MBP 13" i5 2.4GHz Late 2011 running at 93 Celsius?!

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MBP 13" i5 2.4GHz Late 2011 running at 93 Celsius?!

I've noticed lately that my MacBook Pro hasn't been performing as well as it did when I got it last year. I decided to reinstall OSX and Windows 2008 Server through bootcamp, and noticed on both OSes that the CPU temp while idle is at 93 to 98 degrees celsius... Surely this can't be good for the CPU. I ran Intel's TurboBoost Monitor on Windows and the CPU will not run any faster than around 1.6 GHz, sometimes going down to 800 MHz. I would assume this is because of the ridiculously high temperature the CPU is running at.

Is there anything I can do to fix this short of sending it in for repairs?

MacBook Pro, Windows 7

Posted on Nov 12, 2013 1:35 PM

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Answer 1

OGELTHORPE

Level 9

57,329 points

Nov 12, 2013 1:43 PM in response to chris o.g.

Post an image of Activity Monitor set to ALL PROCESSES and % CPU to display values from high to low. Also post an image of your temperature read out and fan speeds if available.

Indicate what exact model of MBP you have and the OSX that is installed.

Ciao.

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Answer 2

chris o.g. Author

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Nov 12, 2013 2:20 PM in response to OGELTHORPE

It's gone down to between 70-80 degrees now, but that still seems too hot. Using the keyboard for too long feels like it's gonna burn my fingers.

Or if that's scaled down too much, here: http://i.imgur.com/TLNpDbf.png

Oh, the exact model is A1278 (A127B?), "MacBookPro8,1" in System Information.

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Answer 3

chris o.g. Author

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Nov 12, 2013 2:41 PM in response to chris o.g.

I just opened up Skype and the temp jumped up to 93 degrees again.

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Answer 4

LowLuster

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12,105 points

Nov 12, 2013 2:43 PM in response to chris o.g.

When was the last time you clean out the dust from the heatsink fins and the fans?

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Answer 5

LowLuster

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Nov 12, 2013 2:45 PM in response to chris o.g.

Also the themal paste on the CPU & GPU may of started to fail, it can with age. This is something you can replace but it involves taking the system apart to do so.

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Answer 6

chris o.g. Author

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Nov 12, 2013 2:59 PM in response to LowLuster

The last time I cleaned out the dust was about 4 months ago. Might be time to do it again I suppose. I could give the thermal paste a check too. But if it looks anything like this, I'd be suspicious of how Apple manufactures their computers, and likely would not buy another... http://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/3EghbpgvvnfwY4XF.large

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Answer 7

LowLuster

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Nov 12, 2013 3:04 PM in response to chris o.g.

Well that is with the heatsink being removed. You will always get what you see in that image to some degree.

Apple Mac notebook computers are made by the same companies that make Dell's, HP's, and many other brands of notebook computers. Mine was made by Compell (I think that is the correct name). There are only 3 or 4 manufacturers of notebook in the world.

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Answer 8

OGELTHORPE

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Nov 12, 2013 3:12 PM in response to chris o.g.

Based on the images you have provided, the 'culprit' appears to be mdworker which should eventually finish and the temperature should then decrease.

http://osxdaily.com/2009/09/14/mdworker-what-is-mdworker/

Skype is a notorious CPU glutton and what you experienced opening it is not at all unusual. Use Skype and the MBP will get hot

The temperatures that your MBP has generated are high but not lethal. There are protective circuits that will shut the MBP down if the CPU overheats.

Ciao.

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Answer 9

chris o.g. Author

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Nov 12, 2013 3:30 PM in response to LowLuster

There still should never be that much thermal paste on a CPU. All that is needed is a thin layer, it should never smear over the sides like that. I was unable to check what mine is like, because of the tiny screws securing the motherboard on. But I checked the vents and the CPU fan, and there is no dust at all blocking it. I still have 2 years left on my warranty, so I guess I'll have it checked out by a technician.

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Answer 10

LowLuster

Level 6

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Nov 12, 2013 3:35 PM in response to chris o.g.

I can guaranty that if you took the heatsink off 5 different computers, not just notebooks, sold by 5 different Manufacturers that 4 of them would look like that. The other would have little to no thermal paste.

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