Q: Process Creates CPU Overheating and Fans running like Crazy:

Well a Late 2008 Macbook Pro had an intel core 2 duo, so the max it could run is 200% (2 CPUs times 100%) if the app can do do enough in parallel on 2 CPUs.

Your 2011 Macbook Pro most likely has an intel i7 4 core CPU with hyper-threading.  If an app can use hyper-threads, there is a potential for 800% max.  The 330% could just be that the DVD can not keep up with the CPUs, so it is not hitting its max potential due to data starvation.

I'm not sure if the speed of the DVD drive in the 2008 was the same as the 2011.  If the 2011 is able to read data faster than the 2008, then it can deliver data the CPU faster, keeping the CPU much more busy, so it can consume more power, and the more power consumed the more heat generated.

Does the 2011 Macbook pro finish a DVD in less time than the 2008?

Basically you are trying to compare "Granny Smith" vs "Golden Delicious" Apples and expecting the same taste.

As for other programs, putting that SSD in your Macbook Pro means that any code or data that the application needs to get from disk is satisfied orders or magnitude faster, so the app does not need to idle the CPU and keep cranking away, causing the CPU to keep busy and thus draw more power, which is converted into heat, which causes the fans to run.

Also it is possible your SSD is generating more heat.  Solid State does not always mean runs cooler.  A lot would depend on make and model of the SSD and it is power profile, and whether it draws more power for writes vs reads, and how much of the more power costly kind you are doing.

Point of information.  I put an SSD in my 2009 27" iMac and it runs hotter because my iMac can do more in less time.  I put an SSD in my 2011 Macbook Pro and if I ask it to do a lot of work, such as backups, it starts up its fans, as the SSD is always fast in providing data for the backup, so there is no waiting around for the disks, letting the CPU idle down.

I would suggest you post your EtreCheck output for analysis

And is it potentially a hazard to the life span of the Mbpro2011 (could it destroy the mac in the long run), when the CPU / Mac over heats like that ?

While every CPU chip is different, it is my general understanding that the current line of intel chips has a max operating range of around 100ºC.

In addition the chips will start to slow down if they get too hot, so as to reduce the power consumption.

And if the temperature gets too hot, there is a thermal-trip that will shutdown the CPU to avoid burning out.

I'm going to assume that this DVD ripping activity is going to be finished in a reasonable period of time, and that you will be finished and just experience normal usage.  If that is the case, then just make sure the bottom and top of your laptop are well ventilated top and bottom (the fans exhaust the heat via the hing between the keyboard and the screen), or put the bottom on a metal surface, or a stone counter top that will easily and quickly absorb the heat.  Never put the Mac on a cloth or insulating surface, as that will prevent heat from escaping from the bottom of the case.

And you could just use the 2 older Macs with the core 2 duo CPUs

You could also get software that cranks the fans up to their maximum speed to try and cool the CPU more than the default software is doing.  Yes, even more noise, but if the fans are not at max, you can maybe get your CPU temp down a little.

As to heat killing your Mac.  In general heat and electronics do not go well together.  And you have changed the thermal design of the Mac by using parts Apple did not include in their calculations (mainly a much faster SSD vs the original hard disk; and do did I and a lot of other people).

I would not worry too much about the CPU unless you are keeping it at 100ºC day after day non-stop.  If your normal usage is going to keep the CPU running at the high end of its acceptable temperature range, then look at other cooling methods, there are heat absorbing pads, laptop stands with their own fans that blow on the bottom of the case, etc...  But only if you are going to keep the CPU at its max temp for hours on end most of the time you are using the Mac.

I know I have given some fuzzy answers, but is hard to know the exact right answer.  You have work you want to do, and when a computer works, it generates heat as a by-product of drawing electricity.  Do what you need to do, and try to give your Mac an environment that allows it to purge its excess heat.

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

Reset SMC

I do not see anything installed that I would be concerned about.

I'm assuming that when you ran EtreCheck you were processing a DVD, as HandBreak was cranking away.

You might consider enabling TRIM for your SSD, but that is totally optional

<http://www.imore.com/os-x-10104-and-trim-support-should-you-turn-it>

OS X does not have an interface to limit a process.  I do not even think the the process scheduler has a CPU limit concept.

About the closest you might be able to do is "Maybe" restrict a process to using just 1 CPU (on other platforms this is called process affinity).

Not sure if the following article will help, but it is something I found Googling "OSX process affinity"

<http://jesperrasmussen.com/2013/03/07/limiting-cpu-cores-on-the-fly-in-os-x/>

And I did see that you have a 2 core i5, which I think has hyper-threading, so you would have a maximum of 400% CPU on your system.  Which explains the 330% usage, as handbrake is using as much CPU as it can get.

cputhrottle looks like it stops the specified process for a period of time and then starts it again.

It is the like avoiding the expressway across town vs taking the city streets where you can speed between the stop signs and traffic lights, then sit idle until it is your turn to speed to the next stop sign/traffic light.

You will get to the destination faster using the expressway.

Not a perfect analogy, but close enough in spirit and effect.

If cputhrottle does what you want, then enjoy.  It should not hurt anything.  You do not have brakes to wear out, and a computer does not have the gas guzzling side effects of accelerating car up to full speed.