Mac sounds like it's going to explode

Question

Mac sounds like it's going to explode

Hi

So I have a MacBook Pro, black, somewhere around 2008 ish? OS X 10.6 Dual core

And when my MagSafe charger is plugged in, it will be fine but the fans will become very noisy and start to become more high pitched and the computer heats up. I daren't reset anything, so I just turn it off and leave it. But to be honest, it's better plugged in when it's asleep. Also, even though iMovie and iLife suite should be downloaded, they are not there, just the plug in and sound effects folders and still they contain nothing.

This mac is literally a day old, and I ain't losing it already

Help?!

PJ

MacBook Pro

Posted on Oct 15, 2013 1:51 PM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

156,416 points

Oct 15, 2013 1:54 PM in response to AppleTechGenius

AppleTechGenius wrote:

So I have a MacBook Pro, black, somewhere around 2008 ish? OS X 10.6 Dual core

...

This mac is literally a day old,

😕

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Answer 2

Tlix

Level 4

1,425 points

Oct 15, 2013 3:42 PM in response to John Galt

Maybe it was purchased from Jupiter.

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Answer 3

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 15, 2013 3:53 PM in response to AppleTechGenius

Have you tried a SMC reset:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

It works on Macs of any age.

Ciao.

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Answer 4

Oct 15, 2013 4:59 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

Hi

The only problem is I daren't reset it because this is my first mac

PJ

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Answer 5

Tlix

Level 4

1,425 points

Oct 15, 2013 6:48 PM in response to AppleTechGenius

You dare should do an SMC reset because it may help the issue.

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

156,416 points

Oct 15, 2013 10:25 PM in response to AppleTechGenius

The SMC reset is justified for the problem you describe, but please clarify what it is you have - are we to assume you purchased a used MacBook Pro, but it's black in color? Apple only made black MacBooks, so what you have ist still a mystery.

Do you have its original discs (you'll need them)?

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Answer 7

Oct 17, 2013 10:34 AM in response to John Galt

I am not sure what spec it is.

I think it's a macbook. Just a normal macbook.

All I'm scared of is that the laptop will overheat

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Answer 8

Oct 17, 2013 10:43 AM in response to AppleTechGenius

UPDATE:

I did just try and play slender on my mac and the fans started to spin and get more high pitched.

If I don't play a computer game, it's fine.

Can someone PLEASE tell me whether these are the CPU fans or what?? Otherwise I'm taking it to an apple genius, someone who actually knows what they're doing because I don't, as I'm not a regular Mac user. I just switched from PC.

Help??

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Answer 9

Oct 17, 2013 10:44 AM in response to AppleTechGenius

fans spinning up durning game use is 100% normal.

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Answer 10

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 17, 2013 10:45 AM in response to AppleTechGenius

Enter your MBP serial number here and then you will know what model you have.

http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html

AppleTechGenius wrote:

All I'm scared of is that the laptop will overheat

Should it start to overheat, there are provisions for a thermal shutdown that will prevent the MBP from committing Hari Kari. So relax.

Please provide the requested information so that you can be assisted. Also please try the SMC.

Ciao.

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Answer 11

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 17, 2013 10:49 AM in response to AppleTechGenius

AppleTechGenius wrote:

UPDATE:

I did just try and play slender on my mac and the fans started to spin and get more high pitched.

If I don't play a computer game, it's fine.

Can someone PLEASE tell me whether these are the CPU fans or what??

Your MBP does have fans to help cool the unit when CPU intensive applications, such as games, are open. What you are experiencing may be normal.

Ciao.

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Answer 12

Oct 17, 2013 10:55 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Thank you.

You have helped my paranoia a lot. This is my first mac, so I am sending it to a genius to do the SMC as I haven't a bloody clue how to do it myself and I don't know if it's safe.

Macbook 2008

OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard

That's all I know I'm sorry.

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Answer 13

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 17, 2013 11:01 AM in response to AppleTechGenius

It is your MBP and you are entitled to decide what to do and how. As a suggestion, watch the technician perform the SMC reset and explain what he is doing. That way you should be able to determine if this is within your abilities or not. I suspect that you will find it is, so that in the future if a similar situation occurs, you will be able to do it yourself.

Good luck.

Ciao.

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Answer 14

Oct 17, 2013 11:07 AM in response to OGELTHORPE

Nice Name: MacBook Core 2 Duo 13 inch

Machine Model: MacBook2,1

Name: MacBook (late 2006)

ModelCode: mb_late_06

Family name: A1181

Model Number: MA701

Group1: MacBook

Group2: nothing

Generation: 2

CPU speed: 2.0GHz

Screen size: 13 inch

Screen resolution: 1280x800 pixels

Colour: Black

Production year: 2007

Production week: 12 (March)

Production number: 1110 (within this week)

Model introduced: 2006

Memory - flavour: DDR2-S-667

Memory - number of slots: 2

Memory - maximum total: 4GB

Memory - largest module: 2GB

Factory: W8 (Shanghai China)

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Answer 15

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Oct 17, 2013 11:39 AM in response to AppleTechGenius

Download from the Internet iStat pro.

Open Activity Monitor and set it to ALL PROCESSES and %CPU to display values from high to low.

These are examples from my MBP:

When your Macbook is 'cool', take screen shots of both using SHIFT COMMAND 4.

Then open a game and when your Macbook gets hot, take screen shots of both again.

Post both pairs of screen shots for inspection.

If you have the original installtion disks run an Apple Hardware Test. A label for the AHT and instructions should be on the second disc.

Ciao.

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