Q: cpu is running hot

Question

davefil

Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Q: cpu is running hot

Something is causing the processor to run hot. The fan is always on. Had this problem a month ago with Parallels and resolved it. Now it runs hot when Parallels is shut down.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Jul 20, 2016 4:49 AM

I have this question too

Solved

Eric Root

Level 9 (70,250 points)

iTunes

A:

Try a SMC reset. The article covers when this is required, but doing this will not affect anything.

Reset SMC

Posted on Jul 20, 2016 8:19 AM

Q: cpu is running hot

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by Csound1,

Csound1 Jul 20, 2016 4:50 AM in response to davefil
Level 9 (50,297 points)

Desktops

Jul 20, 2016 4:50 AM in response to davefil

Look in Activity Monitor to see what the culprit is
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by davefil,

davefil Jul 20, 2016 5:04 AM in response to Csound1
Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Jul 20, 2016 5:04 AM in response to Csound1

Thanks, I looked at that first. It seems whatever it is, it's running in background. My guess it's something in the operating system itself.
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by Csound1,

Csound1 Jul 20, 2016 5:18 AM in response to davefil
Level 9 (50,297 points)

Desktops

Jul 20, 2016 5:18 AM in response to davefil

As you have looked, what is it?

Activity Monitor shows all processes, background or not.
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by davefil,

davefil Jul 20, 2016 5:24 AM in response to Csound1
Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Jul 20, 2016 5:24 AM in response to Csound1

That's what I thought. That's why I'm looking for another explanation.
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by Csound1,

Csound1 Jul 20, 2016 5:27 AM in response to davefil
Level 9 (50,297 points)

Desktops

Jul 20, 2016 5:27 AM in response to davefil

OK, lets keep this simple, what is the top process and how much cpu percentage is it using?
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by Allan Jones,

Allan Jones Jul 20, 2016 7:15 AM in response to davefil
Level 8 (35,071 points)

iPad

Jul 20, 2016 7:15 AM in response to davefil

Does the Activity Monitor Window show All Processes" in the header bar?
By default Activity Monitor does NOT show background processes. Until you change the settings, it shows "My Processes." You have to use AM's "View" menu to change the setting to show "All Processes":

Once you change the setting, it will remain at "All Processes" until you change it again.

This Apple article explains the test:

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

davefil Jul 21, 2016 6:04 AM in response to Eric Root
Level 1 (4 points)

Mac OS X

Jul 21, 2016 6:04 AM in response to Eric Root

It looks like resetting smc has cooled things down.
Thanks.
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by Eric Root,

Eric Root Jul 21, 2016 6:09 AM in response to davefil
Level 9 (70,250 points)

iTunes

Jul 21, 2016 6:09 AM in response to davefil

You are welcome.
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Accepted Answer · Jul 20, 2016 8:19 AM

Eric Root

Level 9 (70,250 points)

iTunes

Jul 20, 2016 8:19 AM in response to davefil

Try a SMC reset. The article covers when this is required, but doing this will not affect anything.

Reset SMC

Q: cpu is running hot

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by Csound1,

by davefil,

by Csound1,

by davefil,

by Csound1,

by Allan Jones,

by Eric Root,Solvedanswer

by davefil,

by Eric Root,

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