Snow Leopard on MacBook Pro Early 2008 Model

[chriskleeman]

I've got a MacBook Pro 2.4 Ghz Core 2 Duo 15" early 2008 model. Early on with the initial release of Snow Leopard, there were multiple reports of these and similar MacBook Pros running very hot, especially the graphics processor. Mine is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT. These particular boards had some sort of bad soldering problem, and were also known to run at a fairly high temperature. One of the fixes (my machine is a refurb from Apple) as I remember, is an additional small fan that runs all the time dedicated to cooling the NVIDIA.

I just did a fairly extensive search of the Apple Forum discussions, and Googled this topic, not getting much information back on this so far. Lot's of posts from last fall on the subject of overheating with 10.6 and 10.6.1, but little on 10.6.2

My question is if anyone here at TS has a similar machine and is presently running 10.6.2, and whether the updated version of Snow Leopard addressed this issue?

I've got smcFanControl installed  but haven't been using it because of excessive fan noise at higher RPM.

No, I've not updated to 10.5.8 from 10.5.7 yet, and I've got a Snow Leopard Install disc that I bought last fall, which is the first release of Snow Leopard. Kimmer's post on upgrading to Leopard precipitated my query here, as I'm getting into that time of year that I actually have time to play with this kind of thing.

So, if anyone has any information, I'd be very grateful for any input.

TIA,

Chris  

[Paddy]

Don't know if it will help any, but my son has the 13" Macbook unibody (aluminum) - the last one before they started calling them "Macbook Pros" and it's been running Snow Leopard absolutely fine.

Have you seen this? http://www.appledefects.com/wiki/index.php...acBook_Pro#Heat

"it's not a laptop"!!

Actually, I found far more complaints about overheating when using Boot Camp than anything else.

However, there is the mega-thread on the Apple forums about ALL types of MacBook Pros (if you read carefully, they're all over the map on the models mentioned) having heat issues with Snow Leopard. I am just about to install a new HD in my MacBook Pro and will install SL at that time. It's a 2.33MHz model - earlier than yours. We'll see how it goes.

BTW - quite a few people seem to have found an SMC reset helped. But, obviously, it didn't work for everyone.

[Xairbusdriver]

Not sure exactly when my wive's MBP was built other than 2008. Got that model before they ran out of them due to it having the matte screen. At any rate, it has the same video card, as far as I can tell (GeForce 8600M GT), the machine itself is model 4.1. While it can be quite warm, it is not warmer running Snow Leopard than Leopard and I think it actually came with Tiger (could be way wrong there, of course). I've been using <smcFanControl 2.2.2> on my iMac for over a year. I just installed it on her MBP. Apparently that MBP has only two fans (Left and Right). They are both spinning ~6000rpm and the temp sensors (not the surface temps) are reporting ~195°F. Since I just installed it, I can't vouch for what the temps/speeds were prior to SL. At least, installing that free app will confirm how many fans you have?

[Shades of Gray]

I have a MBP 15" from Feb 2008. The left fan wore out after a year, and Apple replaced with no problems. Using SL for a long time, and I notice that if I keep it on the glass desk, it stays cool, but other surfaces tend to raise the temp. So I use smcFanControl on an as needed basis. The highest I have seen it run is 159° with it and then I put the RPM up to 4200, and temps go back to 115-125°, usually within five minutes.

[krissel]

I have the 15" early 2008 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo/GeForce 8600M GT with 512 MB still running 10.5.7.  (just haven't gotten around to .

While I actually don't use is that much, I had it running for 3 hours last night doing 3D graphics work and it didn't even turn the fan on. In fact, I've never heard the fans come on. Maybe it's because my studio is pretty cool but it hasn't over heated.

I'm in no hurry to run SL since all is fine at the moment.

[chriskleeman]

QUOTE(krissel @ Mar 28 2010, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm in no hurry to run SL since all is fine at the moment.

That's the way I've been feeling about it as well, everything works fine right now, so why mess with success!

CK

[Paddy]

Installed SL yesterday on the new 320GB WD Scorpio Black drive and so far so good. I had been having problems with the left fan making a lot of noise, so took it out and dusted it really well. Decided not to take it apart to lubricate (there is a set of directions online for this) and the first time I restarted, the fan noise was back.  However, every subsequent restart, no fan noises  - they're working, but none of the loud "whirr, whirr, whirr" I was getting before. It had been intermittent before too - but happened fairly often, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In any event, should an eventual replacement become necessary, I'm no longer terrified of taking apart the MBP. The "difficult" rating at iFixit had scared me off for ages, but I finally decided I didn't want to spend the money having someone else do the HD replacement. Carbon Computing here in Toronto didn't have the Scorpio Black and it was either buy a different drive from them for more than I'd pay for it at Canada Computers and then pay $65 for them to install it, or buy the drive I wanted elsewhere and pay more like $100-$150 for installation. Most of the take-apart was actually relatively easy. The most nerve wracking part was getting the top part of the case off (the keyboard etc.) - you don't want to bend anything and it doesn't come off easily the first time. BTW, plastic knives like you get with fast food work quite well as "spudgers" - I simply sanded off the teeth first.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(chriskleeman @ Mar 27 2010, 05:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kimmer's post on upgrading to Leopard precipitated my query here, as I'm getting into that time of year that I actually have time to play with this kind of thing.

So happy to have been the one who pushed you to take care of things.

(But our laptop is still running 10.4 and will stay there as Sneakers has some old, old, old software on it that he likes.

QUOTE(chriskleeman @ Mar 28 2010, 04:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(krissel @ Mar 28 2010, 04:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm in no hurry to run SL since all is fine at the moment.

That's the way I've been feeling about it as well, everything works fine right now, so why mess with success!

CK

I totally agree with you 2.