2012 Macbook Pro "Heat Issue"

I've been running a fan control app. I haven't wanted to take it in cause I waited so long to get it. But I'll have to. Apparently it's not adjusting the fan on its own at all. Won't be a simple swap as this one is maxed out and I know they only carry stock in the stores.

It will easily hit 80 c with 2 or 3 programs running. I'm sure it's one of those abnormal situations cause despite concerns about them getting hot this thing gets shutdown hot.

Well - I have had this computer for a week now, but I have hardly used it. Jokingly, it has to do with this Mac mystique, I swear, I am so afraid of doing damage to this thing; I am awaiting the delivery of a case and keyboard cover. Seriously, about two days after I originally tried to use it, but could not get past 10 minutes, I put it on wooden surface - keeping in mind that someone said these are not really supposed to be used on the lap. I was able to work on it for about an hour before the palm rests became hot; not unbearably, but more than I have felt on laptops that I have previously used. So far, I have not done much on the Mac, just trying to learn my way around it, mostly setup types of things.

In general, I am a light computer user, anyway; checking emails, reading the news, word processing, listening to music, maybe Netflix every now and again. Someone posted that over two weeks, their Mac ran cooler. Today, I have used it - lightly - for an hour or so, and the palm rests certainly are cooler than before, but I still would not want to put this thing on my lap. Maybe I will start running more on it at once to see what happens with the heat.

Already feeling a bit uncomfortable with the price I paid for this, I am trying not to let the heat be the reason I simply give up my foray into Apple-World.

Just so you know.

Apple has a 14 day No Questions Asked Return Policy for Full Refund.

So I would use that Mac as much as possible up until day 12 from date of purchase and make a decission whether or not Mac is for you, especially for the cost of it, and if not return it for a full refund.

Also if the heat bothers you, and IMHO it should not be getting that warm/hot doing normal computer tasks, then there may be something wrong with your unit. Mac's are not any better built then a good Windows notebook. Just read these forums and you will see many posts of problems with New, Nearly new and slightly older Mac computers. The one thing you don't want is a New computer that does not function propetly and then fails shortly after the warranty has run out.

So even if you like the Mac and plan on keeping it you might want to consider returning that unit and getting another that does not get as warm/hot as the one you now have.

One other possible solution, and I suggest it hesitantly as it seems pretty random, is the following: http://superuser.com/questions/423772/bash-process-uses-90-cpu-comes-back-on-com puter-restart

When I looked at my activity monitor, I noticed two processes, bash and launchd were running at around 20 per cent CPU usage all the time (not as high as reported in the article above). I don't know anything about them, but do know how to use google and thought it odd they were running higher than say, Lightroom 4, which was running at the same time, so I did a search based on those activities.

I stumbled across the article above, and I did have Send to Kindle installed. I uninstalled it, then reinstalled the newest version. Bash and Launchd disappeared from the activity list altogether, and my computer dropped about 20 degrees in temperature in 10 minutes, no doubt due to a substantially reduced load on the CPU.

I don't know this, but I might extrapolate that you would want to look for some rogue programme that didn't make the transition or something to a new computer very well. I'm still running Lion, but moved my system from an older MacBook Pro and that seemed to trigger this problem.

FWIW

Im having this issue with my macbook pro which i bought last year... Lately it heats up way too much and the only reason i bought it was bcuz "they do not heat up".. i dont know what to do... maybe purchasing the apple care protection would help? What have any of you done to get this error fixed?

Actually today i turned it on and the fans were already running and wasnt running any programs.. im worried.. If they give u a brand new mac, how to transfer everything i have on my mac to the new one? do they do it for you?

You really need to backup your mac (if you're not) although if Apple transferred you to a new unit and your old one was operational they could restore from it. I'm still having some serious heat issues and have been forced to run smcfancontrol (and I run Temperature Gauge as well). I'm still assuming I'm the exception and there's something wrong with my unit. I do suspect all of the Retinas are built to run hotter and do.

My problem is that I can actually get the computer to shut down from heat, which it's done 3 times, and that's not a good thing.

The Genius I took it to did the normal Apple test and found all the sensors and things working. I did tell him though that it would only buckle under a load. I demonstrated this for him with my own system by copying files to an external disk and running Handbrake for video conversion at the same time.

Without the fan control running it doesn't take long to get it up to 90 and above. It didn't shut down. He said he couldn't rely on Tunabelly's Temperature Gauge software "because it was not an Apple program." I don't fault him - he works within constrained guidleines. He said he couldn't give me a "new computer" and I said I didn't want one, just wanted this one fixed. I told him that I had Apple Care and would just use it until it really destroys itself. Thankfully I don't run from battery much, cause this thing wouldn't last long with the smcfancontrol running the fans faster.

Which leads me back to backing up - I'm a fanatic. I do a Time Machine backup regularly and do a separate SuperDuper backup frequently. Both have saved me in the past when something went awry.

I always like to finish on a positive note so let me say - despite this heat issue this is hands down the best computer (not just laptop) that I have ever worked on. It's beast.

Wellif you plan on killing the unit from heat the worst thing you can do is run SMCFanControl. that will lower the temps and make thre system last longer.

Just shut SMCFanControl off and use the system as you normally would and hopefully it will die quickly.

Well, I took mine back to Best Buy today for a couple of reasons - 1. I needed them to refund the comp and then charge it back to my credit card. Originally, I bought a different comp, and when I went it to get this one, they just charged me the difference, which I paid out of pocket. For those of you who do not know, some credit card companies will extend your warranty. Discover said they would double the manufacturer's warranty, but the total cost had to be in one transaction.

2. The heat - Before going there, I let a Netflix movie play, and of course things got a bit heated. When i took my comp into BestBuy one of the sales guys touched it and was shocked that it was so warm, especially since it was in standby for about 25 minutes. I told him that it was very cool compared to how it generally runs. Swapping it out would have been tricky because - with the open box price and the coupon I used (that they are no longer honoring) I saved $280 before taxes.

Geek Squad agreed that it sounds like I have a hardware problem, but that it would be better to let Apple handle it as they have the diagnostic tools to do so, as well as the option to repair or replace it as it is under warranty. I have an appointment with Apple tomorrow morning.

About 10 minutes ago, I downloaded the iStat app that was recommended by someone here. I have this window open - a Facebook window open - am running iStat – and GoTrusted -(I am aware that things run in the background) - but these are the only things I have opened. Since downloading the app - the temp has ranged from 94-101 F and the fan 1996-2002 RPM. Now if I read correctly, over 2000 RPM was a sign of a problem? It feels a little warm on the bottom, but it is much, much cooler than it was earlier today; the sides have not started to heat up yet. Everything runs quietly, and always has.

My 45 days old Macbook Pro 2012 15" Mountain Lion gets very very very hot. I downloaded temperature monitor and the numbers are through the roof. Is this normal?

Ambient Air 108℉

Battery 99℉

Battery Charger Proximity 111℉

Battery Position 2 99℉

Battery Position 3 99℉

CPU A Proximity 126℉

CPU Core 1 131℉

CPU Core 2 ---

CPU Core 3 131℉

CPU Core 4 ---

CPU Core 5 138℉

CPU Core 6 ---

CPU Core 7 145℉

CPU Core 8 ---

Graphics Processor Chip 1 124℉

Graphics Processor Temperature Diode 136℉

Graphics Processor Temperature Diode 129℉

Left Palm Rest 95℉

Main Heatsink 2 122℉

Main Heatsink 3 120℉

Platform Controller Hub 113℉

SMART Disk TOSHIBA MK5065GSXF (224EPGHRT1)02℉

Who knows what is "normal" fot this thing. I finally took mine in to Apple yesterday. They called me this afternoon to say that they put the thing through all types of tests and it works perfectly; no hardware problems, no software problems. They conluded that it was my case that was making it hot. Then, I told them that I bought the case more than a week after I got the MBP, which was unbearably hot during my first use of it; and were it not for the case, some days I would not be able to type on the thing, as the case covers the palm rests as well.

Needless to say, I was happy to hear there were no discernable hardware problems - since it was an open box - but bothered that I had no answers to the problem. I was not in the best of mood when I got to the store, but then I talked with a couple of guys there who really tried to explain a lot to me, and the one had to admit that although the computer did run cooler with the case off it, the comp does run a little warmer than he had seen previously on other Macs. They did offer to replace some parts in the comp and to make sure that it has enough thermal paste on the inside. At least that was the one guy's suggestion, who, once the second guy walked away, was the one to say that he believes there is something going on.

The first guy reminded me that any flash content will stress the computer and raise the heat leve, and that as I am coming from a plastic to aluminum body, I will feel a little more heat than I am used to. Yada yada yada - Some of this I buy into, but I am happy that the one at least admitted that he found the computer a bit warm. I told them both that I feel that Apple has what they consider to be a normal range of heat emminating from the Macbook - and some of us have gotten machines that operate at that high end of normal. They just stared at me!

In the end, one of the guys said he would place the order for the parts that I need, and I agreed to keep the comp, at least untl Sunday. If nothing else, there is a record that I brought this to their attention, so if the problem continues, and I have to take it back, there is already a record of my concerns. I do have Apple's one year warranty and Discover Card will cover it for an additional year.

I suggest that you take yours into an Apple store if you are able to. And for the record, they suggest that you use the MBP on a flat surface, do not use a keyboard skin (which I do anyway on most occasions), and do not use a case that might impede airflow near the hinges, the back and underneath the computer. I told them that I would try using mine without a case and see what happens - only because I have noticed that it has gotten much cooler over the past 2.5 weeks, with some random unbearable spikes here and there. It if can actually stay cool, for several days, then I might entertian that the case is at least impeding proper air flow, but that vicious heat was there from day one.

When I play games (not flash but graphical games, multi player online games), the temperature for Air Ambient goes to 120F and for the CPUs up to 170F. Im now running it in the menu bar monotoring the temp ranges.

Haven't had any issues I can see yet. But with all the heat underneath (cant touch it with bare hand), it is amazing it hasnt melted the first day.

Apple should publish stress test information . Id like to set temperature alarms. I doubt they will though.

Maybe Ill just get the extended warranty.

The extended warranty might be worth it. One of the impressive things about the MB is its resale value. I am amazed at how much people are still asking for items that are 3 and 4 years old. So, it might be worth the money up front, especially if you plan on selling it one day when you will recoup a lot of your investment, and of course, just for your peace of mind.

I have not updated to Mountain Lion, as I read some complaints that it ran hotter than Lion, and I do not yet know enough about any of this to care about what new thing ML is offering. I have my upgrade code, but I will wait on installing it for a while.

Is that true about the fan speed? My refurb 2011 Fall MBP with i7 runs at 2800+ and when they kick in it goes to 4100+. I did upgrade with Crucial memory from 4 to 8gb. I have Parallels installed but not running it. I have the typical apps open, calendar, email, web, sometimes Lightroom. The bottom left heats up till you cannot touch it. One month old. Not happy with that. Wondering if I need to return to stock memory and bring it in to Apple. Would a memory upgrade cause that problem? Runs that hot plugged in or not.

Well, one of the Geniuses I spoke with a couple of days ago said that 2000RPM was rather normal - but once you got past 3000 and certainly into 4000 then that was not good. But as others have said before, he also said that the Mac would shut itself down before there was damage. Also, if I am not mistaken he said that tempst of 175 F were not unheard of, as well. My comp looked like a bag of ice compared to what he was saying was within normal range. Someone on Amazon today pointed out that Netlix does not run on Flash, but rather Silverlight. Probably matters not much because Genius said that any streaming content will start to stress CPU and casue temp. elevation. So, if you are streaming - something to consider.... I am sure there are others here who can speak to your memory questions.