Q: Macbook pro 15 inch (late 2013) gaming and overheating issues

Just came across this topic, and Lukaspechar, I fully agree.

There are other topics where the same issue is discussed:

Late 2013 15" MacBook Pro Heat Issues when Gaming

MacBook Retina 15" late-2013 Heat (my post here)

With this topic included I think it's safe to say these aren't just incidents but a design flaw for this rMBP model. It seems Apple underestimated the combined heath of the Intel CPU and the GT750m. So that makes me wonder whether any repairs done by Apple would help. That is, until they made a new board revision or some other kind of hardware changes. Nevertheless, if anyone gives the Apple Support route a try please post here about your experiences, whether they swap the board etc. (and ofcourse whether this helped solve the heating problem).

I haven't checked the fan speeds during gaming, but judging from the noise it sounds like it's already ramped up to max. I'll give the fan control application a try though.

I reside in Malta a little island in the Mediterranean. Thanks for the settings. I've set them as you suggested I'll monitor it. The only thing is it will keep the fans going constantly higher as my temperatures are rarely below 70. Check my log from iStat:

Have you read my thread @ZedPM. I go over my experience with Apple.

https://discussions.apple.com/message/24401375#24401375

I do not think this is a rMBP hardware issue. I believe there to be a problem with the firmware as I don't see this heating issue with other Macs.

Please review my post here.  The action listed in my post fixes the problem although it does reoccur after a day or two. I have reported this to AppleCare. Not sure if there will be a software fix in the future.

@lukaspechar

Well, just what I was afraid of. The logic board replacement didn't help. I'd assume it is of the same revision, so I suppose that was somewhat expected. The fact that they don't take the high temperatures seriously though is more worrysome.

@Tobin Anthony

I'm not sure what the IconServicesAgent does, but the issue that it pulls the CPU to 100% apparently is a known one. I don't have this problem though. Still, to me it seems the fact that temperatures rise to 100+ degrees is not because of the IconServicesAgent in itself, but rather that this background program is generating CPU load. Albeit in this case because IconServicesAgent is clearly malfunctioning. Playing somewhat graphics intensive games or running heavy programs like Logic/Aperture will do exactly the same thing: generate heavy CPU (and GPU) loads that may very well reach 100%. This is perfectly normal and should be no reason for overheating.

Also, I'm seeing the exact same temperatures in Windows 8.1 while playing games - without an IconServicesAgent causing any (unwanted) CPU load.

These are the specs while running just the Safari and the chess game. The whole week temperatures are 95 degrees C. Ridiculous. Impossible to touch the top part.

So far from every mac owner I know, heating always occurs when handling a load on any computer. The mac gets over heated from fans running too low. I had a consistent 90+ on my 2011 15 inch MBP, I adjust the fan speed higher and not my system is cool to the touch 50c. Reguardless of what apple tells you, please try changing your fan speed and you will be surprised at the outcome. Enjoy your Mac it is not Wack

In my case this makes very little difference. Try running prime 95 (download on the following page http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft/) and you'll see the fans are useless. I understand one will not run at 100% all the time but I expect tools like xcode, parallels, lightroom and photoshop to run without a hitch. I have full fans running and I barely keep it below 100 when working productively on my retina Core i7 mac.  Don't get me wrong I like the piece of hardware, but it is just badly engineered. One expects people to get proper results when in need of heavy processing and paying that money. That is why I went for the top of the range retina! An absolute failure.

I am also having trouble with my macbook pro retina 15 late 2013 gt750m getting too hot and under performing. My Dell L502X GT525M is performing BETTER than it. Sad!

Today I played Dota 2 on it, and graphics were horrible, very low fps in lower resolution. And I BURNED MY FINGER! I'm not kidding! my finger was atching from the burn, my skin is thin unfortunately again. This is silly. My keyboard even gets hot. And close to the screen I could fry an egg. Apple, what are you doing????

I installed a genuine copy of Windows 8.1 and it runs EVEN HOTTER in Windows. This thing of not accepting Iris graphics card on windows is so stupid. The mac doesn\t have all the apps unfortunately, Dota 2 for mac is UNPLAYABLE. (i tried, but it crashed! And even had LOWER FPS. Windows for Dota 2 is much better.) I've just installed the software to cool down the notebook, but still. I'm not sure. It is very weird this. So far, I am disatisfied with my purchase. I hope it gets fixed somehow. BUT APPLE, we are waiting for an official solution!!

It's great that everyone is going on about how poor the CPU/GPU rate of cooling but no one has stated the ambient temperature of the enviroment there using the machine. A heat sink and fan cant cool a body below the ambient temperature.

For example; You live in spain and the ambient temperature is 36 Degrees C then your machine will reach 90 Degrees faster on a small load ie running itunes, than compaired to someone living in England with an ambient temperature of 10 degrees C is avarage and you can run a far greater load before your machine reaches 90 degrees C.

I've managed to solve my problem with running Mac fan control and set the fans to increse at 50 degrees C and max fan speed at 68 degrees C and I've been able to run a game few games at max for no problem.

I'd also like to point out that it seems the default settings for the fans are 2144 RPM at a normal temp of 35 Degrees C Fans will increase at 70 degrees C and Max fan speed at 85ish degress C at 6000 RPM.

If you got burned by your MacBook Pro then something is wrong. You should contact Apple about it. They are always concerned with the safety of their customers.

Contact Apple using www.apple.com/support/contact if you are in a country that supports it or call the appropriate phone number on this page. Alternatively carry the MacBook Pro in to an Apple retail store or service provider.

Best of luck.

Same here, I am also having trouble with my macbook pro retina 15 late 2013 gt750m getting too hot. I paid TOP dollar for this Mac, I don't expect these high temps for proffecsional work. I use a lot of tools for video/film work, plus photoshop and other images editing/compositing apps. I NEED a pro mobile machine, not a portable Heater. Everytime I render a 2k/4k shot from After effects, the temps reach 99c, this is NOT accetable from Apple. Squeezing an Intel i7 into 0.71" was a terrible Idea; better yet, concentrate on the cooling of this "Pro" device. I orderd a Cooler Master laptop cooler to see if that makes any difference, it BETTER or else RETURN.

-dm

Don't bother @davidmthekidd laptop coolers are not something that will work and if it does it will only lower or for you by a couple of degrees. I had bought one and it was a waste of money. Not one degree less. Take it to apple and get reimbursed. You're better off getting an iMac. Supposedly it doesn't overheat.

I changed my mind, I will return it and get my money back, i will get the Broadwell macbook pro later this year instead.

Hi
Im from Denmark and I had/have the same problem, it isn't fix yet because it's still being repaired, this is week nr 4 They didn't find troubles with the heat, cause they say it can go up to 100 degreas under performance.

But they anyway they replaced the logic board and the SD-card reader. I got it back yesterday but had to returned it again bacause it woundn't start up. So now i'm waiting again on it to be finish.
so an advice get it to apple before your warranty runs out. It sound really expensive.