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The initial release version of the MacBook Pro (MBP) tended to run hot. By June 2006, Apple had pretty much figured out how to manufacture them properly, so mine only runs hot when it is being taxed.
If yours is running hot, there are a few things you can check:
* Run the Activity Monitor and see how busy your CPU is. Be sure you are looking at "All Processes", not just "My Processes". If the CPU History graph (at the bottom of the Activity Monitor window) is not mostly black, then your CPU us being utilized heavily and you can either quit some applications or turn on the fans. (Continue reading for more info about the fans.)
* Be sure that you're running at least 10.4.7. This update brought with it a fix to a kernel thrashing issue that would heat the machine up very very fast.
* Install MenuTemperature and monitor how hot your machine gets. You can get it here: www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/21767
* Install either smcFanControl or Fan Control and you'll be able to turn on the fans to cool the machine down. The difference between these apps is:
smcFanControl: manual fan control application
www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049
Fan Control: automatic fan control system preference that uses a threshold
www.macupdate.com/info.php/...an-control
Personally, I use smcFanControl, since I work in a recording studio and wish to not have my machine be noisy without my consent.
Epilogue
My experience is that most heat issues on the Intel-based laptops are due to applications and their CPU usage. I keep Activity Monitor and MenuTemperature running all the time and closely watch what's happening as I use the computer. As a result, my MBP tends to run around 102-117° F all the time. iTunes raises the temp to around 135° F and heavy usage apps, such as Final Cut or Cleaner, can raise it to 170-182° F! When I run smcFanControl and the machine is up at 180° F, it comes down to 140° F within a few seconds.
If yours is running hot, there are a few things you can check:
* Run the Activity Monitor and see how busy your CPU is. Be sure you are looking at "All Processes", not just "My Processes". If the CPU History graph (at the bottom of the Activity Monitor window) is not mostly black, then your CPU us being utilized heavily and you can either quit some applications or turn on the fans. (Continue reading for more info about the fans.)
* Be sure that you're running at least 10.4.7. This update brought with it a fix to a kernel thrashing issue that would heat the machine up very very fast.
* Install MenuTemperature and monitor how hot your machine gets. You can get it here: www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/21767
* Install either smcFanControl or Fan Control and you'll be able to turn on the fans to cool the machine down. The difference between these apps is:
smcFanControl: manual fan control application
www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/23049
Fan Control: automatic fan control system preference that uses a threshold
www.macupdate.com/info.php/...an-control
Personally, I use smcFanControl, since I work in a recording studio and wish to not have my machine be noisy without my consent.
Epilogue
My experience is that most heat issues on the Intel-based laptops are due to applications and their CPU usage. I keep Activity Monitor and MenuTemperature running all the time and closely watch what's happening as I use the computer. As a result, my MBP tends to run around 102-117° F all the time. iTunes raises the temp to around 135° F and heavy usage apps, such as Final Cut or Cleaner, can raise it to 170-182° F! When I run smcFanControl and the machine is up at 180° F, it comes down to 140° F within a few seconds.
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SF Bay Area
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