Overheating Late 2008 Macbook Unibody

jwootton · Jan 21st, 2010, 10:15 AM

When I use CPU intensive programs, my macbook really overheats. I was doing quite a lot a day ago, Ripping a DVD in Handbrake, Transferring files wirelessly and Downloading a large file from the internet. I left the computer on my coffee table and went about doing other things, I came back and the macbook had melted the stain off my coffee table and the stain was stuck to the bottom of the mac. I was able to clean it off with a paper towel, but this seems a bit dangerous to have my mac this hot. Anyone else have any similar stories?

monokitty · Jan 21st, 2010, 10:32 AM

MacBook's and MacBook Pro's can become very hot under heavy CPU usage, which is considered normal operation, even if many users find that hard to believe. Unless you found your MacBook locked up and unresponsive, it's unlikely overheating.

jwootton · Jan 21st, 2010, 10:33 AM

Oh Right, I forgot about that failsafe, I just couldn't believe that it took the stain off my coffee table.

monokitty · Jan 21st, 2010, 10:36 AM

Your MacBook would have came with an Apple Hardware Test on Disc 1 or 2 (check the disc labels). You can run that if you're suspicious.

IllusionX · Jan 21st, 2010, 11:50 AM

you might want to check the temperature before saying it is overheating.

ie, istat.

Newdeal · Jan 21st, 2010, 01:36 PM

I had an old Dell that got so hot with everyday usage that the silver paint started peeling off the bottom of the case. My MacBook pro doesn't come anywhere near as hot

macquest99 · Jan 21st, 2010, 07:21 PM

Didnt they have a recall on those machines thats why they stopped making them ?