Wolfage
Level 1 (8 points)
Desktops

Q: My iMAC seems to be over-heating.

On a regular basis my iMac seems to be over-heating.  What should I do?

iPad, Mac OS X (10.5.6), iMac

Posted on Jul 17, 2016 4:30 AM

by Csound1,Solvedanswer
Csound1 Csound1
Level 9 (50,297 points)
Desktops
A:

+1

Posted on Jul 17, 2016 7:35 AM

Close
Wolfage

Q: My iMAC seems to be over-heating.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 17, 2016 4:33 AM in response to Wolfage
    Level 9 (53,705 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 4:33 AM in response to Wolfage

    What makes you think this?

     

    Are you using the system version indicated in the profile in your first post?

  • by Wolfage,

    Wolfage Wolfage Jul 17, 2016 5:28 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2016 5:28 AM in response to Limnos

    The iMac feels warm even after 20 or so minutes. I am using OS 10.11.5.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 17, 2016 5:54 AM in response to Wolfage
    Level 9 (53,705 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 5:54 AM in response to Wolfage

    Download  and use a tool such as Hardware Monitor, MacsFansControl, or MenuMeters (http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/menumeters/index.html). These run temperature displays in  the menu bar. I use MacsFanControl and found for my model computer the diode temperature is closest to the one I need. Do a web search for what other people with your model Mac recommend as operating temperature. I know with my MacBook (which is a very different computer from yours) something in the 65°C range is normal and 85° is not unusual when doing video. It would shut down if it reached 105 but I don't want it going higher than 85 so I use a tool to throttle CPU use.

     

    Realize that all computers will feel warm when you run them, particularly if you do CPU intensive activities such as gaming or video processing.

  • by Wolfage,

    Wolfage Wolfage Jul 17, 2016 5:55 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2016 5:55 AM in response to Limnos

    Limnos,

     

    When I click on the suggested link it tells me that MenuMeters cannot be used with El Captian.

     

    Don Cole

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 17, 2016 6:07 AM in response to Wolfage
    Level 9 (53,705 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 6:07 AM in response to Wolfage

    I don't use El Capitan so you will have to go through the list and find what may work.  There's also iStat Menus which is a commercial package similar to Menu Meters.  I have an older version of that running on Mavericks for other things but MacsFanControl offers more temperature display options so I have it running too.  Hardware Monitor offers the most solid temperature analysis.

     

    Sorry, you will have to do the footwork to get the links for these. You can do it as easily as I can.

  • by appreciate,

    appreciate Jul 17, 2016 6:22 AM in response to Wolfage
    Level 4 (1,276 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 6:22 AM in response to Wolfage

    An apple article is there : Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support              

                                           open font book via spotlight select all fonts ( command + A) , click on file & validate fonts .

    fonts with yellow exclamation must be removed .

     

    open font preferences : Do the settings as per screen shot .

     

    Note : duplicate fonts is one  of the reason for heating of the system .

     

    Screen Shot 2016-07-17 at 6.51.11 PM.png

  • by Limnos,Helpful

    Limnos Limnos Jul 17, 2016 7:34 AM in response to appreciate
    Level 9 (53,705 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 7:34 AM in response to appreciate

    I am just wondering first if the computer really is overheating before taking approaches to deal with anything.  Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

  • by Csound1,Solvedanswer

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 17, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 9 (50,297 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 17, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Limnos

    +1

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Jul 17, 2016 7:53 AM in response to Wolfage
    Level 8 (35,071 points)
    iPad
    Jul 17, 2016 7:53 AM in response to Wolfage

    What is "normal" temperature can depend on your iMac's sub-model, which we do not know. There are hundreds of variants of iMacs and thus heat output under load can vary with sub-model. Please fill in that blank for us.

     

    This Apple article is very useful once you have established that the computer is REALLY running hotter than normal:

     

    Apps can affect Mac performance, battery runtime, temperature, and fan activity - Apple Support

     

    All computers generate heat so only "above normal" becomes important. Because of the way Apple has shifted access to the temperature sensors that older software reads, some temp-monitoring utilities have now been withdrawn or, if left available, may read incorrectly. If you go the software route you must make sure the developer states the program is compatible with the latest Mac hardware and Mac OS version

     

    Also get the programs ONLY from the developers' site, not from a download hosting site. Too many of the latter will load you up with malware at no addition charge.