Tips for Apple Notebook Heat Problem
Recently I feel that my iBook is quite warm. I download the miniStat widget to check the CPU heat. It is 67°C! I read an article that CPU heat over 70°C is dangerous for CPU. That’s close! I do not have laptop cooler (do they work?). I take few ways to keep my iBook cool.
- Raise the notebook. I put a book at the back end of the iBook so that it raises about 2CM. It helps the airflow under notebook and the raised degree make typing on notebook become more comfortable.
- Goto “Energy Saver” under “System Preferences“. Set “Optimization” to “Normal“.
I was using “Better Performance” setting; it forces Mac OS X to run at top speed (read: heat). “Normal” setting will let Mac OS X adjust the speed dynamically.
- Remove keyboard protector. I found that the Apple notebook keyboard actually helps to release the heat in the notebook body. The plastic keyboard protector blocks the heat releasing.
After doing the three simple steps, my iBook CPU heat is maintaining at 60° or lower. Great! 
Thought
I read that Apple PowerBook has more serious heat problem. I wonder how do the PB users survive? Also, does so called laptop cooler works? How effective they are? I am thinking to get a Rain Design iLap 12-inch Laptop Stand. It has quite good reviews.
What is your solution to Apple notebook heat problem?
Digg it
Add to del.icio.us
Furl it
Spurl it
Blink it
October 12th, 2005 at 10:08 am
I suppose PowerBook users are used to the heat.
but the weird thing is that the heat is only on the left side if I’m not mistaken. so after using the laptop awhile, you’ll kinda feel your left hand energized. *grin*
October 13th, 2005 at 2:32 am
I think the left side is where the hot CPU located.
October 18th, 2005 at 8:14 pm
Yep, both my wife’s TiBook and my AlBook are hot — but both have been serving as desktop replacement machines without any trouble (one for 4+, the other for 2.5 years). My trick: put those little self-adhesive felt-thingies that are used on legs of tables or chairs to protect carpets and floors on the PB’s underbelly. That helps protect the PB against scratches, but you can then also fit the PB easily onto four bottle tops arranged on your desk. Low-tech but effective.
November 28th, 2005 at 1:31 am
I have read around the ’stick a book in the back’ idea. I like it, but I’m not terribly convinced that placing the HDD on an agle that it is not 0 or 90 degrees.
So what I was using -before my iBook died on me- was four little rubber feet on each side of the laptop bottom, to raise it a bit, and let the air circulate. They used to raise it about a centimeter.
They wer not glued nor anything, I simply let the iBook on top of them while I was using it at home (I don’t AC).
Another plus of this, was that the feet that I left rest beneath the battery was more or less moved towards the junction of the battery with the iBook, an awful junction IMHO.
Nonetheless, the iBook died on me, and left me w/o Os X. Stupid Apple.