macbook pro 2011 - severe overheating issues

PacificBlue wrote:

saxas wrote:
I just recently received my 2011 15" 2.2 GHz Macbook Pro from Apple. (It came via FedEx Monday morning.)

I noticed right away how quickly it heats up and how often the fans kick in; even when simply browsing the web using Safari. I began using it for Music Production, which is the purpose I intended to buy it for in the first place, using programs such as Logic Studio, Abelton Live, and even GarageBand, and notice that it became hot to the touch within 10 to 15 minutes. The entire aluminum enclosure heats up; especially on the bottom: so hot that I could feel the heat against the desk in which I have it sitting on. It also heats up around the speakers, power button, certain places on the keyboard, and the trackpad. It shut off twice within one hour after reaching what I can only assume were very high temperatures, temperatures most likely unsafe for this machine. Right before it shut off the last time I noticed that something smelt like it was very hot, almost burning, you know that smell?

My question is, since I do not have the AppleCare (not as of right now, that is. I definitely plan to by the end of the day,) but it is a completely new Macbook Pro, can I take it to Apple to have them at least take a look at it without it costing me anything (at least up front)?

Do you treat your Mac with love and care? is your house full of dust? do you eat pizza and don't wash your greasy hands afterward? Do you lay your notebook on flat surface without any obstructions or you just keep it on your dusty carpet or on your bed thus blocking proper air flow? Mine has no heating problem because I use common sense.

I own MBP 2011 15", 2.3 i7 + SSD. I can confirm that machine overheats badly. I have tried 3 machines "out of the box", brand new. All of them do overheat.

Problem #1: poor apple software (fan controller). Resolution: Fan Controller app.

Problem #2: Poor design of computer bottom.

Computer inner temps do stay at acceptable levels.(idle: CPU~50C, GPU~45C, LOADED: CPU~75-85C, GPU~70-80C) The problem is when the CPU is at 60C, the bottom of computer is at 50C. This is ridiculous I know. But I tested several machines. All show the same issue. Aluminum bottom transport heat directly to your lap. Someone could say such thermal design flaw is not possible with Apple company, but I would say - look at iPhone 4. Antenna flaw was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen from such a big company. I have this device. Very nice, beautiful device, but as a phone it's just awful. SO, yes, Apple IS able to make such mistakes. And they did it one more time as you see.

Resolution: buy another laptop, otherwise get used to this.

However, palm rest area stays relatively cool all the time, even during stress tests as well as inner core temperatures are absolutely acceptable. Intel and ATI have done a great job.

The bottom line is: is it very sad to see such flaws in Apple products every time, especially for the price (my MBP is $3100), but I tried so many laptops on a market, and MBP is the best so far.

Alienware by the way is absolute trash and huuuge in size. Very poor craftmanship.

With Apple at least you see and feel what you pay for.

My 13-inch doesn't get nearly as warm on my lap as my MacBook Core 2 Duo (2.16 GHz) does.

I haven't had a Mac portable run this cool since my iBook G3. The iBook G4 and the MacBooks have required that I use a laptop desk. Not so with this MacBook Pro.

steve: The machines you tested were not overheating. They were well within their safe operating temperature range. You are misusing the term "overheating" to mean something it does not.

In using your MBP on your lap, you've been ignoring the instructions that came with it:

"Set up your MacBook Pro on a stable work surface that allows for adequate air circulation under and around the computer. Do not operate your MacBook Pro on a pillow or other soft material, as the material can block the airflow vents. Never place anything over the keyboard when operating your MacBook Pro. Never push objects into the ventilation openings."

"The bottom of your MacBook Pro may become very warm during normal use. If your MacBook Pro is on your lap and gets uncomfortably warm, remove it from your lap and place it on a stable work surface."

(quoted from the manual for my late-2008 MBP; the wording in your manual may be slightly different)

The machine needs airspace underneath it. If you provide that, the heat it radiates from its bottom pan, which is designed as part of its cooling system, won't be transmitted to your lap. Put a board under it. "Overheating" problem solved.

As for your moaning about the iPhone 4 and its horrendous antenna problem, that's just laughable. Sure, it was a mistake on Apple's part. But my wife, who has been a PC user for 30 years and has never owned any Apple product, was finally driven around the bend by her completely worthless Droid phone recently, and I dragged her kicking and screaming to the AT&T store to replace it with an iPhone 4. There was nothing about the iPhone that she thought she liked or wanted, least of all its price. I just stood back and shut up. She resisted everything the salesman told her about it, but he swore up and down that nothing else he could sell her would be as good, and finally she bought it. I picked out a relatively inexpensive non-slip case for her to buy with it, and guess what: two weeks later, she LOVES iher iPhone and is happy to tell anyone so. Antenna problem? What antenna problem? With the iPhone in its case, which makes it much less slippery and vulnerable to dropping, she has never encountered the antenna problem and never will. She has never even heard of the antenna problem that you make such an absurd fuss about.

You really damage your credibility by making such a big deal over issues that are so easy to remedy.

you can use a application called smcfan control that lets you control the speed and moniter the heat tmp.

eww, never read mote stupid answer than this one, honestly. I think you are lacking commong sense. At least first you need to buy and check the machine yourself but not make guesses here based on your older 2008 machine which has way slower proccessor exactly because of heat problem which exists since aluminum unibody release.

tecsecmind, this application does not work on the new MBP 2011, GUI doesn't even show up when you start the app. This is why I already mentioned "Fan Control", this is a name of the app, which works great on MBP 2011. However I found an upgraded version of this software which is called "Extended Fan Control". You can download it by clicking the following link: http://www.derman.com/MacBook-Pro-Fan-Control

Hi,

I noticed that everyone at work was having a high temperature problem too.

A couple of things I did for my Macbook Pro that I use at both home and Office.

1. (for home use) Went to an art supply store and bought a package of rubber feet that stick on the bottom of the computer. These raised the height about 3/16 inch allowing more air to come thru. it works well with non-high processing applications. My fans never came on after that until below.
2. (for Office) For my high processing applications I bought a notebook cooler. Works really great. Plugs directly into the notebook thru USB. At our office we considered it a good investment. They are used on all our notebooks now.

SMC fan control works very well for its purpose. With the cooler in use fans never run above default speed.

The above is just what I did to FINALLY get rid of the problem.

Norm

These solutions smell like iPhone 4 free bumpers to decrease signal loss. Not the solution that everybody waiting for (from Apple), but ,however, a solution. 😊

Steve: Read the manual that came with your MacBook Pro. You'll be surprised how much you'll learn. Pay particular attention to page 67.

Specifically, the relevant part of page 67:

http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/MacBook_Pro_15inch_Early2011.pdf

Ronda, besides that, there is a common sense, that no laptop supposed to burn you. There is a difference between "uncomfortably warm" and "hot". When people post their complaints here, most of them have already used many other laptops in past and compare MBP heat to others. This is why it's considered OVERheat - COMPARED TO MARKET AVERAGE LAPTOP TEMPERATURES.

I am guessing that new my little 13-inch runs cooler because it isn't quad-core.

However, I'm here to tell you that my iBook G4 ran too hot for my lap, and so did both of my MacBooks. I used a laptop desk all the time with all three of those portables. Not since my iBook G3 have I been able to use my computer on my lap without a laptop desk (I used a folding Targus one) until this new MacBook Pro.