does late 2008 MacBook run cooler or hotter in clamshell mode?

Question

Level 2

283 points

does late 2008 MacBook run cooler or hotter in clamshell mode?

I was planning to use my recently upgraded MacBook as a desktop with USB keyboard and mouse .It will remain in clamshell mode long periods of time 4-10 days.I upgraded to an SSD just for the reason to reduce heat on the left palmrest.Can anyone tell me from experience to keep it in this mode for this long stretches of time.Do I need to worry about my precious Mac from suffocating to death?

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), 2GB Ram late 2008 Unibody 128GB SSD

Posted on Apr 17, 2016 11:44 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Apr 17, 2016 11:56 AM in response to racerhomie

I have been running my Late '08 MB in clamshell mode for about 2 months now. Right now it's about 25°C in my room and the MB is 39°C. Last week it was about 5°C cooler in my room and the MB was at 37°C. I don't know if that is hotter or cooler than it would have been in normal mode. I think the only difference would be heat generated by the monitor being active and that wouldn't go into the body of the device. I keep mine plugged in all the time so I suppose battery chemistry isn't producing much heat.

Reply