Do Macbook Pros get hot?

[zigzag]

they do get extremely hot. with moderate Live use. the OS memory administration is crap too.
my previous asus laptop put the MBP to shame heat-wise.
i am very disappointed with my purchase.
mbp late 2011 model

[eddiex]

i never have any heat issues, unless i use it on the bed or a pillow or something (which you aren't supposed to do anyways) >shrugs<

[turnitto11]

They typically run warm, but that's because aluminum is better at dispersing heat than plastic. So really, the whole enclosure is absorbing the heat from the internals and transferring it to the air. Plastic computers hold all the heat in, causing more damage to the internals but making it feel "cooler".

And I got mine to run cooler after performing a stress test on my computer (2011 13" MBP). Pretty much runs the CPU at max and run tons of stuff through the RAM. It runs hot as hell during this, but after, my computer ran cooler overall. Others have reported the same results after a stress test, so it might be worth checking out.

[pencilrocket]

tj max is 100-105 celsius degree. Constant usage around that temperature, the logic board will be worn out.

[boogaloo]

Damn, so why is everybody buying these things if they get so hot?
I've only used PC laptops and my impression is that only the cheap crappy ones get hot and noisy.
So I can't believe a high end machine can have such issues.

My (almost) 5-year-old HP Elitebook stays relatively cool even under load, but then again it's a core 2 duo at 2.26 which is nowhere near as powerful as an i5.

[ian_halsall]

Mine got really hot after I set it on fire.

[rikhyray]

If you want cooler, less noisy laptop, check the CPU and GPU, their power consumption, before buying. This is good source: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Pro ... 436.0.html.
CPU makes the biggest difference, 2010 13` MBPs wee practically noiseless thanks to P8800, later models are faster but noisier and not with such good bettery life (the 2010 could run up to 11h on batt). Due to more efficient power management of OSX and alu body MBP will be less (potentially) noisy compared to PC with similar CPU.
PC or Mac it is sensible to keep notebooks on stand, preferably active, with big fans.
MBPs get hot because they should do, that is the whole idea behind the design, the entire body disperses the heat. PC using plastic body need vents which get dirty with time and need proper cleaning, means actually opening entire pc, not just blowing some air, at least once a year, or depending on environment, even more often. MBP have no vents so there is hardly any dust, dirt getting in, so no cleaning needed, perhaps after 2-3 years of use.
Read the CPU specs specially TDP (Watt), dont want heat and noise, go for low voltage CPU (like in MBA or some light PC laptops) but if you want number crunching power, heat and noise will come with it.
My personal experience with late 2011 15` MBP - Hardly any heat, no noise except for rendering video files, mid rendering process the fans kick in till the end . Never hear the fans or get MBP hot working with any audio.
There is only one solution against computers, CPU generating heat - use abacus instead

[Pitch Black]

They typically run warm, but that's because aluminum is better at dispersing heat than plastic. So really, the whole enclosure is absorbing the heat from the internals and transferring it to the air.

I was going to say the same thing, as I understand it, the base-plate is designed to be a heat-sink / used for thermal transfer. Has been since the Powerbook G4s. Something I read on the internet years ago, so take that as you will... I'm on my 3rd MBP now, and yes though it may run hot (esp in gig/club situations) I've never had an actual failure of one due to overheating. (I do prop the back edge of my laptops up an inch or so to get a bit of airflow under there - has this helped? I can't say, but I've never had a failure).

Once about 10 years ago I had my Powerbook G4 500MHz spontaneously shut down at a gig due to overheating, but that was exceptional circumstances: the gig had been oversold, the aircon in the venue failed and the temperature was way over and above normal "sweaty club" level. There was this thick layer of slimy moisture/condensation over everything on stage, and the powerbook shut off suddenly and completely, and couldn't be re-started till the next day.

I'm very picky about fan noise too, and I can't say its ever really been a problem in the studio - unless its a really hot day, then it might come on fast for a short while, but usually not for long. YMMV of course...

[boogaloo]

rikhyray, Pitch Black, very helpful info!
Thanks!

[hacktheplanet]

Yup, they get pretty warm. The aluminum case acts like a giant heatsink.
I usually move the computer to a flat surface when encoding video or playing games.