Mac Pro processor thermal paste toxic...?

Just got back with my Mac Pro from a local AASP on an unresolved buzzing sound on the PSU. A tech guy over there explained to me that the apparent strong smell emanating from the first generation Pro when the processors are loaded, basically came from a specialised thermal paste that Apple used, which he claimed is supposedly toxic, and not very good for health in the long run.

Are there any basis to this...?

As I recall, my Pro did emanate a certain scent that kinda itched my throat 6 months ago apart from a electrical buzzing problem which led me to suspect a faulty PSU. The local AASP replaced it, only to find it making noises again. His claim does raise concerns on the after effects of health over the prolonged exposure to such smell.

Mac Pro 2x3GHz Quad-core Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 11, 2009 4:41 AM

18 replies

May 29, 2009 11:12 PM in response to Elphidieus

Ah! Sounds like a dry air problem! AC's are notorious for drying air, it's one of those perverse things people rarely think about that's a function of the moisture condensation that they cause. Like leaving a bowl of salad greens open in the fridge. Bleeeah. That the MP is a heat-blaster on it's own (I push the air from the back of mine to blow by my feet in the winter) may be just enough to cause you problems. The esters that can come off circuit boards can be irritating enough but when there's scant moisture to soothe your throat, it becomes brutal. (I am an industrial painter of almost 29 years, so I deal with vapor-ey, ester-y, stinks and smells all the time.) Is there a way to get a little more moisture into your computer room?

Deb.

Elphidieus Author

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May 30, 2009 12:43 AM in response to Deborah Terreson

Hi Deb,

I agree that the MPs are heat monsters, especially the 2007 Intel "Clovertown" Xeon variants which I got my hands on unfortunately. The one in my workplace which is a 2008 Harpertown variant runs much cooler on load, every now and then my colleagues seemed to wonder what I was up to every time I dig around the office Mac Pro hunting for the same smell, it lacks any.

I've got plenty of people telling me that such compounds running off circuit boards should dissipate by weeks if not months after acquiring the MPs, most of them did a run-in on their machines. Mine have been on load for almost 2 years, and yet it is still there.

What I'm really concerned is whether or not the thermal paste or whatever smell it is emanating from the Mac Pro is toxic...? It seems Apple either has no knowledge or are denying the facts to avoid a class-action suit. AppleCare kept denying that such smell is health-threatening. And when I question them about the risk of constantly loading the processors too high a temperature, they'll simply brushed it off by saying "if the MP does not shut down by itself, it's probably fine". I'm talking about 80+ºC with just 6 cores loaded at a heightened CPU fan speed of audible 1200rpm on an ambient temperature of 24-26ºC (1450rpm for unconditioned 29ºC). The last time I defaulted it to Apple's MP SMC-controlled settings, it ran close to 100ºC without even shutting down, much to the risk of a burnout.

Even when I've gotten my Mac Pro for the first few months, I've resigned to the fact that the processors and the PSU runs hot at only 6 cores loaded, but the recent re-application of the thermal paste by a local AASP on the same reported issue just make matters worse. Processor temperatures ran an average 5ºC hotter than as before. Imagine the temperature if I were to maxed out all 8 cores.

Moisture (to the extent even without the need for an air-conditioner or a table fan to cool the room) only exist when my Mac Pro is turned off.

May 30, 2009 12:25 PM in response to Elphidieus

Hmm. Here may be a good place to start - it's a fairly straightforward list of the common materials in usage.

www.fivewinds.com/uploadedfiles_shared/ITHazardousMat.pdf

The bulk of the worry is the plastics - which a MP isn't made of. The metals generally don't pose problems until they get to heat ranges well beyond what the CPU's or heatsink can generate.

Truthfully though, I'm baffled that the thermal paste would be outgassing. It's a stabilized product DESIGNED to take heat and transfer it to the heatsink. At the point it would be emitting fumes that could cause damage, you'd likely be on fire and have gouts of thick, black acrid smoke.

The thing to consider is that if you did have any kind of burning or vaporization going on, you'd have a soot build-up inside the case - and as you keep your MP clean - you'd notice a residue present the second you put your hand on it.

A thought on something to try would be to set the MP near a window or a place that you can have a small fan to push air through the front, out the back then out of the room/building and run all the processors for a day or two and let it 'cook' out whatever it can.

The other thing to consider is that you may have a chemical odor sensitivity. Many people have them, mine run to new car smells (and even old cars, if the plastic stink is strong enough), shower curtains, air fresheners (the plug-in ones are the worst) and synthetic carpets.

Regards,

Deb.

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Mac Pro processor thermal paste toxic...?