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Are these temperatures harming my iMac?

I am running a game on my iMac (Retina 5K, 27" 2019, 3GHz 6-Core i5, 8GB RAM) and the temperatures, with minimum settings on the game, run as high as (degrees C):

  • CPU 1 Proximity: 75-80 degrees C
  • Mainboard Proximity: 55 degrees C
  • PECI CPU: 72-81 degrees C
  • GPU Die: 67-80 degrees C
  • PECI GPU: (does run hot as well, but I cannot recall the exact number)


Please note I have reduced the settings on my iMac and the in-game settings to minimize strain and these are the temperatures at these minimum settings. My fan runs appropriately, with RPM at times ranging from 1450s - 1650s, depending on in-game animations.


My questions are: Are these temperatures harmful at this level? Are they harmful if they are sustained at this level for hours on end? Is there anything to be worried about?


Thank you all for your help!

Vae

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jan 4, 2022 8:28 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 4, 2022 8:55 PM

Apple, Intel and other semiconductor providers would all prefer to avoid the costs associated with recalls and repairs arising from inadequate or mis-designed cooling.


Or… For the technical answer… Look up TDP, and then look up the specific semiconductor parts involved, and then look up the specified thermal limits for each. intel has these thermal specs available, as do most other vendors.


As you get going into more detail and learning more particularly about processors and processor design here, you’ll also learn more about how parts of processors and cores will power down to reduce power consumption and reduce heat, and how some processors and some system designs can sustain boosted clock rates (and generated heat) longer due to their cooling designs, and how the processor base clock specifications can be a better means to compare performance as boost can drop off rather quickly as heat builds. Among other details.


But more simply put, Macs fried under normal usage would be Bad For Revenues. Thermal design mistakes here are rare. There are some seemingly-foolhardy people using add-on tools to reduce fan speeds and decrease cooling from what Apple and Intel have designed. I’d not recommend that.


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 4, 2022 8:55 PM in response to Vae17

Apple, Intel and other semiconductor providers would all prefer to avoid the costs associated with recalls and repairs arising from inadequate or mis-designed cooling.


Or… For the technical answer… Look up TDP, and then look up the specific semiconductor parts involved, and then look up the specified thermal limits for each. intel has these thermal specs available, as do most other vendors.


As you get going into more detail and learning more particularly about processors and processor design here, you’ll also learn more about how parts of processors and cores will power down to reduce power consumption and reduce heat, and how some processors and some system designs can sustain boosted clock rates (and generated heat) longer due to their cooling designs, and how the processor base clock specifications can be a better means to compare performance as boost can drop off rather quickly as heat builds. Among other details.


But more simply put, Macs fried under normal usage would be Bad For Revenues. Thermal design mistakes here are rare. There are some seemingly-foolhardy people using add-on tools to reduce fan speeds and decrease cooling from what Apple and Intel have designed. I’d not recommend that.


Are these temperatures harming my iMac?

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