05 AM in response to NGrimes

I am experiencing the same problem, but with Firefox 3 on its own. No long after opening Firefox 3, my MacBook 2.2GHz fans go full throttle; the fans go silent shortly after quitting Firefox 3.

I do not experience this while running Safari, so unsurprisingly I have moved over there, for now.

I do not have a solution. Though I may experiment with my installed Firefox extensions, as I have read elsewhere this can affect performance.

Meanwhile, hopefully Google will get a Mac version of its browser Chrome released. If my Firefox problem is related to extensions, Chrome will be the ready answer to that (as Chrome does not employ extensions).

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Answer 3

Oct 31, 2008 8:25 AM in response to NGrimes

Have you gotten the same results by testing different browsers?

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Answer 4

Dec 23, 2008 10:29 AM in response to NGrimes

I have the exact same problem and am pretty much convinced that it's the Flash plugin. Am upgrading to the latest version of the player and crossing my fingers that it will eliminate the overheating issue.

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Answer 5

Jun 7, 2009 10:17 PM in response to loudnotes

Just for the record, I'm still pretty sure it's Flash, but the new versions don't help at all. I've downgraded to Flash 9 and it's had a placebo effect on me but that's about it.

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Answer 6

Courcoul

Level 6

18,690 points

Jun 8, 2009 12:44 AM in response to NGrimes

I've had my MBP get a little toasty when using Firefox, but that was only if the browser tried to display a page with excessive animated content and/or started sprouting popup windows with animated content and hiding them behind the main window (CNN and a Netflix popup come to mind), so try to leave just a blank page with no popups and see if the overheating persists.

Also, you can confirm Firefox being the culprit by opening Activity Monitor found in Utilities and sorting the processes by CPU usage (click on the column label).

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Answer 7

creed3

Level 1

0 points

Jun 8, 2009 5:02 AM in response to NGrimes

I noticed the same thing shortly after updating FF a month or so ago. Switched to Camino and the temps don't rise any longer. Also noticed a significant drop in memory/processor use as well. I'm guessing there's a problem with FF.

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