Fan, power consumption etc

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Level 1

10 points

Fan, power consumption etc

Hello everyone. I am thinking about buying a 2012 MacBook Air to replace my 2011 one however I have one or two questions which I hope someone would be kind enough to answer for me...

If I was to do exactly the same tasks on the more powerful 2012 one as I do on my current 2011 MacBook Air, would it be cooler and with less fan noise and battery drain? What I mean is, I know the 2012 thing is more or less the same physically, just with some upgraded internals. So, would that mean that the more powerful components of the 2012 MacBook Air would not have to work as hard as the ones in my 2011 MacBook thus generating less heat and drinking less from the battery? I don't know a lot about computers, this was just my logic which is probably completely wrong...

Also, if I upgrade the processor to i7 and RAM to 8GB I am assuming it keeps the same fan and battery...do these more powerful innards have any detrimental effects compared to those of an "off the shelf" model?

In case anyone needed or wanted to know or if it helps you to answer more accurately, my current MacBook is the standard 2011 13" 256GB model. The one I'm planning on getting is the equivalent 2012 model but with upgraded processor and RAM.

Thanks a lot!

Posted on Jun 20, 2012 9:01 AM

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Answer 1

Jpdunford Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 20, 2012 12:23 PM in response to Jpdunford

bump

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Answer 2

JasonFear

Level 5

4,965 points

Jun 20, 2012 1:51 PM in response to Jpdunford

The hardware in the MacBook Air in terms of the fan and battery are identical in all the models of the same generation (Mid-2012), there's no change if you order more RAM or the faster CPU. That being said, I haven't seen a lot of technical documentation via Intel's site or CPU "fansites" that have really done thorough testing on the new CPUs.

Engadget's initial review (http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/macbook-air-review/) saw a 1 hour and 2 minute increase in battery life, this coming from the same 50-watt hour battery. So take that for it's worth on decreased power draw or improved circuitry components.

Last year I ran a test between two 11" MacBook Airs, one with 2GB of RAM and the slower CPU, the other with 4GB of RAM and the upgraded CPU in conjunction with the CS department. Both machines ran just as hot, drew just as much as power and their fans were equally as noisy under identical sustained load.

I should have access to a 13" model with an i7 and 8GB of RAM next week and I'm happy to run any testing for you to help with your decision making process. Based on the initial feedback that I've gotten from my co-worker who has the 13" model with 8GB of RAM and the standard CPU he's noticed about 40 to 45 minutes of extra battery life and identical fan noise and heat when he's been working in Photoshop & InDesign.

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Answer 3

Jun 20, 2012 1:49 PM in response to Jpdunford

Logic dictates that while the processor may perform the task in less time, it will perform the task using the same amount of total energy. Efficiency might make the amount of work in a given time more productive, but the time allotted will be similar.

The new MBA's have the same rating of battery life as the last generation. I have both, and see not much of a difference, if any.

BTW, bumping threads after 4 1/2 hours is usually frowned upon. You should give it at least a day.

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Answer 4

Jpdunford Author

Level 1

10 points

Jun 20, 2012 2:22 PM in response to SP Forsythe

Thanks to both, I think I will stay with my current one then as I was only considering acquiring better one if it would run quieter, my one works fine albeit loud.

Also my logic was just, say, a strong man could be expected use less effort to lift a boulder than a small man would...I guess I forgot to factor in that the strong man would instead put be able to lift it more quickly...

Hmm nevermind, but sorry for bumping this too early...I have adventured to forums on the interweb where it takes a month to get a reply and others where you must bump a thread every 30 seconds to even stand a chance of being noticed, I just figured I would bump it when it reached the second page.

One last problem is that I'm afraid it will not let me give 10 points to both and both helped about the same... I will just do it in order but if the 2nd guy wants to post again I will happily give you another five for that post 😉

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