My fans dont ramp up!

I was just about to post the very same topic when I noticed this. Ever since purchasing my MBP, it has always run hot. Typically, 60-65 degrees C when idle, and I do truly mean idle - no abnormal activity shown in Activity Monitor. When running under medium load (let's say using iTunes to transcode an MP3, which uses about one full core of CPU power) the CPU temp will easily reach 90 degrees C. I phoned Apple within the first couple of days to question this, and received what seems to be the de-facto response of "it's within limits".

For my own interest, I maxxed out both cores with yes > /dev/null and monitored the temps, the CPU reached 99 degrees celcius before I daren't go any further, the fan speed didn't increase at all, it just hovers around 2000RPM regardless of CPU load. I have since installed SMC fan control so I can at least manage fan speeds manually until I find a better solution, but this problem has been happening well before the installation of any such software.

I am running the latest 1.7EFI which is supposed to address fan speed issues, and have also tried an SMC reset, all to no avail. To me, it looks to be an issue with OSX itself, as I can load the system and let the CPU reach 90 degrees, then if I shut down and re-power (specifically not reboot, as it doesn't seem to have the same affect), the fan speeds will ramp up to cool the CPU while OSX is loading. As soon as I reach the login screen, the fan goes back down to 2k RPM, despite the fact that the system is still 80 degrees + by the time I log in and manage to look at iStat or SMC.

If any employees from Apple are reading this, please please provide some assistance, as I'm at my wits end with this. I should also mention that this problem has persisted despite completely erasing the disk and re-installing OSX, as the laptop has also been back for repair due to constantly freezing and pinwheeling. That seemed to be another common issue relating to the hard drive, since replaced by Apple, but that's another story.

To the original poster:

My mid-2009 MBP (2.53 GHz, GeForce 9400M only) seems to have a threshold of 100 or 105 degrees Celsius. Unless the system really reaches and maintains this temperature for a few seconds, the fans will remain at 2,000 RPM. When the system does reach the threshold, the fan controller will increase fan speed enough to get the processor down to 90 degrees Celsius (typically going up to 3,500 RPM at the most with Prime95).

I've left the computer running in such a state only 15 or so times, but in some cases for hours on end. No hardware faults yet since its purchase in July, and no instability that tI've been able to notice.

The processor is said to run at up to 105 degrees Celsius before running preventative measures to avoid failure. None of the other components with temperature diodes seem to approach unsafe operating temperatures. (Here's to hoping that the mainboard is designed such that the CPU heat does not affect longevity of other components, though.)

I must say, I would like the OS to be more aggressive in using the fans to cool. I remember a friend had a white poly MacBook, and Apple set the fans such that they would kick on in with the first hint of a heavy workload, and it would be obnoxiously loud but fairly cool. He now has the same MBP as I do, and marvels that the fan rarely speeds up & (with his usage patterns) stays fairly cool. However, when he notices my usage patterns and my ability to get the processor toasty, he agrees with me that the fans could be a bit more aggressive.

Message was edited by: A. E. Wallace

If Apple's setpoint on the fans really is 105 degrees celcius then I'd be extremely concerned, as Intel's datasheets state the absolute maximum junction temperature for a 45nm Core 2 Duo to be 105 degrees C. Running at anywhere near that is almost certain to impact the lifespan of the processor.

When I upgraded to snow leopard, my old version of SMC fan control continued to work fine, so I would say yes. It still isn't a solution to the problem though, just a workaround, as the hardware should be controlling the fans without the need for any user intervention.

t is too hot when over 105 C,

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=36691

Which model of MacBook Pro are you using electronicsuk.

Your profile indicates that you have an imac and your earlier posts all relate to it.

If you have bought a new MBP to replace the iMac that you were also unhappy with you should head to Apple again for warranty service, as the fan behaviour you mention is clearly incorrect.

Hi Rod. I do still have a 20" iMac, although I have since purchased a 13" unibody MBP in addition to it. I should probably get round to updating my profile...

Regarding Apple warranty service, I feel like my complaints are falling on deaf ears. As I mentioned previously, I reported this issue to Apple support within days of purchasing the machine, and they more or less fobbed me off by trying to tell me that this is normal behaviour. I may try to contact them again, although I'm not sure if their attitude will be any different to my prior conversation.

I have the same problems with the fans staying at 2k rpm even when the case gets so hot above the keyboard that it can almost cause a serious burn. I really don't understand why this machine gets this hot... it has to have some effect on the internal components/connections and with the battery life itself.
Just by pressing play on a youtube video, the temp shoots up 10C. If I leave a video running for a mere few minutes with one other tab/window open it's already up to 70C. I'm not even sure where it was the last time I had a movie in iTunes playing in its entirety, but I had to remove it from my lap halfway through and I don't remember if I even got to watch the last few minutes before the battery crapped out.

Here's a shot of my iStat at idle before even opening any videos: http://i35.tinypic.com/dbprma.jpg

Here's one after a 5 minute vid with 1 other safari window open: http://i38.tinypic.com/ff4dp5.jpg

Keep in mind this is with SMCfancontrol already @ 2600 rpm, slightly faster than the default 2k which would be even hotter.

Now, I don't know how big of a difference it should make but my mom has a MBP that seems to stay cool all the time. Hers is 2.53 or 2.66GHz and might have 2gb ram (not sure if they made the first unibodys with 2gb, she bought it at best buy). Mine is 2.8GHz with 4gb ram and both use the same 9400m/GT vid cards.

Yeah same thing! tried fan control and it says 000 rpm ... nothing... I just ran a bunch of apps at the same time streaming internet video (HD Lost) and like iTunes and stuff... and the temp got to 107 C !!! ... I stopped cause the fans weren't doing a thing... and these programs won't make them run either... I first noticed this last night (november 8th 2009) ... and the MBP got really hot... like burn your hand hot to the touch... and the streaming video started getting Choppy (and it wasnt the connection) ... I feared it was video card issues but it's probably these fans ... there was also a light clicking noise... (not the hard drive safety feature or motion whatever that one is louder..) ... I may just have to take it in I guess any help would be awesome... right now it's running at 69 C ... but as soon as I turn anything on it gets hotter... instantly jumps to near 80 C... and steadily climbs the longer it plays... also how do you do a smc reset on a late 2009 MBP 13"?

If your fans really aren't running at all of course it will overheat and of course there is a problem, Mattixface. The "default" system control failure position on Macs actually puts the fans on at full speed. Perhaps the 3rd party fan control software you are using is interfering with normal operation or perhaps you have a hardware issue.

The instructions for resetting the SMC are at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411.

Your temperature monitoring software may also be inaccurate as normally the CPU itself will shut down before it reaches the 107ºC you mention.

Rod

Just by the way, the highest temperature my own MBP13's CPU A Temperature Diode has reached over the last 7 days is 73ºC (during some protracted video rendering) at which point my fan was running at 3521RPM, which brought the temperature down rapidly.

I use NO third party fan control software, just the built in Apple control processes. Perhaps some of the third party fan control software being used by some here is actually causing more problems than it resolves?

Cheers

Rod

In that case, assuming you have tried an SMC reset (see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1411 ), you should take it in to get properly checked out, Ratty Mouse. It is certainly not "normal" behaviour.

(EDIT - just to add to that, I once had an iMac G5 which continually registered the minimum fan speed of 2000 rpm. In its case it turned out that the fan lead was actually not connected and it was not spinning at all, but that in such situations monitoring software simply indicated the default minimum speed)

Cheers

Rod

I would test out FanControl or SMC fan. Because this lets you manually control your fan speed. I would only do this as a last effort attempt though.

The first thing I would do is reset the SMC.