2012 Macbook Pro "Heat Issue"

No, it's not normal. I can sit with my 2011 MacBook Pro in my lap when on AC adapter, battery, whichever. If it's heating up primarily on the left side, that's the battery. Apple doesn't recommend using their notebooks on your lap, but thousands of users do, I'm sure, with no problems.

Download the widget iStat Pro and see what your core temps are and how fast your fans are spinning. If your fans are above 2000rpms, then you have issues and I would take it back and exchange it.

Clinton

I could not find anything specifically about the normal temp. range from Apple - but here is heat-related info from the newest version manual. While it does not specifically address your question, it does addres some of the conflicting views regarding what the comp is and how it should or should not be used. I find what isn't written there to be as interesting as what is written to be informative.

Proper handling The bottom of your MacBook Pro may become very warm during normal use. The MacBook Pro complies with the user-accessible surface temperature limits defined by the International Standard for Safety of Information Technology Equipment (IEC 60950-1).

To operate the computer safely and reduce the possibility of heat-related injuries, follow these guidelines:

• Â Set up your MacBook Pro on a stable work surface that

  allows for adequate air circulation under and around

  the computer.

• Â Do not operate your MacBook Pro on a pillow, blanket,

  or other soft material, because the material can block the

  airflow vents.

• Â Never place anything over the keyboard when operating

  your MacBook Pro.

• Â Do not push objects into the ventilation openings.
• Â 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.

Additionally, I found this link and some of the comments there interesting, especially about the processor. But all you have to do in these forums is search "hot" and you will find multiple pages of the same questions and cocerns as have been posted here. http://www.familyencyclopedia.net/whats-the-normal-temperature-for-a-mac-intel-c pu (What's the normal temp for mac...)

Most of what has been said in this thread has been very informative, and, at least for now, what Vandan posted earlier has been true; mine has cooled off over time. Then again, so has my apt., and I have not done anything intesive on it; have not even watched a movie on it since last weekend.

There are varried points made in this thread, but the fact that there is no definative statement from Apple (that I can find) about what is normal for this computer and that "hot" is subjective are causing a lot of confusion. Add in the fact that for some of us the heat comes and goes, or have come and stayed suddenly - with no real explanation, and of course, we are going to be frustrated. That it is here at all, for those of us who are new, arises concern - or as was dimissively termed "paranoia," in one post.

As Bandit said, something is causing uncomfortable heat for many of us, and becase we do not know what is 'normal" heat in this thing and there is great diversity in our level of heat tolerance anyway, it is difficult to say when the comp is having some sort of malfunction.

But if you cannot use it - and I am not talking aobut on your lap - or even if you SHOULD use it on your lap - because it is too hot. Then for me, that is a problem! I took people's suggestions and moved it to a wooden table top, while that helped, I could not rest my palms on the thing for more than 90 minutes; a couple of weeks later, I can, but like I said this has been with light usage. For me, the best thing to do was to follow Shootish007's advice and at least take it in; now there is a record of the issue - and that feedback I got was also informative and comforting.

It might be that we will not find an answer about the normal heat range. Even at Apple - I did not get an answer - what I got was " I have seen Macs running as high as......" And like I said, my comp felt like a bag of ice in comparison - at least on that day. Two weeks before, before I ever monitored its temp., it was much, much hotter.

I think you should call or go into Apple if you can. If yours is under warranty, let Apple take responsibility for addressing the issue. If not, then you are in for doing some more research until you find some answers and viable solutions.

Is this a retina version? If not, is it SSD or HDD? I notice on my mbp that it gets hot while editing if it is plugged in but runs cooler when running off the battery. Mine also only gets hot on the top left side of the keyboard (probably related to the charger)

I am curious how warm the new mbp retinas will run as my parents MacBook air is very cool running even when used on your lap. I attribute this to the SSD but I wonder if the new retinas will run the same way.

I just received my new 2012 MacBook Pro (non-retina) and mine also gets very very hot. I haven't used it on my lap yet, but judging from how hot it feels sitting on my desk I wouldn't want it in my lap. This is also with it sitting on a swivel base that has little rubber bumpers on the four corners so it allows air flow under the computer. And, it gets very very hot just using Safari.

MIne seems to be about the same temperature as my other laptops. Can't remember when I've ever used on on my lap though. Never had the urge. This issue always seems to pop up with new equipment. I think the temperature seems to be more a result of perception than actual ranges of temperature.

I have this aswell, I have been using VMware Fusion and have noticed the fans kick in when the machine is on standby, the laptop itself is very hot throughout this, the heat is to the extent that it makes the keyboard buttons hot to touch, not scalding hot, obviously but prehaps a little uncomfortable.

I decided on a whim to download and play Minecraft and the fans were extremely loud and the laptop very hot, writing this everything is quiet but it does seem the issue does seem a little random right now.

I have nothing to gauge this against as this is my first Apple computer but my previous machine, a dell Studio 17 never was this hot / loud

(Using the Mid 2012 Pro w/ Retina)

I agree that heat issues seem to crop up each new hardware release. I disagree it has more to do with perception, at least in my case. I've had several MacBook Pros/ G4s/ Pwerbooks over the past 16 years and none have been close to as hot as this one. I'm not saying this means there is something wrong with the current model, but it seems excessive and I'd be surprised if it was designed to run this hot.

OK, I'll throw a wrench in the works - has anyone ever used one of those notebook cooling pads with the fans? I've seen them on Amazon and they're fairly cheap. But, as I've never had an Apple notebook run excessively hot, I've never thought of purchasing one. They seem sort of 'gimmicky' - like some kind of infomercial product you'd see for sale on television at 3 in the morning.

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried such an item and if something like it might help out those having heat issues... don't laugh at me!

Regards,

Clinton

I think it is normal for Laptops to get too warm for your lap. I have used this for years. First bought it for my black macbook, then bought another for the 15" macbook pro. I love it!

http://www.raindesigninc.com/ilap.html

Ive Got My MBP on 10th July STANDARD non Retina,

MBP 15" with i7-2.66, 750GB HDD@ 7200, 8GB RAM Anti-Glare High Res, GT650M 1GB Graphics

since on that day, I am playing games, it was awesome in Quality (Maxpayne 3. BF3, Crysis2, COD) and i notice is Temperature of CPU=70 Deg to 82 and GPU Diode = 75 Deg to =88 on games some times video sufring also,

Is this normal Temp of MBP?, I have monitor by isat-pro.

After 3 Hrs. it seems to be like that only (Temp), Fan is very speedy, noise coming out when i started game,

And I notice that charging is not working while in game my power light goes green in game and after game back to orange which is common I think,

In Boot Camp Win7- 64bit battery is not as good as I think 3hrs in normal browsing / video, any idea on this? In MAC OS-x Battery last to 3to 3.30 hrs. !!!!

Want to Test more hours. I don’t want to go for alien-ware to be honest I don’t like them. If that is the only choice, i will plan for Retina one which is having more heat Vent but i here this also have HEAT Issues, but £££ lol.

I don't think those things would work for the rMBPs as they work by venting air to the bottom of the laptop, but the rBMP gets it's air from the sides, not the bottom. The unit wouldn't do much as a cooling device for the surface itself when the real problem is inside.

My new 2.7 retina runs between 72 and 78 at a moderate load. For those of us who may like to lay in bed with our computer propped at an angle, note that blocking those side vents seems to make a big difference. I find the fans to be very quiet.

This is ridiculous. I just got home with my new macbook and I litterally could not get through one chess game before the bottom of the thing started to become unbearably hot. I jumped on my desktop to see if there was any information online about this, and found this thread. I am not an Apple or even laptop guru - I did own an HP laptop for a couple of years and never felt heat coming from it like this; especially after just 10 minutes or so. I did not having anything specific running, except whatever is already there during first use. I was just looking around when I found the chess game and started playing until I just could not bear the heat any longer; I have not even gotten a chance to register it.

The one reason I allowed myself to be talked into this product was the constant arguments that the macs come without all of the glitches and problems of PCs. Well, if right out of the box the thing feels like it will burn a hole through my pants, then I would prefer to take my chances with a PC that costs $600 less. Very disappointed.

GreensandGrits wrote:

The one reason I allowed myself to be talked into this product was the constant arguments that the macs come without all of the glitches and problems of PCs. Well, if right out of the box the thing feels like it will burn a hole through my pants, then I would prefer to take my chances with a PC that costs $600 less. Very disappointed.

Well in all honesty that statement is from Apple Fan Boys. Mac suffer the same software and hardware glitches as Windows PCs do. They use the same hardware.

I own both Mac and PC and find nothing special about the Mac hardware or the operating system.

Apple has a 14 day No Questions Asked return policy for Full Refund. So take advantage of that policy.

For what it's worth, my new Macbook Pro seemed very hot the first week or so, but now not at all. I'm not running it any differently, so I don't know how to explain it. I never use mine in my lap, though. If you're worried or unhappy I'd return before the 14 day time period ends.

Shootist007 wrote:

Mac suffer the same software and hardware glitches as Windows PCs do.

I'd disagree with this. I've also owned both throughout the years and my wife owns an HP laptop now. As far as hardware goes, try to sell a used windows pc after it's 2 years old (let alone 5) and see what you get for it. And the software issues are exponentially greater on a windows machine. Just went through another round of removing viruses from my wife's HP. Every 30 seconds a window would pop up saying "virus detected". The window looked like a Microsoft warning, but was actually the virus program itself. Constantly have trouble with it connecting to the wireless printer, runs dog slow at times for no apparent reason, etc., etc.

No doubt windows machines are cheaper, but you get what you pay for.