Boot Camp (#9): MacBook Pros running hotter under Windows XP
Boot Camp (#9): MacBook Pros running hotter under Windows XP
We continue to report on an issue where MacBook Pros appear to run significantly hotter when booted into Windows XP than when booted into Mac OS X.
MacFixIt reader Charlie writes:
"My MacBook Pro gets so hot when running windows you almost can't keep you hand on the hottest spots."
Meanwhile, MacFixIt reader David Hannon took some surface temperature measurements. He writes:
"I can confirm that the MacBook Pro run much hotter under Windwos XP.
"After reading through MacFixIt, yesterday I did the Boot Camp install and installed Windows XP Home Edition.
"I have one of those infra-red thermometer guns that digitally reads surface temperatures. My MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz was resting on an X-pad cooling pad, so there was some air circulation underneath.
"After the MacBook Pro had been running OS X for about an hour, I did a temp scan of the underside. Across the rear sections near the hinge, i recorded temperature readings varying from 109 degrees F to 112 degrees F. The hottest being in the center of the laptop.
"After doing the complete install of Windows XP and running that for about an hour I did another temperature scan of the underside. This time the readings varied from 118 degrees F to 121 degrees F. The hottest area again being under the central rear area. These readings are again with the MacBook Pro having sat on a X-pad cooling pad. I can assume that they would get even higher if the laptop was flat on a table surface. I also noticed that the cooling fans were working more than when booted into Mac OS X 10.4.6.
In order to reduce overall temperature, make sure your MacBook pro is seated on a hard surface with under-unit ventilation.
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
Previous coverage:
- Boot Camp (#8): Mac OS X not booting properly after partitioning; MacBook Pro hotter when running Windows?; more
- Boot Camp (#7): Re-sizing partition after Windows XP installation; Keyboard input not recognized; more
- Boot Camp (#6): Using a Windows XP upgrade CD; More on slipstreaming a Windows XP SP2 disc; Use of Control-Alt-Delete; more
- Boot Camp: Questions and Answers; Troubleshooting issues; Benchmarks; more
- Drivers included on the Boot Camp Mac Windows XP drivers CD
- What will not work in Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac
- mac.column.ted: Apple's April Surprise: XP on a Mac!
- Firmware update (required for installing Boot Camp) will not install if previous Windows XP hack was attempted
- Apple announces Boot Camp: Enables Intel-based Macs to Run Windows XP
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