Macbook Pro 15 Inch with Retina display ?

Only had it a week and the last couple of evenings with this sitting on my lap its getting extremely hot underneath.

Im not even taxing it just browsing websites and stuff,its got I7 Processor and 16 gig of ram and dedicated graphic card.

Qustion is����Is this actually normal and is there any program or setting i can view to look at the temperature of this unit and see if there are issues.

At the best part of £2000 i feel i may just take this back to the shop,its not the only issue either,when replying to a few forum posts on here during the last few days i have a box come on the machine just like the box I'm typing in now but with flashing distorted pixels,and on occasion,happened about 6 times when i shut the machine down i have a black screen but the mouse pointer is still showing and can be moved with the trackpad.

To shut it down completely i have to hold the power button.

Any suggestions guys/girls ?

Thanks.

Definitely doesn't sound right.
I would take it to an Apple store to be checked out they can either reassure you that all is okay or swap it out. Give them a ring they are very helpful.

Agreed. Have always had absolutely excellent service from Apple. There has never been any of this trying to get out of it rubbish from them at all.

I agree with stniuk and Nanook, but it might be worth a check in the Activity Monitor (Apps => Utilities) that nothing is hogging the CPU. Laptop cooling isn't intended to cope with CPU's running flat out for extended periods.

A shot in the dark but, are you running uTorrent, and, if so, have you installed the latest update?

Seems they have added in some kind of bitcoin mining process which can hog CPUs.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?url=https://torrentfrea...

That's a bit cheeky� I run a protein-folding app on my machines which will also grab every CPU cycle it can find. It's OK on the desktops, but I uninstalled it from the MacBook (and the other laptops) when I saw the CPU temperature approaching 95ºC

Im using the Mac one called Transmission on both this Macbook Pro and my iMac in the office that don't have any of the so called issues.

Lappies aren't designed to run flat out all the time, especially if they cannot keep themselves cool and Apple kit is no exception. Laptops with high-end processors such as the i7 will get hot in such circumstances and having all cores running will only exacerbate matters. Use a system monitor to track the CPU usage. The more cores that are parked, the cooler your laptop will run.

Ok fair enough.

Although, as Mick said, check out the CPU because any form of torrenting can cause high traffic and I would assume high CPU usage as well, even if it doesn't have the cack uTorrent have decided to put in their latest version.

Eeeek!

I just rang Apple care and spoke to a nice guy with the issues i talked about,first things first according to him and the apple website the Macbook Pro is not a laptop but a personal computer and is not supposed to be mounted on My lap or any other for that matter as it apparently effects the cooling based on the vents on the very side of the Macbook Pro.

I explained that when i first had the laptop/Personal Computer on several occasions when it was mounted on my Lap i had no issues or any other sign of heat from beneath,only the last 3 or 4 times has this been a issue and i am not doing anything different just browsing websites.

Also on the shutdown he agreed it wasn't shutting down correctly and informed me i had the option to return it to the shop with the 14 day returns policy which he tends to think i have.

Not sure about the pixelated boxes that i get when replying to threads on this forum.as its one of the few forums i actually post stuff and it has only happened on here as i have not posted anything else anywhere else.

Might just ring the shop and see what they have to say regarding these issues.

He's right. They shouldn't really be referred to as laptops but everyone does. The Apple website calls them "notebooks". They should really be used on hard surfaces whenever possible. When I use my old Windows "laptop" in bed, I always place it on top of a large book to keep it as cool as possible.

The fact that you are having problems with the display indicates that you should return it to Apple and get it checked out.

One question you should ask yourself is "Do I need such a powerful machine?" If you can downgrade to a slower machine with less memory, you should have a system that will run a lot cooler.

Edited by micksharpe (Mon 09-Mar-15 16:55:58)

I only have issues with the display Mick when replying to threads on this forum but its a intermittent fault that has happened about 3/20 times.

Just rang the actual shop and regards the shutdown error with black screen and cursor still moving according to him in the shop his does that and so do the ones on display in the shop,he seems to think its a firmware issue but funny how Apple care didn't say the same.

The bloke at the shop said he would exchange it if its having issues like may be the fan isn't working correctly and suggested i download Handbreak and run a test and convert a Avi file to MP4 as this apparently will really test the machine and he said the fan would definitely kick in when doing the conversion,if not then there is a issue according to him.

In reply to a post by time2die:

according to him in the shop his does that and so do the ones on display in the shop

I think I'd want to see that demonstrated before I'd believe it�

Me to,i shall run this test and if the issues persist and I'm not happy i will return it no doubt about it.

I've had one of these for some time. It does run quite warm after a while, even, as you say, just browsing. I've also got a 17" MBP which does run really hot. So much so that I do not use it as a laptop. It is actually too heavy for that use anyway.

Regarding the screen issues you have a fault there. Take it to an Apple store and they will likely exchange it without question. I have always found Apple after sales service very good, especially if you opted for "Applecare".

BTW, have just been listening to the Radio 4 program on the Apple watch... not tempted but did take a look at the Apple website and saw the new MBA. Very tempted.

In reply to a post by Kaoshan:

� the new MBA. Very tempted.

It's very nice, but you may need to budget for some adaptors. It's only got one port, and it's USB-C.

It does everything from charging the battery to providing external video

I bought my daughter a lap table type thing, it had a cushion bottom and hard upper surface for her 'laptop'. She was using it in bed with the quilt almost covering the whole machine and wondering why it was getting hot.

Mine's not a Retina - but it's my main machine and in use a LOT.

Because it can run warm I have it on a sloping stand which holds it up with the keyboard at a slight angle - more comfortable for work I find.

Bought it off E-bay [ I think ] some many moons ago [ the stand :) ] and it folds totally flat so can travel with me

This is the sort of idea - though it's not what I use e-bay

I've even tried looking on Amazon for what I use - can't find it

Basically it's a small , fold out case ,about 3ins high and the top and bottom open up with a pair of legs that unfold [ they go in diagonally across the case ] with upturned ends that hold the MPB at a nice angle for working. when folded it's about 10 ins longhand possiby 1/2 ins thick.

Has a wee label on it - a lower case d but there's a blue 'thread' that comes from the top of the round bit of the d and comes down to the base at a teeny distance from it. It's so simple - I think it cost me a Fiver and it works !!

According to Amazon this is what I bought in 2013 Amazon

Suppose it could be < doubtful > but I would not use it for anything bigger than my 13 ins.

In reply to a post by goldenoldie:

According to Amazon this is what I bought in 2013 Amazon

According to Amazon I've got a couple of those, but mine don't look like the picture! They sound identical to your description:

� a small , fold out case ,about 3ins high and the top and bottom open up with a pair of legs that unfold [ they go in diagonally across the case ] with upturned ends that hold the MPB at a nice angle for working. when folded it's about 10 ins longhand possiby 1/2 ins thick.

Has a wee label on it - a lower case d but there's a blue 'thread' that comes from the top of the round bit of the d and comes down to the base at a teeny distance from it.

Cheap and cheerful and does the job

edit- mine were only £1.99 (+p&p) at the time

FWIW, one of them is quite happy with a 17" laptop (Asus, not Apple ) sat on it full time.

Edited by billford (Tue 10-Mar-15 12:57:20)

I want a decent cool pad or something like that,since Apple Care suggested them.

Trouble is I'm not sure what to buy as they seem quite cheap if you ask me and i was expecting more of a hefty price.

Any recommendations regarding Cooling gear for future needs,seems these Macbook pros run very hot judging by the amount of stuff from owners i have read about them.