Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro to be hot on its left side?

[Ant]

Hello!

Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
be burning hot on its left side? Are there fans in it? I saw no vents
and felt any air flows. Its battery feels warm (not burning hot), but it
is old and doesn't hold a lot of juice (powers off after a few minutes
when using it only). It is running Mac OS X 10.5.8. The room temperature
is almost 80F degrees.

Thank you in advance. :)
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[nospam]

In article <OOidnXy06LmCf6_M...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
> be burning hot on its left side?

no. warm is normal. burning hot where you can't rest your skin on it is
not.

> Are there fans in it?

two fans. maybe one or both failed.

> I saw no vents
> and felt any air flows. Its battery feels warm (not burning hot), but it
> is old and doesn't hold a lot of juice (powers off after a few minutes
> when using it only). It is running Mac OS X 10.5.8. The room temperature
> is almost 80F degrees.

the vents are in the hinge.

[Andreas Rutishauser]

Salut Ant

In article <OOidnXy06LmCf6_M...@earthlink.com>,
Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
> be burning hot on its left side?

no. The Hard disk is on the left side. It does not like hot...

> Are there fans in it? I saw no vents

Yes, there are 2; where did you look?

<http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Core+2+Duo+Models+A1226+
and+A1260+Hard+Drive+Replacement/670/2>

Cheers
Andreas

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[Ant]

On 3/2/2013 11:57 PM PT, Andreas Rutishauser typed:

>> Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
>> be burning hot on its left side?
>
> no. The Hard disk is on the left side. It does not like hot...
>
>> Are there fans in it? I saw no vents
>
> Yes, there are 2; where did you look?
>
> <http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+15-Inch+Core+2+Duo+Models+A1226+and+A1260+Hard+Drive+Replacement/670/2>

I did not open old MBP yet. I was only touching for the hot spots.
Assuming I am looking at the photo(graph) correctly, it seems the video
card is causing the hotness.
--
"I once heard the survivors of a colony of ants that had been partially
obliterated by a cow's foot seriously debating the intention of the gods
towards their civilization" --Archy the Cockroach from Don Marquis'
"Archy and Mehitabel" book ("Certain Maxims of Archy" poem)

[Jolly Roger]

In article <OOidnXy06LmCf6_M...@earthlink.com>,
Ant <a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> Hello!
>
> Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
> be burning hot on its left side?

Depending on the model / age, they can tend to run pretty hot -
especially when compared with today's machines.

> Are there fans in it?

Yep, two. They are located along the back side of the computer, where
the screen/lid and body intersect. There are openings ont eh back, and
the fans push air out of those openings.

> I saw no vents
> and felt any air flows.

That may be an indication that the fans aren't working, which would
explain excessive heat.

> Its battery feels warm (not burning hot), but it
> is old and doesn't hold a lot of juice (powers off after a few minutes
> when using it only). It is running Mac OS X 10.5.8. The room temperature
> is almost 80F degrees.
>
> Thank you in advance. :)

80F is a little warm for computer electronics, but not out of ordinary
operating range.

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JR

[JF Mezei]

On 13-03-03 10:42, Ant wrote:

> Assuming I am looking at the photo(graph) correctly, it seems the video
> card is causing the hotness.

Then stop looking at hot babes on porn sites :-)

[JF Mezei]

> I did not open old MBP yet. I was only touching for the hot spots.

You've been given many options. Another one I did not mention is
"Temperature Monitor"

You know the heat is not normal.

You now have to do your homeworks and test these various options to see
if the fans can be spun up with software or if you need to open the
laptop to check for obstructions.

Another option is that the airwars are clogged with dust bunnies.

However, when the laptop's temperature increases, it will increase fan
speeds. If airways were clogged, you would still hear the fan speed
increase as the temperarure rises inside.

Note that when I got my 2009 MacBookPro, I could hear the fans start to
increase speed at 60�C. But there was some formware upgrade later and
since then, it isn't until temperature approaches 90� that I hear fans
and at that point it bring temp down to about 80� (for instance when
running Google Earth flight simulator).

[nospam]

In article <jollyroger-0D307...@news.individual.net>,

Jolly Roger <jolly...@pobox.com> wrote:

> > Its battery feels warm (not burning hot), but it
> > is old and doesn't hold a lot of juice (powers off after a few minutes
> > when using it only). It is running Mac OS X 10.5.8. The room temperature
> > is almost 80F degrees.
> >
> > Thank you in advance. :)
>
> 80F is a little warm for computer electronics, but not out of ordinary
> operating range.

try again. 80f is the *room* temperature. 80f is very cold for computer
electronics, while it's a bit warm for humans.

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 8:29 AM PT, JF Mezei typed:

ROFL!
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anteaters will always need ants." --Paul Halmos

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[Ant]

On 3/2/2013 9:39 PM PT, Ant typed:

> Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
> be burning hot on its left side? Are there fans in it? I saw no vents
> and felt any air flows. Its battery feels warm (not burning hot), but it
> is old and doesn't hold a lot of juice (powers off after a few minutes
> when using it only). It is running Mac OS X 10.5.8. The room temperature
> is almost 80F degrees.

One of the replies, in
https://discussions.apple.com/message/21406647?ac_cid=op123456 ,
recommended that I run an old version (4.92) of free iStat Pro
(http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/20364/istat-pro ).
http://i.imgur.com/V1FFh3k.gif for the screen shots/captures after 15
minutes and 50 minutes of uptime (mostly idled and light usages) after
MBP was powered off overnight to cool off and rest and turned on a cool
morning (finally, a cooler weather!). Note that its old battery was
removed last night to see if it was causing the heat. Fans seem to still
spin. I found the vents and can hear the fans if I put my head very
close to them.

Also, I think it is the screen saver since it was running Flurry screen
saver and then display sleep for 15 minutes of being idled. However, is
it still supposed to be this hot?
--
"I used to own an ant farm but had to give it up. I couldn't find
tractors small enough to fit it." --Steven Wright

[nospam]

In article <V5OdnUwhl4qMEK7M...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> One of the replies, in
> https://discussions.apple.com/message/21406647?ac_cid=op123456 ,
> recommended that I run an old version (4.92) of free iStat Pro
> (http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/20364/istat-pro ).
> http://i.imgur.com/V1FFh3k.gif for the screen shots/captures after 15
> minutes and 50 minutes of uptime (mostly idled and light usages) after
> MBP was powered off overnight to cool off and rest and turned on a cool
> morning (finally, a cooler weather!). Note that its old battery was
> removed last night to see if it was causing the heat. Fans seem to still
> spin. I found the vents and can hear the fans if I put my head very
> close to them.

the temperatures and fan speeds in the link above are normal.

> Also, I think it is the screen saver since it was running Flurry screen
> saver and then display sleep for 15 minutes of being idled. However, is
> it still supposed to be this hot?

based on the above, it's normal. sometimes it gets even hotter. try
rendering video or using flash.

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 9:58 AM PT, nospam typed:

> the temperatures and fan speeds in the link above are normal.

Really? Wow.

>> Also, I think it is the screen saver since it was running Flurry screen
>> saver and then display sleep for 15 minutes of being idled. However, is
>> it still supposed to be this hot?
>
> based on the above, it's normal. sometimes it gets even hotter. try
> rendering video or using flash.

Flash? Wait, I remember he was watching YouTube videos! Old Flash can
use video acceleration on this old video cards?
--
"We ants are runnin' the show! We're the lords of the earth!" --ANTZ

[Ant]

On 3/2/2013 9:39 PM PT, Ant typed:

> Is it normal for an old 15" MacBook Pro (bought in 2008; A1260 model) to
> be burning hot on its left side? Are there fans in it? I saw no vents
> and felt any air flows. Its battery feels warm (not burning hot), but it
> is old and doesn't hold a lot of juice (powers off after a few minutes
> when using it only). It is running Mac OS X 10.5.8. The room temperature
> is almost 80F degrees.

FYI, the hot spot is in the top left corner on the speakers near the
keyboard.
--
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amber, a more than royal tomb." --Sir Francis Bacon in Historia Vitæ et
Mortis; Sylva Sylvarum, Cent. i. Exper. 100.

[nospam]

In article <prSdndXwe6ZIDa7M...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> >> Also, I think it is the screen saver since it was running Flurry screen
> >> saver and then display sleep for 15 minutes of being idled. However, is
> >> it still supposed to be this hot?
> >
> > based on the above, it's normal. sometimes it gets even hotter. try
> > rendering video or using flash.
>
> Flash? Wait, I remember he was watching YouTube videos! Old Flash can
> use video acceleration on this old video cards?

it can, but the fans still spin up even with the latest flash.

[nospam]

In article <1qSdnX_gqvf7DK7M...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> FYI, the hot spot is in the top left corner on the speakers near the
> keyboard.

it should be warm. it should not be hot enough where you don't want to
touch it, or worse, cause burns.

as i said, the temperatures from your screen shot look normal.

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 10:12 AM PT, nospam typed:

>> FYI, the hot spot is in the top left corner on the speakers near the
>> keyboard.
>
> it should be warm. it should not be hot enough where you don't want to
> touch it, or worse, cause burns.

According to Mende1's comment in
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4856907?start=15&tstart=0, "It's
aluminum, and aluminum gets hot with the use of the Mac. It's normal,
and your Mac temperature is normal, too..." It is hot enough not to want
to touch it for long. :)

> as i said, the temperatures from your screen shot look normal.

Others and you said they are fine. Hmm! What do you think of that
alumnium part?
--
"All the best work is done the way that ants do things -- by tiny but
untiring and regular additions." --Lafcadio Hearn

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 10:09 AM PT, nospam typed:

>>>> Also, I think it is the screen saver since it was running Flurry screen
>>>> saver and then display sleep for 15 minutes of being idled. However, is
>>>> it still supposed to be this hot?
>>>
>>> based on the above, it's normal. sometimes it gets even hotter. try
>>> rendering video or using flash.
>>
>> Flash? Wait, I remember he was watching YouTube videos! Old Flash can
>> use video acceleration on this old video cards?
>
> it can, but the fans still spin up even with the latest flash.

Ah. IIRC, old Flash was at v10.3 for Mac OS X 10.5.8.
--
"The ant has made himself illustrious; Through constant industry
industrious.; So what? Would you be calm and placid; If you were full of
formic acid?" --Ogden Nash (The Ant)

[nospam]

In article <LbWdnQBF5phwIa7M...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> According to Mende1's comment in
> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4856907?start=15&tstart=0, "It's
> aluminum, and aluminum gets hot with the use of the Mac. It's normal,
> and your Mac temperature is normal, too..." It is hot enough not to want
> to touch it for long. :)

they're updating the forums right now so i can't read the thread, but
that quote is right, the temperatures you posted are normal.

> > as i said, the temperatures from your screen shot look normal.
>
> Others and you said they are fine. Hmm! What do you think of that
> alumnium part?

the reason it's aluminum is because it's a giant heatsink. they tried
titanium but that was a big failure.

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 1:57 PM PT, Lewis typed:

> Is that set to real degrees or those F things?
>
> If it's C, then that's too hot.

Fahrenheits.
--
"No, I'd prefer a cooler WITHOUT an ant-door, thank you..." --unknown

[Larry Gusaas]

On 2013-03-03 3:57 PM Lewis wrote:
> Is that set to real degrees or those F things?
>
> If it's C, then that's too hot.

It is obviously Fahrenheit. I do not know of anyplace on earth that has an outside temperature
of 60º Celsius.

--
_________________________________

Larry I. Gusaas
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Canada
Website: http://larry-gusaas.com
"An artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs." - Edgard Varese

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 1:43 PM PT, nospam typed:

>>> as i said, the temperatures from your screen shot look normal.
>>
>> Others and you said they are fine. Hmm! What do you think of that
>> alumnium part?
>
> the reason it's aluminum is because it's a giant heatsink. they tried
> titanium but that was a big failure.

So having hot aluminum area is OK. Interesting. IIRC, my former 15"
PowerBook G4 1 Ghz was using aluminum. I remember playing Quake 3 Arena
and getting video corruptions after a while. I assume it was overheating.
--
"If you're an ant, and you're walking along across the top of a cup of
pudding, you probably have no idea that the only thing between you and
disaster is the strength of that pudding skin." --Jack Handy from
Saturday Night Live

[nospam]

In article <6-WdnUPrl44aVK7M...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<a...@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> >>> as i said, the temperatures from your screen shot look normal.
> >>
> >> Others and you said they are fine. Hmm! What do you think of that
> >> alumnium part?
> >
> > the reason it's aluminum is because it's a giant heatsink. they tried
> > titanium but that was a big failure.
>
> So having hot aluminum area is OK. Interesting. IIRC, my former 15"
> PowerBook G4 1 Ghz was using aluminum. I remember playing Quake 3 Arena
> and getting video corruptions after a while. I assume it was overheating.

that could be due to a number of things.

[JF Mezei]

On 13-03-03 16:13, Ant wrote:

> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4856907?start=15&tstart=0, "It's
> aluminum, and aluminum gets hot with the use of the Mac. It's normal,

yes, the aluminium does act as a partial heat sink.

However, it is never good to have hot electronics. And if part of the
casing gets hot, it means that the air cooling is not doing its job,

If you put your laptop on a desk, the desk can act as a good heatsink
from the aluminium.

But if you put your laptop on your lap or on your bed or carpet, then
heat will not dissipate from aluminiu and air cooling is the primary
means of cooling.

> and your Mac temperature is normal, too..." It is hot enough not to want
> to touch it for long. :)

When you say temperature is normal, which temperature ? there are a
number of temperature sensors. And the SMC normally looks at many of
them to control fan speed, not just CPU.

[JF Mezei]

On 13-03-03 17:05, Larry Gusaas wrote:

> It is obviously Fahrenheit. I do not know of anyplace on earth that has an outside temperature
> of 60º Celsius.

A CPU in a laptop will quickly rise to 60° when in use. (and yes
celcius). You want the temperature to not exceed 90° celcius.

[Larry Gusaas]

That is true, but has nothing to do with my statement about the air temperature (not referring
to the MacBook Air since your comprehension skills seem lacking).

[Ant]

On 3/3/2013 4:06 PM PT, JF Mezei typed:

>> https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4856907?start=15&tstart=0, "It's
>> aluminum, and aluminum gets hot with the use of the Mac. It's normal,
>
> yes, the aluminium does act as a partial heat sink.
>
> However, it is never good to have hot electronics. And if part of the
> casing gets hot, it means that the air cooling is not doing its job,
>
> If you put your laptop on a desk, the desk can act as a good heatsink
> from the aluminium.

FYI, it is always sitting on a desk.
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Internet, 1-7 July 1995, insert.

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