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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Notebook Hardware
The Official "My MacBook/Air/Pro is overheating, what do I do?" Guide.
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<blockquote data-quote="chas_m" data-source="post: 1018796"><p>I'm sorry, but I have to stop you there.</p><p></p><p>Overheating ≠ getting hot. It is perfectly normal for a Mac -- particularly a Mac laptop -- to get hot during periods of intense CPU or disc activity. As I've said numerous times in this forum, this is *not abnormal* and *does not require any user intervention.* Believe it or not, Apple engineers are aware that you may sometimes be doing CPU-intensive things for a prolonged period, and designed a cooling system to deal with it.</p><p></p><p>When a Mac is running hot, the fans kick in. It will still feel very warm to you, the user -- because you are a human being with considerably greater sensitivity to heat than a machine has. But that does not mean the machine is not running *perfectly normally.*</p><p></p><p>It's easy to tell when a Mac *actually* overheats, because it shuts itself off if that happens. If your Mac hasn't shut itself off, then it hasn't overheated. Simple as that, really.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Now this part is deliberately (IMO) confusing to readers. You are quoting Apple's recommendations for the EXTERNAL temperature of the ENVIRONMENT you operate your Mac in, NOT the internal temperature of the machine (which is ALWAYS far hotter). This misinformation has the potential to *panic* uninformed readers, and really should be clarified.</p><p></p><p>Normal INTERNAL cpu temperature for a Mac laptop should run 30° to 90° C (about 86° to 194°F) depending on various factors, and as you say every machine is slightly different.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I'm not even going to touch this one. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p><p></p><p>Okay, yes I will: when using compressed air on a computer, one should ALWAYS repeat ALWAYS be very sparing with the air. One or two QUICK blasts at the vents should be MORE than enough. Don't go nuts, it won't help and could actually do some damage in some situations. Moving that blockage of cat hair from the vent cover to the CPU may help temporarily, but won't actually make things better. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>With respect, this is (broadly speaking) very bad advice.</p><p></p><p>If their Mac is overheating (ie reaching the shutoff stage) and the aforementioned compressed-air didn't help, using SMCFanControl (et al) will only make things WORSE, since the real problem isn't being addressed, and that problem is that either the fans are malfunctioning or are blocked.</p><p></p><p>Users experiencing heat-related shutoff should IMMEDIATELY take the machine in for servicing. It's irresponsible to suggest that such a severe problem can be "solved" by blowing more wind around.</p><p></p><p>SMCFanControl (et al) have their place for users who wish to tax the CPU for exceptionally long periods, but in the case of genuine overheating can't be considered anything more than a very bad "band-aid" for a serious problem that, if left unfixed, will destroy the computer.</p><p></p><p>Sorry if I seem harsh, but this is people's multi-thousand $ investment we are talking about. It's important to make the facts *accurate* and *clear* because not doing so can result in disaster.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="chas_m, post: 1018796"] I'm sorry, but I have to stop you there. Overheating ≠ getting hot. It is perfectly normal for a Mac -- particularly a Mac laptop -- to get hot during periods of intense CPU or disc activity. As I've said numerous times in this forum, this is *not abnormal* and *does not require any user intervention.* Believe it or not, Apple engineers are aware that you may sometimes be doing CPU-intensive things for a prolonged period, and designed a cooling system to deal with it. When a Mac is running hot, the fans kick in. It will still feel very warm to you, the user -- because you are a human being with considerably greater sensitivity to heat than a machine has. But that does not mean the machine is not running *perfectly normally.* It's easy to tell when a Mac *actually* overheats, because it shuts itself off if that happens. If your Mac hasn't shut itself off, then it hasn't overheated. Simple as that, really. Now this part is deliberately (IMO) confusing to readers. You are quoting Apple's recommendations for the EXTERNAL temperature of the ENVIRONMENT you operate your Mac in, NOT the internal temperature of the machine (which is ALWAYS far hotter). This misinformation has the potential to *panic* uninformed readers, and really should be clarified. Normal INTERNAL cpu temperature for a Mac laptop should run 30° to 90° C (about 86° to 194°F) depending on various factors, and as you say every machine is slightly different. I'm not even going to touch this one. :D Okay, yes I will: when using compressed air on a computer, one should ALWAYS repeat ALWAYS be very sparing with the air. One or two QUICK blasts at the vents should be MORE than enough. Don't go nuts, it won't help and could actually do some damage in some situations. Moving that blockage of cat hair from the vent cover to the CPU may help temporarily, but won't actually make things better. :) With respect, this is (broadly speaking) very bad advice. If their Mac is overheating (ie reaching the shutoff stage) and the aforementioned compressed-air didn't help, using SMCFanControl (et al) will only make things WORSE, since the real problem isn't being addressed, and that problem is that either the fans are malfunctioning or are blocked. Users experiencing heat-related shutoff should IMMEDIATELY take the machine in for servicing. It's irresponsible to suggest that such a severe problem can be "solved" by blowing more wind around. SMCFanControl (et al) have their place for users who wish to tax the CPU for exceptionally long periods, but in the case of genuine overheating can't be considered anything more than a very bad "band-aid" for a serious problem that, if left unfixed, will destroy the computer. Sorry if I seem harsh, but this is people's multi-thousand $ investment we are talking about. It's important to make the facts *accurate* and *clear* because not doing so can result in disaster. [/QUOTE]
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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Notebook Hardware
The Official "My MacBook/Air/Pro is overheating, what do I do?" Guide.
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