MacBook Pro ready to melt

Being new to SL I am a bit alarmed at how HOT my MacBook Pro gets when running the game only after a few minutes. Does anyone else experience this problem?

Its a graphics card issue, everyone gets it to one degree or another.

I suffer from this very problem myself (which could be why the SL client seems to freeze so often.) But try investing in a cooling mat. I see them a lot in places like Wal-Mart or Best Buy. I don't know how well they work but it never hurts. =)

EDIT: Err, rather not a cooling mat but one of those laptop mats that allow proper ventilation and aide in cooling the computer.

My MBP feels like its volcanic rock when I use to play SL and I actually *burned* my fingers once. I generally use a cooling pad as a buffer between my lap and the computer--it cost me $30 at the Applestore.

I have the first generation MBP and that could be why. Does anyone with the newer MBP have this problem?

My MBP is brand new, just bought and arrived a few days ago. It's only when I run SL that it starts heating up a lot. Or another system intensive program for a long period of time.

I believe that there is a firmware update for the earlier MBP models that modifies the fan behavior, not sure about the newest ones, might be worth a try if you didn't already, I think there was some concern about the earliest models and the factory application of thermal paste for heat transfer between the various components, I don't have time to provide any links to articles just now. My second (I think) generation gets pretty hot but not uncomfortably so, nor unacceptably noisy, for me, the fans seem to speed up and slow down whilst running SL but never reach the higher speeds, there are a few temperature monitor tools around, in toolbar and dashboard form which may help to reassure you that the fans are doing (or not doing) their job, make sure you have clear air around the vents as much as possible and try not to use your _laptop_ on your actual _lap_
Good luck

My MBP is always sat on either a hardback book, or a stiff piece of card etc, never directly on a lap, duvet (mmm toasty bed) or anything like that. It gets warm-hot on the underside but it's fine otherwise. It's one the previous kind, not the new nvidia chip ones.

I have a first gen mac book pro and it gets HOT. I got a cooling pad from staples and I NEVER run my mbp without it. I also updated the firmware and this helps some too. The cooling pad I have has fans that actively pull air across the bottom. This is better than just an open pad. At $30 it is not too much to ensure your mac. However what I would also recommend is if you run SL in a specific spot get a fan to wash across the top. This will cool the top bar above the keyboard that get really hot. If the keyboard get hot then you probably ought to take a break and lit it cool.

I am a little paranoid as I think excessive heat killed my titanium and I don't want the same thing to happen to this one. Also the powerpack gets really hot. I suggest sticking some rubber feet to it (If the heat won't loosen the glue) so that air can circulate better.

Do this and you should be able to enjoy SL without worry

Gillian

Cool Book, for first Gen users (don't know about the refreshes) will help. It allows you to undervolt the CPU, while keeping the clock rate at 1.83 (or 2.0/2.2)Ghz.

I tried it, works well, but switched over to smcFAN control, which allows me to monitor the system temp, and push the default fan speed up from 1500RPM to 2K, and then set defaults for when it's charging (I spin the base speed up to 3k for that) and when it's under full load (4k).

Alfrik Northmead

Dinking around temp: 94
Writing (working) temp: 101
SL temp: 106

SL does light up all the internal fans.

If you don't mind the fan noise, you could search on MacUpdate for a utility with which you can control yourself when and how the fans are spinning. Had the problem on my G4 too and now it always stays cool.

Yeap Lucy, the utility is called smcFAN control - great tool!

If you are going to use it as a desktop replacement would recommend using a Griffin stand with a USB muffin fan. The bottom gets REALLY hot while playing SL and the internal fans kick into high gear. The stand and fan keeps your investment from overheating.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=7E4EB91E&nplm=TK651LL/A


http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Technology-Mobile-External-Cooling/dp/B00080G0BK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-8097044-5040740?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1191304760&sr=8-1

It's been noted here before, and I think it bears repeating, that the metal-cased Apple notebooks really just feel hotter and in fact help the system run cooler. The aluminum conducts heat away (unfortunately sometimes onto sensitive body parts) from the heat generating components. A plastic case would insulate and need better airflow inside.

So a stand with its own fans goes a long way. Or even a small fan blowing across the machine. There are even usb-powered "personal" fans that could do the job. I put my Powerbook G4 on some pads that raise it a couple cm and use a small desk fan when I do SL.

In the long run, though, I think it's a bad idea to do SL on a laptop of any kind, on a regular basis. The extra heat causes batteries to degrade faster and decreases component life. Lots of the internal components go out of their tolerances when they get too hot, and that can cause all sorts of short term and long term malfunctions.

Something that every PowerBook and MacBook owner got with their machines is:

A video cable with two plastic caps on the ends.

Dont throw those caps away! They are the perfect size to put under the hinge end when you have your laptop on a desk/table. Just a little space for air circulation, and easy to carry, etc. Or just use two tops from bottled water...same size pretty much.

Low Tech and effective

http://homepage.mac.com/holtmann/eidac/

link to latest smcFanControl